To scan channels on a smart TV, connect an aerial, switch the input to TV (Antenna/DTV), then run Auto Scan (also called Auto Tuning or Channel Search) from the Channels menu. Choose Kenya as the country, Antenna as the tuner and Digital as the channel type, and the TV finds the free-to-air stations it can receive.
Before you scan: antenna, cable and input source
- Aerial plugged in firmly to the port marked ANT, RF or ANT IN. If yours is old or indoor, see how to choose a TV antenna.
- Input source set to TV, not HDMI. Press Source or Input and pick TV, DTV or Live TV.
- Country: Kenya. The country sets the broadcast standard; Kenya uses digital DVB-T2.
- Antenna or Cable? Choose Antenna (sometimes “Air” or “Terrestrial”). Cable is for cable-TV networks, not a rooftop or indoor aerial.
- Channel type: Digital (DTV). Kenya’s analogue signals were switched off, so analogue only slows the scan.
Samsung? Follow scan channels on a Samsung TV.
Hisense and TCL steps
Hisense (VIDAA system): 1. Press the Settings or menu button. 2. Go to Channels > Tuner Mode and pick Antenna. 3. Select Auto Channel Scan (some models say Auto Scan) and wait for it to finish.
TCL and other Google TV / Android TV sets (also many Hisense, Skyworth and Haier models running Google): 1. Press Settings on the remote. 2. Go to Channels & Inputs > Channels > Channel Scan. 3. Pick your country, set tuner to Antenna and type to Digital. 4. Choose Scan automatically and wait for 100%.
If asked for a PIN when changing country, TCL says the default is usually 1234.
LG, Skyworth and Haier steps
LG (webOS): 1. Press Settings and open All Settings. 2. Go to General > Channels > Channel Tuning (older LGs: Channels > Channel Tuning; some regions say “Programme Tuning”). 3. Select Auto Tuning, tick Antenna and press Start.
Skyworth (Android TV): 1. Open the TV or Live TV input. 2. Press Menu or Settings while on that input, then Channel > Auto Scan (or Channel Search). 3. Choose DTV/Antenna and start.
Haier: 1. Press Source and choose DTV or TV. 2. Press Menu, then Channel > Auto Search (or Auto Tuning). 3. Choose Kenya, DTV/Antenna and start.
Menu names vary by model and year; if a step doesn’t match, check the manual.
Few or no channels found: fixes
- Check the cable end. A loose or corroded connector is the usual cause, especially after rain.
- Confirm Antenna, not Cable, and Digital is ticked. Then rescan.
- Move the aerial higher and point it towards the nearest transmitter. Ask neighbours which way theirs face.
- Use a shorter, better coaxial cable with fewer joints.
- Outside major towns, signal is weaker. An outdoor rooftop aerial often fixes it; in deep valleys or remote areas you may need a satellite free-to-air option instead.
- Run a fresh auto scan after any change.
To see which stations to expect and what to do in weak-signal areas, read free-to-air TV in Kenya.
Quick answers
Plug in an aerial, set the input to TV, then go to Settings > Channels and run Auto Scan (or Auto Tuning) with Kenya, Antenna and Digital selected.
Usually a loose aerial cable, Cable mode instead of Antenna, or weak signal. Fix the connection, raise the aerial and rescan.
Antenna, for free-to-air channels from a roof or indoor aerial. Cable is only for cable-TV networks.
