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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
Hack: include capital letters and select “Show passcode” to make sure there aren’t any spelling mistakes.
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.
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:
If your smartphone or tablet doesn’t connect to WiFi even then, maybe you should look for the infringing application.
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:
If your device can connect to the Internet in a safe mode, the problem is in some third-party app you installed.
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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