Samsung's antenna guide says over the air programming is now largely HD, and the TV has a tuner that scans for local channels and adds them to the channel list; an antenna helps the TV find more channels and better signal. Make sure an antenna or cable box is installed and set up, attach a coax cable if needed, and connect its other end to the ANT IN port on the back of the TV.
The checks in more detail
Open the channel setup, choose Air, Cable or Both when asked: Air is for an antenna only, Cable is for a cable box only, and choose Both if you use both. Then run Auto Program or Scan for channels, and let the scan finish, which can take several minutes. If channels are missing, try again after repositioning the antenna near a window and away from electronics, use an amplified antenna where signal is weak, and rescan after each move.
Check the input: select TV as the source, not HDMI. Check the coax connection is finger tight and that any splitters or amplifiers are powered. Rescan periodically, since stations change channels. Samsung TV Plus, a free streaming service on the TV, offers extra channels with a Samsung account and internet, and works without an antenna. If the channel list is blank after a software update, run Auto Program again.
Antenna signal strength is displayed under Signal Information. Scan at different times of day, since some stations transmit at reduced power at night, and note which channels you gain or lose. Position matters more than antenna price, so move it a meter and rescan before spending money. Keep a written list of the channels you expect, so a rescan that finds fewer is noticed at once and you can reposition before the evening.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung TV line cannot find antenna channels”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The wrong source or type
What separates it There are no channels because the wrong source or type is selected
How to confirm Choose TV as the source, and choose Air or Cable to match how you are connected
- 2
A weak signal
What separates it Only a few channels appear because the antenna signal is weak
How to confirm Move the antenna, or add an amplifier, to give the tuner a stronger signal
- 3
A loose coax
What separates it The channels come and go because the coax connection is loose
How to confirm Tighten the coax connections at the antenna, the wall and the TV
- 4
An outdated scan
What separates it Stations are missing because the last channel scan is out of date
How to confirm Rescan the channels, so that new and moved stations are found
- 5
A cleared list
What separates it The channel list is blank after an update because the update cleared it
How to confirm Run Auto Program again, to rebuild the channel list from scratch
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the TV is set to Air, Cable or Both
- The signal strength that the TV reports
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedConnect the antenna
ReversibleConnect the antenna to the ANT IN port on the back of the TV, with a good coax cable.
Choose the source
ReversibleChoose the source, which is TV, and then Air or Cable, depending on your connection.
Run Auto Program
ReversibleRun Auto Program, and wait for the scan to finish before you change any settings.
Reposition the antenna
ReversibleReposition the antenna, ideally near a window, and away from metal and electronics, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Rescan
ReversibleRescan after each move of the antenna, since the tuner only finds what it sees during a scan.
Check Signal Information
ReversibleCheck Signal Information, which shows the strength of each channel that the tuner receives, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use Samsung TV Plus
ReversibleUse Samsung TV Plus as a free extra, which streams channels over the internet, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Models this page covers
- Samsung QN90D, QN90C, QN90B, QN95D, QN900D, Q80C, Q90T, S90C, S90D, S95C, S95D, CU8000 and The Frame LS03D. Samsung writes one support article per fault for its TVs; the notes name where panel type, One Connect Box, HDMI 2.1 ports and Tizen year differ.
- Tuner
- Samsung TVs have an ATSC tuner; the Frame and Neo QLED models have ANT IN on the box or TV.
- One Connect
- On box models the ANT IN port is on the One Connect Box.
- Tools and supplies
- The TV remote and fresh batteries, a known good HDMI cable, a flashlight for a backlight test, your phone with the SmartThings app and a pen and paper for the model and serial number. No screwdriver is needed and a TV should not be opened.
- Repair cost
- Restarts, resets, cable swaps and settings changes cost nothing. When hardware is at fault, published repair figures put an average TV repair at $100 to $350: a power board $200 to $475, an LED backlight $100 to $300, a T-Con board $100 to $200 and a main board anywhere from $25 to $300 depending on the panel (Fixr, HomeGuide and repair-shop data). Samsung TVs carry a limited warranty from the date of purchase, which is worth checking before any paid repair. A wrong input, an HDMI setting or a network fault costs nothing to fix whichever model you own.
- Rescanning properly
- Run Auto Tune from Settings, Broadcasting, Auto Tune with the antenna connected and powered if it is an amplified one. Choose Air for an antenna and run the scan twice, since the first scan can miss weaker channels. Note the channels you gain and lose and compare after moving the antenna.
- Antenna placement and interference
- Place the antenna near a window, high, away from the TV's back where electronics add noise. A new LED lamp or router near the antenna can cause breakup, so move them. An amplifier can overload a strong signal, so try it with and without. Use good coaxial cable and a tight connector.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models CU8000, Q80C, Q90T, QN900D, QN90B, QN90C, QN95D, S90C, S90D, S95C, S95D, LS03D.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a scan finds nothing with a known good antenna, check the coax and ANT IN port
- !If only some stations are missing, reposition the antenna
- !If the tuner fails to find anything, contact Samsung, since it may be faulty
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The menu paths are Samsung's own and vary by model year. Repair prices are typical published ranges and vary by shop and model.
Air, Cable or Both and Samsung TV Plus.
Automatic, internet and USB updates.
App fixes.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does Air mean?+
Air means that you use an antenna only, with no cable box.
What does Cable mean?+
Cable means that you use a cable box only, with no antenna.
Does TV Plus need an antenna?+
No, TV Plus does not need an antenna, since it streams over the internet.
Why do some channels disappear?+
Signal strength, weather or interference changes.
Should I rescan after moving the antenna?+
Yes, run Auto Tune again.