How to Troubleshoot The Smart TV “Connected But No Internet Access” Error

Smart TVs are now a reality. You can stream your favorite movies and programs seamlessly as long as you have internet access. However, for some reason, your smart TV might show it is connected to Wi-Fi, yet you can’t access your favorite Livestream channels.

Fortunately, we are here to help. Below are our top ten proven fixes you can try to connect your TV to the internet.

1. Soft Reset Your Smart TV

Soft Resetting your TV can help fix minor issues and restore your Wi-Fi connection within no time.

Here are the steps to soft reset your Smart TV:

1. While the TV is on, unplug the power cord directly from the wall outlet
2. Press and hold the power button on the TV for at least 30 seconds to drain any residual charge
3. Wait a full 60 seconds
4. Re-plug the power cord
5. Turn on your smart TV
6. Check if this resolves the issue

Note: The key is to wait a full 60 seconds before plugging the power cord back in. This step will help soft reset your TV and fix any minor glitches.

2. Restart Your Router

If your router or modem is not working correctly, your smart TV won’t connect to the internet. Resetting these gadgets can help restore your internet connection quickly and effortlessly.

Here are the steps to reset your router:

1. Unplug your router or Wi-Fi modem.
2. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
3. Reconnect your router or Wi-Fi modem.
4. Check if your smart TV connects to the internet.

This is, of course, the soft reset. If you want to restore factory defaults you can do a hard reset. Most routers come equipped with a reset button that you can use to reset your device. You only need to press and hold the button for at least 5 seconds to complete the process.

After resetting the router, you may need to reconfigure it depending on your internet service provider. Get in touch with your ISP before resetting the router.

3. Change DNS Server Address

Like most internet-enabled devices, your smart TV requires a DNS address to connect to Wi-Fi quickly. The incorrect DNS configuration can prevent your TV from accessing the web even if it displays a “connected” message.

Changing the DNS server address of your smart TV can help fix the problem and restore your connection.

Here are the steps to change your TV’s DNS server address:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Select the Settings icon.
3. Go to Network and then select Network Status.
4. Now go to IP Settings and Select DNS.
5. Change to the custom DNS server.
6. Select OK to apply and save changes
7. Verify if this resolves the issue

4. Update Your TV’s Firmware

Smart TVs require frequent updating to fix bugs and software glitches, including internet access issues. Updates are also essential for security reasons. Fortunately, most manufacturers release software updates from time to time, and you need to update your TV’s firmware to fix connectivity issues and other bugs.

Since your smart TV cannot access the internet in its current state, you can only update its firmware via USB.

Here are the steps:

1. Search for your smart TV’s model code on the manufacturer’s website.
2. Download the latest firmware update file.
3. Unzip the content on your PC.
4. Transfer the extracted file to your USB drive.
5. Insert the USB drive into your TV.
6. Now go to Smart TV Settings and select Sofware Update.
7. Allow the Smart TV to use the file from USB to install the update.

5. Check Date and Time

Some smart TVs are so sensitive that they cannot connect to the internet if the date and time are incorrect.

Setting the correct date and time can help resolve internet access issues.

1. Press the HOME button on your remote control.
2. Go to Settings and select Device Preferences.
3. Select Date & Time.
4. Choose Automatic Date & Time.
5. Select Use Network Time.
6. Check if this resolves the issue.

6. Toggle Wi-Fi Off and On

If your smart TV shows it is connected but cannot access the internet, consider toggling your Wi-Fi network OFF and then ON again. Depending on your network settings, toggling Wi-Fi Off and On can help fix the issue.

Here are the steps:

1. Press the HOME button on your remote.
2. Go to Settings and select General.
3. Select Network and choose Open Network Settings.
4. Go to Wireless Network.
5. Select Your Wi-Fi Network.
6. Turn OFF Wi-Fi.
7. Wait a few seconds and Turn Wi-Fi ON.
8. Check if this resolves the issue

7. Reset Network

If you’ve tried several fixes and nothing seems to work, consider resetting your network. Your established connection might have issues, and resetting it can help resolve the problem.

You need to delete your current network and set it up again for this trick to work. Here are the steps:

1. Press the SOURCE button on your remote control.
2. Go to Settings by tapping the gear icon on your screen.
3. Go to General.
4. Select Network.
5. Choose Reset Network.
6. Click Yes to reset your network.
7. Select Network Settings.
8. Choose your Wi-Fi network.
9. Input your Wi-Fi password and check if you can access the internet.

8. Change IP Address

Your smart TV might have connectivity issues because of erroneously changed network settings. IP address conflicts can also prevent your smart TV from connecting to the internet.

Changing your IP address settings can help restore your network and allow your smart TV to connect to the internet.

Here are the steps on how to go about it:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Go to Network.
3. Select Network Status.
4. Select IP Settings.
5. Set IP Settings to “Obtain automatically”.
6. Click OK to apply and save changes.
7. Check if this resolves the issue.

9. Factory Reset Your Smart TV

As a last resort, consider factory resetting your smart TV. This step will clear all your data and applications and restore your TV to default settings. After performing a full factory reset, you may have to re-install your favorite smart TV apps again.

The good news is that factory resetting your TV works 99 percent of the time by clearing glitches and bugs.

Here are the steps:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Choose General
4. Select Reset.
5. Enter your security pin (usually 0000).
6. Allow your TV to reboot automatically.
7. Set up your Wi-Fi connection.
8. Check if you can now access the internet.

10. Check for Service Outages

Sometimes your smart TV may not connect to the internet because of a service outage in your area. The quickest way to confirm if this is the issue is to call your Internet Service Provider. Find out from your ISP if there is an outage in your area and request to know when they’ll fix the problem.

Conclusion

Having a smart TV without a reliable internet connection is certainly not fun. You won’t connect to the internet if your network has issues. Fortunately, our proven tips can help fix the problem quickly. Try them today, and let us know how it goes.