Vizio TV Channels Missing: How to Fix

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One day, when I tried to tune in to the local news channel, I was surprised to find that the channel was no longer there.

This happened on my cable TV setup that uses a coaxial cable to get the signal to my TV, unlike most TV receivers of today.

I had to find out what happened to the channel, so to do that, I went on the internet and called up my cable provider as well.

This guide has compiled everything that I found online and what I learned from talking to my cable provider so that you can find your missing channels on your Vizio TV.

To get back your missing channels on a Vizio TV, run a channel scan. If it doesn’t work, reset the tuner or get it replaced.

Ensure the Right TV Input is Selected

The first step to getting all your channels back is to make sure you are on the correct TV input.

Put your TV in TV or cable input mode and check your menu to see if the cable option is selected.

Press the input button on the remote to see what input you are currently on.

Press the button again to scroll through the inputs until you highlight the cable option.

Wait for it to change to that input.

Run a Channel Scan

The next thing you can do is to run the channel scan again.

I’d advise you to run a channel scan once every month.

Providers will change channel numbers or even remove channels outright, so scanning again is a good choice.

To run a channel scan:

  1. Make sure the input is in TV mode. Press the INPUT button on the remote to check if it is so.
  2. Open the TV menu and choose TV or Tuner option (varies by model).
  3. Highlight Tuner Mode and select Cable.
  4. Select Auto Search or Auto Channel Scan (varies by model).
  5. Wait for the search to hit 100% and exit the menu.
  6. Check if your channel has come back.

If this doesn’t work, do a power cycle on the TV.

  1. Turn off the TV and unplug it from the wall.
  2. Press and hold the Power button on the TV for 45 seconds.
  3. Plug the TV back in and turn it on.

If you get a message that says No Channels in Master List, try these steps:

  1. Make sure the TV is powered on and in TV input mode.
  2. Check all connections to the TV and your box if applicable.
  3. If you don’t see your input in the input screen, keep in mind:
    1. The cable box might have renamed your input. Some devices can rename the input on your TV, so select the corresponding input.
    1. Now run a channel scan.

    Check Your Subscription Package

    As time goes on, your cable provider will shift the channels around between the many plans they offer.

    Contact your cable provider to ensure the channel you are missing is in the package you have subscribed to.

    If not, ask them to upgrade your plan to one that does have the channel you need.

    Update Your TV’s Firmware

    Updating the firmware your TV runs on can add new features to the TV.

    Your cable provider may have moved the channel to a frequency that your TV’s current firmware cannot tune to.

    To update your TV’s firmware, first, get hold of a USB drive.

    1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Vizio home page.
    2. Click Support from the tabs on the top.
    3. Enter the model number of your TV.
    4. Next, click on the Download firmware link.
    5. Rename the downloaded file to ‘fwsu.img’ without quotes and copy it to your USB drive.
    6. Power off the TV and insert the USB drive into a port on the back of the TV.
    7. Turn the TV back on again.
    8. A progress bar will show up on the bottom of the screen that indicates the TV is being updated.
    9. Wait until the update finishes and only the Power LED stays on.
    10. Remove the USB drive and power the TV back on again.

    You have successfully updated the firmware for your Vizio TV.

    Next, check if the missing channels are back after running a channel scan again.

    Find the Real RF Channel of the Station

    The FCC has set up a station finder so that you can find the latest channel numbers for all cable TV channels.

    Enter your ZIP code and find the channel station you are missing.

    Then, tune your TV to that channel.

    It doesn’t need to be the exact number and can be plus or minus some tenths.

    For example, if the station channel is 24, you can tune the TV to 24.1 or 24.3 to get your channel.

    Install a Cable Box

    If you don’t have a cable box but are running the cable directly from the wall to the TV, maybe it’s time to get a dedicated cable box.

    Cable providers have almost completely started to encrypt their channels.

    This means that it would be impossible to tune to the channel with a direct connection without the cable box decrypting the channels for you.

    You won’t be able to receive encrypted signals if your coaxial cable comes direct from the wall, and a cable box can help you with that.

    Perform a Tuner Hard Reset

    Resetting the tuner is a great option if all the other methods have been duds for you.

    To reset the tuner, you have to factory reset your Vizio TV.

    Remember that a factory reset can remove all the settings from your TV.

    To factory reset your Vizio TV:

    1. Open the on-screen menu and navigate to either SETUP or SYSTEM.
    2. Go to either Reset all Settings, System Reset, or Reset & Admin. The options vary by model.

    When the TV restarts after the factory reset, try tuning to your channels again and see if the missing ones are back.

    Replace the Tuner / Main Board

    If the issue persists after a factory reset, it’s time to get your Tuner replaced.

    Most Vizio TVs have tuners inbuilt to the mainboard.

    So replacing the mainboard is the only true solution.

    I’d advise you to consult a local TV specialist for this since sourcing the correct parts and working on the TV itself needs a professional touch.

    Contact Support

    If the TV still can’t display your missing channels, contact your cable operator’s support team.

    Tell them what you have tried and what your issue was.

    They might recommend more fixes or send a technician to check on your equipment if they feel the need to.

    Restoring Missing Channels

    After you successfully get your channel back, the next thing you should think about is getting a new universal remote.

    If you have AV receivers along with your TV and have remotes for all of them, it just becomes cluttered.

    There are universal remotes that work best with Vizio, and all of them are packed with features you thought you never needed.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do I manually add channels to my Vizio TV?

    First, find the channel number with the station finder.

    Then go to the Settings menu and highlight Partial Channel search.

    Choose the type of channel you want to add from that menu and enter the range to start and end the scan.

    Next, input a range between the channel number you found earlier and Click Start.

    Let the scan finish and check if you can find the channel after.

    Why can’t I change the channel on my Vizio TV?

    To fix this, turn on the TV and press the Menu button.

    While on the menu, navigate to the Cable or Antenna menu.

    Select Auto search and let the search finish.

    Restart the TV and check if you can change channels.

    How do I get to the menu on Vizio TV without a remote?

    Look for physical buttons on the TV itself.

    There should be a button labeled Menu towards the bottom.

    Press the button to open the menu.

    How do I reboot my Vizio Smart TV?

    Turn off the TV by pressing the power button on the body of the TV.

    Wait for a few minutes before turning it back on to finish the reboot.

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