The basic steps to get your TV online

Most smart TVs connect to WiFi through a menu on the TV itself. You'll go into Settings, find the WiFi or Network option, select your network name from the list, type your password, and wait for the connection to confirm. The exact names of these menus vary by brand — Samsung calls it Network, LG calls it Network Settings, and Roku calls it About or Network — but the process is nearly identical across all of them.

Before you start, have your WiFi network name and password ready. Your network name is what you see when you look for available networks on your phone. If you don't remember your password, you can find it on your router (usually a sticker on the back) or in your router's settings through a web browser on your computer.

The whole process usually takes three to five minutes. Your TV will test the connection at the end, and you'll see a confirmation message if it worked. If it doesn't work on the first try, the most common reason is a typo in the password — WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, so capital letters matter.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings on your TV remote, find the WiFi or Network menu, and select your network name from the list that appears.
  • Type your WiFi password exactly as it appears, including capital letters, numbers, and special characters.
  • If your TV doesn't connect, restart both the TV and your router by unplugging them for 30 seconds, then plug them back in.
  • Some older TVs need an ethernet cable instead of WiFi, and some newer TVs can connect through a separate WiFi adapter you plug into the back.

Finding the WiFi menu on your specific TV brand

On Samsung TVs, press the Home button on your remote, go to Settings (the gear icon), then select General. Look for Network or Network Status, and choose WiFi. On LG TVs, press the Home button, go to Settings, then Network, then WiFi Connection. On Roku TVs (which include TCL and Hisense models that run Roku), press Home, go to Settings, then Network, then WiFi.

If you have an older TV that doesn't have a built-in menu system, or if you can't find a WiFi option after looking through Settings, your TV may not have WiFi built in. In that case, you have two options: connect an external device like a Roku stick or Amazon Fire Stick to an HDMI port on the TV, or use an ethernet cable if your TV has an ethernet port on the back.

If you're not sure what brand or model you have, look at the back of the TV or the manual that came with it. The model number is usually printed on a sticker on the back panel.

What to do if your TV finds the network but won't connect

The most common reason a TV connects to the network name but then fails is an incorrect password. Double-check that you're typing it correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning that "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword". If you're not sure of the exact password, go to your router and look for the password on the sticker attached to it, or log into your router's settings through a computer to see or reset the password.

If the password is correct, restart both devices. Unplug your router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. While the router is restarting, also restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Once both are back on, try connecting again. This fixes most connection problems because it clears out temporary errors in both devices.

If restarting doesn't work, move your TV closer to the router temporarily to test whether distance is the problem. WiFi signals weaken through walls and over distance. If the TV connects when it's close to the router but not from across the room, you may need to move your router to a more central location, or consider using a WiFi extender to boost the signal in that room.

When your TV connects but then disconnects

If your TV connects successfully but then drops the connection after a few minutes or hours, the problem is usually interference or a weak signal. WiFi signals can be disrupted by microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and other devices that use the 2.4 GHz frequency. Try moving your router away from these devices, or moving the TV closer to the router.

Another common cause is that your router is set to a WiFi standard your TV doesn't support. Most modern TVs work with WiFi 5 (802.11ac) and WiFi 6 (802.11ax), but some older TVs only work with WiFi 4 (802.11n) or earlier. Check your TV's manual to see which standards it supports, then log into your router's settings to make sure it's broadcasting on a compatible standard. If your router only broadcasts WiFi 6 and your TV only supports WiFi 4, you may need to enable backward compatibility in the router settings, or contact your internet provider for help.

If the disconnections happen at specific times of day, the problem may be that your router is overheating. Routers need airflow — make sure yours isn't in a closed cabinet or covered by anything. If it feels hot to the touch, unplug it for a few minutes to let it cool down.

Connecting through an ethernet cable instead

If your TV has an ethernet port on the back (a rectangular jack that looks like a larger phone jack), you can connect it directly to your router with an ethernet cable. This gives you a more stable connection than WiFi and is useful if your TV is in a room far from the router or if WiFi keeps dropping.

Plug one end of the ethernet cable into the ethernet port on the back of your TV and the other end into an available port on your router. Your TV should recognize the connection automatically within a few seconds. If it doesn't, go into Settings and look for Network or Network Status — most TVs will show that an ethernet connection is active.

Ethernet cables come in different lengths. If your TV is far from your router, you can buy a longer cable (25 feet, 50 feet, or longer) at any electronics store. The length doesn't affect speed — a 100-foot ethernet cable works just as well as a 10-foot one.

Using a WiFi adapter if your TV doesn't have WiFi built in

Some older TVs don't have WiFi built in, but they do have a USB port on the back. You can buy a WiFi adapter (sometimes called a WiFi dongle) that plugs into the USB port and gives your TV wireless internet. These cost between $15 and $40 and work with most older TVs.

Plug the adapter into the USB port, then go into your TV's Settings and look for a USB or External Device option. The TV should recognize the adapter and let you connect to your WiFi network through it, just as if the WiFi were built in. Some adapters come with their own setup software that you'll need to install on the TV first — check the instructions that come with the adapter.

If your TV doesn't have a USB port, or if a WiFi adapter doesn't work, your best option is to connect an external streaming device like a Roku stick, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV to an HDMI port on the TV. These devices have WiFi built in and let you stream apps and content through your TV.

Testing your connection and troubleshooting speed problems

Once your TV is connected, most TVs have a built-in test you can run to make sure the connection is working. Go to Settings, find Network or Network Status, and look for a Test Connection or Check Connection button. The TV will run a quick test and tell you whether it can reach the internet.

If the test passes but streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube are slow or buffering, the problem is usually that your WiFi signal is weak or your internet speed is too slow for the quality you're trying to watch. 4K video requires at least 25 megabits per second; HD video requires at least 5 to 10 megabits per second. If you're not sure how fast your internet is, you can test it on your phone or computer using a free speed test website.

If your speed test shows you have enough speed but streaming is still slow, try restarting your router again. If that doesn't help, move your TV closer to the router or reduce the video quality in the streaming app settings — most apps let you choose between Auto, HD, and SD quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to enter my WiFi password every time I turn on the TV?

No. Once you've entered your password and the TV connects successfully, it saves that information. The next time you turn on the TV, it will reconnect to the same network automatically without asking for the password again. If you change your WiFi password, you'll need to go back into Settings and enter the new password.

What if I don't see my WiFi network name in the list?

Your router may be broadcasting on a frequency your TV doesn't support, or your TV may be too far from the router. Try moving the TV closer to the router and refreshing the network list. If your router has a 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz network, try connecting to the 2.4 GHz one first — older TVs sometimes only work with 2.4 GHz. If you still don't see it, restart your router and try again.

Can I connect my TV to a mobile hotspot instead of home WiFi?

Yes, but it will use data from your phone plan. Your TV will see the hotspot as a regular WiFi network and connect the same way. Be aware that streaming video uses a lot of data — an hour of HD video uses about 3 gigabytes — so this works best for occasional use, not daily streaming.

Why does my TV keep asking for the password even though I entered it correctly?

This usually means the password was typed incorrectly, even if it looked right. Try entering it again, very slowly, making sure to match capital letters and special characters exactly. If you're still having trouble, reset your WiFi password through your router's settings or your internet provider's app, then enter the new password on your TV.

Is it safe to leave my TV connected to WiFi all the time?

Yes. Leaving your TV connected doesn't use significant power or data when you're not actively using it. In fact, many TVs need to be connected to read software updates automatically, so leaving it connected is recommended.