Samsung TV Not Finding Channels: 5 Causes & Fixes (2024)
Is your Samsung TV not finding channels? No problem, I’ll tell you 5 causes and fixes to get your Samsung TV to start finding channels.
There are a few common reasons why your Samsung TV may suddenly stop finding channels, and luckily, most are easy fixes.
The solution is very simple, just follow the solution properly and fix your TV to find the channel.
If your Samsung doesn’t find TV channel, then these five common issues can be, the solution of these 5 issues will also be told.
1. Check Your Coaxial Cable Connection
A faulty coaxial cable is one of the most common reasons for a Samsung TV losing channels.
The coax cable carries the signal from your cable or satellite provider to your TV.
If it’s damaged, corroded or not properly connected, your TV won’t receive the signal and channels will disappear.
To check your coax cable:
- Ensure both ends of the cable are securely plugged in. The end labeled “cable in” connects to your cable/satellite box, the other end plugs into your TV’s “cable/antenna in” port.
- Inspect the cable for any visible damage like cracks, frays or kinks. If damaged, replace the cable.
- Try connecting the cable to a different TV. If channels come in fine, the issue is with your Samsung TV settings. If not, the cable likely needs to be replaced.
- As a last resort, you may need to manually rescan for channels on your TV. Go to the menu, select “channel scan” or “channel tuning” and start the scan. Your TV will search for available channels and update the channel list. This can fix issues caused by a recent cable service upgrade or software update.
Checking your coax cable and rescanning for channels are two of the simplest solutions for a Samsung TV not finding channels.
If after trying the steps above your TV still isn’t detecting channels, the issue could be a more complex hardware or software problem and you may need to contact Samsung support for further help.
But in many cases, it’s an easy fix to get your Samsung TV connecting to channels again.
2. Reset Your Cable Box
If your Samsung TV isn’t finding any channels, the problem could lie with your cable box.
Try resetting it to factory defaults to refresh the settings.
Resetting Your Cable Box
To reset your cable box:
- Locate the reset button on your cable box. It’s usually a small pinhole button on the back or side of the box.
- Press and hold the reset button for 5-10 seconds until the box restarts. All the lights will flash or go out during the restart.
- Once the cable box has restarted, the issue should be resolved and your Samsung TV should start detecting channels again. If not, try rescanning for channels on your TV.
A reset reboots your cable box and restores the original factory settings, which can fix any software glitches preventing your TV from finding stations.
This simple solution has helped many viewers get their channel lineup back.
The coaxial cable that runs from your cable box to your TV, often called a “coax cable,” transmits the signal that provides your channels.
Ensure both ends of the coax cable are firmly plugged in for the strongest signal.
Other possible issues include a faulty tuner or antenna in the TV, outdated TV software, or an internet connectivity problem with a smart TV.
Try troubleshooting or contact Samsung support to diagnose and repair the exact cause so you can get back to enjoying your favorite shows.
With some patience and persistence, your channel woes will be a thing of the past!
3. Rescan Channels on Your Samsung TV
To rescan the channels on your Samsung TV, you’ll need to initiate a channel scan to search for any new channels that have been added or made available in your area since the last scan.
Access the Channel Scan Menu
Using your Samsung TV remote, navigate to the menu and select “Channels” or “Channel Tuning“. From there, look for an option like “Channel Scan“, “Auto Tuning” or “Channel Search“.
Select that to begin the channel scanning process.
Some models may have you go to the “Broadcasting” menu first. The options can vary between specific Samsung TV models, so you may need to hunt around in the menus a bit.
But the channel scanning option is typically located within the menus related to channels, broadcasting or signal.
Check Antenna or Cable Connection
Before starting the channel scan, double check that your TV’s coaxial input is securely connected to either your cable wall outlet or TV antenna.
If your TV can’t detect a signal during the scan, it won’t find any new channels.
Select Scan Type
Your Samsung TV will give you options to scan for channels from either an antenna (Air) or cable (Cable) source.
Select the appropriate option for your setup.
Choosing the wrong one will result in no new channels being found.
Start the Scan
Once you’ve selected the correct scan type, start the channel scanning process.
Your Samsung TV will search through all available channels in your area to detect new stations or channels that have been added.
This can take several minutes to complete as it scans the entire range of channels.
Do not interrupt the scan once it begins.
Save New Channels
After the channel scan completes, your Samsung TV will display a message indicating how many new channels were found.
Select “Save” or “Done” to store the newly found channels.
Your channel lineup will now include the additional channels picked up during the rescan.
To prevent losing channels in the future, check for any “Standby Auto Tuning” options in the menu and disable them.
This can sometimes automatically delete newly found channels, requiring you to rescan.
Disabling this feature will ensure your Samsung TV retains channels from any future scans.
Update Your TV’s Software
One of the most common issues with Samsung smart TVs is difficulty finding available channels during the auto-tuning process.
There are a few possible reasons why your Samsung TV can’t find all the channels, but the good news is there are also some easy solutions to try.
Update Your TV’s Software
Outdated software is often the culprit behind channel tuning problems.
Samsung regularly releases software updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and update channel listings.
To check if there’s an update available for your Samsung TV:
- Go to the Settings menu on your TV.
- Select “Support” or “About This TV“.
- Choose “Software Update” or “Update Now“.
- Your TV will check for the latest update and prompt you to download and install it.
- Once the update is installed, try running the channel scan again. The latest software should help your TV find more available channels in your area.
5. Contact Your Cable Provider for Assistance
If you’ve tried everything and your Samsung TV still can’t find any channels, it may be time to call your cable provider for help.
They can troubleshoot issues on their end and may even need to send a technician to check your setup.
Before you call, double check that your cable box, if you have one, is plugged in, turned on, and connected properly to your TV.
Make sure all cables connecting the devices are secure and not damaged. If everything looks good, go ahead and give your provider a ring.
Once on the phone, explain the issue to the customer service rep, including details about what you’ve already tried.
Conclusion
So these were the 5 Causes & Fixes, hope your Samsung TV channel finding has started.
Any one of the solutions given to you will solve your issue.
Hope you got to know about all the solutions well.
FAQs;
Unfortunately, not every Samsung TV model supports Freeview. Your Samsung TV likely has Freeview built in if it was made before 2016.
If you use an antenna to watch TV, unplug the coaxial wire from the wall socket and then plug it back in.