Are you frustrated because your LG TV won’t connect to WiFi no matter what you try? Don’t worry – there are a number of troubleshooting tips you can follow to get your LG TV back online.
In this guide, we’ll cover the top 15 ways to fix LG TV WiFi connection problems and troubleshoot wireless issues. You’ll learn how rebooting devices, updating software, changing settings, relocating your router and more can resolve why won’t my LG TV connect to WiFi errors for good.
With the right troubleshooting, you’ll have your LG TV connected to your home WiFi and streaming content in no time.
Why Won’t My LG TV Connect to WiFi? Common Causes
Before jumping into the step-by-step fixes, it helps to understand some of the common reasons an LG TV may fail to connect to WiFi in the first place:
- Outdated software/firmware – If your TV or router software is out of date, connectivity issues can occur. Always keep your TV and router firmware updated.
- Weak wireless signal – If your router’s WiFi signal is too weak, your TV may struggle to maintain a stable connection. This can happen if your router is too far away or there’s interference.
- Incorrect network settings – Entering the wrong WiFi password or incompatible network settings will prevent your LG TV connecting properly. Double check your WiFi name and password.
- Router limitations – Some older routers have limitations on the number of connected devices or connectivity issues with certain devices like smart TVs. Upgrading your router can help.
- Temporary glitches – Sometimes momentary glitches with your ISP or the LG TV can cause temporary disconnections. Simply rebooting devices is often enough to resolve this.
- Damaged hardware – In rare cases, hardware issues with the TV or router can cause connectivity problems that require professional service.
15 Troubleshooting Tips to Resolve LG TV WiFi Issues
Now let’s explore step-by-step troubleshooting techniques to identify and resolve your specific LG TV WiFi issues. We’ll start with quick DIY fixes before moving onto more advanced troubleshooting.
#1 – Restart Your Router and LG TV
As simple as it sounds, just restarting both your wireless router and LG TV can fix many connectivity problems. Issues like temporary software glitches or memory leaks can disrupt connectivity.
Simply unplug the power cords of both devices for 30 seconds to power cycle them. This clears any transient errors that built up causing the LG TV WiFi connectivity problem.
Once rebooted, try reconnecting your LG TV to WiFi. In many cases, this sudden reboot of the TV and router is enough to resolve “Why won’t my LG TV connect to WiFi” errors.
#2 – Check Your LG TV’s WiFi Status Indicator
After restarting your devices, check for any WiFi status notifications displayed on your LG TV’s screen. Oftentimes, there will be a status icon that indicates whether your TV is connected to the WiFi network or not.
If you see a “Not Connected” or “No Internet Access” type of error message, that’s a clue the TV is actively having trouble reaching your home WiFi network. Time to move onto further troubleshooting steps below.
On the other hand, if the TV claims it’s connected, the issues may be with your internet service itself. Try browsing the web or running a speed test on a laptop connected to the same network to verify overall internet connectivity.
#3 – Forget the WiFi Network on Your LG TV
If your LG TV keeps intermittently dropping connection, fails to connect at all, or struggles with a very slow connection, try deleting and forgetting the WiFi network profile stored on the TV.
Access your TV’s network settings menu, select your wireless network from the list, and choose the “Forget” or “Remove Network” option. This will erase the existing WiFi network profile containing details like the SSID password.
After forgetting the troublesome wireless network, reboot both the LG TV and your router once more. Then re-enter your network name and password to reconnect your LG TV. This often resolves quirky connectivity issues caused by bugs or old settings.
#4 – Verify Other Devices Can Connect to Your WiFi
Here’s an easy way to narrow down whether the WiFi connection problem is isolated to your LG TV or caused by the wireless network itself.
Grab your smartphone, tablet, laptop or other WiFi enabled devices. Try having them connect to your home wireless network and access the internet.
If all your other devices can connect and browse online without issue, then the problem likely stems from your LG TV’s individual network settings or software glitches. Time to dig in and troubleshoot the TV further.
However, if other devices also struggle to maintain a solid WiFi connection or can’t connect at all, then router or internet connectivity problems are likely to blame instead. Consider troubleshooting steps for your wireless router next.
#5 – Update Your LG TV’s Firmware
Like all computers, your LG smart TV runs software that over time can develop bugs or compatibility issues causing problems like WiFi connectivity failures.
Checking for and installing the latest firmware updates for your LG TV is a quick fix – new updates patch bugs and optimize connectivity capabilities.
Navigate to your TV’s settings menu and look for a “System Update” or “Check for Updates” option. This will scan for the newest firmware available from LG and download it directly on your TV if an update is available.
Major firmware updates take around 15-20 minutes to fully install. Be patient and let the process complete. Once updated, reboot your LG TV and router. Try reconnecting to WiFi to see if the new firmware resolved the connectivity problems.
#6 – Adjust DNS Server Settings on Your LG TV
Domain Name System (DNS) servers act as the “phonebook” for the internet, translating URLs into numeric IP addresses. By default your LG TV uses your internet provider’s DNS servers.
Switching to free public DNS servers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1) could potentially fix WiFi connection issues caused by problems or congestion with your ISP’s default DNS servers.
On your LG TV, access the network settings menu, select your wireless network connection, and look for DNS server or IPv4 settings. Switch from “Automatic” or “ISP Default” DNS to use “Manual” or “Custom”.
Then enter the public DNS servers – either Google or Cloudflare depending on your preference. With new DNS servers assigned, reboot your LG TV and router. This simple change of DNS can resolve some connectivity problems.
#7 – Factory Reset Your Wireless Router
Resetting your WiFi router to its original factory default settings clears out any problematic misconfigurations or settings that could be preventing connectivity between it and your LG TV.
