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Fix a TV that has coaxial that will not work

We'll check input, coax connection, channel scan, and power-cycle—or tell you when to call your provider or a technician.

Troubleshooting · Home electronics
5–15 min
What you'll need
  • TV remote
  • Coaxial cable
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Steps

Goal: Confirm input and coax connection, run a channel scan if needed, then rule out signal source issues.

Check input and coax

Goal: Confirm the correct input is selected and the coax is firmly connected.

  • Use the TV remote to select Antenna, TV, or Cable—the input that matches the coax port.
  • Screw the coax cable firmly onto the TV ANT IN or CABLE IN port. Check the wall or antenna end.
  • Good: Correct input and coax firmly connected. The signal appears or you are ready to scan. Proceed to Channel scan.
  • Bad: Still no signal—tighten coax, run channel scan, or power-cycle.

Channel scan

Goal: Run a channel scan so the TV finds available channels.

  • Go to TV Settings > Channels > Scan for channels (or similar). Select Antenna or Cable based on your setup.
  • Wait for the scan to finish. Channels should appear.
  • Good: Channels appear. Done.
  • Bad: No channels found—check antenna position, cable provider, or power-cycle.

Power-cycle

Goal: Reset the TV tuner with a power-cycle.

  • Unplug the TV from power. Wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in. Turn it on and select the coax input.
  • Good: Power-cycle fixes the issue. The signal appears. Done.
  • Bad: Still no signal—check antenna or cable provider; call a pro if needed.

When to get help

Call your cable provider if using cable and the coax is connected, scan is done, and you have power-cycled—they can check signal and activation.

Call a TV repair technician if:

  • The coax works on another TV but not this one.
  • No input works on the TV.

Verification

  • The TV shows a picture from the coax input.
  • The correct input (Antenna or Cable) is selected.
  • The coax cable is firmly screwed on at both ends.
  • Channels were found by the channel scan.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Input and coax Select correct input; confirm coax is firmly connected.
  2. Channel scan Run a channel scan for antenna or cable.
  3. Power-cycle Unplug TV for 30 seconds; plug back in.
  4. Signal source Check antenna position or cable provider.
  5. Call a pro Call provider for cable; call technician if coax works on another TV.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • TV model
  • Signal source (antenna or cable)
  • Steps already tried

Is the correct input selected?

Wrong input shows no signal.

Use the TV remote. Select Antenna, TV, or Cable—the input that matches the coax port. Correct input: check coax connection. Wrong input: select correct one, then test.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Select correct input

Select the Antenna or Cable input. Confirm the coax is firmly connected. If signal appears, done. If not, run a channel scan.

Done

Is the coax firmly connected?

Loose coax causes no signal or pixelation.

Screw the coax firmly onto the TV ANT IN or CABLE IN port. Check the wall or antenna end. Firmly connected: run channel scan. Loose: tighten both ends, then test.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Tighten coax and test

Screw the coax on firmly at both ends. Run a channel scan if needed. If signal appears, done. If not, power-cycle and check signal source.

Done

Has a channel scan been run?

New setup or reset requires a scan.

Go to TV Settings > Channels > Scan. Select Antenna or Cable. Wait for scan to finish. Scan done: check if channels appear. Not done: run scan, then test.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Run channel scan

Run the channel scan. If channels appear, done. If not, power-cycle and check antenna or cable provider.

Done

Power-cycle and check source

Unplug TV for 30 seconds. Plug back in. Check antenna position or cable provider for signal. If still no signal, call provider (cable) or technician.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would TV coaxial not work?
Wrong input selected, loose coax connection, no channel scan done, antenna misaligned, or weak cable signal. Check input, coax connection, and run a channel scan.
Can I fix TV coaxial that will not work myself?
Yes. Check input, screw the coax on firmly, run a channel scan, and power-cycle. Most coax issues are connection or scan related.
When should I call a technician for coaxial that will not work?
If you have checked input, coax connection, channel scan, and power-cycle and the coax still does not work. Call your cable provider if using cable; for antenna, a technician can check signal.

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