Samsung TV won't connect to Wi-Fi? How to fix it

Fast fix

• Power cycle the TV and router to eliminate glitches.
• Confirm your TV's Wi-Fi password matches your network.
• Give your TV a soft reset to clear away conflicts.

It's Sunday afternoon, and you know what that means—it's time to watch the big game! You settle into your comfy couch and turn on your Samsung® TV. But instead of a football field and sports anchors, you see a black screen. Your Samsung TV isn't connecting to Wi-Fi—how can you fix it?

Asurion Experts keep your favorite devices running smoothly. From picking the perfect TV to resolving sound problems, you'll find the answers you need in our tech tips and guides. Here's how to start Samsung TV troubleshooting for Wi-Fi connection issues.

Check your TV settings and power cycle your hardware

If your Samsung TV suddenly won't connect to Wi-Fi, it may be a simple (and temporary) hardware glitch. To fix it, try performing a soft reset using your remote using these steps:

1. Turn your TV on.
2. Press and hold the Power button on your remote.
3. Continue to hold the Power button until the TV turns off and on again. This should take about five seconds.

A soft reset refreshes your TV without deleting any of your saved settings or data. It clears out any system conflicts that are interfering with your Wi-Fi connection.

Set the correct time and date

Streaming sites do a few quick checks before giving you internet access. One is a date and time verification. If your device's time settings are wacky, the server may deny your connection. To adjust your TV's time and date automatically, take these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings> All Settings.
2. Select General & Privacy> System Manager.
3. Select Time > Clock > Clock Mode.
4. Select Auto.

The menu options may vary depending on your TV's age and model. But once you put the clock in auto mode, you won't need to manually adjust it again. The TV will automatically update for time changes.

Reset your network settings and verify the signal

A quick check of your TV's network status reveals whether you're connected to your Wi-Fi network. Take these steps to check your signal:

1. Navigate to Settings> All Settings.
2. Select Connection > Network.
3. Select Network Status.
4. Wait for the TV's current network status to display.
5. If you're not connected, select Retry to reattempt a connection.

Retrying the connection may be enough to resolve your internet issues. But if it isn't, move on to the next troubleshooting step.

Restore network settings to factory default

Have you recently changed routers or moved to a different internet service provider (ISP)? If so, resetting your TV's network settings can clear out old configurations that interfere with your connection. It can also oust temporary bugs or conflicts. Take these steps to restore your TV's network settings:

1. Navigate to Settings> All Settings.
2. Select Connection > Network > Reset Network.
3. Select Reset.
4. After the reset finishes, select Network Settings to reconfigure your connection. Select Wireless.
5. Select the name of your Wi-Fi network from the list. If prompted, enter your network password. Select Go to connect.
6. Select OK to verify the connection.

Menu options may vary for Samsung TVs manufactured before 2022.

Check your Wi-Fi signal compatibility

Some Samsung TVs only work with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks. If you're using a 5Ghz network, it can cause connection issues.

Review your Samsung TV's user manual to determine its network requirements. If you're unsure whether you're on a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network, check your router's settings.

Many routers allow you to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5GHz networks. If you need to change network frequencies to match your TV requirements, adjust your settings by following the instructions in the router's user manual.

The optimal frequency for video streaming is generally 5GHz, since it's faster and less prone to interference from other devices. However, a 2.4 GHz frequency has a greater range, which is ideal if your TV is far away from the router. For Samsung TVs that support both frequencies, choose the network option that best fits your setup.

Update your DNS and TV software

Manually updating your DNS server can fix slow speeds and connectivity issues. Take these steps to give it a try:

1. Navigate to All Settings > Connection > Network.
2. Select Network Status> IP Settings> DNS Setting.
3. Select Enter Manually> DNS Server.
4. Enter 8.8.8.8 and retry your connection.

If you still have problems connecting, your TV's firmware may be outdated. To update it, find the latest firmware for the TV on the Samsung website and download it to a USB stick. Then, take these steps:

1. Insert the USB stick into a USB port on the TV.
2. Navigate to Settings> Support > Software Update.
3. Follow the prompts to start the software update process.

After the TV reboots, remove the USB stick and retry your internet connection.