Smart TV technician helping fix Android TV WiFi connection

Steve H.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Android TV & Google TV, smart TVs, Wi-Fi & mesh routers, DNS/DHCP settings, streaming apps, Ethernet vs WiFi, home network optimisation

Android TV won’t connect to WiFi — router, TV settings, network and app issues

Technician avatar Technician
Hey! We’ll track down why your Android TV is not connecting to WiFi and get it back online without a service visit. A few quick questions so we don’t just guess:
• Brand/model of the TV or box (Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, Xiaomi, Nvidia Shield, etc.)?
• Is this a built-in Android TV / Google TV or a separate Android TV box connected via HDMI?
• What exactly do you see on screen: “Can’t connect to this network”, “Connected, no internet”, “Authentication problem”, stuck on “Obtaining IP address”, or the Wi-Fi network doesn’t appear at all?
• Did anything change recently — router firmware update, new mesh WiFi, moving the TV, or an Android TV software update?
The more detail we have, the better we can fix an Android TV that won’t connect to WiFi instead of rebooting things over and over.
Customer
It’s a Sony Android TV. After a recent system update, it stopped connecting to WiFi. It still sees my home network, but when I select it and enter the password, it either gets stuck on “obtaining IP address” or shows “can’t connect to this network”. Other devices connect fine, so it’s just the Android TV WiFi not working.
Technician avatar Technician
Got it — that’s a classic Android TV not connecting to WiFi after an update case.
When Android TV or the router updates, a few things usually change:
• The router may switch WiFi mode, channel width or security (e.g. WPA3-only), so the TV can’t get an IP address anymore.
• Smart/mesh features like band steering or fast roaming become more aggressive and confuse older WiFi chips.
• The TV’s own network cache gets corrupted and it gets stuck at “obtaining IP address” or “saved, not connected”.

We’ll go step by step:
1) Make sure the router is giving a clean 2.4/5 GHz signal your TV can actually use.
2) Fully refresh the TV’s WiFi connection (not just toggling the switch).
3) Check IP/DNS settings so it doesn’t keep saying “connected, no internet”.
If this is a known issue for some Sony Android TV firmware, we’ll work around it without you having to reset everything.
Customer
The router is a mesh system with one network name for 2.4 and 5 GHz. My phone is on 5 GHz and works fine. On the TV I see the SSID, enter the right password, and it just loops or fails. Sometimes it briefly connects and then the Android TV WiFi disconnects again.
Technician avatar Technician
Mesh is great when it behaves… but it’s a common reason why a smart TV won’t connect to WiFi after updates.
Step 1 — Quick router and TV restart
1) Unplug the router/mesh main unit for 60 seconds, then plug it back in.
2) On the Android TV: Settings > System > Restart, or unplug the TV for 30 seconds and plug back in.

Step 2 — Check network settings on the TV
• Go to Settings > Network & Internet and make sure Wi-Fi is ON.
• If you see multiple networks (main / guest), choose the main home SSID, not the guest network.
• If your mesh has “AP isolation” or “client isolation” enabled on guest, Android TV won’t be able to reach the internet properly.

If after that your Android TV still won’t stay connected to WiFi, we’ll “forget” the connection and rebuild it cleanly.
Customer
I restarted both. The TV still sees the network but fails to connect. I haven’t changed the WiFi name or password. Do I need to forget the network on the TV and set it up again, or change something on the mesh first so the Android TV can connect to WiFi properly?
Technician avatar Technician
Yes, let’s rebuild the connection — that fixes a lot of Android TV WiFi not working issues after updates.
Step 3 — Forget and reconnect the WiFi network
1) On the TV: go to Settings > Network & Internet.
2) Highlight your home WiFi, press the options button (⋮ or ☰) on the remote, choose Forget network.
3) Go back, select the same WiFi again, enter the password carefully (case-sensitive).
4) Wait and see if it gets past “obtaining IP address” and shows “Connected”.

