Freeview is the UK’s free digital terrestrial TV platform. It broadcasts dozens of TV and radio channels over the air from regional transmitters, and you receive them with a simple TV aerial and a built-in or set-top DVB-T/DVB-T2 tuner.
So, why do some FreeView channels vanish or get lost? The most common cause is that the TV needs to rescan or adjust to changes, or the signal is blocked. Other common culprits are signal interference or transmitter maintenance outages.
Read on to find out what could be affecting your signal and how you can restore every missing channel.
Causes and solutions of Freeview channels disappearing
Below are the most common causes and how to fix each one.
1. Transmitter maintenance or outage
The TV transmitter that serves your area might be on maintenance or have a fault. During maintenance or repair, engineers may temporarily switch off some channels or run at reduced power. This makes several channels disappear from your device.
Solutions:
- Go to the Freeview updates and alerts page. Check if there is any planned maintenance or a live fault listed for your transmitter. If the transmitter is down, the website will usually say so. You can also use their official social media accounts to confirm outage alerts in your area.
- If maintenance is happening, wait until the work is complete. The channels should return when the transmitter is back to normal.
2. Channel frequency changes
Freeview channels often move to different frequencies or get reconfigured. When broadcasters update the lineup or reassign a channel to another multiplex, you must rescan to find them again.
Current Freeview TVs and boxes will prompt you automatically when an update happens. If you miss that prompt, or if a channel has moved without notice, your set won’t see it until you manually retune.
Solutions:
- Press Menu on your TV or box remote, then go to Settings or Installation, then tap TV Channels.
- Look for Retune, Auto Tune, or Channel Update. Select it to start scanning all frequencies. Some menus call this “First-Time Installation”, “Factory Reset”, or “Full Tuning.” Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm.
- If prompted, allow the TV to delete old channels and search for new ones. Let it run until it finishes scanning, and be patient as it may take a few minutes.
- Your missing channels should now reappear.
3. Wrong transmitter or region
If you live between two transmitters, your TV can accidentally pick up the wrong transmitter when scanning. Each transmitter broadcasts slightly different channels for regional news, entertainment, and so on.
This often happens after a retune, where your device locks onto the strongest signal it finds, which could be a different town’s transmitter. The result is missing local services or channels showing the wrong regional feed.
Solutions:
- Use Freeview’s Channel Checker to find out the channels you should receive in your location.
- Once you verify that the channels you are looking for are available, head to the Detailed Transmitter Information page. Enter your location to find your correct local transmitter based on your postcode. Note down its name and frequency group.
- Using your TV remote, press the Menu button to access the on-screen menu.
- Navigate to Settings or Installation and select it. Look for a toolbox, satellite dish, or spanner icon if your menu uses images.
- Choose Manual Retune or Manual Search from the options.
- If prompted, enter the default PIN code; either 0000 or 1234 will work for most TVs.
- When asked for a frequency or channel number, you need to enter the correct UHF channel for your transmitter that you found from the digital transmitter information page above.
- Input the three or four-digit UHF channel number on your TV when asked. Repeat entering channel numbers, working through all the group bundles listed on the Digital UK website for your transmitter area.
- Once finished inputting the needed channel numbers, press Exit or Menu to complete the retune. Your TV will rescan available signals and match channels to their assigned numbers.
4. Loose or faulty aerial cable
If the coaxial cable from your aerial is not firmly plugged into the “Antenna In” on your TV or box, the signal to your tuner is cut off. The same thing happens if the cable is damaged or the connector is corroded.
In those cases, one or more multiplex signals may fail, so some channels disappear even though others still work.
Solutions:
- Check both ends of the aerial lead. Make sure it is screwed tightly into the wall socket or antenna and the back of the TV/box.
- Inspect the cable along its length. Look for sharp bends, kinks, cuts, or corrosion on the metal connector.
- Replace the cable if it looks worn or damaged.
- If you have a connector/adapter between the TV and the cable, try replacing it.
- If you use an indoor aerial, ensure any power injector is plugged in and switched on, as most indoor aerials need power to amplify the signal.
- After fixing the cable, do a retune using the solutions in cause number two in our list to restore any lost channels.
5. Poor aerial or misalignment
Your aerial itself must be the right type and pointing correctly. An indoor aerial or an old, low-gain aerial may not receive all multiplexes well, especially those on weaker transmitters.
