Guide
How to Rescan Channels on Your Cable Box
If channels are missing, showing old numbers, or your guide looks wrong after a lineup change, rescanning your cable box usually fixes the problem.
If channels are missing, showing old numbers, or your guide looks wrong after a lineup change, rescanning your cable box usually fixes the problem. Here is how to do it on each type of equipment.
When You Should Rescan
Rescan your channels when you notice missing channels that should be in your package, when your provider announces a lineup change, after a power outage or equipment restart, or when you set up a new cable box or TV. A good example is Xfinity's December 2025 tier rename from Choice/Popular/Ultimate to TV Core/Plus/Premium — customers in several markets reported guide glitches until they forced a reboot.
Cable Box (Spectrum, Xfinity, and Others)
Most cable boxes update their channel guide automatically, but you can force a refresh. Unplug your cable box from the power outlet, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. The box will reboot and download the latest channel map from your provider. This process takes 5 to 15 minutes. Do not unplug it during the reboot.
On Xfinity X1 boxes, you can also press and hold the power button on the front of the box for 10 seconds to force a restart. Spectrum customers can send a refresh signal through the My Spectrum app under Equipment, then select your cable box and tap Restart Equipment. Xfinity customers can do the same through the Xfinity app.
Satellite Receiver (DirecTV, DISH)
Satellite receivers work differently from cable boxes. They receive channel data from the satellite signal, so channel maps update automatically when the receiver is on. If channels are missing, press the reset button on the front of the receiver or unplug it for 15 seconds. After rebooting, the receiver will reacquire the satellite signal and refresh the channel list.
On DISH receivers, you can also go to Menu, then Settings, then Diagnostics, and select Reset to refresh the channel data. DirecTV receivers have a red reset button behind the access card door.
Over-the-Air Antenna
If you use an antenna for local broadcast channels, your TV has a built-in tuner that needs to scan for available stations. Go to your TV's Settings menu, look for Channels, Tuner, or Broadcast setup, and select Auto Scan or Channel Scan. The TV will search all available frequencies and save the channels it finds. This is also necessary after local stations change their broadcast frequencies, which happens occasionally after FCC repack events.
Streaming Box (Xumo, Roku, Apple TV)
Streaming devices that run the Spectrum TV app or Xfinity Stream app do not need a rescan. The app fetches the current lineup from the provider's servers every time you open it, so any lineup change is reflected within minutes without any action on your part. If a channel is missing on a Xumo Stream Box but visible on a traditional cable box (or vice versa), the issue is usually app-specific rather than equipment-specific. See the Xumo Stream Box guide for the full breakdown.
After Rescanning
Once the scan completes, check that your expected channels are back. If a channel is still missing after rescanning, it may not be included in your package or may have been dropped by your provider. You can verify your current lineup by selecting your provider on the homepage and choosing your city.
Common Questions
How do I rescan channels on my cable box?
For most cable boxes, unplug the box from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. The box will reboot and download the latest channel map from your provider. The full refresh takes 5 to 15 minutes and should not be interrupted.
When should I rescan my channels?
Rescan when channels you expect are missing, after your provider announces a lineup change, after a power outage or equipment restart, or when setting up a new cable box or TV.
Do DirecTV and DISH receivers need to be rescanned?
Satellite receivers update channel maps automatically from the satellite signal. If channels are missing, press the reset button on the front of the receiver or unplug it for 15 seconds to force a refresh.
How do I rescan channels on a TV with an antenna?
Go to your TV's Settings menu, look for Channels, Tuner, or Broadcast setup, and select Auto Scan or Channel Scan. The TV will search all frequencies and save the stations it finds. This is especially important after FCC repack events that change local broadcast frequencies.