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Does your TV keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi and interrupting your favorite shows?
Then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll work together to make buffering become a thing of the past.
To fix a TV that keeps disconnecting from Wifi, try moving the router closer, restarting both the TV and WiFi, update your TV’s software, and remove any interfering devices. If that doesn’t work, you may need to consider upgrading your TV and/or router.
That’s the short answer, anyway. But there’s much more to it than that!
If you’re ready to dive into the details and keep your TV -> WiFi connection going, then let’s get started.
Fixing A TV Disconnecting From WiFi: 7 Fixes To Try
Have you seen the words “buffering”, “reconnecting” or “no connection found” appear on your TV screen one too many times? Then take a look at the 8 fixes in this article that will help you eliminate the problem.
#1 Move the Router Closer
Router issues are the most common culprits of TV disconnection problems. For starters, your router must be in the right place. That is, that it shouldn’t be too far away from your TV. This is especially the case if you are hoping to stream HD movies and shows.
If you have an older Wi-Fi router, it might not have a long signal range. If you’re having disconnection issues, you should move the router closer. This will improve the signal strength.
Once you’ve moved the router, check and see if the TV is still having disconnection issues.
#2 Restart the TV and Reboot the Router
So why should you restart your TV and reboot your router? Because these are great ways of pushing your devices to work properly again. If your router or your TV are beginning to glitch, a simple reset and reboot should solve the problem.
To restart your TV, do the following.
- Turn the TV off using the power button
- Plug the TV out at the mains. Wait 2 minutes.
- Plug it back in at the mains
- Turn it back on using the power button
To reboot your router, follow these steps.
- Unplug the power cable from behind the router. Wait 15 seconds.
- Plug the power cable back into the router
- Wait for the router to reboot itself. When the lights come back on it is finished.
Do you fancy taking a look at this step in a little more detail? Here is a tutorial video.
Check your TV’s internet connection once you have restarted your TV and rebooted your router.
#3 Check Your Wi-Fi Speed
Before you presume that any disconnection problems are the fault of the TV, you should check your Wi-Fi speed. Doing so will help you to find out if your service is running fast enough for streaming TV shows and movies.
The good thing is that checking your Wi-Fi speed is super simple. There are plenty of websites online that will quickly tell you the speed of yours.
So, how fast should your internet be ideally for streaming HD content to your TV? The following information will give you an idea.
- You need a download speed of at least 3 megabits per second (Mbps) for standard definition viewing
- A download speed of 5 Mbps will allow you to comfortably stream programs and movies in HD
- A download speed of 25 Mbps will allow you to watch 4K Ultra HD content
- If you are planning to stream HD or 4K Ultra HD content on more than one TV at once, you will need faster download speeds. You may want to consider a connection with 200 Mbps or more.
- You do not need a high upload speed for streaming. Streaming is downloading, so the uploading speed of your internet is not important.
Ok, so now that you know how fast your internet should be, you should check your Wi-Fi’s download speed. If yours isn’t as fast as it should be, you can try rebooting the router. If the internet is still slow after rebooting, contact your service provider.
#4 Remove Any Obstructions Between the TV and the Router
Your TV might be disconnecting because something is blocking the clear connection to the router. Of course, your Wi-Fi signal was made to be able to get through walls and around the corners of your home. But too many obstructions to your router will inevitably slow down the connection.
If there are any big obstructions between your TV and your router, move the router closer to the TV.
Once you have moved the router, check and see if your TV is still struggling to hold its internet connection.
#5 Remove Any Interfering Devices
Routers are a little antisocial. Some are very sensitive to being near other wireless devices. If your router is in too close proximity to a wireless device, you might have connection problems.
But what kind of wireless devices am I talking about? Your router shouldn’t be too close to any of the following.
- Microwave ovens
- Cordless phones
- Baby monitors
- Garage door openers
- Wireless toys
If your router is close to one of these devices, move it further away then check the connection to your TV. Alternatively, you can turn the device off to avoid interference.
#6 Update Your System
If your TV is struggling to hold a connection, it may be because it is due a system update. System updates can improve your network connectivity.
What if you’re not too sure how to perform a system update on your TV? Then here are all the instructions you will need. (Remember, that the options displayed on your TV will vary from model to model).
- Press the “HOME” button on your TV remote
- Navigate to “SETTINGS”
- Choose the “ABOUT THIS TV” option
- You will then see an option that will allow you to check for updates and perform updates if there are any
After updating your system, check the connection of your internet to your TV to see if it has improved.
#7 Use an Ethernet Connection
A wired ethernet connection is stronger than a Wi-Fi connection. This is because wired connections eliminate any problems with signal interference.
To set up a wired connection, you will need an ethernet cable. These are inexpensive to buy and can be found in a variety of lengths.
Here’s how you can set up an ethernet connection.
- Plug one end of the ethernet cable into the ethernet port on the back of the TV
- Plug the other end of the ethernet cable into the ethernet port on the back of the router
After you have set up your wired connection, check and see if your TV is still disconnecting from your Wi-Fi. If you are having issues and you have tried the other tips in this article, you may need to call a technician.
If your TV is too far to use a normal ethernet connection, try purchasing a powerline adapter. These little gadgets give you a wired connection to your router via the power sockets in your home. (Yes, they really do work!).
They’re a fantastic solution for whenever your WiFi signal is too weak.
Conclusion
Do you seem to spend more time reconnecting your TV to the internet than you do actually watching your favorite shows and movies? If your TV keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi, then I’m sure the 8 tips in this article will help you rectify the problem.
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Have a great day!
-Craig