When should you retune Freeview?

Check the cause before scanning

If channels suddenly disappear or the picture breaks up, note which channels are affected and whether another TV connected to the same aerial has the same problem. Check that the aerial lead is firmly connected and that any powered amplifier still has power. If the problem affects several TVs at once, check for local transmitter engineering or an outage before changing settings. Freeview service updates can help you check.

Avoid repeated retunes while the signal is absent. A scan may replace a working channel list with an incomplete one, leaving you with fewer channels until reception returns.

Good reasons to retune

• You have moved home or campsite. The new location may be served by a different transmitter. Point a suitable aerial toward the likely transmitter before scanning.
• You have installed or realigned an aerial. After the signal path is working, a fresh scan can find services from the intended transmitter.
• Freeview advises a retune in your area. Channel or frequency changes sometimes call for one; follow the specific notice rather than guessing.
• Some channels remain missing after a temporary fault is resolved. First confirm the signal is stable, then try a single retune.

When a retune is unlikely to help

Frozen pictures, intermittent sound and blocky video are often signs of reception trouble. If they worsen in wind or rain, look for a loose connection, a damaged outdoor aerial or a problem with the distribution system. A retune only changes the TV’s saved channel list. In a flat with a communal aerial, ask the building manager whether others have the same issue before altering equipment.

Likewise, if your TV shows no signal on every channel and the aerial is disconnected, scanning will not restore the missing signal. Resolve the physical connection or outage first. See our reception troubleshooting guide for a sequence of checks.

How to retune carefully

1. Check the aerial cable, any amplifier and the relevant service updates. Make sure the picture is stable on channels that still work.
2. Note any favourite channel lists and recording schedules. Your TV or recorder may reset them during a scan.
3. Open your TV’s settings, then find a menu named Channels, Installation or Broadcast. Choose the aerial or antenna input and its automatic channel scan. Menu wording differs by model.
4. Let the scan finish without turning the set off. Then test several channels from different groups.
5. If the wrong regional news appears or duplicates are stored, compare nearby transmitters and check aerial direction before rescanning. Some sets offer a manual tune to specific frequencies; use the frequencies published for the transmitter you intend to receive.

For manufacturer specific instructions, consult the TV manual. Freeview also has a retuning help page.

Why your region might change

In places where two transmitters are receivable, an automatic scan may save channels from a weaker or more distant region first. The nearest transmitter is not always the best one. Compare the postcode prediction with your aerial’s bearing and polarisation, then look at the TV’s signal quality display. Our transmitter guide explains the tradeoffs; UK Aerial Helper can provide an approximate bearing for main transmitters on an iPhone.

If the aerial is on a roof or the installation is shared, seek qualified help instead of working at height or altering communal equipment. No app or postcode checker can measure the signal arriving at a particular socket.

Quick decision

New address or changed aerial? Check alignment, then retune once. Sudden loss with no equipment change? Check leads and service updates, wait for a stable signal, and retune only if channels remain missing. Picture breaking up while channels are still listed? Investigate signal quality first.