7 Simple Steps to Fix the Internet Connection on Your Android Smartphone

Updated: April 05, 2023
6 min read
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7 Simple Steps to Fix the Internet Connection on Your Android Smartphone
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by Christine Tomas
Tech Expert & Writer
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Quality Control team

What do we mostly do on a smartphone? We watch videos, use social networks, chat on messengers, browse websites, and play games. All these activities require an Internet connection. So when your phone’s WiFi is not working, and the mobile Internet is very slow, expensive, or not available at all, that’s a whole tragedy.

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Sometimes, your phone or tablet won’t connect to WiFi. Such problems are relevant not only for public networks (where, usually, the problem is in the network itself) but also for private WiFi spots.

Also, there are situations when the smartphone was successfully connected to the router, then, for some reason, the connection was lost – and the device couldn’t connect again. Or it refused to connect after replacing the router, changing settings, installing programs, etc. So, why can’t your Android connect to WiFi? Let’s find out!

Step 1: Make Sure Your WiFi Is Turned On and an Airplane Mode is Turned Off

Make Sure Your WiFi Is Turned On

The first thing you need to do when you experience WiFi connection problems on Android is to check that you don't have Airplane Mode turned on. If you do, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced and turn Airplane Mode off. If Airplane Mode is disabled, you can also turn it on and off again.

The next step is to check if your WiFi is on. To do it, go to Settings, then look for "Wireless & Network". Then, open the notification bar menu and then enable the WiFi icon if it's off.

Step 2. Check if your router works properly

Inspect your router

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Before contacting customer service for help, you need to inspect your router for possible damage. Probably someone simply dropped the device, and it stopped working?

The second thing to pay attention to is the indicators. There are several light indicators on the device's front panel which inform about the operation of the router and the functions performed. Each device has its own designation, so we recommend looking for the information about the purpose of a particular light bulb in the instructions for the router.

Check if your router works properly

If all indicators are working correctly, but the Internet is slow, or one of the lights is not working, rebooting the device may help. For example, it happens that a serviceable, stable router overheats and freezes. In such a case, the device has a Reset button, or you can simply disconnect the device from the network for at least 5 minutes. Once turned on, the router will reboot. If the connection is restored - congratulations, your problem is solved. If there is no external damage, but your smartphone still can't connect to WiFi, then you can proceed to the next step.

Check cable

Also, the malfunction may occur due to a bad cable connection. You can figure out if that is the case by checking the plugs in the device and also by checking whether the cable is damaged or not. The latter malfunction is especially common in apartment buildings. Maybe some work was carried out, and as a result of this, the network wire providing the user with the Internet was damaged.

Check cable

Have you paid your provider?

In addition, sometimes even the most responsible users forget to pay on time, and the Internet in a private house is turned off for non-payment.

Step 3. Make your device forget the WiFi network

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The easiest way to fix the WiFi on your phone is to restart the device. If this does not help, delete the network from your device’s network list. By doing this, you make your smartphone forget the WiFi network you have a problem with and its password as well. Don’t worry - you can reconnect to it later to see if the issue is resolved.

To make your device forget the particular WiFi network, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your phone.

2. Go to Network and Internet and tap on the WiFi.

3. Then, select the WiFi network you are having problems with.

4. If you are not connected to this network at the moment, you can find it in the Saved Networks section.

5. Then select Forget network.

6. After that, rejoin the network by entering the password again.

Step 4. Reset your phone's network settings

If your phone or tablet still can't connect to WiFi, try resetting your phone's network settings. This will allow wireless connections to start over.

Find the item Reset mobile Internet settings, WiFi, Bluetooth in your phone's Settings menu. Look for it either in the System section or in the Additional functions.

Here is the more detailed instruction:

  1. Open Settings on your phone.
  2. Go to System language.
  3. Click on the “Reset” option.
  4. Select “Reset network settings”.
  5. After that, restart your phone and try to connect again.

Step 5. Switch your smartphone to the 2.4GHz frequency

Switch your smartphone to the 2.4GHz frequency

If your phone or tablet still doesn’t connect to WiFi, verify if you are using 5GHz frequency while connected to your home WiFi. This might be the problem because, after the Android 10 update, this frequency is no longer acceptable for some phone models.

On the other hand, reconnecting the router to a 2.4GHz frequency usually helps solve the problem. Though keep in mind that it is not, unfortunately, a permanent solution but a quick way to fix Internet connection problems on the phone.

To change the WiFi hotspot frequency on your smartphone from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz, you need to:

  1. Open the "Access Point" section. You can find it both in the settings of wireless networks and by lowering the “curtain”.
  2. Select "Advanced" or "Access Point Settings".
  3. In the "WiFi frequency range" section, switch the frequency from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz.

