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Sony TV Channels Not Working/Not Finding/Losing Channels

When you turn on your TV, one of the most basic expectations is that you will be able to get to the channels you have either gotten through cable, satellite, or even a streaming service. What do you do if your Sony TV channels are not working, won’t be found, or are lost?

If your Sony TV channels are not working, are not finding, or are losing, you can either retune the channels on the TV, perform an electrical reset, complete a factory reset, update the TV with the latest firmware, replace batteries within your remote, or reset your remote control.

TV remote

It is more than frustrating to flip on your TV and realize that you don’t have access to the channels you are wanting to watch. You are left wondering if the issue lies within your Sony TV or if it is a problem with the cable, satellite, or streaming service. If you are having trouble with the channels on your Sony TV working, not finding, or being lost, continue reading to find a solution to your problems.

Sony TV Channels Not Working

Top view of a couple sitting on a couch and watching TV

If your TV is turning on without issue, you would expect that the channels available on it would follow suit. Although this is always ideal, this is not always the case. If you flip through the content list on your TV and find that none of the channels are working, there are a few different solutions to get those channels back and functioning.

If your Sony TV channels are not working and you are using direct cable or over-the-air antenna, you need to rescan the active channels. To do this, be sure that the cable or antenna wire is connected to the VHF/UHF input on your TV. Then, on your remote, press ‘Home’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Channels/Watching TV’ > ‘Channel Setup/Channels’ > ‘Channel Setup’ > ‘Antenna/Cable’ > ‘Auto Program.’

If you do not have a cable or over-the-air antenna and you are using a satellite receiver or other type of set-top box, your TV needs to be set to the base channel which is either channel 3 or channel 4. Once your TV displays that it has a signal, use the remote control that is provided for your satellite or set-top box to change the programs.

Sony TV Not Finding Channels

Confused woman sitting on couch with a remote in hand

Beyond your Sony TV Channels simply not working, there are more specific issues that owners occasionally encounter. Either users might be experiencing issues finding any channel at all within their Sony TV, or they may be having problems finding particular channels that have simply disappeared. Regardless, owners are left frustrated as the problem typically appears out of nowhere, but solutions are available.

If your Sony TV is not finding channels and you have an android model, follow these steps depending on your TV model: ‘Home’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Watching TV/Channel Setup’ > Channel Setup/Channels/Digital Setup’ > ‘Autotuning/Channel Setup/Digital Tuning’ > ‘Digital/Digital Tuning’> ‘’Digital Auto Tuning.’ This should help to scan channels and also pull up any new channels that may be missing from your list.

If you do not have an android Sony TV and are experiencing problems with your TV finding channels, press ‘Home’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Preferences’ > ‘Channel’ > ‘Signal Type’ > ‘Antenna’ > ‘Add Digital Channels/Auto Program’ > ‘Ok.’ One other workaround, depending on your settings is to press ‘Home’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Digital Set-Up’ > ‘Digital Auto Tuning’ > ‘Yes.’

Sony BRAVIA TV Not Finding Digital Channels

Woman sitting on a sofa pointing remote at TV while eating popcorn

If your Sony Bravia TV has lost digital channels, it could be due to a few different reasons. One possibility is that there is a problem with the TV’s antenna or cable connection, which can prevent the TV from receiving a strong signal. Another potential cause could be a software issue or a problem with the TV’s tuner.

To fix the issue, there are a few things you can try. First, check the antenna or cable connection to make sure that it is properly connected and secure. You can also try resetting the TV by unplugging it from the power source for a few minutes and then plugging it back in. This can help clear any software issues that may be causing the problem.

If the issue persists, try rescanning for digital channels by going to the TV’s menu and selecting “Settings” > “Channel Setup” > “Digital Setup” > “Digital Auto Tuning”. This will scan for available digital channels and add them to your TV’s channel list.

