Freeview Channels Disappeared Overnight? (Quick Fix!)

Freeview channels disappeared overnight – why?

With Freeview, you should get around 70 SD and 15 HD channels but some areas have channels that other regions don’t have and you can check this online.

However, when channels start to disappear overnight, we’re surely facing an issue so let’s learn more!

Freeview channels disappearing overnight may be due to a software-related issue with the Freeview setup or a loose input cable. Try restarting your equipment first, and if the problem persists, consider more drastic solutions like resetting your equipment to resolve the issue.

To identify what’s the best approach against the missing channels, keep reading!

Why Freeview Channels Are Missing?

To understand the problem better before we dig into the troubleshooting, we need to review the most frequent possibilities for missing Freeview channels.

The reason why channels are disappearing overnight is always related to the input signal or other concerning factors!

Here are ALL reasons why Freeview channels are disappearing overnight:

• Freeview Equipment Problem
• Loose Input or Ethernet Cable
• Freeview Channels Not Discovered
• Software-related Channel Loss

These are the possibilities for why your Freeview channels are disappearing from one day to another.

Surely, this problem is weird but we can easily identify what’s causing it by performing an inspection of our Freeview setup. It’s simple and only requires a few minutes!

Luckily, we’ve found a solution for each of those possibilities, so keep reading!

How To Fix Freeview Channels Missing?

Since there are quite a few different possibilities for a Freeview channel loss, we’ve designed an easy-to-follow guide for missing channels.

It’s easy to bring them back as long as we follow chronological order and apply everything mentioned below.

Let’s jump right in!

Method #1 Restart Equipment

It does not matter whether you’re viewing Freeview from a set-top-box or a Smart TV, the missing channels always share the same root.

This is why the first method is the simplest and only requires restarting the entire Freeview equipment.

• Simply Switch OFF and Disconnect your Freeview device from the power!

If you wait for at least 3 minutes with the device disconnected, you’ll achieve a power cycle, which refreshes the device in its entirety.

Later when you turn on the Freeview device, ALL services and processes will be fresh and some or all of the missing channels might reappear!

Note: In case this doesn’t work, keep reading the next methods!

Method #2 Reconnect ALL Cables!

Sometimes the missing channels on Freeview are caused because of an interrupted connection that we’ll need to inspect.

The next step is to take a look at your Freeview device’s wiring harness so let’s get to know which are the most-important connections first.

There are two important cable connections:

• The Ethernet cable
• The Signal Input cable

The signal cable might be coming from an antenna or a satellite (optical cable).

This is the most important connection in the setup, responsible for whether all over-the-air channels appear or not.

The Ethernet cable on the other hand is for the on-demand content at Freeview.

• It’s important to disconnect and reconnect both cable connections!

Fact: Some Freeview On-demand channels require a separate subscription for streaming!

Method #3 Check Internet Connection

In case you’re missing an on-demand channel on your Freeview setup, but all local channels are there, it’s probably an internet connection fault.

When you’re using a set-top box, the device is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable. In contrast, Smart TVs only use WiFi (wireless).

As per your setup, you need to inspect the wired or wireless connection!

Fix Wireless Connection:

When your Freeview device is connected to the WiFi, in most cases, a Smart TV, we first need to check whether the TV is actually connected.

To do so simply go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi and check if you’re connected. If necessary, reconnect to the WiFi.

Tip: It’s also important to check whether the WiFi is functional by using a third-party device!

Fix Wired Connection:

Inspect whether the Ethernet cable is connected to the back of your set-top box and in one of the yellow ports of your router.

The cable should click upon inserting and start blinking as an indication of data transfer. In case you identify anything wrong, replace the Ethernet cable.

Tip: Find a suitable Ethernet cable for your Freeview set-top box at the bottom of the guide!

Method #4 Retune Missing Channels

A clever way to restore ALL Freeview missing channels at once in a quick method is to perform a retuning.

It does not matter, both TV Boxes and Smart TVs have this option so let’s take a look at the different possibilities and how to approach the situation properly:

Retune a Freeview TV Box:

Here is how to perform a retuning of your Freeview TV Box to bring back missing channels:

1. Use the Freeview Play button on the remote.
2. Reach into the device’s Settings.
3. From there tap on Channel Settings.
4. Select Automatic Channel Search.
5. Choose Default or Smart.

The “Smart” scan basically means that all your recording schedules will not be impacted after the tunning.

So if you have no scheduled recordings, simply select the “Default” option.

Retune a Smart Freeview TV:

When you’re using a Freeview TV, the returning option could be anywhere on the menu!

You’ll need to go to Settings, and search for an option called Channel Scan, Tune Channels or Find Channels.

Different brands come with different menu labels but any Freeview TV should be able to perform a retuning.

Tip: In case you can’t find the retune option, jump to the next method (Factory Reset).

Method #5 Factory Reset Freeview Device!

The ultimate and most-drastic solution to apply after Freeview channels disappeared overnight is to perform a Factory Reset.

The reset is possible on both Smart TVs and TV Boxes, so you only need to follow the steps below, based on your Freeview setup.

Factory Reset Freeview TV Box:

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on your Freeview TV Box in easy steps:

1. Unplug the Freeview TV Box from the power.
2. Press & hold the Channel Down arrow/button.
3. While holding, plug back the TV Box into the power.
4. While still holding, switch ON the TV Box.

This will release the software and complete the factory reset on your Freeview TV Box.

In case the channels are still missing, scroll up and return your TV box again.

Factory Reset Freeview Smart TV:

Here’s the way to perform a factory reset on your Freeview Smart TV in easy steps:

1. Using the remote go to the Home Screen.
2. From there enter Settings.
3. Navigate to Advanced Settings.
4. Tap on System Reset or Factory Defaults.
5. Confirm that you want to perform a Reset.

The reset will wipe clean ALL saved data on your Smart TV as well as any network and settings configuration.

As a result of the reset, even more, Freeview channels might be missing so don’t forget to scroll up and use Method #4 to perform a retune.

Note: On different Freeview TV brands, the menu labeling are different.

Still, Need More Help?

Have you tried all of the methods above? If yes, but some of the channels that were available yesterday are now missing, it’s time to seek further assistance from the manufacturer.

In most cases, we need to contact the supplier of our Freeview device and in other cases, Freeview Support (03456 50 50 50) themselves might save the day. Good luck…

That was everything about Freeview channels missing, so let’s recap!

Bottom Line:

Now that we know why Freeview channels disappeared overnight we’re ready to bring them back using the proven methods above.

We hope that this guide was helpful and keep in mind that when channels start to disappear then a thorough inspection of the setup is all we need!

Looking for an Ethernet cable replacement?

In case you’ve identified that your on-demand channels are missing because the Ethernet cable went faulty, it’s time for a replacement.

We strongly recommend getting JSAUX 4K HDMI Cable 3M, suitable for your Freeview setup.

Good luck!

Read Next: Can You Get Netflix on Freeview?