Occasionally, your smart TV may unexpectedly lose its connection to the WiFi network. However, there’s no need to worry, as resolving this issue is straightforward.
Follow a few simple steps to restore connectivity and resume enjoying your favorite shows and movies without any hassle.
What To Do if your TV is not Connecting to WiFi
For any smart TV model experiencing WiFi connectivity issues, here are the most basic steps you can take (which fixes the issues most of the time):
- Disconnect your router/modem from the power source for at least 1 minute.
- Reconnect the router/modem to its power source.
- Allow a few minutes for the router/modem to establish an internet connection.
- Attempt to reconnect your smart TV to the WiFi network.
In many cases, a simple unplugging and reconnecting of your router/modem can resolve the problem. However, if you continue to encounter difficulties, you might want to consider the following options shown in the next sections.
Check the Router/Modem
To troubleshoot and identify whether the problem originates from your modem/router, follow these steps:
First, attempt to connect other wireless devices, such as a smartphone or laptop, to the WiFi network. Make sure these devices are in the same room and at a similar distance from the modem/router as your smart TV.
If these other devices successfully connect to the WiFi without any issues, it suggests that your smart TV might be the source of the problem.
On the contrary, if the other devices also face difficulties in connecting or experience WiFi problems, it indicates a potential problem with your modem/router.
In such cases, consider seeking support from your modem/router manufacturer or the Internet Provider. Additionally, you may unplug the router/modem from the power, wait one minute and then power it back.
To further investigate, disconnect one of the connected devices from the WiFi network and then reconnect it.
If the WiFi network and password work seamlessly for this device but not for your smart TV, it confirms that the TV is likely causing connection problems.
Reset (or Reboot) the Router
- Ensure that your router and modem are correctly installed and have internet access.
- If you are unsure about making these connections, refer to the owner’s manual of both the modem and router for guidance. Alternatively, you can reach out to your manufacturer for assistance.
- A quick Google search of your modem/router model along with instructions for resetting or connecting it should yield helpful results.
- Typically, there is a small button on the router/modem that requires a paper clip or safety pin to be pressed and held. This action will hard reset the device back to its original settings.
Keep in mind that opting for a hard reset will necessitate setting up your WiFi again and reconnecting all the devices in your home.
Check your WiFi password
It is essential to bear in mind that secure WiFi networks require a password for access, and the security key is case-sensitive.
Take a moment to verify that you have correctly entered the password into your smart TV and that you are attempting to connect to the intended WiFi network.
At times, your smart TV might disconnect from the WiFi network for various reasons and then automatically attempt to reconnect, sometimes with a different nearby network.
Therefore, ensure that your TV is still trying to connect to the right network and not inadvertently connecting to a different one.
VPN services don’t work well with TVs
Smart TVs typically do not have built-in support for certain networks like VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) connections. If you are attempting to connect your smart TV to one of these networks, you might need to consider alternative approaches.
Setting up and utilizing a VPN on your smart TV can be achieved through various methods, but we recommend this option primarily for users who possess a certain level of technical expertise.
If you feel comfortable with technology and networking concepts, you can explore implementing a VPN on your smart TV.
Check the WiFi’s band: 2.4GHz vs 5GHz
To determine if your modem supports 5GHz, refer to your television manual for confirmation.
In certain cases, your smart TV may not be compatible with the 5GHz band but can connect without issues to the 2.4GHz band.
Therefore, consider attempting a connection to the 2.4GHz band to see if it resolves the problem.
It’s worth noting that the 2.4GHz band should generally offer satisfactory speed and loading time unless you have an excessive number of other devices connected to the same network.
Instructions for Specific Brands (when WiFi is not working)
If you have reached this stage and are still facing connectivity issues, it is possible that you own a smart TV from a specific brand.
In such a case, we recommend trying the brand-specific instructions provided below to re-establish your WiFi connection.
Samsung TV Not Connecting to WiFi
If your Samsung TV is experiencing WiFi connectivity issues, begin by checking if it is connected to the router/modem.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on your remote and select Settings.
- Scroll to Network Setup.
- Choose View Network Status to check the network status. Press Enter.
- Ensure that the connection is set to Wireless, not Wired. If it is set as Wired, switch it to Wireless.
Samsung: How to set TV connection to Wireless
- Navigate to settings and access Network Setup.
- Select Set up Network and then choose custom settings.
- Change the setting to Wireless.
- Verify that Internet Access and the Wireless device both show as OK.
- Confirm that the SSID (network name) displayed matches your router network provider’s name.
- Check your signal strength. If the TV is too far from the modem/router, it may not receive a strong enough signal for connection. A negative signal strength indicates a disrupted connection to the router.
