Technician helping fix Tuya not discovering devices in Smart Life app

Steve H.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Smart TV Wi-Fi troubleshooting (Samsung/LG/Sony/Android TV/Roku), 5 GHz compatibility checks, router and mesh settings (band steering.

Why a Smart TV can stop responding on 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and the safest checks to start with

Technician avatar Technician
I can help you narrow this down safely. When a TV “stops responding” on the faster Wi-Fi band, it often looks like a big failure, but it’s usually a small change in the network or the TV software.

Before we touch any major resets, let’s confirm what “not responding” means on your screen:
• Does the TV still see the Wi-Fi name but fail to connect?
• Or does it connect, then apps say No Internet / keep loading?
• Or does the remote app/casting stop working, even though the TV says it’s online?

One more important thing: did this start after an update, a new router, mesh install, or password change?
Customer
It started after our router update last week. The TV used to work fine. Now it shows the network, tries to connect, then says it can’t connect. If I switch the TV to the 2.4 network it works, but it’s slow and buffers.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s a very helpful clue: 2.4 works, but 5 GHz fails after a router update. That points to a compatibility or router-setting change, not a broken TV.

Let’s start with the safest checks first. I don’t want you trying anything that could erase your apps or settings.

Quick questions (short answers are fine):
• TV brand/model (even just “Samsung/LG/Sony/Roku/Android TV”)?
• Is this a single router or a mesh system?
• Do your 2.4 and 5 GHz networks share the same Wi-Fi name (one name for both), or are they separate?
Customer
It’s an LG smart TV. We have a mesh (two units). The Wi-Fi name is the same for both bands. We didn’t change the password.
Technician avatar Technician
Mesh + one Wi-Fi name is convenient, but it can confuse some TVs after updates. The TV may try the faster band, fail a handshake, and then get stuck repeating that loop.

Two common “environment changes” after router updates that affect TVs:
1) Security mode changes (for example, switching to WPA3-only).
2) Channel changes on 5 GHz (some channels are not handled well by older Wi-Fi chips).

Safe check #1: on the TV, can you open Network Status and tell me whether it fails at Wi-Fi connection or at Internet connection?
Customer
On Network Status it fails at the Wi-Fi step on the 5 network. On 2.4 it connects and internet is OK.
Technician avatar Technician
Great — that narrows it to the Wi-Fi “handshake” stage, before the internet part even matters.

Safe check #2 (no changes yet): on your phone, open the router/mesh app and look for these two items:
• Security mode: does it mention WPA2, WPA3, or “WPA2/WPA3 mixed”?
• 5 GHz settings: does it show a channel number, or an “auto” channel setting?

If you can’t find them, just tell me the mesh brand (like TP-Link / Netgear / eero / Google / ASUS). We’ll keep this simple.
Customer
It’s an eero system. It says WPA3 is enabled. I don’t see the channel number, it’s probably automatic.
Technician avatar Technician
That lines up with what you’re seeing. Some smart TVs struggle with WPA3 on 5 GHz, especially after router firmware changes. This doesn’t mean your network is “wrong,” just that the TV may not fully support that mode on the faster band.

Trust moment: I’m not going to push you into a full factory reset on the TV — that’s rarely needed here.

Safe check #3 on the TV (low risk):
• “Forget” the Wi-Fi network on the TV, then restart the TV (power off, wait a few seconds, power on).
• Re-try joining the Wi-Fi once, slowly entering the password.

After you try that once, tell me: does it fail immediately, or after “Connecting…” for a while?
Customer
I forgot the network and restarted. It tries for about 20 seconds, then fails. It doesn’t say the password is wrong.
Technician avatar Technician
That “connects for a bit, then fails” pattern is consistent with a security/compatibility mismatch rather than a typo.

Safe check #4 (confirm it’s band-related): if your mesh lets you temporarily turn off WPA3 (or switch to WPA2/WPA3 mixed), that’s a good test. You can always turn it back on afterward.

If you’re not comfortable changing it yet, there’s another safe observation: does the TV connect to 5 GHz if you move it closer to the main mesh unit? Distance can matter more on the faster band.
Customer
I moved it closer and it still won’t connect on 5. I can try turning off WPA3, but I’m nervous about security.
Technician avatar Technician
That’s completely reasonable. Let’s frame it safely: this would be a temporary test to learn what’s blocking the TV, not a permanent downgrade unless you choose it.

Safe check #5 (short test window):
• Switch from WPA3-only to WPA2 or WPA2/WPA3 mixed (whichever your app offers).
• Try connecting the TV again on the same Wi-Fi name.
• If the TV connects, we’ve identified the cause without guessing.

If the TV still doesn’t connect, the next likely cause is a 5 GHz channel change after the router update.
Customer
I switched to WPA2/WPA3 mixed and now the TV connects to Wi-Fi on 5. But Netflix still buffers sometimes.
Technician avatar Technician
Good progress: now Wi-Fi connects, so the “not responding” part is resolved. Buffering is usually a separate layer (signal quality, roaming between mesh units, or DNS).

