The most common reason Samsung TVs drop WiFi or refuse to connect is interference from other devices or a weak signal in the room where the TV sits
Samsung TVs lose WiFi for three main reasons: the router is too far away or blocked by walls, another device is jamming the signal on the same frequency, or the TV's WiFi module needs to be reset. Before you assume the TV is broken, move your router closer to it for one test, or move the TV closer to the router. If it connects when ready, you have found your problem—distance or obstruction. If it still will not connect, the issue is usually the TV's WiFi settings, not the network itself.
The second most common cause is that your router is broadcasting on the 5 GHz band only, and your Samsung TV model only supports 2.4 GHz. Older Samsung TVs (before 2018) often cannot see 5 GHz networks at all. Check your router's settings to see which bands it is using, and whether you can enable 2.4 GHz alongside 5 GHz. Most modern routers do both at once, which is called dual-band mode.
Key Takeaways
- Move your router and TV within 15 feet of each other with no walls between them to test whether distance is the problem.
- Check whether your router is set to 5 GHz only—older Samsung TVs cannot connect to 5 GHz networks, only 2.4 GHz.
- Restart the TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try to connect again.
- If the TV connects to WiFi but then drops it repeatedly, the problem is usually interference from microwaves, cordless phones, or baby monitors on the same 2.4 GHz band.
How to restart your Samsung TV's WiFi module
A full power cycle often fixes WiFi problems that are not caused by distance or signal strength. Unplug the TV from the wall outlet—do not just use the remote to turn it off. Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears the TV's memory and resets the WiFi chip.
Once the TV restarts, go to Settings, then Network, then Network Status. Select "Refresh" or "Reset Network" (the exact wording varies by model year). This tells the TV to forget all saved WiFi networks and scan for them again from scratch. Then try to connect to your network by entering the password again. Many Samsung TVs that appear to have a broken WiFi chip actually just need this reset.
Check your router's band settings
Open your router's settings by typing its IP address into a web browser on a computer or phone connected to the same network. The address is usually printed on the router itself—often something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Log in with the username and password on the router's label.
Look for a section called "Wireless" or "WiFi Settings" and find the option for "Band" or "Frequency". If it is set to "5 GHz only", change it to "2.4 GHz" or "Dual Band" (which broadcasts both at once). Save the change. Your TV should now see the network. If you have a very new Samsung TV (2020 or later), it may support 5 GHz, but 2.4 GHz is more reliable for older models and for TVs that are far from the router.
Move the router away from other electronics
Microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and wireless speakers all broadcast on 2.4 GHz, the same frequency most Samsung TVs use. If your router is next to any of these devices, move it at least 6 feet away. If your TV connects but keeps dropping the connection every few minutes, interference is almost certainly the cause.
The 5 GHz band has less interference because fewer household devices use it, but as noted above, older Samsung TVs cannot see it. If you have a newer TV that supports both bands, you can tell your router to prioritize 5 GHz for devices that support it, and keep 2.4 GHz for older devices. This is usually called "band steering" in router settings.
Check the TV's WiFi password entry
Samsung TVs sometimes struggle with special characters in WiFi passwords, especially if the password contains symbols like &, %, or #. If your network password has any of these, try connecting with a temporary password that uses only letters and numbers. Go into your router settings, find the WiFi password field, and change it to something straightforward like "TestPassword123". Connect the TV to this temporary password. If it works, you know the special characters were the problem.
Once you confirm the TV can connect, change the password back to your original one in the router settings. The TV will need to reconnect, and it may work this time—Samsung has improved password handling in newer firmware versions. If it still will not accept the original password, keep the temporary one or contact Samsung support with your TV's model number.
Update your TV's software
Samsung releases firmware updates that fix WiFi bugs. Go to Settings, then Support, then Software Update. Select "Update Now" if an update is available. The TV will read and install it, which may take 10 to 15 minutes. Do not unplug the TV during this process.
If the TV cannot read the update because it has no WiFi connection, you can update it using a USB drive on a computer. Go to Samsung's support website, search for your TV model number, and read the firmware file. Copy it to a USB drive, plug the drive into the TV's USB port, and follow the on-screen instructions. This is slower but works when WiFi is not available.
When the TV connects but keeps dropping WiFi
If your Samsung TV connects to WiFi but loses the connection every few minutes or every hour, the problem is usually interference or a weak signal, not a broken connection. Try these steps in order: first, move the router closer to the TV. Second, move the router away from other 2.4 GHz devices like microwaves or cordless phones. Third, change the router's WiFi channel.
Most routers automatically choose a WiFi channel, but if many networks in your area are using the same channel, they interfere with each other. Log into your router settings, find the WiFi channel option (usually under Wireless or Advanced settings), and try changing it from the default to channel 1, 6, or 11—these are the only non-overlapping channels on 2.4 GHz. Save the change and see whether the TV stays connected longer. If it does, you have solved the interference problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect my Samsung TV to WiFi using a USB adapter?
Some older Samsung TV models do not have built-in WiFi and require a USB WiFi adapter. Check your TV's manual or the back panel to see if it has a WiFi port. If it does not, you can buy a Samsung-compatible USB WiFi adapter, plug it into the TV's USB port, and use it to connect. Not all adapters work with all models, so verify compatibility before buying.
Why does my TV say "Connected" but the internet does not work?
The TV is connected to the router but the router itself has no internet. Restart your modem by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait two minutes for it to fully restart. If other devices in your home have internet but the TV does not, the problem is the TV's connection to the router, not the router's connection to the internet—try the WiFi reset steps above.
Does a WiFi extender help if my TV is far from the router?
A WiFi extender can help, but it cuts your speed in half because it receives and transmits on the same channel. A better option is to move the router itself closer to the TV, or to use a mesh WiFi system, which uses multiple devices to cover your home and maintains full speed. If moving the router is not possible, an extender is worth trying.
What if my Samsung TV is too old to have WiFi built in?
TVs made before 2010 rarely have WiFi. You can add internet to an older TV by connecting a streaming device like a Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire Stick to the HDMI port. These devices have their own WiFi and do not require the TV to have a network connection.
Should I use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz if my TV supports both?
Use 2.4 GHz if the TV is more than 30 feet from the router or if there are many walls between them—2.4 GHz travels farther. Use 5 GHz if the TV is close to the router and you want faster speeds, or if you have interference problems on 2.4 GHz. Many routers let you broadcast both at once, so you can connect the TV to whichever works better.