While I appreciate how high-tech televisions have become, I get frustrated when I can’t watch TV because it’s not connected to WIFI. So, why are connectivity issues common with Samsung TVs?
Your Samsung TV is likely not connecting to WIFI because you have a temporary bug or outdated firmware. However, you may also encounter an issue if there is a problem with your modem or if your Mac address is blocked.
It would help if you tried restarting your television, ensuring your firmware is updated, and confirming you have the correct WIFI password to fix the issue. You can also reset your network settings or change your DNS number.
In some situations, a call to Samsung customer service is necessary, but let’s walk through a few troubleshooting steps to help you at home before making the call.
Samsung TV Won’t Connect to WIFI Causes
There are several reasons why your Samsung TV won’t connect to WIFI, but thankfully, the issue is fixable. The most common problems you’ll run into are:
- Temporary Bugs are not uncommon in Samsung TVs, and once your television is off for more than 10 minutes, a general software bug could corrupt your network settings.
- Incorrect DNS (Domain Name System) configuration will result in connectivity issues; however, you can manually configure the settings to help restart your WIFI connection.
- If your Mac address is blocked by your internet service provider (ISP), you will not be able to connect to WIFI. While it’s not common, it can happen if you have tried accessing a network you are not authorized to. Therefore, you should contact your ISP to unblock your Mac address.
- Outdated Firmware may not work correctly with your router, so you must update your firmware for your WIFI to work correctly. You can set it up to update automatically so you don’t miss necessary updates.
- A Router or Modem Issue is another common problem for a Samsung TV that won’t connect to the internet. A new router or modem should allow you to connect to WIFI without issue.
If you understand why your WIFI is not working, it will be easier to diagnose the issue. However, sometimes, it’s not that simple, and you must go through the troubleshooting process to fix the problem.
Troubleshooting Samsung TV Not Connecting to WIFI
1. Restart Samsung TV
One of the first things to try if your Samsung isn’t connecting to WIFI is to reset your television. There are two methods to this but let’s start with the most straightforward way to reset your TV.
First, unplug your television from the wall for 60 seconds and while the TV is off, hold down the power button on your television for 30 seconds. Then, you will see pressing the power button will help drain any excess power in your television. Once you plug it in and turn the TV back on, your WIFI should be in working order.
Another method for restarting your Samsung TV is to let your television run for five minutes and then unplug it from the wall without manually turning it off. You should wait at least 20 minutes before turning it back on.
The second method is handy if you turn your television off with the remote and leave it off for at least 15 minutes. Sometimes, the TV is corrupted, and a bug needs to be addressed, and restarting the TV will assist in this problem.
This YouTube video shows you the simplest way to reset your television:
2. Incorrect WIFI Password
While it seems easy, your TV might not connect to WIFI because you use the incorrect password. If this is your issue, it likely will say you have the wrong password; however, it’s always worth checking if you are experiencing internet connection errors. So, for example, you may have entered the incorrect password causing you not to connect to WIFI.
It’s a simple mistake since typing into the TV’s keyboard isn’t always the most straightforward process. Before you attempt to reset your password, try to input what you recall as the password to see if you can connect to WIFI.
If you’ve never changed your WIFI password, it’s typically the last eight digits of your television’s serial number. Regardless of your password, there are ways to change it so you can log in.
To change your WIFI password from your remote, follow the below steps:
- Press the Home button on your remote
- Select Settings and then choose Change Password
- Enter the new password and select OK
If you want to change your WIFI password from the Samsung Connect App, follow these steps:
- Go to the WIFI Hub Card
- Select the Overflow menu icon (⠇)
- Change your password from the Network Settings Menu
3. Change DNS number
Televisions require a DNS (Domain Name System) to get the internet working, regardless of your device. However, if there is any issue with your configuration, you will experience issues connecting to the internet.
While your smart TV usually detects the best settings for WIFI, sometimes a tiny internal bug can cause your connection not to operate correctly.
To help fix this, you want to change your DNS number if the other devices in your home are connecting to the WIFI. For example, if your Samsung TV in the living room won’t connect, but the one in your room will, you should continue with this step.
However, if they are all without the internet, you should skip this step and go on to the next.
To change the DNS number, follow the below steps:
- Click Menu on your remote control
- Select Network and then Network Status
- Your TV will check for a wireless network connection
- You will now see a screen that confirms you are connected to a wireless network but not to the internet
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select IP Settings and then select DNS Server
- If your DNS number is not set for 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4, you should change it to one of the two
If this troubleshooting step is adequate for your issue, you will no longer receive a message saying you cannot connect to the internet.
4. Reset Network Settings
There’s a chance your settings were accidentally changed, so you want to ensure they are set correctly. For example, if your IP setting is set for “obtain manually,” you are required to enter your IP address manually, and if you don’t, you can’t connect to the internet.
To reset your network settings, follow these steps:
- Press Menu on your remote control
- Select Settings and then choose General
- Next, select Network and Reset Network and choose Yes
- Restart your television and continue with the below steps to reconfigure your device
You want to change your settings to” obtain automatically,” so you don’t have to go through the tedious step of entering it manually.
