Why won't my phone connect to Wi-Fi?

Fast fix

• Turn Wi-Fi and Airplane Mode.
• Verify router proximity and interference.
• Check available Wi-Fi networks: On Android®, use the swipe-down Quick Settings panel. On iPhone®, go to Settings > Wi-Fi.

You need an internet connection to do many things on your phone, like streaming video, reading the news, or shopping online. So, when your Wi-Fi connection isn’t working right, it can get very frustrating very quickly. Don’t worry. If you’re asking yourself, “Why won’t my phone connect to Wi-Fi?” you’re in the right place.

Asurion experts have helped many customers with their Wi-Fi connection issues, ranging from signal interference and router problems to outdated hardware and settings. Follow our troubleshooting guide on how to fix a phone’s Wi-Fi connection.

Restart and refresh your connection

The first troubleshooting step to take when you’re having Wi-Fi connection problems is restarting both your phone and router. How to restart your router depends on the model, so check your router guide.

Once your phone and router have rebooted, check whether your phone reconnects to the internet. If not, try forgetting the saved network. This will disconnect you from your current network, allowing you to reset and reconnect.

On Android, follow these steps to forget a network:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Connections> Wi-Fi.
3. Select the gear icon next to your current network.
4. Select Forget.

On iPhone, forget a network with these steps:

1. Open Settings and go to Wi-Fi.
2. Select the More information button next to your current network. The button looks like a lowercase i in a circle.
3. Choose Forget This Network.

Then, you’ll need to reconnect to the network like it’s brand new. Select the network from the list of available options and enter the password.

Often, just forgetting and reconnecting to the network will be enough to solve this issue when your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi, but other devices will.

Look at your router, too. Routers generally have status indicator lights that can help you determine if the problem is with your router or your internet service provider (ISP). If so, try troubleshooting through your ISP.

Update software or reset network settings

If your phone still says it’s connected to Wi-Fi but there’s no internet, check for any system updates. Updating your phone may help.

Try disabling your virtual private network (VPN) and other security software temporarily, if you have any in place. They may be blocking your internet access.

As a last resort, you can reset the network settings on your phone with these steps. Resetting network settings will clear any saved Wi-Fi networks, paired Bluetooth devices, and VPN configurations, but it will not erase personal data on your phone.

On Android:

1. Go to Settings> System (or General management, depending on your device) > Reset (or Reset Options).
2. Select Reset Network Settings.
3. Confirm the reset.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone> Reset.
3. Select Reset Network Settings.
4. Confirm the reset.

If your phone won’t connect to your home Wi-Fi even after these troubleshooting steps, the issue could be hardware related. That’s when it's time to consider repairing your phone to hopefully resolve the connectivity issues.

FAQs

Why does my phone say connected but no internet?

When your phone shows that you’re connected but have no internet, that generally means there’s an issue passing traffic from your ISP. Your device is linked to the router, though. To resolve this issue, restart your device and the router. Check to see if other devices can connect to the internet. There may be an outage with your ISP, in which case all you can do is wait for it to get resolved.

Should I reset my network settings if my Wi-Fi isn’t working?

When your Wi-Fi isn’t working, the first thing you should try is simply rebooting your device and router. A quick reboot can resolve many minor glitches and bugs. Check your modem lights to see if they indicate a problem.

Is the problem my phone or router?

When you’re having connectivity problems, you may not always know whether they’re coming from your phone or the router. The fastest way to check is to use another device connected to your same Wi-Fi network. If that device is able to connect and access the internet, the problem is with your phone. If not, the problem is probably with your router/ISP.