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, an alternative option is to connect your TV to the router using a LAN cable for a direct wired connection.
Google TV or Android TV Not Connecting to WiFi
Setting Date and Time:
- Access your TV settings from the top right corner of the screen.
- Navigate to Preferences, where you’ll find the date and time settings.
- Choose Automatic date & time and then select Auto Synchronization.
- After completing this process, power off your television and attempt to connect to your WiFi again. If this option doesn’t work, try the following steps.
Reconnecting Your Network:
- Go to TV settings and select Network.
- Check if your WiFi is disabled or disconnected.
- If it’s disconnected, reconnect it. If not, try disconnecting and then reconnecting it.
Using the Forget Network Option:
- Open TV settings and access your network.
- Scroll down to forget the network and click. A window will appear with a message stating that this action clears info used to connect to the network, including the password.
- Click OK and enter your WiFi password to reconnect the TV to the network.
Setting Your Network as Static:
- Access TV settings and open the network menu.
- Go to WiFi and select IP settings.
- Choose Static and proceed by pressing the next or OK button on your remote.
- Leave the IP address unchanged.
- On the Gateway page, do not alter your IP, just press next.
- For DNS 1, input 8.8.8.8 and press OK.
- For DNS 2, input 8.8.4.4 and press OK.
- Reboot your television and then reconnect to your WiFi network.
If Connected but No Internet:
- Select your network, open it, and click on forget the network.
- Re-enter your WiFi password and reconnect to the internet.
- Using Your Laptop to Resolve Connectivity Issues:
- Open Network Settings on your laptop’s desktop (you can find it in the Control Panel > Network Settings).
- Click Change Adapter Settings and select WiFi.
- Right-click on your WiFi and choose properties.
- Click Configure and then select Advance.
- Choose the preferred band and set it to 2.4GHz.
- Click OK and then try reconnecting your TV to the WiFi.
If Issues Persist:
- Turn off your TV and try resetting it to its factory settings. Go to settings, scroll to storage and reset, select factory data reset, and confirm.
- Alternatively, power off your router for sixty seconds and then turn it back on.
Other Possible Issues:
- Double-check the password you’re using to connect to the WiFi and ensure it’s correct.
- If problems persist, contact your TV manufacturer, the retail store where you bought it, or your WiFi device manufacturer for further assistance.
Sony TV (Bravia) Not Connecting to WiFi
If your Sony TV is having trouble connecting to WiFi, even though the router is on and visible on your television, there are steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Quick Fix:
- Disconnect all components and devices, including your modem/router and your television.
- Wait for 60 seconds and then plug them back in. Attempt to restore the connection, and it should work.
If the quick fix doesn’t work, you can try the following methods:
- Check your WiFi password, keeping in mind that passwords are usually case-sensitiveReset your Sony TV to factory settings. To do this, go to HOME > SETTINGS > STORAGE & RESET > RESTORE FACTORY SETTINGS > ERASE ALL DATA. Allow your TV to reset and then input the password again.
- If the previous step doesn’t work, you can change the IP settings on the TV. Navigate to HOME > SETTINGS > SYSTEM SETTINGS > SET-UP > NETWORK > NETWORK SET-UP > EXPERT > WIRED SET-UP > MANUAL.
- Find “Primary DNS” and change it to 8.8.8.8.
To keep your Sony TV up to date and potentially resolve connectivity issues, it’s essential to update its firmware. Here’s how you can do that:
- Go to the settings of your TV.
- Scroll to Customer Support, Product Support, or Setup.
- Select Update.
If your TV is connected to a network, the system will prompt you to choose a network for the update. If you don’t have a network, you can simply click OK to proceed.
Final Words
If your smart TV is having trouble connecting to WiFi, there’s no need to worry. This is a common issue and can often be resolved with simple solutions:
- Check if other devices can connect to your WiFi. If they can’t, the problem might be with your router/modem.
- Unplug your router/modem for at least a minute, then plug it back in. This can often fix connection issues.
- Perform a hard reset on your router/modem by pressing and holding the small button.
- Double-check that you are connecting to the correct network and using the right password.
- Avoid using VPNs or dial-up connections for smart TV WiFi, as they may cause connectivity problems.
- Try connecting to the 2.4GHz band instead of the 5.0GHz band, as some devices work better on this frequency.
- Make sure your router isn’t overloaded with connections, as it can affect your TV’s connectivity.
In most cases, one of the above methods will resolve your TV’s connectivity problem. However, if none of these options work, consider reaching out to the manufacturer for further assistance.
