How to Fix WiFi Not Connecting on Your Samsung TV

Despite the convenience and advanced features of Samsung Smart TVs, users occasionally face challenges with WiFi connectivity. There have been increasing reports from individuals struggling to connect their televisions to their home wireless networks.

This article will provide a set of proven solutions to address this issue, along with possible reasons why the WiFi feature on the TV might be malfunctioning.

What Prevents Samsung Televisions from Connecting to WiFi?

Our investigation has revealed that there is no single cause for the problem, which can arise due to various reasons. Some of the most prominent causes include:

Equipped with an understanding of why the problem occurs, we can now explore the solutions. It’s recommended to follow these solutions in the given order to prevent potential conflicts.

Solution 1: Restarting the TV

In some cases, the network settings may become corrupted if the TV is turned off with the remote for an extended period.

1. Power on the TV as you usually would and let it run for 5 minutes.
2. Instead of using the remote, unplug the power cable directly from the wall socket.
3. Wait for at least 20 minutes before powering the TV back on.
4. Enter the WiFi password if prompted, and verify if the issue has been resolved.

Solution 2: Restarting the Internet

The issue might lie with internet connectivity or incorrect DNS settings of the router, preventing the TV from accessing the internet.

1. Turn off the power supply to the internet router.
2. Wait for at least 10 minutes before restoring power.
3. Once the internet settings are loaded and access is granted, attempt to connect the TV to the WiFi and see if the problem persists.

Solution 3: Changing the Internet Connection

If the MAC address of the TV has been blocked by the router, connecting to that WiFi network will be impossible.

1. Turn on the TV and navigate to the WiFi settings.
2. Activate the mobile hotspot feature on your smartphone.

   

3. Select the hotspot from the list of available connections, and check whether the TV can connect to it.
4. If the TV connects correctly to the mobile hotspot, it’s likely that the TV’s MAC address is blocked by the internet router.
5. Contact your ISP to request that they unblock the TV’s MAC address.

Solution 4: Firmware Update

The firmware of your device should be updated to the most recent version, consistent with your TV model and region. If the firmware is outdated, you may encounter issues while trying to connect to the internet. Without an internet connection, you’ll need to download the correct firmware on a computer:

1. Open this link and select the accurate model for your Samsung TV.

   

2. Initiate the download and wait for it to complete.
3. Extract the downloaded files onto a USB device that is free of other data.
4. Ensure that your computer has not added any extra symbols or numbers to the downloaded file’s name.
5. Insert the USB drive into the TV and press the ‘Menu’ button on the remote control.
6. From the menu, select ‘Support,’ followed by the ‘Software Upgrade’ option.
7. Select ‘By USB’ as the update method.
8. If prompted, confirm the new update installation and wait for the process to complete.
9. Afterward, try connecting to WiFi to see if the issue persists.

Solution 5: Refreshing DNS Settings

Incorrect DNS settings on the television could be causing a conflict with the router’s internet connection.

1. Hit the ‘Menu’ button on the remote, followed by the ‘Settings’ option.
2. Select ‘Network’ then ‘Network Settings’.
3. Choose ‘Start’ and proceed to ‘IP Settings’.
4. Now find ‘DNS mode’ and ensure it’s set to ‘Manual’ mode, then hit ‘OK’.

   

5. Type ‘8.8.8.8’ and press ‘OK’.
6. This should restore internet access if the problem was DNS-related. You can then use the ‘Samsung Smart Hub’ button to automatically update the television and reset outdated programs.

Solution 6: Performing a Hard Reboot

A hard reboot can sometimes resolve this issue. To perform a hard reboot, follow these steps:

1. Use the remote to long-press the ‘Power’ button on your Samsung TV.
2. Maintain the press until the TV reboots, and release it once the ‘Samsung’ logo appears.
3. See if this rebooting method fixes the issue.

Note: If the problem persists after trying all the solutions, it may be a hardware issue rather than a software one. In that case, contact Samsung Customer Support.

Before attempting to fix the WiFi issue on your Samsung TV, ensure that no accessory is connected to the TV (e.g., Firestick, Chromecast, Android Streaming Box, Soundbar, WiFi Extender, Xbox, Blu-ray, DVD player, etc.). It is also advisable to remove extra devices from the network (like network storage devices). Furthermore, check if connecting the TV without a surge protector or to a power source in another room, or using a different power adapter, resolves the issue.

Solution 7: Editing the TV Settings

If the TV still experiences issues, incorrect configuration of the Samsung TV’s settings might be the cause—particularly if it fails to connect even to a phone hotspot. Users may find success with the following settings, though note that instructions may vary slightly between users.

