Is your smart TV not connecting to Wi-Fi? Lucky for you, you need not do a trial and error experiment as there are concrete steps you can take to remedy the situation quickly.
To fix a TV not connecting to Wi-Fi, the first thing to do is reset the modem and router. Alternatively, you can reboot the TV, forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network, turn on location services, and disconnect other wireless devices.
But that’s just for starters. In this post, we’ll give you not just one TV not connecting to Wi-Fi easy fix but 12 proven fixes in stunning details and brand-specific ones, so we highly recommend you read up to get the job done within the hour!
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Duration | 1 hour and 1 minute |
| Number of Fixes | 12 |
| Things You Need | Smart TVPCUSB stickA working internet connectionPaperclip |
Reasons Why the TV Is Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
To understand why your TV is not connecting to the network, keep in mind that Wi-Fi is a wireless signal that could weaken at times. In this regard, below are some of the most common reasons that could compromise such a signal to make it fall short.
- Error on your router and modem causing your TV not to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
- Having too many wireless devices connected to the Wi-Fi network at once.
- Having an old software version on your TV makes it prone to malfunctions and errors.
- Trying to connect to an unsupported network frequency band.
- Typing the wrong Wi-Fi password.
- Poor Wi-Fi receiver signal on your TV can mean your device will fail to detect the Wi-Fi.
- VPN issues can translate to Wi-Fi issues, so if you’re using a VPN and it fails you may get a “No Wi-Fi” status.
How to Fix TV Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
Fix the TV not connecting to Wi-Fi by troubleshooting the router and modem to reset the Wi-FI network. You can also reconfigure your TV’s Wi-Fi and DHCP settings or reset the network settings.
For software-related connection issues, you can update your TV or reset it to its default factory settings.
It may sound like a tall order. But in this guide, a TV connecting to Wi-Fi easy fix is all about following the step-by-step instructions below. Just one note: For best results, follow the proven fixes in the order they are presented.
1. Check if your modem/router is the problem.
Modems and routers are prone to minor errors resulting in your TV and other devices failing to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
When the TV is not connecting to Wi-Fi, an easy fix you can do is resetting your modem and router to refresh the network.
If your router has a reset button, you can press that to perform a quick reset, but it’s usually more effective just to unplug it from the power source. To reset the modem and router, unplug their power cables from the power outlet.
Remove any ethernet cable or backup battery in your modem and ensure it shuts down completely. Once the modem and router are powered off, wait a minute before plugging the ethernet cables, backup batteries, and power cables.
| Pro tip: We recommend resetting your modem at least once a month to refresh its memory and connections. |
You can test your internet by connecting a phone or PC and performing a series of web searches or a speed test. Contact your ISP and ask for further assistance if your network connectivity issues persist.
2. Forget the Wi-Fi network and try to reconnect.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 11 |
| Duration | 40 seconds |
Wi-Fi devices can store and remember your network’s SSID and password so you don’t have to enter them every time you want to connect. Indeed, that’s very convenient but sometimes it’s better to re-establishing a new connection.
This solution involves forgetting the Wi-Fi network saved on your TV and authenticating a new connection afterward. You can do this whenever you have an issue with a TV not connecting to Wi-Fi.
Follow these steps to forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network on your TV:
Step 1: Press the settings button  on your TV remote to open the settings menu. Note: The settings button might have a gear symbol engraved on it instead. You can also press the home button to open your TV’s menu panel and access the settings from there. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Network. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Open Network Settings. |
Step 5: Select/click Wireless. |
Step 6: Scroll down/click Manage Saved Networks. |
Step 7: Select/click your Wi-Fi network. |
Step 8: Select/click Delete. |
Step 9: Click Close. |
Step 10: Select/click your Wi-Fi network. |
Step 11: Enter its password and click Done to reconnect. |
3. Switch to another Wi-Fi network.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 7 |
| Duration | 30 seconds |
Switching to a different network connection is a straightforward solution for a TV not connecting to Wi-Fi. Sometimes, there are days when troubleshooting your Wi-Fi network seems to never work, and using a backup network is your only option.
On such days, you’re better off switching to a different Wi-Fi network instead of wasting your time focusing on your problematic network connection.
Follow these steps to switch to a different Wi-Fi network:
| Step 1: Press the settings button on your TV remote to open the settings menu. Note: The settings button might have a gear symbol engraved on it instead. You can also press the home button to open your TV’s menu panel and access the settings from there. |
| Step 2: Scroll down/click General. |
| Step 3: Scroll down/click Network. |
| Step 4: Scroll down/click Open Network Settings. |
| Step 5: Select/click Wireless. |
| Step 6: Select/click another Wi-Fi network. |
| Step 7: Enter its password and click Done to reconnect. |
4. Turn on the location service on your TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 15 seconds |
Did you start experiencing network connection issues on your TV after turning off the location service? If yes, this can be problematic, especially on Android and Google TVs since they require location access for the Google Play Services to work properly.
