Tech Reference

'Why won't my Android phone connect to Wi-Fi?': How to troubleshoot an Android that won't connect to the internet

Samsung S10 Smartphone
There are a number of different steps you can take if your Android phone won't connect to Wi-Fi. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
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If your Android phone won't connect to Wi-Fi, there's a good chance that you're feeling cut off the rest of the world. After all, mobile data is expensive, and can be too slow to perform many basic tasks.

Of course, this is never good. In fact, without internet, many smartphone apps will simply cease to function, turning your expensive device into just a brick.

Luckily, if your Android phone won't connect, there are a number of different steps you can take to help fix it.

Here's what you'll need to know.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy s10 (From $859.99 at Walmart)

What to do if your Android phone won't connect to Wi-Fi

Samsung S10 Smartphone
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

First, let's take care of the basics.

Make sure that Wi-Fi is enabled

Android Won't Connect Wi Fi   1
Ensure that Wi-Fi is turned on, and that Airplane Mode is turned off. Steven Antonelli/Business Insider

Make sure you're not in Airplane Mode, which cuts off all your phone's external connections. To do this, head to your home screen and swipe down from the top of the screen. This will open your phone's control center.

Here, make sure that the icon that looks like an airplane isn't highlighted, or says "On." If it is, tap it to turn Airplane Mode off.

You should also check that your phone's Wi-Fi sensors are turned on. Launch the Settings app and tap "Connections" to make sure your Wi-Fi is toggled on. If it isn't, tap the Wi-Fi toggle to turn it on.

Reconnect to your network

Android Won_t Connect Wi Fi   3
Steven John/Business Insider

If your phone is still having trouble connecting, make sure that you're trying to connect to the right Wi-Fi network, and that you have the correct password. You can use either a Mac or PC to check your Wi-Fi password, which is a good way to find the correct information.

If your phone has connected but nothing will load, you can try refreshing your connection to the network. In that Connections menu, tap the name of the Wi-Fi you're connected to, and then tap "Forget" in the menu that appears.

Once you've forgotten the network, try connecting again.

If none of this works, you might need to restart your Wi-Fi router. You can usually do this by simply unplugging it for ten seconds and then plugging it back in. It'll take a moment to restart, then will begin broadcasting its signal again.

Reset your phone's network and OS settings

Android Won_t Connect Wi Fi   2
You have three options for resetting your Android device's options. Steven John/Business Insider

If all else fails, the issue might be with your phone, not your internet.

Restarting your phone can clear glitches and help it reconnect to Wi-Fi.

If your phone still won't connect, then it's time to do some resetting. In the Settings app, go to "General Management." There, tap "Reset."

First, we'll try the "Reset Network Settings" option, which clears away your network and Bluetooth settings. Your phone will restart — try connecting to Wi-Fi again.

If that didn't work, next try the "Reset Settings" option, which will erase all your custom settings, as well as any ringtones you've changed — your apps, pictures, and other personal data are safe, though.

Finally, you can try a "Factory Data Reset." This will erase everything on the phone, and return it to its default factory conditions, as if you'd never used it before. This will delete all your data, so be careful here.

If nothing else has worked, you should contact your phone's manufacturer.

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Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.