One of the main benefits of buying a Samsung Smart TV is being able to stream your favorite shows in high resolution. So, it can be really frustrating if your TV is having WiFi connection issues that stop you from using it.
Fortunately, most WiFi connection issues are easy to fix, and it’s rare that you’d need to contact a technician.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most common causes of connectivity issues for Samsung TVs and show you how to fix them yourself.
The Main Reasons Your Samsung TV Isn’t Connecting To WiFi
Outdated firmware
Keeping the firmware of your Samsung TV up to date is very important. Making sure that it’s updated on time will keep your Samsung Smart TV running smoothly. New firmware updates include updated software to help fix bugs and other new features.
If you’re having issues with your TV’s internet connection, then outdated firmware may well be the cause. It’s best to keep automatic updates enabled to avoid this. If you have them disabled, then you should manually check for updates regularly.
Temporary bugs
It’s also possible that your Samsung TV isn’t connecting to the WiFi because there is a temporary bug in the firmware. Fortunately, this is usually fairly easy to troubleshoot. However, if the bug is in the hardware of your Samsung TV, it is much harder to fix.
Bugs in the firmware can corrupt the WiFi settings, which will then cause issues with your TV’s network connection. In extreme cases, there won’t be much you can do to fix the problem other than make a request to Samsung and wait for them to patch it.
DNS configurations
All Samsung Smart TVs require correctly configured Domain Name System settings in order to properly connect to the WiFi. If these settings aren’t configured correctly, then the TV will struggle to connect to the WiFi network.
Samsung TVs have inbuilt DNS systems which automatically download DNS settings that are suitable for the internet connection that you have. Still, this doesn’t always work, and sometimes the DNS settings need to be configured manually.
Modem or router issues
There may not actually be any issues with your Smart TV. The connectivity problems could be caused by your WiFi router or modem. If there are persistent issues, then you might need to buy a new wireless router or modem.
Mac address
Every device on a wireless network is given a unique identifier known as a Mac address. It’s the easiest and most reliable way of identifying devices on a network.
If your Samsung TV appears as ‘offline’ or ‘unidentified’ when it’s connected to the network, then it might be getting blocked by your router. This is usually because of Mac filtering, which stops unknown devices from being able to connect to your network.
How To Fix The Issue
Restart your Samsung TV
One quick and easy way to resolve WiFi connection issues is to restart your Samsung Smart TV. If you’ve noticed that it’s not automatically connecting or isn’t even detecting your network, then try a restart before you try anything else. To do this:
- Make sure the TV is on.
- Press the power button on your TV remote and hold it down.
- Hold it down until you see the Samsung logo on your TV screen.
- The red LED light on the screen will start to blink.
- When the TV has restarted, you should be able to connect to the WiFi.
Perform a network settings reset
One of the biggest causes of WiFi connection issues is incorrect network settings. Luckily, it’s really easy to reset network settings.
- Firstly, press the home button on your remote, which will take you to the home screen.
- Then go into ‘settings,’ then ‘network,’ and then select ‘reset network settings.’
- A window will pop up with several options. Choose ‘reset settings’ and then ‘reset now.’ Then select ‘yes’ to confirm the reset.
Change the wireless network
Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the issue is with your network or the Samsung TV itself. A good way to test this is to disconnect the TV from the network and connect it to a hotspot on your cell phone instead.
- On your cell phone, go into your phone’s settings menu.
- Select the ‘network connections’ option.
- Select ‘mobile hotspot and tethering.’
- Then, choose the ‘enable mobile hotspot’ option.
- Now, connect your Samsung TV to the hotspot.
If this works, then the issue is with your router or modem rather than the TV. If it doesn’t work, then it’s likely that your TV is the problem.
Remove devices connected to the WiFi network
Many routers or modems are limited in the number of devices that can be connected to them. If there are too many devices connected then this may be causing internet connectivity issues with your TV.
Try disconnecting one or more devices from the network and see if this solves the issue with your TV.
Check the WiFi signal
If your Samsung TV is struggling to connect to the wireless network, it could be due to a weak signal from the router or modem. If the WiFi indicator on your TV only has a few bars, this is a sign that it’s receiving a weak signal.
This is often caused by the location of the router. It should be in a room that’s central in your home, and there shouldn’t be any furniture nearby that will block the signal.
Configure DNS settings manually
Samsung TVs configure DNS and IP settings automatically. However, sometimes this goes wrong, and it causes connectivity issues. If this happens, you’ll need to manually configure the DNS settings yourself to fix the connectivity issues.
- First, open the settings menu.
- Choose the ‘network’ option and then the ‘network settings’ option.
- Then, choose the ‘advanced features’ option.
- Click on ‘DNS settings.’
- Type in a valid name server and select ‘TCP.’
- Type in ‘8.8.8.8.’
- Select ‘OK.’
Perform a factory reset
Sometimes, you’ll need to perform a factory reset to resolve internet connection problems. This is easy to do on a Samsung Smart TV.
- Open the settings menu.
- Choose the ‘general’ option.
- Select the ‘reset’ option.
- Enter your pin to reset it. If you haven’t changed this, then it should be 0000.
Restart the modem or router
Often, issues with connectivity aren’t due to a problem with your TV but a failed connection to the router or modem. Most of the time, simply restarting the router or modem will fix the issue.
- First, disconnect your Samsung TV from the WiFi network.
- Then, unplug the router or modem from its power supply.
- Wait between 10 to 15 minutes.
- Turn it back on.
- Wait around 5 minutes for the router or modem to restart.
- Now, press the home button on your remote and open the settings menu.
- Then choose ‘general > network > open network settings > wireless’.
- Connect the TV to the WiFi.
Update the firmware
If the firmware on your Samsung TV is outdated, then this may be causing the connection issues. As you can’t connect your TV to the internet, you’ll have to do this manually using a USB stick and a computer.
- On your computer, go to the Samsung website and click on the firmware page.
- Select the correct TV model.
- Download the updated firmware to your USB stick.
- Now, plug the USB stick into your TV.
- Open the menu option.
- Choose the ‘support’ option, then the ‘software upgrade,’ and then the ‘by USB’ option.
- Confirm the update and then select ‘OK.’
FAQs
Will a Smart TV affect my internet speed?
How much your Smart TV affects your internet speed depends on how you use it. When watching 4k UHD content, your TV will be using a lot of your network’s bandwidth. Generally, streaming services like Netflix use 25 Mbps for 4k UHD content.
What internet speed should I have for a Smart TV?
One of the biggest benefits of having a Smart TV is having access to streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney Plus. Typically, streaming non-HD content from these services requires between 1.5 Mbps and 3 Mbps of bandwidth.
For regular HD they usually require between 2.5 Mbps and 5 Mbps.
How do I check my Samsung Smart TV’s internet speed?
Checking the internet speed on your Samsung TV is really simple. You just need to follow these steps:
- On your remote, press the Smart Hub button.
- Choose the ‘web browser’ option and then press ‘go.’
- This will then run a speed test on your Smart TV.
- If the results are poor, then your TV is clearly experiencing connection issues.
Final Thoughts
WiFi connectivity issues can be really annoying as they stop you from enjoying the benefits of your Smart TV. Luckily, most issues can be resolved by using the methods we’ve outlined in this guide.
If you try all of the methods we’ve shown you and your Smart TV still won’t connect to the WiFi, then there may be a bigger problem with your TV. If this is the case, you’ll need to contact Samsung’s support team and arrange for a technician to fix the issue.
It’s fortunately pretty rare that connectivity issues need to be fixed by a technician. If you follow the advice we’ve laid out for you, then you should be able to resolve most issues yourself.
