Your phone loads websites without a hitch, but your TV won't connect or open a streaming app. Start by confirming that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. Then you can narrow the fault down to the TV, a single app, or your home network, and pick the fix that matches.
Make sure your phone is testing the same network
This check tells you whether the TV has a real connection problem or your phone was simply on cellular data or a different Wi-Fi network.
Connect your phone to the Wi-Fi network you want the TV to use.
Compare the network name on your phone with the one selected on your TV.
Open a website on the phone while it's on that Wi-Fi. A working cellular connection tells you nothing about whether the TV's network has internet access.
Find out whether one app or every app fails
When other streaming apps work, focus on the affected app and its service rather than resetting your network.
Open a different streaming app on the TV. If it works, jump to the app repair section further down. If only Netflix fails, check its official service-status page on your phone. When Netflix reports an outage, try again once service is back.
If several apps fail, run your TV's own connection test. On Samsung, open All Settings > Connection > Network > Network Status. Some models use General instead of Connection.
On Roku, open Settings > Network > Check connection. Signal strength is under Settings > Network > About > Signal strength.
On Fire TV, open Settings > Network and press Play/Pause on the remote. If you see an Unable to Connect message, select Network Diagnostics and follow its recommendations.
Restart the TV and network equipment
Do a full power restart rather than leaving the TV in standby.
- 1.Unplug the TV or streaming device. Wait 60 seconds for TCL TVs, 30 seconds for Samsung TVs, two minutes for Sony TVs, 10 seconds for Fire TV devices, and five seconds for Apple TV.
- 2.Plug it back in and test the connection.
- 3.If the problem remains, unplug the modem and router for 60 seconds.
- 4.Plug the modem in first and let it finish starting. With a combined modem/router gateway, just reconnect that single unit.
- 5.Plug in the separate router, let it start, and try the TV again.
Reconnect with the correct Wi-Fi password
Select the network you intend to use and re-enter its password carefully, watching for capitalization and extra spaces. Follow the path for your TV's platform.
On Samsung, open All Settings > Connection > Network > Open Network Settings > Wireless and select your network. For a hidden network, select Add Network.
To clear a saved Samsung connection first, open Open Network Settings > Wireless > Manage Saved Networks, select the network, and choose Delete.
On LG webOS 26 models with the System menu layout, open Settings > All Settings > System > Network > Wi-Fi Connection and select your network.
On LG webOS 6–25 models with the earlier layout, open Settings > All Settings > General > Network > Internet Connection > Wi-Fi Connection and select the network.
On Google TV, open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi, turn Wi-Fi on, and choose your network.
On Roku, open Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless, select your network, enter the password, and choose Connect.
On Fire TV, open Settings > Network, highlight the saved network, press Menu, then press Select / OK to forget it.
Select that Fire TV network again and re-enter its password.
On Apple TV HD or 4K, open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, select the saved network, and choose Forget Network.
Reconnect the Apple TV by selecting your network under Settings > Network > Wi-Fi and entering its password.
Tip: Unplug Ethernet before testing Wi-Fi on Apple TV or Sony TVs, because their wired connection takes precedence.
Test with a hotspot or Ethernet cable
If your phone and carrier plan support tethering, turn on the phone's mobile hotspot. Select that hotspot in the TV's Wi-Fi settings and test the same app. If it works, the home network is the likely culprit, though that alone doesn't identify a specific router fault.
For a TV with a LAN port, run an Ethernet cable from the router to the TV. TCL Google TV connects automatically, and you can confirm it under Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet. Apple TV models with an Ethernet port also switch to the wired connection on their own.
If the wired connection fails, reseat both ends of the cable, then try a known-working replacement. Because Ethernet bypasses Wi-Fi, a working cable lets you keep streaming while you sort out wireless access.
Improve the signal and check router compatibility
Move the router closer to the TV. Sony recommends keeping it at least one meter away from the TV.
Move interfering equipment away from the TV or router.
Pause large downloads before retrying a stream that buffers. Less competing traffic helps streaming performance, but it won't fix a TV that can't connect at all.
Confirm the router is broadcasting a band your TV supports. Just because your phone can use a network doesn't mean the TV supports the same band or security mode.
On a TP-Link router with Smart Connect controls, open Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings (on TP-Link Wi-Fi 8 routers, open Wi-Fi > Main Network instead), disable Smart Connect, give the bands different Network Name (SSID) values, and select Save.
Reconnect the TV to a band it supports.
If the TV can't find the network, clear Hide SSID on that same TP-Link settings page and select Save.