The reset button is typically located on the back or bottom of your router marked as “Factory Reset”. You’ll need something small like a paperclip to press and hold the recessed button for 10-15 seconds until the router powers off and reboots itself.
Run through the initial setup process for your newly reset router, re-entering your wireless network name (SSID) and password to reconnect devices like your LG TV. This often resolves router-related connectivity issues.
Just be sure to backup your router settings beforehand so you have all the details to reconfigure things later!
#8 – Update Your Router’s Firmware
As mentioned earlier for your LG TV, having outdated firmware on your wireless router can also introduce WiFi connectivity bugs and compatibility issues.
Log into your router’s administrative settings interface to check for any new firmware update files available from your router manufacturer. This may require looking up your router model on the vendor’s website.
Follow the instructions to carefully update your router’s firmware to the latest version available. Take your time and let the process complete.
Once updated, you’ll want to restart both the router and your LG TV. Apply firmware updates can resolve router glitches interfering with connectivity to devices like your smart TV.
Read More: “lg tv turns on but the screen is black” – Fix This Annoying LG TV Issue in 15 Easy Ways
#9 – Change Your Router’s WiFi Channel Setting
In densely populated areas, interference from nearby WiFi networks and devices can sometimes disrupt connectivity for your LG TV.
The solution is to change your router’s wireless channels to use a different frequency band that has less interference. This is like switching “lanes” to avoid traffic.
Access your router’s wireless settings, and look for the channel settings for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Try changing the channel to a lower interference option like 1, 6, or 11 on the 2.4GHz band.
On 5GHz, pick a lower DFS channel between 36-48 for the best performance. Save settings, reboot your router and TV, and check if connectivity improves after the channel change.
#10 – Relocate Your Wireless Router Closer to Your LG TV
If your WiFi router’s location is too far away or blocked by multiple walls from your LG TV, the wireless signal may simply be too weak. Weak signal equals spotty or no connectivity.
Try temporarily relocating your router much closer to your TV to see if proximity alone improves the WiFi connection strength and stability. Place the router within a direct line of sight of the TV if possible.
This quick test will confirm if weak signal is the root of your LG TV’s connectivity frustration. If so, you can look into relocating the router permanently closer, running ethernet cabling, or installing WiFi extenders to amplify the signal strength.
#11 – Check for Sources of Wireless Interference
Radio frequency interference from other electronics in your home can disrupt WiFi signals, resulting in spotty connections for your LG TV.
Take a close look at what electronics and devices are nearby the TV and router. Common interference sources include baby monitors, cordless phones, Bluetooth speakers, microwave ovens, and more.
If possible, move the router and LG TV away from potential sources of interference. Even a few feet of separation can reduce the disruptive RF noise allowing better connectivity.
This is another reason getting the router closer to the TV helps – minimizing physical barriers and interfering signals between the devices.
#12 – Connect Your LG TV via Ethernet Instead of WiFi
Here’s an “acid test” to see if WiFi issues are indeed causing your LG TV’s connectivity frustration, rather than problems with your internet service itself.
Use an ethernet cable to physically connect your smart TV to your router directly instead of wirelessly. This bypasses any WiFi networking issues.
If your LG TV connects fine and can browse online without problems when hardwired over ethernet, then WiFi network interference or limitations are confirmed as the culprit. Time to focus troubleshooting on your wireless network.
However if the connectivity problems persist even over ethernet, then larger internet service or modem/router issues are likely to blame instead. Contacting your ISP for assistance may be your next step.
#13 – Install a WiFi Range Extender or Mesh Network
Adding a WiFi range extender or mesh node to your existing router can help amplify its wireless network coverage throughout your home. Eliminate “dead zones” where the signal drops.
This is extremely effective for LG TVs located far from the central router. Place the range extender halfway between the router and TV location. Follow product instructions to sync the extender to your main wireless network.
The extended WiFi coverage coming from the closer range extender should provide a stronger, more stable wireless connection for the LG TV. Range extenders are available in all price ranges.
Advanced users can consider upgrading to a true mesh network system from eero, Orbi, Google Wifi or others. But a basic range extender may be the quicker, more budget friendly solution if WiFi coverage is the only problem.
#14 – Upgrade to a New High-Performance WiFi Router
If your existing wireless router is several years old or limited in WiFi range, replacing it entirely with a new modern router can permanently fix LG TV connectivity headaches.
Look for a robust dual or tri-band router capable of fast wireless speeds, extended range, and connection capacity for many devices like your smart TV. Top brands include ASUS, TP-Link, Netgear Nighthawk, and Linksys.
Set up the new router following the product instructions. Reconnect your LG TV and other devices to the new network name and password you configure. Enjoy noticeably faster and more reliable WiFi for your entire home.
#15 – Contact LG Support for Hardware Troubleshooting
If you’ve tried absolutely every troubleshooting step without success, underlying hardware failure within the LG TV itself may be the culprit behind connectivity issues.
Reach out to LG Support online via chat or phone call. They can help diagnose the TV remotely and guide you through factory reset or hardware repair if needed. Provide the detailed context of troubleshooting you’ve already done.
In rare cases of hardware failure like the WiFi module or antenna malfunctioning, professional repair or replacement of components may be required to permanently resolve LG TV wireless connectivity problems.
Conclusion
Having problems getting your LG TV to connect to WiFi can be frustrating. But don’t get discouraged – taking a systematic approach to troubleshooting using the tips in this guide will help you identify and resolve the issue.
Start with quick fixes like rebooting and firmware updates. Then move onto to more advanced troubleshooting like changing settings, repositioning devices, upgrading equipment, and removing sources of interference.
Following these WiFi connectivity troubleshooting steps will have you streaming movies and shows on your LG TV in no time. And be sure to bookmark this guide so you have it handy whenever you need to diagnose and fix any future LG TV WiFi connectivity problems that arise.
