How to fix Wi-Fi not connecting

The short answer

Most Wi-Fi connection problems are fixed by restarting your router, forgetting and reconnecting to the network, or moving closer to the router.

Quick fixes to try first

Start with these simple steps before anything else:

  • Restart your router — Unplug it from power, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Give it a minute or two to fully start up.
  • Toggle Wi-Fi off and on — Turn Wi-Fi off on your device, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This forces a fresh connection attempt.
  • Restart your device — A simple restart clears temporary software glitches that may be blocking the connection.
  • Move closer to the router — Walls, floors, and distance weaken the signal. Try connecting from the same room as the router to rule out range issues.

Forget and reconnect to the network

If your device sees the network but refuses to connect, the saved network settings may be outdated.

  1. Go to your device’s Wi-Fi settings
  2. Find your network and select Forget or Remove
  3. Search for the network again and reconnect using the password

This clears out old settings and creates a fresh connection.

Check for common blockers

A few easily overlooked things can prevent Wi-Fi from working:

  • Airplane mode — Make sure it is turned off. It disables all wireless connections.
  • Wrong password — If the password was recently changed on the router, your saved password is now wrong. Forget the network and re-enter the new one.
  • Too many devices — Some routers struggle when too many devices are connected. Try disconnecting a few other devices and see if that helps.

Reset your network settings

If nothing else works, resetting your network settings gives you a clean slate.

  • On iPhone — Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings
  • On Android — Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth
  • On Windows — Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset

This erases all saved Wi-Fi networks, so you will need to reconnect and re-enter passwords.

When should you worry?

If no devices in your home can connect to Wi-Fi, the problem is likely with your router or internet service, not your device. Try plugging a computer directly into the router with an ethernet cable. If that does not work either, contact your internet provider. If only one device has trouble after trying all these steps, it may have a faulty Wi-Fi adapter that needs professional repair.