2026 Guide: How to Retune Freeview Channels on Any TV

When to Retune

You should retune your Freeview TV or box when channels have disappeared or stopped working, when Digital UK announces frequency changes in your area, when you have moved to a new house, after a power cut that may have reset your TV's channel memory, or when HD channels are missing from the 100+ range. Most of these situations are resolved by a simple automatic retune.

Retune on Samsung TV

Retune on LG TV

Retune on Sony, Panasonic & Hisense

Sony: Settings → Channels & Inputs → Channels → Channel Setup → Auto Tuning → Start. Sony TVs running Google TV may have the option under Live TV settings.

Panasonic: Menu → Setup → Tuning Menu → Auto Setup → Start. Panasonic TVs may ask whether to search for aerial or cable — select Aerial for Freeview.

Hisense: Settings → Channel → Auto Tuning → Start. On newer Hisense VIDAA models, it may be under Live TV → Settings → Channel Scan.

Retune on a Freeview Box

If you use a separate Freeview box rather than your TV's built-in tuner, the retune process is similar: go to Settings or Setup on the box's menu, find Channel Scan or Auto Tune, and start the scan. The box will rescan all frequencies and rebuild your channel list. Note that retuning a PVR box may delete scheduled recordings, so check your recording schedule first.

Still Missing Channels After Retuning?

If channels are still missing after a full retune, the issue may be your aerial signal. Check that your aerial cable is securely connected, try a manual retune (which scans each frequency individually rather than automatically), or use the Digital UK coverage checker to confirm which channels should be available in your area.

If aerial issues are persistent, our Freeview without aerial guide covers internet-based alternatives that bypass aerial reception entirely. You can also add channels through a Firestick with broadcaster apps to supplement missing aerial channels.