Key takeaways
- Samsung's guide splits Wi-Fi failures into three: TV doesn't see the network / TV won't connect / connection quality is bad. Diagnose in that order.
- The phone-signal test is the fastest check: hold a phone next to the TV; if it shows one or two bars (or also loses signal), the TV's spot is under-served.
- Some 2018 Samsung models (NU6***, NU71**, NU72**, NU73***) only support 2.4 GHz — they cannot see 5 GHz networks at all.
- The decisive test: if the TV can join a phone hotspot, the TV hardware is fine and the fault sits with the router or ISP — Samsung's own conclusion.
- If the TV sees no networks at all — not even a hotspot — Samsung says service is next; don't keep restarting.
It doesn't see my network
Check 1 — Hunt for the network, note what's unseen
What's happening: the TV's radio may just be in a bad spot, or you haven't refreshed the list since a network change.
- After each step below, re-check whether the TV now sees the network: All Settings → Connection → Network → Open Network Settings → Wireless. (On some models, the path begins in General settings.)
- If your network is hidden, scroll to the bottom of the list and select Add Network to enter the name manually. Hidden-SSID is not a default on most routers, so skip this if you never changed it.
Both checks verbatim from Samsung's official page: Samsung support.
Check 2 — The phone signal test
What's happening: tablets and TVs sit behind media walls and cabinets — often one wall more than a laptop ever faces.
- Connect a phone to your home network, walk it to the TV, and hold it next to the TV.
- One or two bars (or the phone also drops there) means the signal is too weak for the TV to connect, per Samsung.
- Move the router and TV closer, or add a repeater to strengthen the signal.
Described in Samsung's official guide (see link above).
Check 3 — Is your TV band-compatible?
What's happening: some TVs have a hard limit on which Wi-Fi band they can even see. No amount of restart will reveal a 5 GHz network to a 2.4 GHz-only TV.
- Look up your model's network requirements in Samsung's user manual — Samsung spells out that specific 2018 models (NU6***, NU71**, NU72**, NU73***) support only 2.4 GHz.
- If you changed router settings since installing the TV, check whether the settings are now blocking the TV; Samsung suggests default router settings are typically fine, and to contact the ISP or router maker if you need router adjustments.
Compatibility note from Samsung's official troubleshooting page (source above).
Check 4 — Device-count pressure test
What's happening: more devices means weaker signal per device. Two tablets, three phones, an appliance, a console — the strain shows up first on the device that was always the weakest link, often the TV.
- Disconnect all other Wi-Fi devices, then try connecting the TV.
- If the TV connects now, your router was outnumbered; either connect fewer devices or upgrade the router, per Samsung's guidance.
Described in Samsung's guide (source above).
Check 5 — Power cycle the whole chain, in the right order
What's happening: a mid-chain reboot stalls the handshake upstream of the TV. Powering everything in path order re-founds the chain.
- Unplug every network-related device (router, modem) and the TV.
- Starting with the first device at the wall, plug in and let it finish booting.
- Repeat along the path toward the TV, then try the network again.
Order-of-operations from Samsung's official guide (source above).
Check 6 — The hotspot test: is it even the TV?
What's happening: one decisive question ends the guessing — can the TV join a different network?
- Turn on a mobile hotspot (or borrow a phone that can create one) and see whether the TV finds and joins it.
- If the TV joins the hotspot, service is not required — the issue is the home network. Samsung says contact the ISP if they provided the router, or the router manufacturer otherwise.
- Caveat from Samsung: an older TV may not see a 5 GHz hotspot.
Verbatim logic from Samsung's official page (source above).
Check 7 — When nobody sees anything: service time
What's happening: if the TV can't detect any network at all after all of the above, Samsung's guide points to hardware service.
- Request service through Samsung's support center if the TV detects no networks after the checks above.
Samsung's official page (source above).
It connects, but the connection is bad
Fix A — Check everyone else's health first
What's happening: a buffer-wheeling TV is often just the visible face of a busy network.
- Check other devices (phones, console, computers, smart appliances) for the same symptom.
- Disconnect everything else and retest the TV. If performance improves, per Samsung: either more devices than the router can handle, or you maxed out your ISP plan.
Documented in Samsung's official troubleshooting (source above).
Fix B — Forget the network and reconnect
What's happening: the TV's saved profile might be compromised by an old IP or one bad signal handshake.
- Navigate: All Settings → Connection → Network → Open Network Settings → Wireless. Scroll to the bottom and choose Manage Saved Networks.
- Select your network → Delete, then reconnect from scratch.
Path quoted from Samsung's official page (source above).
Fix C — Set a manual DNS server
What's happening: Samsung's walkthrough includes entering a manual DNS server — DNS lookup failures can cause intermittent drops even with a strong signal.
- All Settings → Connection → Network → Network Status → IP Settings. (Some models: open General first, then Network.)
- DNS Setting → Enter Manually, then select DNS Server.
- Enter Samsung's example address 8.8.8.8, then try connecting. On remotes without number keys, Samsung's guide describes selecting each digit with the on-screen numbers and using the on-screen arrow.
DNS path and example address from Samsung's official guide (source above).
Fix D — Software update, then reset
What's happening: Samsung includes both a software update and a full reset in the Wi-Fi playbook — updates first, reset last.
- Update the TV: All Settings → Support → Software Update; allow it to install and reboot.
- Reset (last resort): All Settings → General (or General & Privacy) → Reset. PIN default is 0000, per Samsung.
Both steps documented in Samsung's official guidance (source above).
If the rest of the house is also unstable
The TV page above fixes TV-side issues. If phones and laptops drop too, the router and ISP flow in our main guide is the one you need: Why does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting? →
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my Samsung TV find my Wi-Fi network?
Samsung's three usual causes: the signal is too weak where the TV sits (run the phone test), the network is hidden or renamed, or the TV can't see the band you broadcast on — several 2018 models see 2.4 GHz only. Add the network manually or unhide it while you troubleshoot.
How do I know if it's the TV or the network?
Join the TV to a different network, like a phone hotspot. If it connects there, Samsung's guidance says service is not required and the fault is with the home network — contact the ISP (if they supplied the router) or the router maker.
What DNS should I use on a Samsung TV?
Samsung's own walkthrough uses 8.8.8.8 as its manual-DNS example, entered through Network Status → IP Settings → DNS Setting → Enter Manually. If your remote lacks a number pad, use the on-screen number selector Samsung describes.
What is the default reset PIN on Samsung TVs?
0000, per Samsung's documentation. You'll find the reset under All Settings → General (or General & Privacy) → Reset.