How to scan channels on your Samsung TV
To scan channels on a Samsung TV, go to the home screen, select Settings, then Broadcasting, and choose Auto Tuning or Channel Scan. The exact menu path depends on your TV model and year — older Samsung TVs may label it Channel Setup instead. The scan takes between five and fifteen minutes and searches for all available broadcast channels in your area. Your TV will store them in order once the scan finishes.
The process works the same whether you use an antenna, cable box, or satellite receiver connected to your TV. Samsung TVs scan only the input source currently selected, so if you want channels from multiple sources, you will need to run the scan separately for each one.
Key Takeaways
- Channel scanning is found under Settings > Broadcasting > Auto Tuning on most Samsung models, though the exact menu name varies by year and TV size.
- The scan searches for all available channels in your area and stores them automatically — you do not need to enter channel numbers yourself.
- If your TV is connected to cable or satellite, you may need to run the scan through your provider's box instead of the TV itself.
- After scanning, you can delete unwanted channels, reorder them, or hide channels you do not watch through the channel list menu.
Step-by-step channel scan on Samsung TVs from 2020 onward
Press the Home button on your remote to open the home screen. Navigate to Settings using the arrow buttons and press Enter. Scroll down to find Broadcasting and select it.
Inside Broadcasting, you will see Auto Tuning as the main option. Select it and press Enter. A popup will appear asking you to confirm — select Yes to start the scan. Your TV will display a progress bar and show how many channels it has found so far. Once the scan completes, your TV will show a summary of new channels added. Press Enter to finish and return to the home screen.
Channel scanning on older Samsung TVs (2015–2019)
Older Samsung models use a slightly different menu structure. Press Menu on your remote instead of Home. Select Broadcasting, then look for Channel Setup or Auto Program. The function is the same — it scans and stores all available channels — but the label differs.
If you cannot find Broadcasting in the main menu, try Picture and Sound or System. Some 2015–2017 models hide the channel scan under Setup instead. Once you locate it, the scan process is identical: confirm the start, wait for the progress bar to finish, and your channels will be stored automatically.
What to do if your TV is connected to a cable or satellite box
If you have a cable box or satellite receiver connected to your Samsung TV, the channel scan may need to happen on the box itself, not on the TV. Check your cable or satellite provider's remote — it will have a Menu button that leads to channel setup options. The TV scan will only find over-the-air broadcast channels, not the channels your provider sends through the box.
Some newer Samsung TVs can scan cable channels if your TV has a built-in cable tuner and your provider supports it. Check your TV's model number on Samsung's website or your user manual to confirm whether your set has this feature. If it does, you can run the TV scan and the box scan separately to get both sets of channels.
Organizing and managing channels after the scan
After the scan finishes, you can delete channels you do not watch, reorder them, or hide them without deleting. Press Home, go to Settings, select Broadcasting, then choose Channel List. You will see all scanned channels displayed in order.
To delete a channel, highlight it and press the Delete or Red button on your remote (the button varies by remote model). To reorder channels, select a channel and use the arrow buttons to move it up or down the list. Some Samsung TVs also offer a Hide Channel option that removes a channel from your guide without permanently deleting it — useful if you want to keep a channel but do not want to see it when flipping through.
Troubleshooting a channel scan that finds no channels
If your TV scans but finds zero channels, the most common cause is a loose or disconnected antenna cable. Check the cable connection at the back of your TV — it should be hand-tight. If you are using an antenna, try moving it to a different location or adjusting its position, as channel availability depends on your distance from broadcast towers.
If you are using cable or satellite, make sure the box is powered on and connected to the TV with an HDMI cable. Run the scan on the box's remote, not the TV's remote. If the scan still finds nothing after checking these items, your area may have limited broadcast channels available, or your antenna may need replacement. Contact your cable or satellite provider to confirm your service is active.
Rescanning channels after moving or changing your setup
If you move to a new location or change from antenna to cable, run the channel scan again. Your old channel list will be replaced with channels available in your new location or from your new source. You do not need to delete the old list first — the new scan will overwrite it automatically.
If you want to keep channels from multiple sources (for example, both antenna and cable), do not run a full scan on the second source. Instead, manually add channels through the Channel List menu, or check whether your TV supports a dual-tuner setup that lets you scan both sources and keep both lists active.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a channel scan take?
A channel scan usually takes five to fifteen minutes depending on how many channels are available in your area and how strong your signal is. The TV will show a progress bar during the scan. You can cancel the scan at any time by pressing the back or exit button on your remote, though any channels found before you cancel will still be saved.
Will scanning channels delete my existing channel list?
Yes, running a new scan will replace your current channel list with the newly scanned channels. If you want to keep your old list, take a photo of it or write down your favorite channel numbers before you scan. After the new scan finishes, you can manually reorder channels to match your old setup using the Channel List menu.
Can I scan channels on a Samsung TV without an antenna or cable box?
No, your TV needs to be connected to a signal source to scan channels. This can be an antenna, cable box, or satellite receiver. If nothing is connected, the scan will find zero channels. Make sure your cable or antenna is plugged into the correct port on the back of your TV before you start the scan.
Why does my TV show channels that do not work?
The scan finds all available broadcast signals in your area, but signal strength varies by location and weather. A channel may appear in your list but have a weak signal that causes pixelation or dropouts. You can delete these channels from your Channel List menu, or try repositioning your antenna to improve the signal. Cable and satellite channels that do not work usually indicate a service issue with your provider.
Do I need to rescan channels if I change my TV settings?
No, changing picture settings, sound settings, or other TV preferences will not affect your channel list. You only need to rescan if you physically move your TV, change your antenna position, switch from antenna to cable, or move to a new location where different channels are broadcast.