How to fix wifi not working on android

Left image
2020-11-30
Jide Mbaka

For many android users, Wifi not working on android can be challenging at times. Even worse, it happens at the worst time possible – when you want to send an important document, check for crucial job updates, or even when you want to log into a certain site. Well, while it could be a technical issue, most WiFi connectivity issues are very common. Luckily, these problems are easy to fix, so don’t panic if you’re in such a scenario. We’ve outlined a couple of ways to solve wifi connection problem on android.

Check WiFi setting and see whether it is turned on

The first place to check is your WiFi setting. You never know you might have forgotten to turn it on or switched it off accidentally. If that is the case, then you’re very lucky because that should be fixed with a simple click to fix wifi not working on android. Go to settings, then on Wireless and Network check to ensure that the WiFi icon is turned on.

Alternatively, draw down the notification bar menu, then enable WiFi icon if it’s off.

Open Airplane Mode and disable it again

Many users have reported having fixed android wifi problem by simply disabling airplane mode. In case the airplane mode is turned on, it automatically disables WiFi. To turn it off, go to setting, down to Wireless and Network, then disable airplane mode.

However, if you find that the airplane mode is disabled, you should turn it on and off just to be sure it’s not the one causing the underlying network issues. In case you’ve attempted all of this with no success, move on to the next solution.

Restart phone

This is one of the simplest ways of solving most of your android issues, including fixing wifi not working on android. You can do this by long-pressing on your android power button, then click on the restart option, and wait for the phone to power back on. That should be it, but if the issue still persists move on to the other step.

Reset the router to its factory settings

You can reset your router to factory setting using an option called hard-reset. Here you need to hold the reset button for 30 seconds after which you should release it and observe the router for 30 seconds. If that doesn’t seem to work, take a long press on the reset button for up to 90 seconds, then check if the connection problem is fixed.

Check router name and password

Double-check the name of the router and password because if you click on the wrong name, your android won’t connect to wifi. This applies to the password as well. Entering the wrong password leads to connectivity issues until you fix it. Chances are you know the password without checking but confirming that you’ve entered the letters correctly is important.

Disable Mac filtering

Multimedia Access Control (MAC) is used to identify the devices connected. MAC filters certain addresses, thus limiting the number of androids to be connected. If you think Mac filtering might be causingwifi connection problem on android , then it’s about time you turn it off. Here is how to go about it:

  1. On the address bar, enter the default gateway address.
  2. Then now login using the admin account according to the default logins provided. You should find those default login details on the router’s documentation.
  3. Once you’re logged in, go to the “Advanced” section and check for Mac filtering. Note that different devices use different names for the Mac filtering, although you will be able to identify something similar.
  4. Now, click on the “Disable” key to turn it off.
  5. Click on “Apply” to save the changes. The router applies the changes automatically.

Connect WiFi with other devices

Maybe the android you’re using is having issues connecting to the WiFi. If that is the problem, you should consider switching to a different device to see if the issue persists. You might be surprised to find that other devices are connecting perfectly.

Reboot the router

Sometimes your smartphone might not be the problem, maybe the router could be causing phone not connecting to wifi problem.  A lot of people experiencing WiFi connectivity problem solve it by just resetting their router. So, unplug the router for 45 seconds then plug it. Once the router is back on, connect your android and see if the issue is solved.

Ask for help from network carrier

If you the wifi is still not working, then you can opt for asking help from the network carrier near you. No matter the wifi connectivity problem on your Android is caused by network glitches or router setting, they could help you fix the issues efficiently.

Factory reset phone(Be cautious)

After trying all of the above options without any success, the last thing to do is to factory reset your phone. Factory resetting means that the device will be back to its original settings. It may include losing all your data, or any downloaded app. That’s why you’re advised to always back up any data you need before proceeding with the factory reset. Most androids come with an inbuilt backup option or just to be safe you should manually transfer important data to your computer or any other device. So, to go about factory resetting your android to its original form:

  1. Open the setting menu
  2. Click on the backup and reset icon
  3. Next, click on factory data reset
  4. Lastly, click on reset phone

This procedure takes up quite some time and eventually, the phone will restart. To confirm that the issue has been fixed, connect to the WiFi once more.

Phone hardware issue

If you’re only left with this option, then the issue isn’t as tiny as you had hoped. Even worse, you might not be sure if it’s the android or the router have issues. If other devices are connecting smoothly to that particular WiFi, that means your router is working properly. That said, you need to have your phone checked by a technician.

For infinix, TECNO, or itel phone users, you can have your phone checked at Carlcare service center near you and you should also consider making an online reservation as well.