What to do if your Android phone won't connect to Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi connection problems are pretty frustrating. Maybe it’s just me, but they always seem to happen at the worst time — like during an important meeting. You’re not alone; It’s a pretty common issue. In this post, we’ll look closely at a few fixes that might solve your connectivity problem and get you back online if your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi. Let’s dive in.

What to do if your phone won’t connect to the internet:

Editor’s note: We’ve assembled these instructions using a Google Pixel 7 running Android 13. Remember, some of these steps may differ, depending on your device and the software running. 

Is your Wi-Fi router within range?

If your Wi-Fi router is too far, chances are you’ll have a hard time connecting to the network. And if you manage to connect to it, it might not work very well.

Many factors can affect Wi-Fi performance. Any kind of interference can weaken the signal. This is especially a problem if there are multiple walls between your device and the router, or if the walls are too thick. It’s actually a very common issue in concrete buildings.

Additionally, not all routers can reach that far, or can transfer data as fast. Especially if you got your router from the internet provider, as these are usually lower-end devices. Check your router’s specs to see if it can reach far enough to cover your whole home.

In the case it’s a problem with signal reach, just move closer to the router. You can also upgrade to one of the best routers, to improve the odds of them reaching further and handling more simultaneous connections.

Did you reach your router’s device limit?

Most people won’t encounter issues using lower-end Wi-Fi routers, if they only use a few devices. Your Wi-Fi performance can start degrading as you add a bunch of smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, smart lights, appliances, and other smart home devices. It seems everything is smart these days, which can be a problem because different routers have various device limits.

The lower-end options can usually handle between 10-15 simultaneous connections. Your Wi-Fi network will start becoming useless beyond that point, which could be why your Android phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi.

Try turning off or disconnecting other devices and smart products you aren’t using. You should try splitting connections to different channels if you have a router with multiple bands. If you really must have a bevy of devices connected simultaneously, you’ll need to upgrade to a more capable router.

There are plenty of very capable options. You should look into Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E options if you use a lot of connected devices. Many of these can handle well over 50 simultaneous connections.

Restart the phone

We aren’t quite sure why, but a quick smartphone restart will iron out most small software issues and hiccups. It’s always one of the first troubleshooting tips we recommend, and it’s a quick and easy fix you should try.

How to restart an Android phone:

1. Press the side and volume up buttons simultaneously.
2. Hit Restart.

Check your connection settings if your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi

If your phone doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi, you should check if Wi-Fi is even turned on. You may have mistakenly forgotten to turn it on or switched it off. Luckily for you, this is an easy fix.

How to turn on Wi-Fi on Android:

1. Go into the Settings app.
2. Open Network & internet.
3. Tap on Internet.
4. Make sure Wi-Fi is toggled on.

The other setting you should check is Airplane mode. It disables Wi-Fi, data, and other things when active, so you can’t connect to the internet. If Airplane mode is off and Wi-Fi is on, but you still don’t have a connection, you should move on to the second solution on this list.

How to turn off Airplane mode:

1. Go into the Settings app.
2. Open Network & internet.
3. Make sure Airplane mode is toggled off.

Update your phone

While software versions aren’t a common issue with data or Wi-Fi connections, these can fix system bugs your phone may encounter. Updating your phone software is worth a try, and it’s an effortless way to possibly get things back up and running.

How to update your Android phone:

1. Go into the Settings app.
2. Tap on System.
3. Hit System update.
4. Tap on Check for update.
5. Your phone will let you know if there is an available update. Follow the instructions to update.

Check your router name and password when your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi

Another reason you might have connection problems is that you’re trying to connect to the wrong network. This can sometimes happen, especially if your neighbors have the same ISP and, therefore, similar network names in some cases. Ensure you check what your network is called by looking at your router’s back or the bottom. You’ll see a small sticker containing the needed info, so long as you haven’t renamed your unit.

If you’ve figured out that you were on the right network, the next step is to double-check the password. You’ll find the generic password on the same sticker as the network name. Re-enter the password for the network you’re trying to connect to and see if it solves your problem. Remember that you may have changed the password after setup, and it will be case-sensitive.

How to edit your Wi-Fi settings on Android:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go into Network & internet.
3. Tap on Internet.
4. Find your Wi-Fi connection. Tap on the gear icon next to it.
5. Tap on the pencil icon in the top-right corner.
6. Here, you can edit the password and check other details.

If you’ve changed the network name or password, and don’t remember them, there are ways to factory reset your router. This method varies by router, so try finding this information in your manual, or Google how to factory reset your router model.

Reboot your router

It’s possible that the router is to blame for your connection problems and not your smartphone. This happens often enough and is yet another easy fix in most cases. Many modern routers have a reset button or can be rebooted from an app. If yours has neither, unplug the router from the power outlet and wait for at least 30 seconds before you plug it back in.

After that, you’ll have to wait a minute or two for the router to turn back on. Once it’s set up, try connecting to the network again to see if things work as they should.

Forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect

Forgetting the network and reconnecting to it is the next solution that might solve your problem.

How to forget a Wi-Fi network on Android:

1. Go into the Settings app.
2. Open Network & internet.
3. Select Internet.
4. Under Wi-Fi, find the network you want to forget and tap on the gear icon next to it.
5. Hit Forget.
6. You can tap on your network and enter the correct credentials to reconnect.

Once you’ve forgotten the network, tap on it again and enter the password to connect to it.

Perform a factory reset

This is far from a great option, but it’s worth a shot if the fixes described above don’t work. A factory reset will eliminate any software bugs on your device that might have caused your connection problems. It’s not hard to do, but you will have to invest some time setting up your phone again. It will wipe all the data (images, apps, documents, etc.) off your device, so make sure you back it up first. You can read up on how exactly to do that right here.

How to factory reset an Android phone:

1. Go into the Settings app.
2. Tap on System.
3. Select Reset options.
4. Hit Erase all data (factory reset).
5. Tap on Erase all data.
6. Enter your PIN.
7. Confirm by tapping on Erase all data.

Once the smartphone turns back on, you’ll have to go through the setup process again, just like you did when using it for the first time. After that’s done, turn on the Wi-Fi, select your network, and try to connect all over again. Hopefully, everything works now, and you can connect to the internet without a problem.

Find professional help if your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi

If none of the solutions above have worked, the problem might be more serious. There may be a hardware issue with either your smartphone or router.

The best thing to do is try and connect at least one other device to the Wi-Fi network causing you headaches. If it also can’t connect, there’s a good chance something is wrong with your router. It’s an unfortunate problem, but not an isolated one. Call your internet provider, explain the problem, and someone should come to your home to replace the broken router with a new one and set it up. If you bought the router yourself, you will have to get help from the manufacturer.

However, if other devices can connect to the network and only your phone cannot, your device might be the cause of your issues. We only say it might be because there are cases when some routers won’t work with specific devices. In this case, replacing the router with a different one should do the trick.

You could test this out by trying to connect your device to a different Wi-Fi network at your friend’s house or a restaurant, for example. If you can’t get a connection, it’s most likely that your smartphone is to blame, which means you should get it repaired. If it’s still under warranty or if you have phone insurance, this shouldn’t be a big deal. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay up to get it fixed unless you want to rely on a mobile network for internet access.

Android issues are plentiful. If you think you may have more problems, you should look at our guide to common Android problems and how to fix them.