Why Won’t My Philips TV Connect to WiFi? – (Try These 8 Solutions)
Does your Philips TV won’t connect to WiFi? Don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Many Philips TV owners run into problems getting online, but the good news is there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to fix WiFi connectivity problems.
This guide will walk you through the top reasons why your Philips TV won’t connect to WiFi.
1. Check WiFi is Enabled on the Philips TV
The first thing to check if your Philips Smart TV isn’t connecting to your home WiFi network is whether WiFi is actually enabled on the TV.
Follow these steps:
- Using your remote, go to the network settings menu on your Philips TV
- Navigate to where WiFi can be turned on/off
- Verify that the WiFi setting is switched on
- If WiFi is disabled, turn this setting on
- Try connecting to your WiFi again
Enabling WiFi is an obvious thing to check, but it’s easy to overlook if you expect WiFi to be enabled by default.
Case Study: Mike spent 2 hours trying different things to get his new Philips Smart TV connected to WiFi with no luck. Finally, he checked the network settings and realized WiFi was somehow disabled. After switching the WiFi on, his Philips TV connected instantly.
2. Verify the Correct WiFi Network is Selected
Another quick check is to ensure your Philips Smart TV is trying to connect to the correct WiFi network name (also called SSID).
Follow the steps below:
- Go to your list of available WiFi networks on the Philips TV
- Check that the exact name of your home WiFi network is listed
- If a network with a similar name displays (e.g. “Jones Family WiFi” instead of “JonesFamilyWifi”) update it to match exactly
- Try to reconnect with the precise WiFi network name
With some routers, the WiFi network name is case-sensitive, so the name needs to match exactly.
Simply verifying and selecting the right name can instantly fix connectivity issues with Philips Smart TVs.
3. Troubleshoot Problems with Your WiFi Router
Issues with your WiFi router or modem are also a common reason why Philips TVs struggle to maintain a solid WiFi connection.
Here are 5 key things to check and troubleshoot with your router when battling WiFi connectivity problems:
- Reboot the router – Simply turning your router off and back on can clear up temporary glitches
- Check for firmware updates – Outdated router firmware can cause compatibility issues. Update to the latest firmware to give your router the best chance of maintaining connectivity.
- Reset the router – If rebooting doesn’t help, reset your router completely to factory default settings and set up your network from scratch.
- Router location – Make sure your router isn’t too far from your Philips TV or is blocked by thick walls or other interference. Getting it closer and minimizing obstructions can improve WiFi signal strength.
- Change router frequency band – If you have a dual-band router try switching between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands to resolve connectivity or speed issues.
Pro Tip: When possible, connect Philips Smart TVs directly to your router or modem using an ethernet cable. This removes WiFi strength issues altogether. Using Ethernet over WiFi will give you the most reliable connectivity experience.
4. Fix Issues With Your Philips TV Software and Firmware
Like all computers, Philips Smart TVs rely on software and firmware to operate.
Issues in these areas can stop your Philips TV from connecting to your home network reliably.
Try the following firmware fixes:
- Check for Philips TV software updates – New updates constantly improve connectivity, so install the latest software updates. Navigate to Settings > Software Update on your TV.
- Manually trigger firmware updates – You can manually prompt your Philips TV to search for the newest firmware using your remote control. Refer to the instructions in your model’s user manual.
- Factory reset if issues persist – For stubborn software-related WiFi connectivity problems, consider a factory reset to wipe firmware fully before updating to the latest firmware revisions.
As Philips releases updated software and firmware versions, your connectivity experience will improve over time. Keeping updated is key.
Philips Recommendation: Complete software and firmware updates using a temporarily connected ethernet cable to ensure downloads are completely reliable without interruption.
Also Read
5. Troubleshoot Problems With WiFi Password and Encryption
Has your WiFi password changed recently? That could explain connectivity problems with your Philips TV.
Let’s run through a few quick authentication checks:
- Double-check your WiFi password – Using another device, confirm the exact WiFi password currently set on your router. Carefully re-enter the password in full on your Philips TV. Something as simple as an incorrect uppercase letter can cause issues.
