FixPhones and Tablets

Phone won't connect to Wi-Fi: how to fix it

Android phone or iPhone not joining Wi-Fi? Go from simple switches up to a network reset, with steps for both kinds of phone.

  • Updated
  • 12 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Android
  • iPhone / iPad

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Your phone will not join your home Wi-Fi, or it joins but nothing loads. Android phones and iPhones are both covered, from the quickest checks to the more drastic ones.

Before you start

First find out whether the problem is the phone or the Wi-Fi. Check whether another device, such as a laptop or a second phone, can use the same network. If nothing can get online, the cause is probably the router or your internet service, and Wi-Fi connected but no internet is the better guide.

If only your phone struggles, work through the fixes below. Each takes a minute or two, except the last. Stop as soon as the phone connects. You will need the Wi-Fi password for some fixes. If you do not know it, see how to find or change your Wi-Fi password.

Phone Wi-Fi fixes, in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 9 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Phone Wi-Fi fixes, in orderNoNoNo1Check Wi-Fi is on andAirplane mode is off2Turn Wi-Fi off and on,then restart the phone3Does it connect now?Yes: You are done4Restart the router andmodem5Works now?Yes: You are done6Forget the network andjoin it again7Works now?Yes: You are done8Reset the phone'snetwork settingsStill stuck? Use the maker'ssupport site.
Stop as soon as the phone connects.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Check Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off
  2. Step 2: Turn Wi-Fi off and on, then restart the phone
  3. Question 3: Does it connect now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  4. Step 4: Restart the router and modem
  5. Question 5: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  6. Step 6: Forget the network and join it again
  7. Question 7: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  8. Step 8: Reset the phone's network settings
  9. If nothing worked: Still stuck? Use the maker's support site.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Check the basic switches

  1. Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi. On an iPhone this is near the top of Settings. On Android, the usual path is Settings then Network & internet then Internet. Make sure the Wi-Fi switch is on.
  2. Tap your network name. On an iPhone, a blue check mark appears beside it when it is joined. On Android, the network shows as connected.
  3. Make sure Airplane mode is off. It cuts Wi-Fi as well as calls.

Menu names differ on Android

Google Pixel phones follow the paths in this guide. On Samsung and other makers the names can differ. Open Settings and type Wi-Fi in the search box at the top.

Fix 2: Switch Wi-Fi off and on, then restart the phone

  1. Turn the Wi-Fi switch off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it on again.
  2. Restart the phone. Hold the power button, choose the power off option, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it on.
  3. Reopen the Wi-Fi list and try your network again.

Fix 3: Restart the router and modem

If other devices also have trouble, do this before touching the phone further. Unplug the router and the modem from the power, wait at least 30 seconds (2 minutes is safer), then plug them back in. Wait a few minutes for the lights to settle. The full method is in how to restart a router and modem the right way.

Where the problem could beA diagram of 4 connected items with 3 one-way links. The full text follows the picture.Where the problem could beInternetModemRouterYour phoneProvider lineCableWi-Fi
Testing with another device shows which link is faulty.
Text version of this diagram
  • Internet connects to Modem (Provider line).
  • Modem connects to Router (Cable).
  • Router connects to Your phone (Wi-Fi).

Fix 4: Forget the network and join again

This clears a saved password or setting that has gone wrong. Have the Wi-Fi password ready first, because the phone will ask for it again.

On an iPhone

  1. Open Settings then Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the i button beside your network.
  3. Tap Forget This Network, then confirm.
  4. Pick the network from the list again and enter the password.

On Android

  1. Open Settings then Network & internet then Internet.
  2. Open Saved networks and tap your network.
  3. Tap Forget.
  4. Pick the network from the Wi-Fi list again and enter the password.

Fix 5: Check for software in the way

  • VPN or security apps: Apple lists these as a possible cause on an iPhone. Uninstall the VPN or security app as a test, restart the phone, and try again. If that fixes it and you need the app, ask the app's maker for help.
  • Connectivity Assist (iPhone): Apple advises checking that this is off while you troubleshoot. Search Settings for Connectivity Assist to find it. If the Wi-Fi setting looks dimmed, restart the phone.
  • Date and time: a wrong date and time can make secure websites and apps report connection errors. Search Settings for date and time and turn on the automatic option.
  • Update the phone: install the latest system update, using mobile data if you must. On an iPhone, open Settings then General then Software Update. On Android, search Settings for system update.

Fix 6: Try the other Wi-Fi band

Many routers send two networks, called 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. If yours does, try the 5 GHz one, as Apple suggests, or the 2.4 GHz one if the phone is far from the router. See Wi-Fi bands explained. A network that does not appear at all may be hidden or out of range: see Wi-Fi network not showing up.

Fix 7: Reset the phone's network settings

What this deletes

A network reset removes all saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords. On an iPhone it also removes cellular, VPN and APN settings. It does not delete photos, apps or accounts. Have your Wi-Fi passwords ready. If a school or employer manages the phone, ask them first.

Use this only when the fixes above have failed. The steps for Android and iPhone are in how to reset network settings on a phone.

If it still does not work

  • If the phone joins other Wi-Fi networks, such as a friend's, but not yours, the problem is the router or its settings. Check the router maker's support site for your model, and ask your internet provider if the router is theirs.
  • If the phone cannot join any Wi-Fi network even after a reset, use the support page on the phone maker's website.
  • Never call a number you found in a pop-up or an advert. See how to find real support and avoid fake phone numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my phone say connected but nothing loads?

The phone has reached the router, but the router has no working link to the internet, or a setting such as a VPN is blocking traffic. Test another device. See Wi-Fi connected but no internet.

Will forgetting a network delete anything important?

No. It removes only that network's saved password and settings from your phone. You can join again with the password.

Does restarting the phone really help?

Often, yes. It clears temporary faults in the phone's network software and takes about a minute, so it is a sensible early step.

My phone disconnects every few minutes. Is this the same problem?

It is related but has different causes. See Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting.

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Official resources used

Pages consulted while preparing this guide. Check them for the latest details.

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