Refresh Resources in the Smart Hub

1. Open the Smart Hub on your TV and select ‘Source’.

   

2. Press the ‘A’ button (typically red) to refresh sources, then attempt launching an app (e.g., Netflix, YouTube) to see if the issue is resolved.

Change the TV Name

1. Access the TV Settings and navigate to the ‘Network’ tab.

   

2. Select ‘Device Name’ and type in a new name for the TV (ensuring it’s unique within the network).
3. Restart your TV and verify if WiFi connectivity has been restored.

Reset Network Settings of the TV and Disable IPV6

1. Enter the TV’s ‘Settings’ and select ‘General’.
2. Choose ‘Network’ followed by ‘Reset Network Settings’.

   

3. Confirm the reset and wait for its completion.

   

4. Power the TV down, wait a minute, then power it back on and reconnect to the network in the Network Settings to see if the problem is fixed.
5. If the issue continues, navigate to the ‘Network Settings’ and check if disabling IPV6 (which may require accessing ‘Expert Settings’) solves the difficulty.

Disable Power On with Mobile

1. Head to the ‘Settings’ and then ‘General’.
2. Choose ‘Network’ and ‘Expert Settings’.

   

3. Select ‘Power On With Mobile’ and disable the feature (this may hinder the operation of the SmartThings mobile app on the TV).

   

4. Reboot your TV and check if the Wi-Fi issue has been resolved.

Disable Samsung Instant On

1. Press the ‘Menu’ key on the remote and proceed to ‘System’.
2. Scroll down, select ‘General’, followed by ‘Samsung Instant On’ and disable it.

   

3. Restart your TV to see if the Wi-Fi issue is no longer present.

Set the Usage Mode to Home

1. Go to ‘Settings’ then ‘General’.
2. Expand ‘Usage Mode’ and input the default PIN (usually ‘0000’), then select ‘Home Mode’.

   

3. Restart your TV and check if Wi-Fi functionality has been restored.

Disable Auto Launch Last App and Autorun Smart Hub

1. Navigate to ‘Settings’ then to ‘General’.
2. Choose ‘Smart Features’ and the ‘Autorun Last App’ option, then disable it.

   

3. Reboot your TV to determine if the Wi-Fi connection has been repaired.
4. If the issue is ongoing, head back to ‘Smart Features’ and turn off ‘Autorun Smart Hub’ to see if the issue is fixed.

Disable the AnyNet+ Feature

1. Enter your TV’s ‘Settings’, choose ‘General’, then ‘External Device Manager’, followed by ‘AnyNet+’ and disable it (this action may impede the control of certain devices, such as Soundbars).

   

2. Restart your TV and assess if the Wi-Fi connectivity has improved.

Change the Time Zone of Your TV

1. Proceed to the ‘Settings’, select ‘General’, then ‘System Manager’, followed by ‘Time’.
2. Adjust the ‘Time-Zone’. If this option is unavailable, set the ‘Clock’ to ‘Auto’.

   

3. Reboot your TV and check for improvements in Wi-Fi connectivity.

Disable the Soft AP Option

1. Open the ‘Settings’ and navigate to the ‘Network’ section, then switch off ‘Soft AP’.

   

2. Restart your TV and see if the Wi-Fi is functioning properly.

Manually Change the IP Address of Your TV

1. Go to ‘Settings’, find the ‘Network’ tab, and then select ‘Network Status’.
2. Select ‘IP Settings’.

   

3. Change the IP settings to ‘Manual’ (record the current settings before proceeding) and input the appropriate IP information. Note that you should make sure to enter the correct gateway. This is particularly crucial if you’re using a tri-band Wi-Fi router.
4. Enter the DNS information as discussed in Solution 5 or per any other device on your network and verify if the issue is now fixed.
5. If not, consider using one of the following DNS settings to see if the issue is resolved:

   4.2.2.1
   208.67.222.222

Reset the Smart Hub of Your TV to Defaults

1. Access the TV’s ‘Settings’ and select ‘Support’.
2. Choose ‘Self Diagnosis’ and then ‘Reset Smart Hub’ (take note that this may erase certain configurations such as accounts and passwords). Enter your PIN (in most cases, the default is ‘0000’).

   

3. Wait for the reset process to conclude and then check if the Wi-Fi issue is resolved.

Change the Country of Your TV

1. In your TV’s Smart Hub, press the sequence of keys “>> (fast forward), 2, 8, 9, << (rewind)” on your remote.
2. Change the country setting to another one (for instance, USA or Australia) and agree to the Samsung terms and conditions if prompted.