This might also prevent your third-party apps from connecting to their online servers. Turning the online service back on should fix the problem with your TV not connecting to Wi-Fi.
Follow these steps to turn on the location service on your TV:
Step 1: Select/click the gear symbol on your TV home screen to open Settings. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click Device Preferences. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Location. |
Step 4: Click Location status. |
Step 5: Select/click Use Wi-Fi to estimate location. |
Step 6: Click Agree to confirm. |
Now, don’t lose hope if the issue still exists. The next solution could be the remedy you need.
5. Restart your TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 40 seconds |
Sometimes, a simple restart is all you need to fix any minor issue such as your TV not connecting to Wi-Fi. Not properly shutting down your TV over long periods can cause it to experience different issues that can only be solved once its system reboots.
As such, you must give your TV time to refresh its memory occasionally so it can boost its performance and prevent malfunctions. And make a habit of doing so.
Follow these steps to restart your TV:
Step 1: Select/click the gear symbol on your TV home screen to open Settings. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click Device Preferences. |
Step 3: Click About. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Restart. |
Step 5: Click Restart to confirm. |
| Step 6: Wait for your TV to complete the reboot process. |
That should give you the break you need. And yet, if the issue still doesn’t go away, the next solution should come in handy.
6. Disconnect devices from the Wi-Fi network except for your TV.
The Wi-Fi network may be overloaded with so many devices connected to it at the same time. After all, most routers have a limited number of devices they can handle to work effectively.
Slow internet speeds and disconnection problems are the usual indicators when your router is working beyond its limit. To make sure that your TV doesn’t suffer from this issue, disconnect all wireless devices connected to the Wi-Fi network except the TV.
The Wi-Fi connection on your TV should start working like normal once more. Otherwise, try troubleshooting your router or consulting with your ISP so they can help you with your internet problems.
7. Toggle the DHCP settings on your TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 25 seconds |
Some TVs allow you to manually set up the DHCP configuration from the network settings. If you own a Vizio TV, for example, you should try toggling this feature on or off based on what works best for you.
Follow these steps to toggle the DHCP settings on your TV:
Step 1: Press the menu button  on your Vizio TV remote to open the settings menu. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click Network. |
Step 3: Click Manual Setup. |
Step 4: Click DHCP. |
Step 5: Select/click On or Off. |
Step 6: Change your DNS server if you turned DHCP off. Note: You can use a public DNS server such as “8.8.8.8” which is provided by Google. |
Step 7: Click Save. |
8. Update your TV using the USB method.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 17 |
| Duration | 35 minutes |
Most TVs can manually install a software update from a USB stick. You can do this on major TV brands such as Samsung and LG after you download the upgrade file from their official product support pages.
If your TV can’t connect to Wi-Fi, using this alternative solution should help you update its software. The update should help fix any software-related issues, which might even be the cause of your network connection issues.
Follow these steps to update your TV manually via USB:
Step 1: Press home  on your remote to open the menu panel. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings. |
| Step 3: Scroll down/click Support. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click About This TV. |
Step 5: Take note of the TV’s model number and software version. |
| Step 6: Visit the Samsung download page on your PC’s browser. Type/search your TV model number in the search field.  |
| Step 7: Go to the firmware section and click the download button under Upgrade File(USB type).  |
| Step 8: Extract the upgrade file into your PC’s desktop. Note: Don’t rename the extracted folder.  |
Step 9: Plug a USB stick into your PC and copy the extracted file there. |
Step 10: Unplug the USB stick from your PC and plug it into your TV. |
| Step 11: Press home on your remote to open the menu panel. |
Step 12: Scroll left/click Settings. |
Step 13: Scroll down/click Support. |
Step 14: Click Software Update. |
Step 15: Click Update Now and for the update check to fail. |
Step 16: Click Yes to search for the upgrade file inside the USB stick instead. |
Step 17: Click Yes to install the upgrade file. |
9. Reset your TV to the default factory settings.
A TV not connecting to Wi-Fi might need a factory reset if none of the previous solutions fixed the network connection issue so far. Please note that this action will delete your data, installed apps, and settings configurations.
| WARNING: Make sure you do a back-up of your personal files and take note of your TV preferences before you do a factory reset. If not, you may find yourself having to start all over again as these files will be deleted. |
Make sure you’re okay with that before proceeding with the factory reset. After performing the reset, you will need to set up your TV, reconfigure its settings, redownload your apps, and log in to your account again.
