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How to Switch From a Smart TV App Back to Live TV or Cable

Use Input or Source to choose TV/Live TV for antenna channels or the matching HDMI port for a cable or satellite receiver.

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Press Input or Source on your TV remote, then choose TV or Live TV for antenna channels, or the HDMI input connected to your cable or satellite box. If the TV has a Home screen instead of a source button, look for Inputs or Connected Devices.

Choose the source that carries the TV you want

“Regular TV” can mean either channels received by the television’s built-in tuner or a cable or satellite service delivered through a separate receiver. The input menu switches the picture source; it does not provide a subscription or create antenna reception.

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What you want to watch TV connection What to select Remote for changing channels
Over-the-air broadcast channels Antenna coax connected to Ant/Cable In TV or Live TV TV remote
Cable or satellite service through a receiver Receiver connected to an HDMI port The matching HDMI input Provider box remote

Menu names and remote buttons vary by brand, model, region, and software version. If you cannot find the labels below, check the manual or support page for your TV model.

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Switch back using your TV’s remote or Home screen

  1. Press Input or Source on the TV remote, if it has that button.
  2. Select TV or Live TV for the TV tuner, or choose the HDMI port used by your cable or satellite receiver.
  3. If there is no source button, press Home and look for Inputs, Connected Devices, or a similarly named menu.

Roku TV

Press Home, move to Inputs, choose Live TV for an antenna or direct coax source, or select the HDMI input carrying your provider box, then press OK. Roku provides these steps in its guide to connecting an HDTV antenna to Roku TV. If you use a separate Roku Streaming Player connected to another television, use the TV remote to change the television’s input.

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Samsung Smart TV

On a Samsung Smart Remote, open Home and select Connected Devices. With a universal remote, press Source and choose the connected source. Samsung notes that “Function may vary by model and country”; menu paths can differ by model. See Samsung’s instructions for changing a TV source.

Sony Google TV or Android TV

On some Sony models, the TV button goes directly to live TV or an assigned TV input. You can also use the remote’s Input button or the Home-screen route described in Sony’s instructions for changing inputs. Exact controls depend on the model.

If you want antenna channels

  1. Connect the antenna’s coaxial cable to the TV’s Ant/Cable In port.
  2. Select or set up Live TV and run a channel scan using the TV’s on-screen instructions.
  3. If the scan finds no channels, check that the coax connection is secure and try repositioning the antenna. Reception depends on location and antenna placement.

Roku’s antenna setup guide describes the antenna and coax connection for Roku TV; other TVs may use different setup menus.

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If cable or satellite shows “No Signal”

  • Make sure the provider receiver is powered on.
  • Check that the HDMI cable is firmly connected at both ends.
  • Set the TV to the HDMI input where the receiver is actually connected.
  • If there is still no picture, try another HDMI port or cable.

Once the receiver’s picture appears, use the provider box remote to change channels. The TV remote selects the input; it may not control the receiver’s channel guide or tuning.

If the TV keeps switching to another source

HDMI-connected devices can interact in ways that cause a TV to change inputs. Roku’s troubleshooting guide for a TV changing inputs recommends checking HDMI connections, trying another TV port, power cycling the devices, checking TV firmware and HDMI-CEC settings, and disabling Roku 1-touch play where applicable. These are Roku-specific recommendations, not universal menu instructions.

Make the TV start on the last-used source

If you want the TV to open on regular TV rather than a smart hub, Samsung describes a start-screen option that can show the last-used source when Smart Hub Home startup is disabled. The setting path varies by model; see Samsung’s source and startup guidance.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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