Step 6. Change your smartphone’s security settings

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When the compliant gadget and AP/router “see” each other but are still unable to link up or share traffic, it’s a sign that there might be a security discrepancy. Your device shall use the security mode needed for your AP/router: Open, WEP, WPA, or WPA2. In case the WiFi network does not open (not secured), set up your device and AP/router to receive matching keys to code traffic for each other.

  • To rearrange security settings for any network, select the name of the chosen network or “Add WiFi network”. After connecting to the particular network, your device automatically establishes some settings according to the access point or router and asks only for parameters that it cannot guess, such as WEP keys, passwords, and 802.1X login name. When you add a network manually, you will be asked to insert all the necessary security settings.
Change your smartphone’s security settings
  • If the access point or router uses WEP, write down its WEP key when needed, or click on the Security scrollable menu to pick WEP and duplicate the WEP key into the Client Password field.
  • If the access point or router uses WPA-Personal or WPA2-Personal, fill in the passcode of your router when needed or click on the Security menu to choose WPA / WPA2-PSK and duplicate the WiFi access point/router password to the password client field.

Hack: include capital letters and select “Show passcode” to make sure there aren’t any spelling mistakes.

  • If the access point or router uses WPA-Enterprise or WPA2-Enterprise, set Client Security to 802.1x Enterprise and carry on with 802.1X settings.
Access point or router uses WPA-Enterprise or WPA2-Enterprise

If you accidentally selected the wrong security type while adding the network, don't worry - you can fix it anytime. For example, change the password (or other security settings) related to the old network by tapping the network's name. Although, it is often simpler to select the “Forget network” option for the network and start again.

Step 7. Check RADIUS settings

Make sure that the RADIUS server works properly. Your Android device may be logged into the network by WPA-Enterprise and WPA2-Enterprise, which provide encryption keys relying on the 802.1X-capable RADIUS server. If you are not a user of RADIUS yet, consult this tip. If you are, follow these simple steps:

  • Retarget the access point or router and server by pointing out the proper RADIUS secret.
  • Retarget the RADIUS server to receive requests from the access point or router.
  • Use Ping to check network availability between the access point or router and the RADIUS server. Ping program shows the signal speed (in microseconds) at which it reaches the device server and returns back.Еvery browser offers a lot of online portals where you can check Ping. To do this, just click the "Start testing" button and wait for the results. The best testing speed for the normal customer is 15 to 18 microseconds.
  • Monitor the LAN packet counters to see if RADIUS is being sent, or apply a LAN analyzer to troubleshoot RADIUS protocol problems.

Still, searching for how to fix wifi connection failure on Android? Maybe the issue is an offending app!

If your smartphone or tablet doesn’t connect to WiFi even then, maybe you should look for the infringing application.

Maybe the issue is an offending app

Lots of reasons can be causing Android WiFi problems. Sometimes it may be a system update or a buggy program. The easiest solution is to uninstall newly added programs and check whether your Android WiFi issue disappeared or not.

If you have no idea what app has caused the Internet connection problems on your phone, try setting your device in a safe mode and check if the Internet connection problem persists.

Safe mode is the best possible method to reveal problems on your Android device, as it temporarily disables third-party applications.

To enable safe mode:

  • When the device is turned on, press and hold the power button.
  • When the popup menu appears, press the power button.
  • Press and hold Power Off until the message Reboot the Safe Mode appears.
  • Choose OK to restart in safe mode.

If your device can connect to the Internet in a safe mode, the problem is in some third-party app you installed.

F.A.Q.

What happens when I keep Wi-Fi and mobile data turned on simultaneously?

In general, Android OS has the power to support such simultaneous Internet connection. Some experts claim that this is a good way to increase Internet speed on LTE devices. Although in most cases, only Wi-Fi will work.

Should I turn off Wi-Fi when I'm not using it?

It's better to stop the automatic connection to Wi-Fi at all. Just connect to the router every time you need the Internet and then turn off Wi-Fi if you don't want to use it anymore. This will keep your battery from quickly draining.

Can I use VPN safely?

Using a VPN is completely safe, and there’s no reason to worry. VPN masks your location, making Internet surfing more secure. What's more, you can turn it on and off whenever you want.

Conclusion

WiFi issues on Android, as a rule, can be easily resolved on your own and without the involvement of specialists, so there is no need to panic. However, if your phone or tablet still doesn’t connect to WiFi, the problem may most likely be in the module (for example, if your smartphone has recently fallen into the water). If you cannot fix Internet connection issues using the methods described above, it is better to contact the service center or ask the Howly experts for advice. We are always ready to help you fix any issue you have.

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