   

3. Ascertain whether the Wi-Fi issue is fixed. If so, then try reverting back to your original country to see if the Wi-Fi still works.

Change the Wi-Fi Region and Perform an SVC Reset

1. Power off your TV and access the Service Mode (exercise caution as incorrect changes here can permanently damage your TV). You may need to press the sequence on your remote:

   Info >> Menu >> Mute >> Power

2. Navigate to ‘Control’ >> ‘Sub-Option’ and switch the Wi-Fi Region to ‘A’.

   

3. Apply the changes and reboot your TV.
4. Following reboot, verify if the Wi-Fi is operational.
5. If the problem persists, enter Service Mode again and select ‘SVC’.
6. Choose ‘SVC Reset’ and allow the TV to restart.

   

7. Once restarted, reconfigure your TV if required, and determine if the Wi-Fi functions correctly.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, a Factory Reset of Your TV may be necessary.

Sign in to the Samsung Account

1. Navigate to your TV’s ‘Settings’ and head over to the ‘Smart Hub’ section.
2. Select ‘Samsung Account’ and sign in. If you’re already signed in, re-enter your credentials.

   

3. Afterward, restart your TV and check if the Wi-Fi issue has been fixed.

Solution 8: Edit the Router Settings

If your TV connects properly using a mobile hotspot, then the issue is likely due to incorrect router configuration. Consider adjusting the following settings, which have helped other users resolve similar issues:

1. Ensure that your router’s firmware is up-to-date and check if that solves the problem.
2. Disable features such as Nvidia Shield or PiHole to ensure they aren’t blocking Wi-Fi access.
3. Verify that the MAC address of the Samsung TV is not blocked by any parental control or ISP management applications. Also, confirm that the router’s MAC filtering isn’t the root cause. Adding the TV to the ‘Trusted Devices’ list in the router settings may fix the problem.
4. If your router is dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), try disabling one of the bands or assigning different names to each. This can be especially helpful if you disable the 5 GHz band or use a different SSID for each.

   

5. Choose a Wi-Fi channel that is less crowded, as determined by a Wi-Fi channel scan app, switching to a different channel, such as 11, if necessary. Also, make sure Automatic Channel Switching is turned off. If using a 5 GHz band, ensure it’s a non-DFS channel.
6. Try changing the wireless mode to Legacy, G, N, or Auto to determine if that resolves the connectivity issue.

   

7. Confirm that IPV6 is disabled in the router’s settings.
8. Enable UPNP in the router settings and observe whether that solves the issue.

   

9. Check for a built-in firewall in your router and consider disabling it (at your own risk due to potential security vulnerabilities) to see if that was the culprit. If so, properly configure exceptions for the TV within firewall settings.
10. If utilizing a hidden SSID, reveal it and observe whether this resolves the problem. Additionally, renaming Wi-Fi might help.
11. Assess if your router has Smart Wi-Fi/Smart Connect/Smart Assistant features, and if so, either enabling or disabling them might fix the issue.
12. Disable the Auto-Optimize Network/Channel Optimization feature in your router’s settings and check if the issue is resolved.

    

13. Turn off the Connect High-Performance Devices to 5 GHz Only feature in your router’s settings.

    

14. Check if turning off the Uplink Connectivity Monitor addresses the Wi-Fi trouble.

    

15. If roaming is an issue, disabling the Roaming Assistant may help resolve the matter.

    

16. Deactivate Packet Filtering and check if the Wi-Fi problem has been fixed.

    

17. Ensure that your router’s WPS feature is enabled, and then use it to see if it helps connect your TV to Wi-Fi.
18. Try toggling your Wi-Fi router’s encryption between WPA/WPA2 or WPA3 to see if that resolves the issue. If unsuccessful, see if setting the encryption to TKIP works.
19. If none of the aforementioned methods are effective, consider adjusting the DHCP settings of your router, such as assigning a fixed IP lease to the TV.
20. Check whether setting up a Guest network and connecting only the Samsung TV to it addresses the Wi-Fi problems.

    

21. If the problem remains unsolved, a factory reset of your router might clear up the issue. If that still doesn’t work, consider using a different router or an extender, especially if your TV can access the internet via your mobile phone’s hotspot.

Should the issue still persist, consider using an Ethernet cable to connect to the internet, or have the TV inspected for hardware problems. In some cases, as reported by a few users, replacing the Wi-Fi module fixes the problem, although in rare situations, the mainboard of the TV may need to be replaced.