- Check encryption protocol – Older routers may use outdated encryption protocols like WEP or WPA instead of the newer WPA2 protocol recommended for Philips Smart TVs. Update your router’s settings if possible.
- Unmask hidden passwords – Some Philips TVs have an option to temporarily unmask WiFi passwords as you enter them to display the full password to find errors.
- Forget the network – Go to your Philips TV network settings and select “Forget Network” to erase saved WiFi details completely before reconnecting from scratch.
If it turns out your WiFi password was changed or entered incorrectly originally, taking the time to carefully re-authenticate can get your Philips TV back online.
6. Change WiFi Channels on the Router if Network is Overcrowded
Does your Philips Smart TV struggle to maintain a strong WiFi signal? WiFi channel crowding with your neighbors could be to blame.
Here’s a quick overview of this common WiFi connectivity issue:
- WiFi routers broadcast Internet data over specific channels or frequencies (e.g. channels 1-11 for 2.4Ghz band)
- When too many competing routers use the same WiFi channel it can cause interference
- Symptoms include weak signal strength, slow speeds, or even connectivity dropouts
- Checking for overcrowding and changing to a less populated channel can help
To optimize your router’s WiFi channel allocation:
- Download a WiFi analysis app like Wifi Analyzer (Android) or InSSIDer (Windows)
- Assess nearby networks and what channels they are using
- Select a less congested channel for your router to transmit on
- Set your Philips Smart TV and other devices to connect to the updated WiFi network
This adjustment could significantly boost your WiFi signal strength and reliability.
7. Reset Network Settings to Factory Default
If you’ve tried various tweaks and fixes without success, resetting your Philips TV’s network settings to factory default can clear any problematic settings causing WiFi connectivity headaches.
Here is an overview of the process:
- Navigate to Settings > Network > Reset Network Settings on your Philips TV
- Confirm that you want to erase all network configurations
- The TV will prompt you through basic network setup steps again
- Re-enter your correct WiFi network name and password during setup
This factory reset gives you a fresh networking configuration. In most cases, WiFi connectivity problems will be resolved.
Warning: Resetting network settings also erases any custom DNS settings, static IP addresses, and WiFi priority preferences. Make a note of these beforehand if needed.
8. Contact Philips Support if Problems Persist
If you have worked through all connectivity troubleshooting steps for your Philips Smart TV but are still battling WiFi problems.
It makes sense to contact Philips customer support directly for further assistance.
Here are some options to speak to Philips TV technical support agents:
- Call the Philips helpline for your country – Explain the connectivity issue and steps you have tried so far. Philipp call center technicians can suggest additional troubleshooting to try over the phone.
- Chat to an online support agent via the Philips website – Use Philips online chat tools to message the technical staff. You can provide details of model numbers and specifics of what happens when you try connecting. The chat session is automatically saved to check back on suggested fixes later.
- Visit Philips community forums – Connect with other Philips customers and enthusiasts who may have faced similar challenges. Search existing threads or post questions online.
- Arrange for Philips TV repair – For hardware faults causing WiFi issues, you may need professional Philips TV repair or replacement services. Support agents can run diagnostics and schedule repairs if needed.
Thoroughly explaining connectivity failures when contacting Philips gives their technicians the most information to resolve your particular case.
Provide details on troubleshooting done and specific behaviors during WiFi setup attempts.
Conclusion
And that wraps up some of the most common tips for solving Philips Smart TV WiFi connectivity problems! Here’s a quick recap:
- Enable WiFi if disabled in the settings
- Select the precise WiFi network name
- Update router firmware and tweak position
- Perform a factory reset on the TV if software issues
- Carefully re-check the WiFi password
- Pick a less crowded WiFi channel
- Reset Philips TV network settings
- Call Philips support if problems continue
FAQs:
A specialized streaming device, an HDMI cable, a Blu-ray player, or a gaming console can all be used to link an older TV to the internet.
Most frequently, this is a hardware issue.
On an Philips Android TV, go to “Home” > [Settings] > [Device Preferences] > [Reboot” to restart it. The TV will automatically restart in a few seconds.