To start, you’ll want to see what your IP configuration is currently set at; you can do this by following the below steps:
- Press Menu on your remote and select Network
- Next, choose Network Status and then IP Settings
- Verify it is set for Obtain Automatically
5. Remove All Devices from WIFI Network
If your router limits how many devices can be connected, you may experience WIFI issues. To resolve this problem, removing all devices and deciding which ones you must have connected is best.
To remove all devices from your WIFI network, you should:
- Press Menu on your remote and select Settings
- Choose General and select External Device Manager
- Open the Device List and select Deny for all devices connected to WIFI
Once you disconnect unnecessary devices, you can choose which ones to add to ensure they are correctly connected to WIFI. In addition, you should add your Samsung TV first to determine whether this was the cause of your TV not connecting to WIFI.
6. Use a Different Wireless Network
If the troubleshooting solutions are still not working, you should delete your current network from the list on your TV and reconnect to a different one. You may notice that your TV can find available networks but isn’t connecting to them, or your television cannot find any available networks.
One of the easiest ways to connect to a different network is to use a wireless hotspot. Before continuing this step, it’s best to try at least two phones to determine whether the hotspot works.
If you can connect other devices to your router, the problem is likely with your Samsung TV and not your wireless network.
7. Manually Configure DNS Setting
You can manually configure your DNS setting to get your WIFI up and running.
To manually change your DNS settings, follow these steps:
- Press Menu on your remote control
- Select Settings and then Network
- Choose Network Settings and touch Start
- Go to IP Settings and change the setting to Enter Manually
- Change your server to 8.8.8.8
- Touch OK and allow the TV to connect to WIFI
This YouTube video goes over the steps to change your DNS settings:
8. Weak WIFI Signal
If you have a weak WIFI signal, move your router closer to your television to see if it helps strengthen your connection.
You can check the strength of your WIFI signal by following these steps:
- Press the Menu button on your remote and select Settings
- Choose General and then Network
- Select Open Network Settings and tap Wireless
- Check the number of bars your wireless connection has
You don’t have a strong signal if your wireless connection only has one or two bars. In addition, a weak signal will prevent you from streaming to your device.
9. Restart Router/Modem
A problem with your router or modem will cause your Samsung TV to not connect to WIFI. One of the easiest ways to fix this issue is to restart your device, which you can perform by unplugging your router and plugging it back in.
Remember, it will take a few moments for the device to be up and running after the restart, so bring your patience. If the restart doesn’t help, but you think the issue is with the router or modem, bring the device closer to your TV for a stronger WIFI connection.
Finally, you can perform a hard reset on your router or modem by using a paper clip and pressing the reset button on the bottom of your device.
10. ISP Outage
If you still are experiencing problems connecting to WIFI, there may be a problem with your internet service provider (ISP). For example, if no devices connect to your home internet, there’s a good chance of an ISP outage.
So, what do you do in this case? You can contact your ISP directly, check their website for updates, or look at social media. You also can check Downdetector, where you can search for potential outages.
Unfortunately, in this situation, you have to be patient and wait for the provider to be up and running again.
11. Do a Factory Reset
You should do a factory reset if you still cannot get your TV to connect to WIFI. Remember, completing a factory reset will delete your saved login information, so ensure you have it handy when you sign in again.
To perform a factory reset, follow the below steps:
- Select Source on your remote
- Select Settings and press Enter
- Choose General, and then Network, and finally Network Reset
When you are asked to enter a pin and have never reset yours, you will input 0000 for your security pin.
To do a factory reset without a remote, follow these simple steps:
- Locate the Power button on your TV
- Select the Menu button and toggle until you can choose Settings
- Next, choose General and then Reset
This YouTube does an excellent job at detailing how to perform a factory reset:
12. Update Firmware
If you don’t regularly update your TV’s firmware, you may encounter an issue with your WIFI connection. While updates are typically done automatically, an error in the internet connection can cause you to miss the latest update.
If you want to check for available updates, check out these steps below:
- Press the Home button on your remote
- Select Settings and then Support
- Choose Software Update and then Update Now
Since new updates can take a few minutes to download fully, you should not turn your television off during this time.
If you want to step your updates to download automatically, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on your remote
- Select Settings and then Software Update
- Choose Auto Update and ensure it’s set for Automatic
Contact support
While I hope the listed troubleshooting solutions have helped your situation, you may want to contact Samsung directly if you still have issues. For example, you can call Samsung at 1-800-SAMSUNG (726-7864) seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. EST.
Before you place your phone call, ensure you know which model TV you have and keep your serial number handy. If you know these two sets of information, it will help your call go smoother.
Samsung also offers email and online chat support to help with troubleshooting. You can also find various troubleshooting solutions on the Samsung website by searching for your particular model TV.
Error code list
If you are experiencing an error, you likely will see one of the following on your screen:
- Error Code 001
- Error Code 012
- Error Code 102
- Error Code 105
- Error Code 107
- Samsung TV Error 107
- Samsung TV Error 13
- Error Code 116
- Error Code 118
- Error Code 301
- ERROR_MODEL_BIND
- Error Code 0-1
- Error Code 7-1
- Message code: 0
Conclusion
It can be incredibly frustrating when your Samsung TV won’t connect to WIFI, but there are various troubleshooting solutions you should try if this happens. For example, you can restart your television, ensure you have the correct password, and update the necessary firmware.
When all else fails, you can contact Samsung directly for technical support, they helped me before when my Netflix App and Disney Plus were not working on my Samsung TV.
