Quick fix: Plug your coaxial cable into the TV’s antenna port, run a channel scan through Settings > Broadcasting > Auto Tuning, and you’re all set.
What’s going on here?
It’s all about the tuner. Your TV listens for over-the-air (OTA) broadcast signals the same way a radio picks up stations. The catch? If the scan comes up empty, the tuner either isn’t seeing the signal or isn’t set to look for it. That usually happens when the TV is stuck on cable or satellite mode instead of antenna mode, or the coaxial cable isn’t seated right.
Here’s exactly how to fix it
- Hook up the coaxial cable
- Connect one end of the coaxial cable to the ANT/Cable In port on the back of your TV (it’s the one with the little antenna icon).
- Connect the other end to your outdoor or indoor antenna’s output port.
- Pick the right input source
- Hit the Source button on your remote.
- Choose TV—not HDMI, not USB, not anything else.
- Start the channel scan
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Go to Settings > Broadcasting > Auto Tuning.
- Hit Start to begin hunting for channels.
- Wait for the scan to finish
- Give it 1–3 minutes. When it’s done, you’ll see a list of channels it found.
- Press Save to keep the list.
Still nothing? Try these tweaks
Work through them one at a time:
- Double-check the cable and connections
- Swap in a fresh coaxial cable—old or kinked cables kill signal quality.
- Twist the connectors at both ends to make sure they’re fully seated.
- Point the antenna the right way
- Aim the antenna toward the broadcast towers. The FCC’s DTV Map shows where the towers are in your area.
- If you’re using an indoor antenna, move it closer to a window or up higher—even a foot can make a huge difference.
- Run a manual scan instead
- Go back to Settings > Broadcasting > Auto Tuning.
- Pick Manual Tuning and punch in the frequency or channel number for a channel you know is broadcasting nearby (the FCC map has this info).
Keep your setup running smoothly
- Grab the right coaxial cable
Cable Type Best For Note RG6 Indoor runs up to 100 ft Quad-shielded RG6 cuts down on interference. RG11 Long outdoor runs Thicker cable, less signal loss over distance. - Rescan after bad weather
- After heavy rain or wind, run a channel scan again. Storms can knock signals offline temporarily.
- Add a signal booster if needed
- If you’re right on the edge of reception, slap a preamplifier near the antenna and an amplifier near the TV to beef up weak signals.
According to the FCC, over 90% of U.S. households can pull in at least one OTA channel, and Samsung’s built-in tuners support ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) starting with 2026 models. If you’re still striking out, peek at your TV’s manual—some older Smart TVs need a firmware update to play nice with newer broadcast standards.