Follow these steps to reset your TV to factory defaults:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
Step 1: Press the settings button on your TV remote to open the settings menu. Note: The settings button might have a gear symbol engraved on it instead. You can also press the home button to open your TV’s menu panel and access the settings from there. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Reset. |
Step 4: Type your Samsung TV PIN and click Done. |
Step 5: Click Yes to return everything to factory default. |
That could be the final solution for you to get your TV moving. But if it still fails, you should not lose hope as the next proven fixes should have you covered.
10. Hard reset your modem.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
Hard resetting your modem will restore it to its default factory settings, deleting all your custom configurations such as your static IP setup, DNS, Wi-Fi network connections, and DHCP settings. Please note that a paper clip is needed for this solution.
It may sound very technical for you. But no worries, the steps below should be easy to follow.
You can perform a hard reset on your modem if a quick reset via unplugging and plugging back into the power outlet doesn’t solve the issue with your TV not connecting to Wi-Fi.
Follow these steps to hard reset your modem:
Step 1: Pull one of your paperclip’s pointy ends outward. |
| Step 2: Insert the paperclip’s pointy end into the hole where your modem’s reset button is hidden.  Note: The modem must be plugged into the power outlet during this process. |
| Step 3: Press/hold the reset button for 10 seconds or until the power light on the modem shines orange.  Note: Don’t hold the reset button for too long. If the power light shines red, the modem will simply reboot instead. |
| Step 4: Wait until the modem completes the hard reset. It may take some time but that should be all worth it. |
11. Double-check if you typed the correct Wi-Fi password.
Believe it or not, it’s a common mistake to type the wrong password when trying to connect to a Wi-Fi network. If you’re not careful, you could be typing the wrong password the whole time, which is why your TV wasn’t connecting properly.
Please note that Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive so always take note of the letters that are in lowercase and uppercase.
12. Switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency networks.
Depending on how close your TV is to your router, you might want to change from a network that uses 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency and vice versa. Wi-Fi networks with a 2.4 GHz frequency have lower speeds but a longer range.
Meanwhile, 5 GHz networks have a shorter range but faster speeds. Plus, you have to make sure that your TV also supports a 5 GHz band, otherwise, you’ll have to stick to a 2.4 GHz band network.
Brand-specific Troubleshooting Guides
If you’re looking for some troubleshooting solutions for a specific TV brand, you can refer to our step-by-step guides below. These solutions will cover Samsung, Sony, LG, and Android TVs.
How to Troubleshoot Samsung TV Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
1. Switch to a wireless connection.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 8 |
| Duration | 25 seconds |
If you’re using a wired network connection on your Samsung TV, switch to a wireless connection to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Follow these steps to switch to a wireless connection on your Samsung TV:
Step 1: Press home on your remote to open the menu panel. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Click Network. |
Step 5: Scroll down/click Open Network Settings. |
Step 6: Select/click Wireless. |
Step 7: Select a wireless network from the list. |
Step 8: Enter the Wi-Fi password and hit Done. |
2. Reset the network settings.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 11 |
| Duration | 40 seconds |
Another way you can troubleshoot a Samsung TV that isn’t connecting to your Wi-Fi network is to reset its network settings. This action will delete all saved Wi-Fi settings so you will have to reconfigure them afterward.
With that said, you should be careful to take into account your preferences so you get to enjoy the same setup after the reset.
Follow these steps to reset the network settings:
| Step 1: Press home on your remote to open the menu panel. |
| Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings. |
| Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
| Step 4: Click Network. |
Step 5: Scroll down/click Reset Network. |
Step 6: Click Yes to confirm. |
Step 7: Wait for the TV to reset the network. |
Step 8: Click Network Settings to set up your network. |
| Step 9: Click Wireless. |
| Step 10: Select a wireless network from the list. |
| Step 11: Enter the Wi-Fi password and hit Done. |
How to Troubleshoot Sony TV Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
1. Power reset your Sony TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 2 minutes and 5 seconds |
A power reset is a quick and easy troubleshooting trick you can use on a Sony TV that’s having trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi network. The purpose of this trick is to drain its residual power before rebooting the TV.
Follow these steps to power reset your Sony TV:
- Press the power button
on your Sony remote to turn the TV off.
- Unplug your Sony TV from the power outlet for 2 minutes.
- Plug your Sony TV back into the power outlet.