If it connects but apps still don’t work, we’ll tweak IP settings (DHCP vs static) and DNS so it doesn’t get stuck on “connected, no internet”.
Customer
After forgetting and reconnecting, it connects for a bit, but YouTube and Netflix buffer and then I get network errors. In the settings it sometimes shows “Connected, no internet”. My other devices on the same WiFi are fine, so it’s just the Android TV internet connection dropping.
Technician avatar Technician
When Android TV keeps disconnecting from WiFi while other devices are OK, it’s usually signal quality, IP/DNS, or a mesh feature clashing with the TV.
Step 4 — Check signal and band
• In Settings > Network & Internet on the TV, look at signal strength — “poor” or 1 bar can cause dropouts.
• If your mesh has the TV bouncing between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, try moving the TV/router slightly or turning off “fast roaming”/“band steering” just for a test.

Step 5 — Try manual DNS on the TV
1) In the WiFi network’s Advanced settings, change IP from DHCP to Static (or leave IP automatic but manually set DNS if your TV allows that).
2) Use your router’s IP as DNS or a public DNS (e.g. 8.8.8.8) if supported.
3) Test apps again.

This often stops the “Android TV connected but no internet” problem after a router or firmware update.
Customer
Signal strength shows good. I tried manual DNS and it helped a bit, but sometimes after the TV has been off overnight, WiFi is gone again until I restart the TV. Plugging in an Ethernet cable works perfectly, so it’s just the Android TV WiFi acting up.
Technician avatar Technician
Great clue: if Ethernet is stable but WiFi isn’t, the TV’s wireless settings or firmware are likely the issue.
Step 6 — Update Android TV software & reset network settings
1) While on Ethernet, go to Settings > System > About > System update and install any pending updates.
2) Then go to Settings > System > Reset > Network reset (wording can vary by brand) to clear saved WiFi profiles and caches.
3) Reboot the TV, unplug Ethernet, then set up WiFi again from scratch.

On some Sony and TCL sets, disabling fancy mesh options like fast roaming, “smart connect” or MAC randomisation just for the TV also helps. If your Android TV can’t connect to WiFi after OS 10/11 updates, this combo (update + network reset) is usually the breakthrough.
Customer
I’ll try the network reset. Is there anything else I can do so I don’t have to redo all this every time the router or TV updates? I don’t want my Android TV WiFi dropping after every firmware change.
Technician avatar Technician
Totally. Let’s “future-proof” things so your Android TV WiFi is stable long-term.
Preventive setup for Android TV not connecting to WiFi
• Keep one main SSID name and password; avoid constant changes that force the TV to re-authenticate.
• If your mesh allows per-device options, turn off aggressive roaming/band-steering just for the TV.
• Reserve an IP address for the TV in the router (DHCP reservation) so it always gets the same IP.
• After big updates, restart both router and TV once on purpose — don’t wait for them to glitch mid-stream.
• If a firmware version is known to cause Android TV WiFi issues, disable auto-update for a while and wait for a fixed build.
These things take a few minutes to set, but they usually stop the “WiFi drops every day” cycle.
Customer
What if the TV refuses to connect to any WiFi network at all? Like it sees nothing, or always says “authentication problem” even with the correct password. Is that when you do a full reset?
Technician avatar Technician
That’s the “worst-case” version of Android TV not connecting to any WiFi, but you still have options before calling the manufacturer.
• First try a network settings reset only (as above) and test again.
• Make sure the TV’s time/date are correct — badly wrong time can break WiFi and apps.
• As a last resort, perform a full factory data reset from Settings > System > Reset > Factory data reset (wording varies). This wipes apps and settings but often fixes deep WiFi bugs.
• If WiFi still won’t turn on or see networks after a factory reset, it’s likely a hardware or known firmware issue. Then we look at warranty options or keep using wired Ethernet as a workaround.
If you like, we can walk through your exact Android TV WiFi repair steps at home in live chat, so you don’t reset more than necessary.
Customer
After updating the TV over Ethernet and doing the network reset, WiFi has been stable. It reconnects every time and no more “connected, no internet” messages. So my Android TV finally stays connected to WiFi. Thanks a lot!
Technician avatar Technician
Summary: when an Android TV won’t connect to WiFi, start by restarting router and TV, then forget and reconnect the WiFi network. Update Android TV software (Ethernet if needed), reset network settings, and, if necessary, set a reserved IP and manual DNS so it doesn’t keep saying “connected, no internet”. If WiFi still fails, a factory reset or using wired Ethernet may be required. Not sure which steps fit your TV model and router? Open the chat and an expert will walk you through it live.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when an Android TV is not connecting to WiFi: restart both the router and TV, then in Settings > Network & Internet on the TV, forget your home network and connect again with the correct password. If it still shows “connected, no internet” or “obtaining IP address”, update the TV’s software (using Ethernet if possible), reset network settings, and set a reserved IP and stable DNS in the router so the connection stays reliable after reboots and updates.