Trust moment: I don’t want you changing advanced router settings blindly. We’ll do two safe checks that don’t break anything.

Safe check #6 on the TV:
• Check if the TV shows a strong signal (or “Excellent/Good”) on the Wi-Fi details screen.
• If available, run the TV’s built-in network test once.

And one safe check on the mesh app: does it show the TV connected to the main unit or a satellite?
Customer
Signal says “Good.” The mesh app shows it connected to the satellite in the next room.
Technician avatar Technician
That can explain occasional buffering: the faster band is sensitive to walls, and a satellite link can add variability even when the TV says “Good.”

Safe check #7 (no “deep tech”): for one evening, try these two gentle changes and observe the result:
• Place the satellite a little more in the open (even a small move can help).
• Keep the TV on 5 GHz, but avoid moving the satellite during streaming (so it doesn’t re-balance connections).

If buffering continues, the next “non-scary” thing to look at is DNS. Some TVs do better with a stable DNS setting, but we don’t need to change that unless the basics don’t help.
Customer
That makes sense. One more thing: this problem started suddenly. Does that point more to the router update than the TV?
Technician avatar Technician
Yes — when it starts overnight, it’s usually an update or an auto-change (security mode, channel selection, or mesh behavior), not “wear and tear.”

The key takeaway from your case: the Wi-Fi connection failure was most likely the WPA3 setting on the faster band. Switching to mixed mode let the TV reconnect, which is a clean diagnostic result.

For ongoing stability, focus on the safe items: keep firmware current on both the TV and the mesh, keep the mesh units placed well, and avoid frequent changes to security settings unless necessary.
Customer
Got it. Changing WPA3 to mixed fixed the “won’t connect” issue, and I’ll adjust the satellite placement for buffering. Thanks for keeping it simple.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted first fix for a Smart TV that won’t connect on the faster Wi-Fi band: forget the Wi-Fi network on the TV, restart the TV, and try joining again. If it started after a router or mesh update, check whether the router moved to WPA3-only and switch to WPA2/WPA3 mixed as a safe test. If you use a mesh, confirm the TV has a steady connection to one unit (not bouncing between nodes). If the TV connects but streaming is unstable, focus on placement and signal strength before changing advanced settings.

Common reasons a Smart TV won’t connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Most cases come down to a recent change: router firmware updates, security mode switching to WPA3-only, or automatic 5 GHz channel changes. Mesh systems can also steer devices between bands or nodes, and some TVs don’t handle that smoothly. Distance and walls matter more on 5 GHz, so a connection can fail even when 2.4 GHz still works. Start with safe checks that confirm what changed, instead of jumping to factory resets.

How to tell whether the problem is Wi-Fi, the router, or the TV

First, see whether the TV fails to join Wi-Fi or joins Wi-Fi but has no internet. If other devices connect to the same network without trouble, the issue may be compatibility between the TV and the router settings. If the TV connects on 2.4 GHz but not on 5 GHz, that points to the band settings (security mode, channel, or range). If it connects on 5 GHz but apps buffer, focus on signal quality, mesh placement, and consistent routing rather than repeated resets.

Smart TV not responding on 5 GHz — quick, safe troubleshooting tips

Start with the lowest-risk checks before changing router settings.

Safe path: confirm the issue started after a router/mesh update, forget the Wi-Fi network on the TV and restart it, then try connecting again. If your router uses WPA3-only, try WPA2/WPA3 mixed as a short test to confirm compatibility. Move the TV closer to the main router or mesh unit to rule out range problems. If the TV connects but streaming is unreliable, check which mesh unit the TV is using and improve placement before changing advanced options.

Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. Do not open devices or attempt unsafe electrical work. For advice specific to your Tuya/Smart Life device model and router settings, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech or the manufacturer’s support before making decisions.

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FAQ

Why did my Smart TV stop connecting to the 5 GHz network suddenly?

This often happens after a router or mesh update that changes security mode or the 5 GHz channel. It can also start after the TV updates its network software. If 2.4 GHz still works, it usually points to a setting or compatibility change rather than a hardware failure.

Did this start after an update, and does that matter?

Yes, updates matter because they can change Wi-Fi security and connection rules. Router updates may enable WPA3 or adjust band steering automatically. TV updates can also reset network behavior without changing your saved password.

Is this a settings problem or something wrong with the TV?

If other devices connect normally and the TV connects on 2.4 GHz, it’s usually a compatibility or settings issue. If the TV can’t connect to any Wi-Fi at all, then broader troubleshooting may be needed. Start with “forget network” and basic router security checks before considering major resets.

Can I check this safely at home without factory resetting the TV?

Yes. You can safely forget the Wi-Fi network on the TV, restart it, and try connecting again. You can also review router security mode (WPA2/WPA3) and move closer to the main router or mesh unit. Factory resets are usually a last step, not the first.

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