The basic steps for connecting your TV to your home network
Most smart TVs connect to WiFi through a menu on the TV itself, not through a separate app or device. You'll use your TV remote to find the network settings, select your home WiFi network, and enter your password. The whole process usually takes two to five minutes, though the first time you do it you may need to restart the TV or wait for it to read updates.
The exact steps depend on whether your TV runs Roku, Google TV, Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS, or another system — but the general path is the same across all of them. You go into Settings, find Network or WiFi, scan for available networks, pick yours, type the password, and wait for the connection to confirm. If your TV doesn't connect on the first try, the most common fixes are restarting the TV, moving it closer to your router, or checking that you typed the password correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Access your TV's network settings through the main menu or settings button on your remote, then select WiFi or Network to scan for available networks.
- Your WiFi password is case-sensitive, so if the TV rejects it, try typing it again slowly or checking that caps lock is not on.
- If your TV cannot find your network, move the TV closer to your router temporarily, or restart both the TV and router and try again.
- Once connected, your TV will remember the network and reconnect automatically when you turn it on, unless you change your password or move the router.
Finding the network settings on your remote
The button you press depends on your TV brand and remote type. On most remotes, look for a button labeled Settings, Menu, or Home — pressing it opens the main menu on your screen. From there, scroll down to find Network, WiFi, Internet, or Connectivity. Some TVs also let you access settings by pressing the gear icon if your remote has one.
If you cannot find a Settings button, check the back or underside of your remote for a label showing what each button does. Many newer remotes have a voice button (usually a microphone icon) that lets you say "Settings" or "Network" out loud, and the TV will jump there directly. If your remote is lost or broken, you can often use your phone as a remote by downloading the TV manufacturer's app — Samsung, LG, Roku, and Google all offer free remote apps that work over WiFi once the TV is on.
Selecting your WiFi network and entering your password
Once you open the network settings, your TV will scan for available networks and show you a list. Find your home network name (also called the SSID) in that list and select it. If you do not see your network, it may be hidden, or your router may be too far away — try moving the TV closer to the router and scanning again.
After you select your network, the TV will ask you to enter the password. Use the remote to type it in — most remotes let you navigate a keyboard on screen using arrow buttons and select letters by pressing OK or Enter. Type slowly and pay attention to capital letters, because WiFi passwords are case-sensitive. If the TV says the password is wrong, restart the TV and try again, or double-check your password by logging into your router's settings on a computer or phone.
Once you enter the password correctly, the TV will connect and show a confirmation message. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds. If the TV connects but then when ready disconnects, restart both the TV and your router — unplug the router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for all lights to stop blinking, then turn the TV back on and try connecting again.
What to do if your TV will not connect
The most common reason a TV fails to connect is that the password was typed wrong. Try entering it again, character by character, paying close attention to uppercase and lowercase letters. If you are not sure what your password is, you can find it by logging into your router's settings page on a computer or phone — the address is usually printed on the router itself, along with a default username and password.
If the password is correct but the TV still will not connect, try these steps in order: first, restart the TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds; second, restart your router the same way; third, move the TV closer to the router and try again. If your router is in a different room or behind a wall, the WiFi signal may be too weak. Routers typically broadcast strongest within 30 feet in open space, and walls and metal objects weaken the signal. If distance is the problem, you can buy a WiFi extender or mesh router system to strengthen the signal in other rooms.
If the TV connects briefly and then drops the connection repeatedly, the problem is usually interference from other devices or a weak signal. Move the router away from microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors, which broadcast on the same frequency as WiFi. You can also try changing your router's WiFi channel through its settings page — channels 1, 6, and 11 usually work best in the US, and your router's app or settings page will let you switch between them.
Connecting to a 5GHz network instead of 2.4GHz
Most modern routers broadcast two WiFi networks at once: a 2.4GHz network and a 5GHz network. They usually have similar names, like "MyNetwork" and "MyNetwork-5G". The 5GHz network is faster but does not travel as far, while the 2.4GHz network is slower but reaches farther. If your TV is close to the router, connecting to 5GHz will give you faster streaming and fewer dropouts.
If your TV's network list shows both networks, try the 5GHz one first — it is usually labeled with "-5G" or "5GHz" in the name. If the TV cannot find the 5GHz network or keeps dropping it, switch back to 2.4GHz. Some older smart TVs do not support 5GHz at all, so if your TV will not see that network even though your router broadcasts it, you may be limited to 2.4GHz.
What happens after your TV connects
Once your TV successfully connects to WiFi, it will remember that network and automatically reconnect whenever you turn the TV on — you do not have to enter the password again. The TV may read updates in the background the first time it connects, which can take 5 to 15 minutes. During this time, the TV may restart on its own, which is normal.
If you change your WiFi password later, the TV will lose the connection and ask you to enter the new password the next time you turn it on. If you move your router or change which network you want the TV to use, go back into network settings and select the new network. You can also remove old networks from the TV's memory by going into network settings and selecting "Forget Network" next to networks you no longer use.
Using a wired connection instead of WiFi
If your TV has an ethernet port (a rectangular jack on the back that looks similar to a phone jack), you can connect it directly to your router with an ethernet cable instead of using WiFi. This connection is more stable and faster than WiFi, and it does not require you to enter a password. Ethernet is a good choice if your TV is in the same room as your router, or if you have had trouble with WiFi dropouts.
To use ethernet, plug one end of an ethernet cable into the port on the back of your TV and the other end into your router. The TV will usually detect the connection automatically and connect to the internet without any setup. If it does not, go into network settings and look for an option to use a wired connection. Most smart TVs let you use either WiFi or ethernet, but not both at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know my WiFi password to connect my TV?
Yes, unless you use an ethernet cable instead. Your WiFi password is the same one you use to connect phones and computers to your home network. If you do not remember it, you can find it by logging into your router's settings page on a computer — the router's address and default login are usually printed on the back of the device.
Can I connect my TV to a guest network or public WiFi?
Yes, your TV can connect to any WiFi network the same way it connects to your home network. However, some public networks require you to open a web browser and accept terms before you can use them — smart TVs cannot do this, so they may not work on those networks. Guest networks on your own router work fine as long as you know the password.
What if my TV keeps disconnecting from WiFi?
Restart both the TV and router by unplugging them for 30 seconds. If disconnections continue, move the TV closer to the router, switch to the 5GHz network if available, or change your router's WiFi channel. If the problem persists, try using an ethernet cable instead, which is more stable than WiFi.
Can I use my phone to help my TV connect to WiFi?
Some TV manufacturers let you use their phone app to set up WiFi on the TV, which can be easier than typing on the remote. read the app for your TV brand (Samsung SmartThings, LG ThinQ, Google Home, or Roku), and look for a setup or pairing option. The app will guide you through connecting to your network.
Will my TV automatically reconnect to WiFi when I turn it on?
Yes, once your TV connects to a network, it will remember that network and reconnect automatically every time you turn the TV on. You only need to enter the password once. If you change your password, the TV will ask for the new one the next time it tries to connect.