How to find and add channels on your Samsung TV

To scan for channels on a Samsung TV, go to the home screen, open Settings, select Broadcasting, then choose Auto Tuning (or Channel Scan on some models). The TV will search for all available channels in your area and add them to your channel list. The scan usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many channels are available and your TV model.

The exact menu path varies slightly by year and model, but the process is the same: you tell the TV to search, it finds what's available over the air or through cable, and it stores the results. You do not need a technician or special equipment — the tuner is built into the TV.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings from the home screen, then go to Broadcasting and select Auto Tuning or Channel Scan to start the search.
  • The scan finds channels broadcast over the air (antenna) or delivered through a cable connection, depending on what your TV is connected to.
  • Let the scan run to completion without interrupting it, even if it seems slow — stopping early will leave channels out of your list.
  • After the scan finishes, you can delete unwanted channels or reorder them using the remote and the channel list menu.

Step-by-step channel scan on Samsung TVs

Press the Home button on your Samsung remote to open the home screen. Navigate to Settings using the arrow buttons and press Enter.

In Settings, scroll down and select Broadcasting (on some older models it may say Channel Setup or Tuning). Select Auto Tuning or Channel Scan — the exact name depends on your TV's year and software version. The TV will ask whether you want to scan for cable or antenna channels; choose the one that matches your setup.

Press Enter to start the scan. A progress bar will appear on screen. Do not change the input, turn off the TV, or unplug it while the scan is running. Wait until the scan reaches 100 percent and the TV displays a message saying it is complete.

What to do if the scan finds no channels

If the scan completes but shows zero channels, the TV is not receiving a signal. Check that your antenna or cable is plugged firmly into the port on the back of the TV — the port is usually labeled RF In or Cable In. If the cable is loose, push it in until you hear a click, then run the scan again.

If the cable is connected and tight, try unplugging it, waiting 10 seconds, and plugging it back in. This resets the connection. Then go back to Settings, Broadcasting, and run Auto Tuning again. If you still see no channels after two scans, the antenna or cable signal may be too weak in your location, or the cable box may need to be restarted separately.

Removing channels you do not want

After the scan finishes, you can delete channels from your list. Press the Home button, then navigate to the Live TV section or open your channel list. Highlight the channel you want to remove and press the red button on your remote (or right-click if your remote has a menu button). Select Delete or Remove from the menu that appears.

Deleting a channel from the list does not affect the channel itself — it only hides it from your guide. You can run another scan at any time to add it back, or you can manually add it through the same Broadcasting menu if you change your mind.

Reordering your channel list

To move channels around after a scan, open your channel list and highlight a channel. Press and hold the center button on your remote (or use the menu button) and select Move or Reorder. Use the arrow buttons to move the channel to a new position, then press Enter to confirm. Repeat for any other channels you want to move.

Some Samsung models also let you create favorites — a smaller list of channels you watch most. Open the channel list, highlight a channel, and select Add to Favorites. Your favorites will appear first when you scroll through channels, so you can skip past the ones you never watch.

When to scan again

Run a channel scan again if you move to a new location, switch from antenna to cable (or vice versa), or notice that channels have stopped appearing. New channels are added to broadcasts periodically, so a rescan every few months can pick up additions. You can also scan if you add an antenna or upgrade your cable service.

Each time you scan, the TV adds any new channels it finds and keeps the ones that were already there. You will not lose your custom channel order or favorites unless you choose to delete them manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a channel scan take?

A full scan usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. The time depends on how many channels are available in your area and your TV model. Older Samsung TVs may take longer than newer ones. Do not interrupt the scan — let it run until it shows 100 percent complete.

Do I need to scan every time I turn on the TV?

No. Once you scan and the TV saves the channels, they stay in your list until you delete them or run a new scan. You only need to scan again if you move, change your signal source, or want to find newly added channels.

What if my TV says "No signal" during the scan?

Check that your antenna or cable is plugged into the correct port on the back of the TV and pushed in firmly. If it is loose, push it in and try the scan again. If the cable is connected and the scan still fails, the signal may be too weak or the cable box may need to be restarted.

Can I scan for both cable and antenna channels at the same time?

No. You choose one or the other when you start the scan. If you want both, you would need to run two separate scans — one set to cable and one set to antenna — but most TVs can only use one input at a time, so this is not practical for most setups.

Will scanning delete my saved channels?

No. Running a new scan adds any new channels it finds to your existing list. Channels you already have stay in place. You only lose channels if you manually delete them or if they are no longer broadcast in your area.