Your phone connects normally, but your TV refuses to join Wi-Fi or keeps losing internet access. The right fix depends on whether the TV cannot reach the router, connects without internet, or only has trouble with one app. Start with its connection test, then follow the matching steps below, leaving a factory reset until last.
Find out where the connection stops
A connection test tells you whether to troubleshoot the network or an individual app.
On a Samsung TV with the Connection menu, open Settings > All Settings > Connection > Network > Network Status.
Select Retry to test the connection again.
For a Roku TV, run Settings > Network > Check connection.
On a TCL Google TV, press the remote’s Settings button.
Open Settings > Network & Internet > Check internet connection.
For Fire TV, open Settings > Network.
Press the remote’s Play/Pause button to run diagnostics.
Follow the app troubleshooting section below if the connection works and only one app fails.
For an external Fire TV, Roku, or Apple TV player, use the player’s network settings. Its connection settings are separate from the television’s.
Give the TV and network a fresh start
A temporary connection failure is the first problem to address before changing saved network settings.
With a Samsung TV turned on, hold the remote’s Power button until the TV switches off and back on.
For the Samsung method without a remote, disconnect the turned-on TV’s power cable for 30 seconds.
Reconnect its power cable.
Turn the TV on.
On Google TV or Apple TV, select Settings > System > Restart.
For Roku TVs with the Power menu, choose Settings > System > Power > System Restart.
Alternatively, unplug the Roku’s power for 10 seconds.
Reconnect its power.
On Fire TV, select Settings > My Fire TV > Restart. On smart-TV models with Device & Software, use that menu instead of My Fire TV.
If a Samsung TV still cannot connect, unplug the TV, modem, router, and any intermediate network equipment.
Restore power to the device at the internet entry point first.
Power the remaining devices one at a time, working toward the TV and letting each finish starting before powering the next.
Reconnect to the intended Wi-Fi network
Choose the instructions for your TV or streaming player to rejoin the network with the correct password.
- 1.On Samsung TVs with the Connection menu, open Settings > All Settings > Connection > Network > Open Network Settings > Wireless. Select your network, enter the password, and choose Done, then OK.
- 2.On LG TVs using the 2021-and-later/webOS 6.0-and-later layout, open Settings > All Settings > General > Network > Internet Connection > Wi Fi Connection. Choose your network and enter its case-sensitive password.
- 3.On TCL Google TV, open Settings > Network & Internet, select the saved network, and choose Forget. Select it again, enter the password, and choose Connect.
- 4.For Fire TV, open Settings > Network, highlight the network, press Menu, and confirm with Select / OK. Reconnect using the Wi-Fi password.
- 5.On Apple TV, open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, select the network, and choose Forget Network. Press Back/Menu, return to Network, and reconnect.
If the signal or home network is the problem
Your phone connecting successfully does not rule out a signal or compatibility problem at the TV. This is where placement, another Wi-Fi band, and a hotspot test help narrow things down.
Move the router and TV closer together.
Elevate the router, keeping it out of enclosed cabinets and away from walls, large furniture, microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors.
For buffering or slow connectivity, pause large downloads and streaming on other devices.
Retest the TV. On Roku, use Settings > Network > Check connection.
On a Sony BRAVIA supporting both bands, select the alternative network under Settings > Network & Internet. Use 2.4 GHz over longer distances or through walls, or 5 GHz closer to the router. The router must offer a selectable alternative.
To test a TCL Google TV on another network, enable your phone’s hotspot if your mobile plan supports it.
On the TV, open Settings > Network & Internet.
Select the hotspot.
Enter its password.
Run Check internet connection. Success points toward the home network or its compatibility settings, without identifying one specific faulty component.
If wireless testing still fails, connect the router to the TCL Google TV’s Ethernet port, on models with that port.
Open Home > Settings > Network & Internet to check that Ethernet shows Connected. This restores access without repairing Wi-Fi.
If Ethernet also fails, continue with the router restriction checks below.
Remove a restriction affecting only the TV
These checks address network pauses, device blocks, and incompatible router settings.
If the failure began immediately after a router-settings change, restore that setting.
On an eero network outside bridge mode, open the eero app’s Devices > Blocked.
Select the TV.
Open the more-options icon.
Choose Unblock device.
For a paused Google/Nest Wifi group, open Google Home’s Home > Wifi > Family Wi-Fi.
Select the group containing the TV.
Choose Unpause.
If eero’s Hybrid or Enhanced encryption prevents connection, open Settings > Network settings > Encryption in the eero app.
Test Standard (WPA2) for the affected 2.4 or 5 GHz band. The 6 GHz band remains WPA3-only.
