It is the middle of the week, you just want to catch the local news or maybe that one football game that isn’t on a streaming app, and suddenly, your screen is just... blank. "No Signal." You’ve run the auto-scan three times. Still nothing. If your Hisense won't find broadcast channels on TV, you aren't alone, and honestly, it’s probably not a broken TV.
Most of the time, it’s a weird software glitch or a tiny setting buried in a menu you haven't looked at since 2022.
Hisense uses a few different operating systems—Google TV, Roku, and their own VIDAA system. Each one hides the channel settings in a different spot. But before you get frustrated and start shopping for a new set, let's walk through why this happens and how to actually fix it.
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The "Dumb" Fixes That Usually Work
Sometimes we overlook the obvious stuff. It happens.
First, check that coax cable. You know, the screw-on wire from your antenna. If it’s even a little bit loose, the digital tuner in a Hisense can be finicky. It doesn’t just get "snowy" like old TVs; it just gives up and says zero channels found. Unplug it entirely. Look at the little copper pin in the middle. Is it bent? If it's straight, screw it back in until it's snug—but don't use a wrench. Finger-tight is fine.
Next, where is your antenna? If it's one of those flat "leaf" style ones stuck to the wall, try moving it. Even three inches can be the difference between 40 channels and zero.
Power Cycling (The Magic Reboot)
Electronics get "tired." Static electricity builds up, or a background process freezes.
- Pull the power plug from the wall.
- Wait a full 60 seconds. Don't cheat.
- While it’s unplugged, hold the power button on the actual TV frame for 15 seconds. This drains the capacitors.
- Plug it back in and try the scan again.
The Software Sabotage
Sometimes a Hisense won't find broadcast channels on TV because it thinks you're looking for something else.
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In the settings menu, there is almost always a "Tuner Mode" or "Input Type" selection. It usually defaults to Antenna or Cable. If you are using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna but the TV is set to "Cable," the scan will fail every single time. Why? Because the frequencies are different.
On a Hisense Google TV, go to Settings > Channels & Inputs > Channels > Channel Setup. Make sure "Antenna" is selected before you hit "Auto Scan."
On VIDAA (common in newer international models), you’ll find this under the Settings > Channel menu. There’s often an "Advanced Settings" toggle there. Make sure it isn't set to scan for "Analog Only." In 2026, there are basically no analog stations left. You want DTV or Digital.
The Firmware Update Trap
Here is a weird one: Hisense acknowledged a while back that certain firmware updates actually broke the tuner functionality on some U7 and U8 models. If your TV recently updated itself and then the channels vanished, you might be stuck with a bug.
Check for a new update immediately. Sometimes the fix is already waiting. If not, you might have to contact their support—they've been known to send out USB sticks with "rollback" software for specific tuner issues.
When the Tuner Is Just Overwhelmed
Digital signals are "all or nothing." If your signal is too weak, the TV finds nothing. But—and this is the part people miss—if your signal is too strong, the tuner can "clip" and fail to find channels too.
If you are using a signal booster or an amplified antenna and you live in a big city like New York or Chicago, try turning the booster off. You might be "blinding" the TV with too much power.
Why the "800-Mile Antenna" is a Lie
If you bought an antenna that claimed it could reach 500 or 800 miles, you got scammed. Physics doesn't work that way. Because of the curvature of the earth, most TV signals cut off after 60 to 70 miles. If your Hisense isn't finding channels, and you're relying on one of these "miracle" antennas, the antenna is likely the culprit.
Advanced Troubleshooting: The Factory Reset
If you’ve checked the cables, moved the antenna, and confirmed the settings are on "Antenna/DTV," it's time for the nuclear option.
A factory reset clears out the internal database. Sometimes the channel list gets corrupted and the TV "thinks" it already has a list, so it skips the scan.
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- Google TV: Settings > System > About > Reset.
- Roku TV: Settings > System > Advanced System Settings > Factory Reset.
Yes, you'll have to sign back into Netflix and YouTube. It’s a pain. But it often clears whatever "logic" error was preventing the tuner from talking to the motherboard.
Your Final Checklist for Success
Before you give up, run through this specific sequence:
- Disconnect the coax, wait 5 minutes, and reconnect it firmly.
- Switch the Input to "Live TV" or "Antenna" before opening the scan menu.
- Run a "Full" scan, not a "Quick" scan if the option exists.
- Check the "Tuner Mode" one last time—it must say Antenna/Air.
If the TV still shows zero channels and a different TV in the house works fine on the same antenna, the internal tuner might be dead. This is rare but happens. In that case, you can bypass the TV's internal tuner entirely by buying a cheap external digital converter box for about $30. You plug your antenna into the box, and the box into your Hisense via HDMI. It’s a bit clunky because you’ll have a second remote, but it saves you from buying a new $600 television.
To get things moving, start by checking your Tuner Mode in the settings menu to ensure it isn't accidentally set to "Cable." Afterward, try a Power Cycle by unplugging the TV for a full minute to clear the system cache.