Aspects of frequency error detection with Physical Broadcast CHannel (PBCH) frequency hypothesis are described. For example, a method and apparatus are disclosed for frequency tracking in a user equipment (UE) may include detecting a change in frequency that exceeds a pull-in range of a frequency tracking loop (FTL) of the UE. The method and apparatus may also include identifying a tracking recovery frequency in response to the change in frequency being detected, wherein the tracking recover frequency is identified from a set of frequency hypotheses and based on decoding of the PBCH received by the UE. The method and apparatus may further include updating the FTL with the tracking recovery frequency.