Sony TV Keeps Losing Channels

Guy lying on a sofa at night and watching TV

Every TV owner is going to have their list of favorites when it comes to the channels they watch the most often. Therefore, it would not be an over ask to expect that those same channels always appear once the TV has been turned on. However, there are times when Sony TV owners experience problems with their TV actually losing channels (for example, a channel will be available one day and gone the next).

If your Sony TV keeps losing channels, first be sure that your TV has been updated with the latest firmware. To do this on android TV press ‘Home’ > ‘Help’ > ‘Status & Diagnostics’ > ‘System Software Update.’ For other models press ‘Home’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Customer Support/Setup/Product Support’ > ‘Software Update’ > ‘Network’ > ‘Yes/Ok.’

After you have confirmed that all updates have been installed, channels should reappear and keep from being lost. However, if you are still having problems with losing channels on your Sony TV, you can attempt to retune the channels again to see if those that were lost will be picked back up. To do this, reference the previous section titled “Sony TV Not Finding Channels” which will guide you through a channel scan.

Sony TV Keeps Losing HD Channels

Annoyed female sitting on a sofa and holding TV remote

With the technology of HD (High Definition) channels, Sony TV owners are able to experience a picture within the comfort of their own home that rivals even the greatest of movie theatre screens. HD channels provide a visual experience of clarity so extreme that it is almost as if you are at the game, in the movie, or with the show itself. HD channels are an incredible feature for home TVs, but what do you do if your Sony TV keeps losing HD Channels?

If your Sony TV keeps losing HD channels, this issue could be caused by a firmware update. To resolve the problem, unplug the aerial cable from the TV and then retune the TV (see, “Sony TV Not Finding Channels”) which should “blank” all the stations. Once they have been “blanked,” plug the same aerial cable back in and retune the TV once more which should cause it to find all the HD channels again.

If this does not cause your HD channels to reappear on your Sony TV, you may need to perform a factory reset. This will cause your Sony TV to go back to its factory settings, but can be a quick solution that will get the HD channels to reappear without having to go through other hoops. To perform a factory reset, reference back to the section “Sony TV Not Finding Digital Channels” to be walked through the reset process.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on March 30, 2021.

Sony TV Stuck On One Channel

Female sitting on white sofa and watching TV

Even worse than losing channels on your Sony TV is when your TV is stuck on one specific channel. This means that you are prevented from being able to scroll up or down, get back to the TV menu, and may even have difficulty getting to various applications. This is inconvenient for owners, but even more, it presents a problem that many simply don’t know how to remedy.

If your Sony TV is stuck on one channel, check to see if the channel is stuck on 5.1 (this channel is common for those who are stuck). If this is the channel that it is stuck on (and even if not), simply unplug the antenna from your TV and then turn the TV on. Once the TV is on, reconnect the antenna and avoid channel 5.1 initially to prevent another freeze up, but then be sure to delete 5.1 from your channels.

If you are still having trouble with the channels on your Sony TV getting stuck, try simply performing an electrical reset on your TV by unplugging it from the power source for two minutes then plugging it back in. It is also possible, although it may seem unlikely because it is so obvious, that the batteries in your remote have either died or are not strong enough. Make sure you have good-quality batteries in your remote and see if this unsticks the channel.

Sony TV Remote Won’t Change Channels

Female holding remote and pointing it at the TV

Speaking of problems with the remote, some Sony TV owners encounter problems with their remote when they try to change the channels. No matter how many times they press the up or down button, the channel will not budge and they are left watching the same program on repeat. Although frustrating, this is actually a problem that has a very simplistic solution and can be fixed in a matter of minutes.

If your Sony TV remote won’t change the channels, first look at the most basic problem which might exist which is either dead batteries or poor strength. Make sure that your remote has good-quality alkaline batteries that are new. If this is not the problem, your remote may need to be reset.

To reset your Sony TV remote, you need to first remove the batteries. Once the batteries have been removed, press and release each button on the remote two times. Then, install new alkaline batteries and replace the cover on the back of the remote. Once this has all been completed, you should be able to turn your TV back on and control the channels once more as long as nothing is obstructing the satellite receiver and the remote control.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on March 30, 2021.

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