How to retune a Samsung TV
Samsung's tuning menu is called Broadcasting. It only appears when the source is Live TV, and its position in Settings depends on the model year.
Which Samsung do you have?
Find which path opens Usage Mode: 2025 onwards Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy; 2022 to 2024 the same path then System Manager; 2017 to 2021 Settings > General > System Manager; 2016 Settings > System > Expert Settings; 2014 to 2015 MENU > Support.
2022 onwards (Settings shows General & Privacy)
Auto tune
- Press Home, choose Settings, then All Settings.
- Open General & Privacy, then Broadcasting.
- Choose Auto Tuning, then Start.
- Select the aerial type (Air or Terrestrial, not Cable), then Scan.
- When the scan completes choose Close; channels save automatically.
Manual tune
This TV asks for the RF channel number (the frequency is shown once the channel is chosen).
- Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Broadcasting > Expert Settings.
- Choose Manual Scan, then Digital Channel Tuning.
- Choose New, select the RF channel number, then Search.
- Repeat for each RF channel your transmitter uses.
Get the RF channel numbers and frequencies for your suburb
Clear the channel list
- Press and hold the Channel button for more than a second to open the Channel List.
- Choose Edit Channels, select the channel, then Delete (Restore undoes it).
- Run Auto Tuning again.
Check signal
- Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Signal Information.
- The Broadcasting menu is unavailable on an HDMI input, in apps, or while recording; switch the source to Live TV first.
- The TV must be in Home mode. Retail mode wipes settings after five minutes and will not keep channels.
2016 to 2021 smart TVs
Auto tune
- Press Home, choose Settings.
- Open Broadcasting (on 2016 models it sits under Settings; on 2017 to 2021 it is a top-level Settings item).
- Choose Auto Tuning, then Start.
- Select Air (Terrestrial), then Scan, then Close.
Manual tune
This TV asks for the RF channel number.
- Settings > Broadcasting > Expert Settings > Manual Scan > Digital Channel Tuning.
- Choose New, select the RF channel number, then Search.
Get the RF channel numbers and frequencies for your suburb
Clear the channel list
- Settings > Broadcasting > Edit Channel (or open the Channel List and choose Edit Channels), select and Delete.
- Run Auto Tuning again.
Check signal
- Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > Signal Information.
- Broadcasting is greyed out unless the source is Live TV.
2013 to 2015 (MENU button remote)
We could not confirm these menu names against the maker's own documentation for every model in this range. If your menu differs, look for the words Channel, Programme, Broadcasting or Tuning, and choose Antenna (never Cable or Satellite).
Auto tune
- Press MENU on the remote.
- Choose Broadcasting, then Auto Tuning.
- Choose Start, select Air, then Scan.
Manual tune
This TV asks for the RF channel number.
- MENU > Broadcasting > Channel Settings > Manual Tuning > Digital Channel Tuning > New > select the channel > Search.
Get the RF channel numbers and frequencies for your suburb
Clear the channel list
- MENU > Broadcasting > Edit Channel: select the channel and Delete.
Check signal
- MENU > Support > Self Diagnosis > Signal Information.
Before you start
- Plug the antenna lead into the socket marked ANT, RF IN, AIR or Antenna on the TV itself. If the antenna only goes into a set-top box or Fetch box, the TV's own tuner will find nothing.
- Switch the TV to its TV, Live TV or Antenna source first. On many brands the tuning menu is greyed out while an HDMI input is selected.
- If a masthead or distribution amplifier is fitted, make sure its power supply is plugged in and switched on.
- Leave the country set to Australia and, where asked, choose your state or region. A wrong country or region scrambles the channel numbers or finds nothing.
- Choose Antenna, Aerial, Air, Terrestrial or DVB-T when asked. Never choose Cable, DVB-C or Satellite: Australian free-to-air is terrestrial only.
- Choose DTV or Digital only. Analogue TV ended in Australia in 2013; scanning for it doubles the time and finds nothing.
- Look up the RF channel numbers your transmitter uses first, so you can tell whether the scan found the right transmitter.
After tuning
- Check the channel list: you should see the main channels at 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10 (or 5, 6 and 8 in most regional areas) with their multichannels behind them.
- Channels at 350 to 399 are duplicates from a second transmitter. Delete them or hide them; the copies at the normal numbers are the strongest signal.
- If a Fetch box or recorder is connected, retune it separately; it has its own tuner.
If it didn't work
- The tuning or Broadcasting menu is greyed out
- The TV is on an HDMI or app input. The tuner menu only unlocks on the TV/Antenna source. Press Source or Input, choose TV, Live TV or Antenna, then open the menu again.
- The scan finishes but some networks are missing
- One multiplex is arriving too weak, or the antenna suits the wrong band (VHF versus UHF) for your transmitter. Compare the channels found with the list for your suburb. If one network's RF channel is missing, retune once more; if it is still missing the antenna, cable or connectors need checking on the roof.
- Channels appear twice, or at numbers like 350 to 399
- The antenna is receiving two transmitters that both claim the same channel numbers. Only one can keep each number; the weaker copy is pushed into the 350 to 399 range set aside for duplicates. Delete or hide the 350 to 399 copies. If the wrong transmitter won, clear the channel list and use manual tuning with the RF channels of the transmitter you want.
- No channels found at all
- No signal reaching the tuner: antenna lead not connected to the TV, amplifier unpowered, damaged cable, or Cable/Satellite chosen instead of Antenna. Check the lead goes into the TV's antenna socket, the amplifier power supply is on, and the tuner mode is Antenna. If the TV's signal screen shows nothing, the fault is outside the TV.
- Channels are in the wrong order or have odd numbers
- Country or region set incorrectly during setup. Set the country to Australia (and your state where asked), then run a full rescan.
- Channels disappear again a few minutes or days later
- Retail or demo mode on Samsung TVs wipes settings, or the signal is marginal and drops out in weather. Set the TV to Home mode. If the signal is marginal, the antenna system needs attention rather than another retune.
- Picture pixelates or freezes on some channels only
- Marginal signal on one multiplex: water in the cable or connectors, a tired amplifier, or the antenna moved in wind. Retuning will not fix a weak signal. Note which RF channel is affected and book an inspection.
Free TV Australia assigns the channel numbers. When a scan receives the same service from two transmitters, only one signal can occupy each number; the other is stored at 350 to 399. This is not a fault with the TV or the broadcaster.
If channels are still missing, the antenna may be aimed at the wrong transmitter. How to read the antenna direction results
Samsung questions
- Why is Auto Tuning greyed out on my Samsung TV?
- The Broadcasting menu only works when the source is Live TV. Press Source, choose TV, then open Settings again.
- My Samsung TV keeps losing its channels
- Check Usage Mode is set to Home. Retail mode resets the TV every five minutes and discards the channel list.
Other brands
Still missing channels after a retune?
A retune cannot fix a weak signal. Our technicians check the antenna, cabling and signal levels on site.
Steps are taken from manufacturer support pages and user manuals; menu names vary by model year and software version. Sources: manufacturer support pages and manuals — samsung.com, samsung.com, samsung.com, samsung.com. Report an error