TV Keeps Disconnecting from Wi-Fi: What to Check Before Blaming the TV

If your television repeatedly disconnects from Wi-Fi, the television itself may not be the problem. Weak signal strength, router placement, network congestion, software problems and individual streaming applications can all produce similar symptoms.

The quickest approach is to isolate each part of the connection before changing advanced settings or arranging a repair.

First, identify what is actually disconnecting

Before restarting or resetting anything, check whether the problem affects only the television.

1. Check whether a phone, tablet or computer can use the same Wi-Fi network near the television.
2. Open a different streaming application on the TV.
3. Check whether the TV reports that Wi-Fi is disconnected or whether only the video stops playing.

If every device loses internet access, the problem is more likely to involve the router, modem or internet service.

If only one streaming application fails, the TV may still be connected correctly. Close the application, reopen it and check whether the service is experiencing an outage.

If the television alone repeatedly drops the network while nearby devices remain connected, continue with the TV-specific checks below.

Restart the complete connection

A proper restart can clear temporary errors in the television, router and internet connection.

1. Close any streaming application that is open.
2. Turn off the television.
3. Disconnect the television from power.
4. Disconnect the router and modem from power, unless your internet provider has instructed you not to do so.
5. Wait at least one minute.
6. Reconnect the modem and router.
7. Wait until their normal internet and Wi-Fi lights return.
8. Reconnect and turn on the television.

Test the connection again before changing any other settings. Restarting everything at once also makes it easier to determine whether the problem was temporary.

Check the router’s position

Wi-Fi performance depends heavily on distance, walls, furniture and interference. A router hidden inside a cabinet or placed at the opposite end of the house may provide an unreliable signal even when the television sometimes connects successfully.

Where practical, position the router:

• In an open and reasonably elevated location.
• Away from thick walls, metal cabinets and large appliances.
• Clear of microwaves, cordless-phone equipment and other possible sources of interference.
• Closer to the television without placing it directly beside the TV.

Sony recommends keeping the router and television at least one metre apart while still reducing unnecessary distance and obstacles between them.

Compare the available Wi-Fi bands

Many modern routers provide both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. These may appear as separate network names, although some routers automatically combine them.

Try 2.4 GHz when the TV is farther away

A 2.4 GHz connection generally travels farther and passes through obstacles more effectively. It can be a useful test when the television is several rooms away from the router.

Try 5 GHz when the TV is nearby

A 5 GHz connection can provide faster performance and may experience less interference, but it generally has a shorter effective range.

Not every television supports every Wi-Fi band. Check the specifications or support information for your exact model before assuming a particular connection should be available.

Forget the network and reconnect

The television may have stored an outdated password or damaged network configuration. Remove or forget the saved network using the TV’s network settings, then reconnect manually.

1. Open the television’s network or Wi-Fi settings.
2. Select the current network.
3. Choose the option to forget, remove or disconnect it.
4. Restart the television.
5. Select the network again and carefully enter its password.

Network-setting names differ between manufacturers, so consult the support instructions for your exact model if the option is difficult to locate.

Check the TV’s date, time and software

An incorrect date or time can interfere with secure online connections. Set these values to automatic where possible and confirm that the displayed time zone is correct.

Also check for television software updates. Manufacturers may release updates that improve networking, application compatibility or system stability.

Do not disconnect the television from power while an update is being installed.

Reduce temporary network congestion

Large downloads, cloud backups, online games and high-resolution streaming on other devices can consume a significant portion of the available connection.

Temporarily pause heavy network activity and test the television again. If the disconnections stop, the issue may involve network capacity or Wi-Fi congestion rather than a faulty TV.

This is particularly relevant when several people share the connection or when the home uses a slower internet plan.

Test an Ethernet connection if possible

If the television and router both provide Ethernet ports, connect them with a network cable for a temporary test.

If streaming becomes reliable through Ethernet, the internet service and television applications are probably working. The remaining problem is more likely to involve Wi-Fi signal strength, interference, router configuration or the television’s wireless connection.

An Ethernet cable can also be a practical permanent solution when running one between the router and television is convenient.

Use a mobile hotspot only as a diagnostic test

You can briefly connect the television to a phone’s mobile hotspot to determine whether it works reliably on a different network.

If the TV remains connected to the hotspot but repeatedly disconnects from the home Wi-Fi, investigate the router or home network before blaming the television.

A hotspot can consume a substantial amount of mobile data when streaming video. Use it only for a short test and check your mobile plan first.

Reset the television’s network settings

If reconnecting normally does not help, look for an option to reset only the television’s network settings. This removes saved Wi-Fi information and allows the connection to be configured again from the beginning.

Use the instructions for your exact television model. Avoid performing a complete factory reset unless the manufacturer recommends it or the less disruptive checks have failed.

Leave a factory reset until last

A factory reset may remove applications, passwords, picture adjustments, accessibility options and other preferences. It should not be the first response to an intermittent Wi-Fi problem.

Before proceeding:

• Record any important picture, sound and accessibility settings.
• Confirm the account details required for your streaming applications.
• Read the manufacturer’s reset instructions for the exact model.
• Make sure the television will not lose power during the process.

When the television may need attention

A problem with the television becomes more likely when:

• Other devices remain reliable in the same location.
• The TV disconnects from multiple known-working Wi-Fi networks.
• An Ethernet connection works consistently but Wi-Fi never does.
• The television cannot detect networks that nearby devices can see.
• The problem remains after updates and a manufacturer-approved network reset.

Contact the television manufacturer or an authorised repairer with the exact model number, software version and a description of the tests already completed.

Do not open the television or router. These devices may contain hazardous electrical components even when unplugged.

A sensible troubleshooting order

1. Check whether other devices are also disconnected.
2. Try another application on the television.
3. Restart the TV, router and modem properly.
4. Improve router placement and reduce interference.
5. Try another compatible Wi-Fi band.
6. Forget and reconnect to the network.
7. Check the date, time and software updates.
8. Test Ethernet or a brief mobile hotspot connection.
9. Reset the television’s network settings.
10. Contact support before attempting a complete factory reset or replacement.

The bottom line

A television that keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi is not automatically faulty. Most causes can be narrowed down by checking other devices, restarting the complete connection, improving signal conditions and testing the television on a different network.

Work through one change at a time and test after each step. This makes it much easier to identify the real cause—and avoids replacing a television when the router, signal or application was responsible.

Useful Australian support resources

• Samsung Australia: Connect a Samsung TV to the internet
• Sony Australia: Internet and network troubleshooting
• Sony Australia: Intermittent Wi-Fi connection guidance

Information checked August 2026. Television menus, router functions and support instructions vary by model and may change. Confirm important procedures using the documentation supplied for your exact equipment.