To reprogram channels on your Vizio TV, connect your antenna to the coaxial input, press MENU, then select All Settings > Antenna Channels > Find Channels and let the scan finish. If your TV manages antenna channels through WatchFree+, open it, press Left Arrow, and select Settings > Antenna Settings > Find Channels.
A channel scan finds stations received by your TV’s tuner. Channels supplied by a cable or satellite receiver connected through HDMI use the receiver’s controls, while streaming channels have a separate lineup.
The short version
- TV settings: Press MENU, then open All Settings > Antenna Channels > Find Channels.
- WatchFree+: Open WatchFree+, press Left Arrow, then select Settings > Antenna Settings > Find Channels.
- Missing stations: Check hidden channels, move the antenna, and scan again before considering a reset.
- No remote: Use VIZIO Mobile on a compatible smart TV connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.
- External receiver: Select its HDMI input and manage channels with the receiver’s controls.
| Option | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| TV settings scan | Finds antenna stations | Your TV has Antenna Channels |
| WatchFree+ scan | Finds antenna stations | Antenna settings appear inside WatchFree+ |
| Additional channel search | Searches for more stations | Stations are missing after scanning |
| Alternate scan labels | Reaches the tuner scan | Your menus use different names |
| VIZIO Mobile scan menu | Starts a TV channel scan | Your app layout includes Channels |
| Mobile replacement remote | Operates the TV menus | You need touchscreen navigation |
| Official app download | Gets VIZIO Mobile | You need the companion app |
| Hide or restore channels | Changes channel visibility | You want to adjust the saved list |
| TV guide favorites | Places favorites at the top | You want quicker access |
| Information screen favorite | Favorites the channel you are watching | You are watching WatchFree+ |
| Antenna category shortcut | Shows programmed antenna channels | You need local stations in the guide |
| Voice launch | Opens WatchFree+ | You have a voice-compatible V4K TV and paired voice remote |
| Settings factory reset | Erases settings and sign-ins before setup | Other channel fixes have failed |
| Physical button reset | Resets the five models listed below | You need an alternative to their reset menu |
| Mobile favorites | Personalizes the app guide | You watch through VIZIO Mobile |
| Mobile content restrictions | Changes app viewing restrictions | You need app parental controls |
| External receiver controls | Manages the provider’s lineup | Your receiver connects through HDMI |
Connect your antenna or receiver
Connect your antenna cable to the TV’s coaxial input before starting the scan. The antenna signal must reach the TV’s tuner for it to find broadcast stations, so keep that connection in place while scanning.
For a cable or satellite receiver, connect it to the TV by HDMI and select the HDMI input used by the receiver. Use the receiver’s controls to manage its channel lineup. Running Find Channels on the Vizio TV does not program an HDMI receiver.
Scan channels from the TV settings
Press MENU on your remote, open All Settings, and select Antenna Channels. Choose Find Channels and let the scan finish. Use this path on VHD24M, VHD32M, VFD32M, VFD40M, and VFD43M TVs, or a V4K model with these menus.
If your menus look different, press Menu or Settings and open All Settings if it appears. Select Channels, Tuner, TV Channels, or Antenna Channels, matching your screen. Start the search with Find Channels, Find More Channels, or Auto Channel Scan and wait for it to finish.
Scan antenna channels inside WatchFree+
Open WatchFree+ or select Antenna, then press Left Arrow to reach its menu. Select Settings > Antenna Settings > Find Channels. Allow the scan to finish, enter your ZIP code if prompted, and select Done.
Your ZIP code improves guide information for your area. It does not increase antenna reception, so try moving the antenna and rescanning if stations are missing.
To reach your saved antenna stations afterward, open the WatchFree+ Program Guide. Hold OK for three seconds, then choose Antenna Channels from the category list. This shortcut shows your antenna channels without running another scan.
Use your phone to scan channels
Get the companion app from the official VIZIO Mobile download page by selecting Download NOW and following the destination for your phone’s app store. The App Store lists the app as VIZIO | WatchFree+. Connect your phone and compatible Vizio smart TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Select the TV in the app’s device selector and enter the four-digit pairing code displayed on the TV.
Once paired, use the app’s touchscreen navigation to operate the TV’s scan menu. You need a working network connection, so fix your Vizio TV’s WiFi connection first if the TV cannot connect. Then return to pairing and start the scan.
On app layouts that offer a direct scan menu, open Menu Tab > SmartCast Devices or Devices, then select your TV’s device name. Choose Channels > Find Channels. If those labels do not appear in your app, use its remote controls to navigate the scan menu on the TV instead.
Recover stations missing after the scan
Check your saved channel list before repeating the search. A station can be saved but hidden, so open the channel settings or channel list and remove its hidden designation. The labels vary by interface, so the exact path may differ on your TV.
For stations the scan did not find, move the antenna and run Find Channels again. Changing its position can help you recover weak stations. Let the new scan finish before checking the lineup.
If stations are still missing, open WatchFree+ and press Left Arrow. Select Settings > Antenna Settings, then choose Find New Channels or Find More Channels if either appears. Allow the search to finish, but do not count on it preserving your saved channel list across every TV version.
Organize your saved channels
After scanning, review your channel list and hide entries you do not want to see. Hiding changes channel visibility, and you can restore a hidden saved channel through the channel settings or list.
To place a favorite at the top of the WatchFree+ guide, open the Program Guide and press Left Arrow until the channel name is highlighted. Press OK to favorite it. Your favorites appear at the top for quicker access.
You can also favorite a channel while watching it in WatchFree+. Press OK to reopen the channel information screen, then select the favorite option. Adding favorites does not change which antenna stations your tuner can receive.
Reset the TV if channel problems persist
Use a factory reset as a fallback after rescanning, checking hidden channels, and adjusting the antenna. It removes saved settings and sign-ins, so you will need to complete setup again. You will also need to scan for channels afterward.
Press Menu or Gear, then open Admin & Privacy, which sits under All Settings on some menus. Select Reset to Factory Defaults > Reset TV and follow the prompts. Complete setup, then run Find Channels again.
On VHD24M, VHD32M, VFD32M, VFD40M, and VFD43M TVs, you can also reset using the TV’s physical button. With the TV on, hold its Power/Input button for 12 seconds, then complete setup and rescan. This also erases saved settings and credentials; use this button procedure only on the listed models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you reprogram Vizio TV channels with a voice command?
Use your voice to open WatchFree+, then start the scan from its menu. On a voice-compatible V4K TV with a paired voice remote, hold MIC and say “Launch WatchFree+.” Then start the scan through Settings > Antenna Settings > Find Channels.
Do favorites in VIZIO Mobile sync to your TV?
No, favorites you create in VIZIO Mobile stay in the app and do not automatically transfer to your TV. In the app’s guide, swipe right on a channel icon and tap the empty heart to favorite it.
How do you change WatchFree+ parental controls in the mobile app?
Open Account > WatchFree+, then choose Family Friendly, Teens, or Adult. These restrictions apply to WatchFree+ in the app and are separate from TV tuner channel locks.
Can you manually add one digital antenna channel?
Use the channel scan available on your TV to search for the station. If it is still missing, choose Find New Channels or Find More Channels where either appears for a more thorough search, or move the antenna and scan again.
Can you change antenna channel numbers on your Vizio TV?
You can use TV guide favorites to make your preferred stations easier to reach.
Can you program the TV tuner through a website or account portal?
Start the scan through your TV’s menus or VIZIO Mobile on a compatible smart TV.