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Why Is Auto Scan Not Finding Channels? Complete Fix Guide

ByKevin Wood Hours Updated on27 November 2022
auto scan not finding channels

Your TV Auto scan not finding channels and you’re wondering why? Don’t worry, because we have it all covered in this post.

Here we’ll unveil all reasons why your TV is not able to discover channels and provide you with several proven solutions to work with.

Your auto-scan may not be finding channels if the antenna cable isn’t plugged correctly. Next would be the positioning of your antenna. There should be no electrical/metal devices nearby and they should be placed as high as possible.

The origin of the problem really depends on whether you’re using an antenna or a cable to provide your TV with channels.

Therefore, the solutions will be different. Let’s first take a look at some possible causes and then proceed with the actual solutions.

Why Is Auto Scan Not Picking Up Channels?

If you’re using a coaxial cable, and your TV is not able to discover channels then you should inspect the cable, and if nothing seems wrong secure the connection to the TV.

The next step for cable TV users would be to reach out to their supplier for more info.

However, if you’re using an antenna, then there could be a variety of possible causes:

1. Improper Auto-Search Settings

It is possible you’re not choosing the auto search settings correctly, hence, you’re not picking up any channels.

2. Missing Tuner or Malfunction

Your TV is either too old to lack a tuner or there is an issue preventing you from scanning for channels.

3. Improper Noise Mitigation

It is required for the noise mitigation to be greater than 0 in the auto search, in order for your TV to find channels.

4. Out of Range

Your antenna may not have enough range for it to detect any channels during the auto search process.

Now that we’ve taken a look at the potential causes of this issue, let’s move on to the best troubleshooting solutions we’ve managed to extract from the web.

How To Fix Auto Scan Not Finding Channels?

fix auto scan not finding channels

If you’re using a cable box, it is highly possible that the receiver has something to do with the problem.

You cannot have both an antenna and a cable box plugged into your TV since this will create a big interference with the incoming channel frequencies.

Let’s now discuss the best ways you can troubleshoot the auto-search and provide your TV with some channels.

Solution #1 Run Auto Scan The Correct Way

run autoscan correct way

It is possible you’re not running the auto scan with the correct options.

This frequently occurs with new antenna users, so we will advise you with the best settings to select during the auto scan.

Follow the steps down below to configure the auto-scan feature and run it the correct way:

  1. Go to the Menu of your TV.
  2. Find the Channel Scan button and select “Auto Scan”. (It might also be labeled as “Rescan”, “Tune”, or “Auto-Channels”)
  3. Once in the next tab, make sure to choose DIGITAL over ANALOG.
  4. Proceed with pressing on Scan.

These are the best settings you can use for auto-scan search for your TV.

If it didn’t work, then proceed with our next solution.

Solution #2 Reconnect The Antenna

reconnect antenna

We suggest reconnecting the antenna’s cable from the back of your TV. The cable is either loose or has gone faulty after a certain amount of time.

If you’ve just connected the antenna to your TV for the first time, the cable may have been plugged improperly, thus, you will not detect any channels no matter how hard you try.

Try reconnecting the antenna from the back of your TV. If by chance, you don’t know what the cable looks like, the cable’s jack should be round with a little pin in the middle.

It goes into the round entry on the back of your TV, so make sure it is plugged there tightly.

Solution #3 Switch Antenna Input

Your TV might not be recognizing the antenna. This occurs due to a wrongly selected input, in the settings of your TV.

Once you have accessed the antenna settings, you should be able to see a button saying ANT IN; This button states the input where your antenna is plugged in.

If you’ve connected your antenna via coaxial cable, make sure to change the setting to COAX, in the drop-down menu.

If you’re using a regular antenna cable, switch it to CABLE IN. Then proceed with scanning for channels again and observe to find out if anything will be discovered.

Solution #4 Reposition Your Antenna

antenna reposition

The direction of your antenna is crucial when it comes down to locating channels via frequency.

If not aligned well, your antenna will be unable to pick up any channels and scan their frequencies.

To position your antenna correctly there is an online tool under the name TVFool. This tool will scan your location and show you the direction of the closest radio tower you must point your antenna at.

Depending on the outcome, position your antenna as close as possible (preferably near a window) to the radio station.

This way your signal will be as strong as possible and hopefully, you’ll discover some channels.

If you feel the position of your antenna is perfect and need no change, you can proceed to next solution!

Solution #5 Remove Interference

One of the most frequently met reasons why users are unable to pick up channels is due to a created interference.

Various objects can cause trouble with the antenna’s signal when close to the antenna itself.

Here are some ways to identify potential interference and deal with it sufficiently:

  1. Remove any laptops, smartphones, and tablets close to your antenna.
  2. Get rid of RF transmitters and radios close to your antenna.
  3. Make sure your antenna isn’t covered with anything.
  4. Relocate large physical objects or furniture blocking the incoming signal to the antenna.
  5. Position your antenna as high as possible in the room.

Once you’re done dealing with interference, try running another auto-search following the steps of Solution #1.

Solution #6 Hard Reset Your TV

hard reset tv

If the issue persists after troubleshooting the antenna, then perhaps the problem is located within your TV.

We suggest hard resetting your TV to clear out any power fluctuations and tuner issues preventing the antenna from scanning for the channel freely.

Here is how to hard reset your TV easily:

  1. Turn OFF your TV using the remote.
  2. Unplug the power adapter from the source.
  3. Wait for 5 minutes for the TV to discharge.
  4. Re-attach the power adapter in the slot at the back of your TV.

Once you’ve executed these steps, turn on your TV and re-run the auto-scan to determine if the issue has been fixed.

Solution #7 Search For Channels Manually

The auto-scan is the most convenient way to search for channels on your TV.

If your antenna has a hard time locating channel frequencies via auto-scan, then perhaps you should try to re-do the whole thing, but manually.

For this process, you would need to know two things – The digital transmitter and your location-based frequency number.

Depending on your country and local area you will be able to discover these frequencies online. In case there is no information then you won’t be able to manually scan.

Here is how to manually search for channels:

  1. Go to the Channels tab on your TV.
  2. Tap on Add Channels and choose Manual.
  3. Insert the frequency number of your location, given by the manufacturer.
  4. For the digital transmitter, choose OTA (Over the air).
  5. Start the search and wait.

Depending on your TV’s performance, the process might take several minutes up to half an hour, so prepare with patience.

Bottom Line:

To fix the auto-scan not working on the TV, first, reconnect the antenna and check if the tuner is working. Next, hard reset the TV, remove interference and re-position your antenna. If nothing worked, try to search for channels manually.

Now that you know why Auto scan not finding channels, you should be able to solve the issue using our solutions.

In case the problem continues you might need a new antenna to work with. The other possibility would be your TV tuner, which will require repair.

If the solutions provided, don’t work, you can check out HelloTech Tech support for immediate help.

Get Help Now

Check out our recent helpful guides:

  1. How to Get Internet from Cable TV Line?
  2. How Long Do Roku TVs Last?
  3. Does DIRECTV Offer Senior Discounts?
  4. How to Get Local Channels on Dish?
kevin wood
Kevin Wood

Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.

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