If you do not manage the router yourself, ask its administrator or your internet provider to check restrictions affecting the TV.
Install an update using a working connection
Use an online update after establishing internet access through an alternative connection. Samsung and LG also support offline USB updates on models with matching firmware downloads.
On Samsung, switch to the TV source first if the update option is unavailable while streaming.
Select Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now.
On Google TV, open Settings > System > About > System update > Check for update.
Install the available update.
For Roku, select Home > Settings > System > Software update > Check Now.
On Fire TV, open Settings > My Fire TV or Device & Software > About > Check for System Update, using the menu your device displays.
For LG TVs running webOS 5.0 or later, open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Check for Updates.
Select Download and Install for an available update.
If your LG TV’s menu wording differs, consult its User Guide.
For an offline Samsung USB update, download firmware matching your exact TV model from Samsung’s Manuals and Software page.
Extract its contents to an empty FAT32 USB drive without adding an enclosing folder.
Insert the drive into the TV.
Open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now.
Select Yes if prompted, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Treat a single failing app separately
On a Sony Android or Google TV with one unresponsive app, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > the affected app > Force stop.
Reopen the app to test it.
If the problem continues on Sony Google TV, select Settings > Apps > See all apps > the affected app > Clear cache.
For Fire TV, select Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > the affected app > Clear Cache.
Select Clear Data in the same app menu if clearing the cache does not help. This erases the app’s data.
Sign back into the Fire TV app after clearing its data.
For Sony TVs with an incorrect clock or certificate-related app errors, open Settings > System > Date & Time.
Enable Automatic date & time on models offering that option.
Keep these fixes for app failures; clearing a cache will not restore a missing Wi-Fi network.
Reset the connection before resetting the whole TV
A network reset rebuilds the saved connection; a manual DNS test addresses internet access after the TV connects to the router.
On Samsung, open Settings > All Settings > Connection > Network > Reset Network.
Select Reset.
Open Network Settings.
Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network using its password.
For Roku, open Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Network connection reset.
Select Reset connection.
Reconnect the Roku to your Wi-Fi network.
If a Samsung TV connects to the router but still lacks internet access, open All Settings > Connection > Network > Network Status > IP Settings. On models with Network under General, use that menu instead of Connection.
Select DNS Setting > Enter Manually > DNS Server.
Enter 8.8.8.8.
Reconnect the Samsung TV to test the DNS change.
Leave a factory reset until last
A factory reset erases configuration and requires setup again, including internet access for activation on devices that require it. Save this for after the connection tests and less disruptive fixes.
On Samsung models with General & Privacy, open Settings > All Settings > General & Privacy > Reset. This erases TV settings.
Enter your PIN.
Select Reset.
Select OK.
For Google TV, select Settings > System > About > Factory reset. Device data is erased.
On Roku TV, choose Home > Settings > System > Advanced system settings > Factory reset > Factory reset everything. Preferences, apps, and account linkage are removed.
For Fire TV Smart TVs, select Settings > Device & Software > Reset to Factory Defaults. This removes all downloaded content, including in-app purchases.
Complete your device’s setup again after the reset.
If resetting does not help and the TCL hotspot test succeeded, ask the router administrator or internet provider to check the home-network restrictions and compatibility settings. For an LG TV whose network list remains empty or whose Wi Fi Connection option stays disabled after troubleshooting, contact LG Customer Support for a service assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Wi-Fi option missing on my Apple TV?
Ethernet takes precedence on Apple TV models with an Ethernet port. Disconnect the Ethernet cable. Once Wi-Fi becomes available, open Settings > Network and choose your wireless network.
Can I connect my TV to hotel Wi-Fi that requires a browser login?
Activated Roku devices supporting Hotel & Dorm Connect offer Settings > Network > Set up new wireless connection. Choose the hotel network, then select I am at a hotel or college dorm and complete the displayed authentication instructions in a phone or computer browser. On an updated Apple TV with a compatible iPhone or iPad, join through Settings > Network, then select Continue on iPhone or iPad when prompted. Google streaming devices do not support browser sign-in networks; use standard home Wi-Fi or another permitted network.
Why does my external Roku keep restarting during streaming?
For random restarts or low-power warnings on an external Roku player, use wall power instead of the television’s USB port. This advice applies to the separate player, not a Roku TV’s built-in hardware.
Why does casting fail when the TV’s own apps have internet?
Google Cast discovery depends on communication within the local network. Ask the router administrator to disable AP isolation or client isolation on the relevant router or extender, following its model-specific instructions. This addresses casting and setup discovery rather than the TV’s internet connection.