Likewise, if the aerial has shifted due to wind or is pointing at the wrong transmitter, signals drop out.
Solutions:
- If you’re using an indoor aerial, try replacing it with a good-quality outdoor rooftop aerial mounted as high as possible on your roof or an outside wall.
- Ensure your aerial is aimed precisely at your chosen transmitter. Use the Freeview Coverage Checker to confirm which direction to face. A small misalignment can cut out some channels.
- Check if the aerial cable has an amplifier. If so, try disconnecting it as an over-power overloads a strong signal.
- Tighten all aerial mast fittings and ensure the aerial isn’t loose so that high winds do not knock it out of position.
6. Low signal strength or distance
Even with a good aerial, if you’re far from the transmitter or have lots of obstacles like hills, buildings, and dense trees in the way, the overall signal will be weak.
Solutions:
- Check your TV’s signal strength meter. This is often under Settings > Signal or Information. If it’s low (<50%), the TV has trouble receiving.
- Improve reception by raising your aerial higher.
- Consider a higher-gain aerial or adding a masthead amplifier. This should only be used if the signal is weak, as amplifying a strong signal leads to errors.
- Aim precisely and retune using the steps in cause number two in our list after any change.
- If branches or leaves are directly in the line of sight between the aerial and the transmitter, cut them back.
7. Old or incompatible tuner/device issues
Some channels, especially HD ones, use the newer DVB-T2 standard. If your TV or box only supports the older DVB-T, it won’t see those new channels.
Also, any electronics can occasionally glitch. TVs and set-top boxes sometimes “forget” channels or bug out due to corrupted memory.
Solutions:
- Verify your device specs. If it’s more than 10 years old, check if it supports Freeview HD (DVB-T2). The FreeView site lists device compatibility. If not, you will need a newer TV or Freeview HD box to get all channels.
- If it does support DVB-T2, Power-cycle it by switching off and unplugging the TV/box for 10 seconds. Plug it back in and turn it on to clear temporary glitches.
- If your device has a software update feature, try updating it and then retune afterwards.
- As a last resort, do a factory reset, then do a full channel scan. Note that this will erase any favorite lists or recordings, but often fixes stubborn issues
8. Signal splitting or shared distribution issues
If you split the aerial signal to feed multiple TVs using splitters or a communal aerial system, the signal to each TV is normally weaker. A bad splitter or amplifier further adds problems and can cause whole groups of channels to disappear.
Solutions:
- Try connecting the aerial directly to one TV. If the missing channels return, the splitter or distribution is to blame.
- Replace any cheap splitter with a high-quality one, and don’t split more than necessary, as every split halves the signal strength.
- If each TV has an amplifier, remove the amplifier and see if the signal improves.
- If you are splitting the signal to many TVs, a masthead or signal booster might help, but only after eliminating all cable faults.
- For communal aerials, ask neighbours about their reception. If it’s poor for everyone, contact your building manager or landlord. The communal amplifier or wiring may need service.
- In rented or flat scenarios, upgrading to a personal indoor aerial or a separate rooftop aerial will bypass the faulty shared system.
9. Weather and environmental factors
Weather can interfere with your local transmitter, causing loss of certain channels. Also, high winds might shake your aerial out of alignment, and large moving structures, like wind turbine blades or swaying trees, can momentarily reflect signals and cause dropouts.
Solutions:
- Often, these weather-related issues are temporary. Wait a bit and see if the problem goes away with the next weather change.
- After a storm or high winds, re-check your aerial’s position and tighten any loose brackets.
- In summer or winter, heat and air pressure changes affect reception. If it’s a recurring seasonal issue, consider upgrading to a high-gain aerial.
When to contact support or get professional help
Most Freeview issues can be fixed at home, but some problems need expert help or input from your broadcaster or a professional.
Here are clear signs that you should reach out for help:
- You’ve done multiple retunes, and channels are still missing.
- Your neighbours get channels you don’t.
- Your aerial or cable is damaged, and you cannot access it.
- You keep getting the wrong region after every retune. A professional can reconfigure your system to prioritise the right broadcast.
To get help:
- Visit the Freeview Help page for guides and service updates.
- Use the live chat feature on the site. An AI agent can quickly walk you through steps or redirect you.
- If needed, contact a local aerial or antenna expert for hands-on help.