Match the router's security mode to one your TV supports. Compatible TP-Link routers offer WPA2-PSK[AES] or WPA2-PSK[AES]/WPA3-Personal under Advanced > Wireless > Wireless Settings > Security; TP-Link Wi-Fi 8 routers keep their wireless settings under Wi-Fi > Main Network. Pick a mode the TV supports and choose Save.
On an eero network with a 2.4 GHz-only TV, open Settings > Troubleshooting > My device won’t connect > My device is 2.4 GHz only > Pause 5 GHz and 6 GHz. The higher bands come back automatically after 10 minutes.
Check whether the TV has been paused in your router's app. In the Xfinity app, open WiFi, select the TV, and choose Unpause Device. If a schedule paused it, select the person's profile and choose Wake Up.
Tip: Only change router settings on a network you own or administer, and keep Wi-Fi security switched on.
Install the TV's software update
Use a working hotspot or temporary Ethernet connection to reach the update menu, then follow your platform's path.
- 1.Samsung: open Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now.
- 2.LG webOS 5 and later models using this layout: open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Check for Updates.
- 3.Google TV: open Settings > System > About > System update > Check for update. Sony Google TV uses Quick Settings > Settings > System > About > System software update > Software update.
- 4.TCL Roku TV: open Settings > System > Software update > Check now. If your TV shows System update instead, use that.
- 5.Fire TV: open Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for System Update. Models with the alternative menu use Devices & Software in place of My Fire TV.
- 6.Apple TV HD or 4K: open Settings > System > Software Updates and install any available update.
Repair an app that fails on a working connection
These fixes apply when other streaming apps work but one still won't. Clearing app data or reinstalling an app can mean signing in again.
For Netflix, open its menu and choose Get Help > Sign out > Yes. Sign back in and try playing something.
On Google TV, open Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the affected app, and choose Clear data. Reopen the app and sign in again.
On Fire TV, open Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, select the app, and choose Clear Cache. If it still fails, choose Clear Data in the same menu and sign in again.
On Samsung, open Apps, select the Settings icon, choose the app, and select Delete. When deletion isn't available, use Reinstall. To download a deleted app again, press Return, select Search, find the app, and choose Install.
On LG, highlight the app on Home, hold Wheel (OK), select its X/bin control, and confirm deletion. Reinstall it through Home > Search by entering its name and selecting the result.
If your Samsung TV connects but its network-based smart services stay unavailable, complete the Samsung account sign-in.
On LG TVs with the agreements menu, open Settings > All Settings > General > Privacy & Terms > User Agreements and review the agreements the affected service needs. Some models put Privacy & Terms under Support.
Save network resets and service for persistent failures
On Samsung, reset the connection through All Settings > Connection > Network > Reset Network.
Set up the Samsung network connection again.
On Roku, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset > Reset connection.
Reconnect the Roku to Wi-Fi.
On LG webOS 26 models with Quick Start+, select Settings > All Settings > System > Additional Settings > Quick Start+ > Off.
Turn the LG TV off and on again.
Reconnect the LG TV to Wi-Fi.
Only move to a factory reset once the connection and app fixes have failed. It's a destructive last resort that can erase settings and accounts.
On Google TV, open Settings > System > About > Factory reset and follow the confirmations. Some manufacturers add Reset before Factory reset.
On LG webOS 26 models with the System layout, open Settings > All Settings > System > Reset to Initial Settings > Reset All. LG webOS 6–25 models with the earlier layout include General before System.
Request LG service if the TV's Wi-Fi setting stays unavailable or it still detects no networks after troubleshooting.
Tip: An external HDMI streaming player or a computer with working internet gets you streaming again, though it doesn't repair the TV's internal connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone as a remote to reconnect an offline TV?
Phone remote apps need the TV or streaming device to be reachable on the network. They're alternative controls, not a cure for disconnected Wi-Fi. Roku's mobile app can't discover a disconnected or newly reset device.
Why does my phone connect to hotel Wi-Fi while my TV does not?
Hotel networks can require browser authentication or restrict streaming devices. Compatible, already-activated Roku devices offer Hotel & Dorm Connect. Apple TV offers Continue on iPhone or iPad when joining a captive network. Ask the network owner whether your device and streaming services are allowed.
Should I change the TV's DNS server?
Change DNS when you suspect a DNS fault, not as a universal fix. Samsung documents Network Status > IP Settings > DNS Setting > Enter Manually > DNS Server, where you can enter 8.8.8.8 and select Done. Google also recommends testing a Google TV without any network device that replaces or filters DNS.
Can I update the TV when it has no internet connection?
Supported Samsung, LG, Sony, and Roku TVs offer USB update methods. Use firmware for your exact model and follow its installation instructions. LG uses an LG_DTV folder containing the extracted .epk file, while Samsung needs the extracted firmware without an extra enclosing folder. Sony and Roku have their own preparation steps.