Causes and solutions for TV not connecting to WiFi

Your home TV cannot connect to WiFi or can connect but cannot access the network as usual, causing interruptions and discomfort in the viewing process. So what is the cause of this problem and how to fix it? Let's refer to the article below of TipsMake.com.

Reasons why the TV cannot connect to WiFi

The TV cannot connect to WiFi possibly due to one of the following errors:

1. Network error: No network available
2. Network devices are not working
3. Sofware has errors
4. Due to incorrect TV installation

How to fix the problem of TV not connecting to WiFi

1. Forget the WiFi network and reconnect

The smart TV will automatically save your WiFi SSID and password for next use. However, if your TV is connected but doesn't have Internet access, try this simple fix. Forget your WiFi network, then reconnect by re-entering the password.

Press the Home button on the TV's remote, then go to the General Settings / Settings option using the TV's directional pad or arrow keys. Try finding the Network and Internet option for your device. Selecting it displays the current SSID.

Continue scrolling down to SSID details and select the Forget Network option. To view this content on some TVs, you may have to navigate to an internal nested menu.

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Forgetting a network means all your saved SSID information will be permanently deleted. Click OK to confirm it.

After forgetting the network, restart your TV.

Using your TV remote, return to Network and Internet options. Scan for all available WiFi networks and re-enter the password for the SSID you just forgot. The system will automatically save detailed information for future logins.

Check if the TV is still disconnected from WiFi.

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Note: The above method only works with SSIDs that require a password or secure PIN. All routers, modems, and Mi-Fi devices fall into that category. Therefore, this method will not work with VPN.

2. Connect to the new WiFi network

The wrong WLAN channel may be the reason your TV cannot connect to WiFi. The potential cause is the lack of support for the router's WLAN channels.

It may seem confusing when a WiFi network doesn't connect to your smart TV but easily connects to other devices in the home, such as smartphones and computers. This occurs due to WLAN misconfiguration between the TV and the WiFi source. In such cases, it's best to connect to a new WiFi source.

Using the TV remote's Home button, navigate to Network and Internet. Scroll down to see all available networks. Depending on your TV configuration, you can scan for a new network (Scan) or click Add new network. Enter the password of the new WiFi network and complete authentication.

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3. Allocate a dedicated static IP to the TV

Smart TV screens are prone to slowness and lag due to their relatively large size and very different configurations. Even if the TV shows that it is 'connected' to WiFi, the signal strength may still be weak. Allocating a dedicated static IP to your TV will solve this problem.

Purchase a dedicated static IP from your ISP or VPN service. Then, using the Home button on the TV remote, access Network and Internet. Select the Static IP option from the IP settings menu, if available. It may be labeled differently on your device.

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As shown below, re-enter the static IP address you selected on the computer and save it on the TV. Then, reconnect to the same WiFi with a new static IP address.

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Tip: In addition to static IP addresses, try alternative wireless modes to connect to a given SSID. Try changing the WLAN channel from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz if your TV model supports enhanced frequencies.

4. Enable location access on the TV

Is location access on your TV turned off? It may prevent you from accessing WiFi. All Google Play services and third-party apps require the exact location of the TV. Even if your TV does not have a GPS module, WiFi network information can still detect the approximate location and it is necessary to enable this feature.

From the Home button on your TV remote, navigate to Settings/General Settings, then select Device Preferences.

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Scroll down to device options to find the Location option on your TV. On some TV models, you can access this option directly from the home screen settings. If location is turned off, turn it back on so WiFi can detect your device's exact location.

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5. Verify date and time settings

If the system date and time on your TV is incorrect, it may result in the TV not connecting to WiFi. It usually happens due to incorrect time zone settings. You need to correct the current date and time, then automatically reset.

Go to Settings -> Device Preferences and click on Date and Time and available time zone options.

If the date/time is correct, you won't see any available options. If the date/time is incorrect, fix it by selecting Set automatic date/time and the correct time zone. If your TV has a time synchronization setting, use broadcast or network-generated time.

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6. Update TV software

Whether you get your channels and connections from your cable provider or USB dongle, there are many software issues that can affect your Internet TV. Software installed on your TV receives timely patches, which requires additional updates.

On your TV device, go to Settings -> Support and select Software Update to see your current version number. Click Update now.

Because a software patch has already been released for your device, it may not require Internet access. But if it does, temporarily connect to another WiFi network, such as your mobile data.

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In most cases, mobile data from your smartphone to your smart TV works fine, but the mobile hotspot should always be turned on.

7. Uninstall any apps you don't need

Like any other electronic device, smart TVs have limited storage space. If you use a set-top box or USB dongle to access WiFi, it may accumulate a large number of downloaded applications. To prevent the TV from disconnecting from WiFi. It's a good idea to uninstall those unnecessary apps.

From Settings on the home screen, go to the Apps option, usually located before Device Preferences. In some cases, the Apps menu can be accessed directly from the home screen.

Navigate to the apps you want to uninstall. Select them and click the Uninstall button.

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8. Restart and reset

Whether your smart TV receives Internet from a set-top box or a USB dongle, sometimes its receiver may not be able to detect the signal. This is related to the device's power cycling issues. In most cases, turning off the TV and restarting it after a while can restore the connection. If not, you may need to perform a hard reset.

Go to Settings -> Device Preferences to find more options. See if Reboot and Reset options are available in the menu.

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Select Reboot or Reset, according to need. When you click Reboot now, your TV will turn off and restart automatically. None of your TV data will be deleted. However, if there are any updates pending or the network connection needs to be repaired, those processes will complete first.

If you click Reset, all your TV data and apps will be completely erased. After the automatic reboot, you will have to re-enter your network SSID, password, and Google account password.

Another important point: If you have a PIN code for your TV, you will also need to enter that code during the reset process. Never reset the TV if you forget your PIN code. Instead, call a technician.

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9. Make sure the router is set to DHCP 'On' mode

Although this guide assumes that your WiFi is working fine on other devices, you may need to enable your router's DHCP. This is a network protocol that automatically allocates appropriate IP addresses to different devices on the network, including televisions.

For this purpose, access the router's admin panel using the private IP address assigned by your ISP, such as 192.168.1.1. When you see the DHCP option in Settings, click Enabled and then select Apply to save the changes.

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After following the methods in this guide, if you continue to experience the TV Internet not working issue, you may be dealing with a VPN problem. If your smart TV is linked to a VPN service, any loss of connection due to VPN errors will result in a 'No WiFi' state. Temporarily revoking VPN access or uninstalling the VPN app should help resolve the issue.

Likewise, you should consider temporarily turning off parental controls on your TV. It uses a PIN or password to prevent children from accessing content.

Marvin Fry

Update 02 January 2024