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

It's a frustrating experience: You're ready to stream your favorite show or take an important Zoom® call, but your phone won't connect to Wi-Fi. Fortunately, there a few simple ways to solve the problem—without using your limited data.

At Asurion, our experts work 24/7 to provide our 300 million customers solutions for all of their tech care needs, including solving their connectivity problems. If your Android™ phone or iPhone® won't connect to Wi-Fi, or keeps disconnecting, follow these simple steps to fix the issue and quickly get back on the wireless network.

7 tips to fix a phone that won't connect to Wi-Fi

1. Restart your phone

If you've ever wondered “Why won't my phone connect to Wi-Fi?" or “Why does my phone keep having Wi-Fi issues?" you may need to restart your device. Doing so can fix a lot of problems, and we recommend trying this step first. If you're not sure how to restart your phone, holding down the power button for a few seconds generally works. Give your device 30 seconds to power down before turning it back on.

2. Forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect

One of your phone's most convenient features is its ability to remember and auto join Wi-Fi networks you've logged onto before. But sometimes you need it to forget a particular network so you can reestablish the connection. Here's how:

How to forget a Wi-Fi network on iPhone:

• Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi.
• Tap the information icon next to the network name.
• Tap Forget This Network. The network will disappear briefly.
• When it reappears, tap on it to reconnect.

How to forget a Wi-Fi network on Android:

• Open Settings and tap Connections or Network & Internet.
• Tap Wi-Fi, tap the network name (or the gear next to the network name if you're using a Samsung® device), then tap Forget.
• The network will disappear briefly. When it reappears, tap on it and input the password to reconnect.

3. Reset the network settings

If you've tried the first two steps and your phone still has Wi-Fi problems, try a reset to clear your Wi-Fi passwords and saved networks. Don't worry, this won't delete any apps, photos, or contacts. Follow these steps to reset your phone's network settings:

How to reset network settings on iPhone:

• Open Settings. Tap General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Reset Network Settings and enter your passcode.
• Tap Reset Network Settings again.

How to reset network settings on Android:

• Open Settings, and tap System > Advanced > Reset options > then Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth, or if you have a Samsung phone, tap General Management > Reset > then Reset Network Settings.
• Tap Reset Settings and enter your passcode or password.
• Tap Reset Settings, then Reset.

4. Restart your router

Rebooting your router corrects internet issues at least 75% of the time, according to Lifewire®—a technology information website. To restart your home Wi-Fi router, unplug it for 30 seconds and then plug it back in. Your network will disappear from your phone for about five minutes. If your router doesn't come back online, you should contact your internet service provider.

5. Check that it's not in Airplane Mode

If you were recently on a flight and forgot to disable the feature or even accidentally pressed the Airplane mode icon, your phone won't be able to connect to Wi-Fi. To check if your phone is in Airplane Mode, follow these steps:

How to disable Airplane Mode on an iPhone:

• Go to your iPhone's Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (if you have an iPhone X or newer) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (if you have an iPhone 8 or older).
• In the Control Center, look for the airplane icon. If it's highlighted or blue, then your phone is in airplane mode, tap the icon to disable. If it's not highlighted or grayed out, then your phone is not in Airplane Mode.

How to disable Airplane Mode on an Android:

• Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Notification Panel and find the airplane mode icon.
• If it's highlighted, tap the icon to turn it off.

6. Update your software

We know it can be tempting to postpone software updates, but they make sure your device is secure and functioning optimally. By updating your phone, you can mitigate potential security risks and it may even fix your Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

How to update your phone software on iPhone:

• To update your software, go to Settings> General> Software Update
• If there is an update available, click Download and Install. 

How to update you phone software on Android: 

• To update your Android software, go to Settings> About phone> System Updates.
• If there's an update, tap Download and Install.

7. Make sure you have the right password

This may seem silly, but it's easy to fat thumb on these tiny keyboards. To make sure you have the correct password, try reconnecting to the network and type each individual letter or number slowly so you're positive you're entering the password correctly.