Why Android TV stops connecting to WiFi after an update

Most Android TV WiFi problems after an update come down to router settings changing, software bugs, or mesh features your TV wasn’t prepared for. Router or mesh firmware updates can change the WiFi band, channel, security mode or DHCP behaviour. Android TV may then get stuck on “obtaining IP address”, report “authentication problem” even with the right password, or show “connected, no internet”. System updates on the TV itself can also reset wireless drivers or introduce bugs that cause Android TV WiFi to disconnect randomly until you reset network settings or update again to a fixed version.

How to test if your Android TV WiFi connection is really fixed

After you reconnect, leave the Android TV on for a while and stream something from YouTube, Netflix or another app. If it plays smoothly for at least 20–30 minutes without buffering or error messages, your Android TV WiFi repair at home likely worked. Turn the TV off for a few minutes and back on to make sure it automatically reconnects to the same network. If only the TV loses WiFi while phones and laptops stay online, the issue is on the TV side; if everything in the house drops, look again at the router or internet provider.

Android TV not connecting to WiFi — quick troubleshooting tips

Most cases are fixed by restarting, forgetting the network, and updating the TV and router.

Quick path: restart your router and Android TV, then go to Settings > Network & Internet, forget your home WiFi and reconnect with the correct password. If your Android TV WiFi keeps disconnecting, update the TV software and, where possible, reserve an IP for the TV in your router. Try a network reset on the TV before doing a full factory reset. If WiFi continues to fail but Ethernet is stable, you can keep streaming over cable while an expert helps you fine-tune WiFi or decide the next step.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your home network, Android TV model, and firmware version, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before making decisions.

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FAQ

Why did my Android TV stop connecting to WiFi right after an update?

Updates can change WiFi settings on the router or TV (band steering, channel width, security, DHCP). After that, Android TV may get stuck on “obtaining IP address”, “authentication problem”, or “connected, no internet” until you forget the network, reconnect, and sometimes reset network settings.

Does Android TV need 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi?

Most modern Android TV and Google TV devices support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Older models or budget Android TV boxes may work more reliably on 2.4 GHz. If setup keeps failing, try connecting the TV to a 2.4 GHz SSID with WPA2-PSK (AES) security and see if the connection becomes stable.

How do I stop my Android TV from dropping WiFi every day?

Give the TV a strong signal, avoid changing the network name/password, and reserve an IP address for the TV in your router. Disable overly aggressive roaming or band-steering just for the TV if your mesh supports it. If it still drops, reset network settings on the TV and update its firmware.

When should I factory-reset my Android TV for WiFi issues?

If the TV sees no networks, WiFi won’t turn on, or it refuses to connect to any network even after network reset and updates, a full factory reset is the next step. Back up app logins where possible, then perform the reset from the System > Reset menu and set WiFi up again from scratch.

Sources

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