- Press the power button
2. Factory reset your Sony TV.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
The most effective troubleshooting trick to solve Wi-Fi connectivity issues on any Sony TV is to perform a factory reset. Please note that this type of reset will delete all of the data and settings on your Sony TV.
Follow these steps to perform a factory reset on your Sony TV:
Step 1: Select/click Settings from the menu panel of your Sony TV. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click System Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General Set-up. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Factory Settings. |
Step 5: Click Yes to restore your Sony TV to factory settings. |
Step 6: Click Yes to confirm. |
How to Troubleshoot LG TV Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
1. Toggle off Quick Start on your LG TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 10 seconds |
The Quick Start feature is a common cause of Wi-Fi connectivity issues on LG TVs. While this feature helps speed up the bootup process, the problem lies in the fact that it prevents your TV from actually shutting down.
With Quick Start, your is TV put into standby mode instead, which means that background apps continue to run leading to unresponsive behavior and network issues afterward.
Follow these steps to disable Quick Start:
Step 1: Press the gear button  on your LG remote to open the menu panel. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Toggle the Quick Start switch off. |
2. Disable the Simplink feature on your LG TV.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Duration | 10 seconds |
Simplink is LG’s trademark name for the HDMI-CEC feature on their TVs. This feature allows your LG remote to control compatible external devices connected to your TV via an HDMI cable.
Unfortunately, this feature sometimes causes interference to the Wi-Fi network, preventing your LG TV from connecting properly. In such cases, it might be better to disable Simplink instead.
Follow these steps to disable Simplink on your LG TV:
| Step 1: Press the gear button on your LG remote to open the menu panel. |
| Step 2: Scroll down/click All Settings/Advanced Settings. |
| Step 3: Scroll down/click General. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC). |
Step 5: Toggle the Simplink switch off. |
How to Troubleshoot Android TV Not Connecting to WiFi
1. Set its date and time manually.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Duration | 10 seconds |
Believe it or not, putting the incorrect date and time on your TV can prevent it from connecting to the internet. This is due to the real-time authentication that some web pages use to authorize access to their products and resources.
Make sure to set the correct date and time on your TV to prevent connection issues from arising due to this.
Follow these steps to set the date and time on your Android TV:
Step 1: Select/click the gear symbol on your TV home screen to open Settings. |
Step 2: Scroll down/click Device Preferences. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Date & time. |
Step 4: Click Automatic date & time. |
Step 5: Select/click Off. |
Step 6: Adjust the date and time. |
2. Factory reset your Android TV.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
Like other TVs, factory resetting an Android TV will wipe its stored data, settings, and app, restoring it to its previous state like it’s a new TV again. Plus, it’s an effective way to eliminate corrupt files and viruses causing connection issues and malfunctions.
On an Android TV, factory resetting is done similarly to an Android smartphone. Make sure to power off and unplug the TV from the power outlet before proceeding with this method.
Follow these steps to factory reset your Android TV:
| Step 1: Press/hold the enter and back buttons on your TV remote simultaneously. Plug your TV back into the power outlet.  |
Step 2: Keep holding both buttons as your TV boots up to go into recovery mode. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Wipe data/factory reset. |
Step 4: Select/click Yes. |
Step 5: Wait until your TV completes the factory reset |
Step 6: Select/click Reboot system now to reboot your TV. |
Congratulations! Your TV should have all the Wi-Fi it needs to beam with pride with all the movies you want by now.
FAQs About TV Not Connecting to Wi-Fi
Can I connect my TV to a mobile hotspot?
TVs can use mobile hotspots as a backup Wi-Fi network in case you’re experiencing connection issues on your modem and router network. Also, mobile hotspots are useful for testing if the culprit of the connection problem is your router or the TV itself.
Why is my Wi-Fi network not appearing on my TV?
Weak signal reception is a possible cause of your Wi-Fi not showing up on your TV. If you’re using a network with a 5 GHz frequency band, make sure that your router is close to your TV as it has a short range.
Check if your router is also turned on. You might have forgotten to plug the router back in after unplugging it from the power outlet.
Why is my TV connected to the Wi-Fi but there’s no internet connection?
A slow internet speed won’t be able to load any online apps on your TV. It’s also possible that you’ve already reached your data cap on your current internet plan.
If you have, you can use another Wi-Fi network with a separate data plan or upgrade your current plan with bigger data allocations.
Why is my TV losing its Wi-Fi connection when using VPN?
TVs receive a “No Wi-Fi” status occasionally when their internet connection dips while it’s connected to a VPN service. Also, there are Smart TVs that don’t work well with a VPN.
Unless keeping the VPN service on is very important, we suggest not using it with your TV to avoid Wi-Fi connectivity issues.
