Phones · Repair guide

How to fix an Android phone that won't connect to Wi-Fi

Error messageAuthentication Error

9 fixes, easiest first5 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Forget the network on your phone, then tap it again and carefully re-enter the Wi-Fi password, since passwords are case-sensitive. If that fails, restart both the phone and the router.

What it means

When an Android phone won't join Wi-Fi, either it can't sign in to the network, or it joins but gets no internet through it. Samsung Galaxy phones show Authentication Error when the saved password doesn't match, and Pixel phones show a message asking you to check the password, or say the network has no internet. Problems can also come from the router, a stuck setting on the phone, or an app that interferes with the connection.

Common causes

  • A wrong or changed Wi-Fi password (Authentication Error)
  • The router or modem has lost its internet connection or needs a restart
  • A glitch in the phone's saved network details
  • Airplane mode or a power-saving setting is getting in the way
  • A public Wi-Fi network waiting for you to sign in on its web page
  • A recently installed app that interferes with connections
  • Outdated software or a wrong date and time on the phone

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Turn Wi-Fi and Airplane mode off and onEasy

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick settings (on Samsung, swipe down twice).
  2. Check that Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off. On Samsung, also check that Power saving is off while you test.
  3. Turn Wi-Fi off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
  4. Turn Airplane mode on, wait a few seconds, then turn it off again.
  5. On Pixel and other stock Android phones you can also touch and hold the Internet tile and tap Reset. This ends any call in progress.

Why it helps: Switching the radios off and on makes the phone search for and join the network again from scratch.

02Restart the phone and the routerEasy

  1. On Samsung: open the Quick panel, tap the Power icon, then tap Restart.
  2. On Pixel: press and hold the Power button for a few seconds, then tap Restart. On Pixel 6 and later, press Power and Volume up together if the power menu doesn't appear.
  3. Unplug the router and modem from power, wait 2-3 minutes, as Samsung suggests, then plug them back in.
  4. Wait until the router lights look normal, then try to connect again.

Why it helps: A restart clears temporary glitches on both the phone and the router, which fixes many sudden connection problems.

03Forget the network and re-enter the passwordEasy

  1. On Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi, tap the settings (gear) icon next to the network, then tap Forget.
  2. On Pixel: go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap Saved networks at the bottom, tap the network, then tap Forget.
  3. On other Android phones, search Settings for Wi-Fi and look for a Forget option on the network.
  4. Tap the network name again and type the password slowly. Passwords are case-sensitive, so check capital letters.
  5. If you see Authentication Error (Samsung) or a message asking you to check the password (Pixel), the password doesn't match. Check the sticker on the router or ask whoever manages the network.
  6. On Samsung, leave Auto reconnect on for the network so the phone rejoins it by itself.

Why it helps: Forgetting the network clears any wrong or outdated details saved on the phone, which is the usual cause of an authentication error.

04Find out whether the phone or the network is the problemEasy

  1. Try another phone, tablet or laptop on the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. If other devices can't connect either, the router or internet service is the problem. Restart it or contact your internet provider.
  3. If other devices work, try your phone on a different Wi-Fi network, such as a friend's or a cafe's.
  4. If your phone works elsewhere, the problem is between your phone and your router, so carry on with the fixes below.
  5. Move closer to the router if the Wi-Fi icon shows only one bar or keeps dropping.

Why it helps: Knowing which side has the fault saves time and tells you whether to fix the phone or the network.

05Sign in to hotel, cafe or airport Wi-FiEasy

  1. Public networks often connect but show no internet until you accept their terms on a sign-in page.
  2. Look for a sign-in notification and tap it, or open your web browser and visit any site to bring up the sign-in page.
  3. If the page doesn't appear, forget the network, turn Wi-Fi off and on, tap the network again, then tap the sign-in notification.
  4. Agree to the terms or enter the details the venue gives you.

Why it helps: Until you sign in, a public network lets the phone join but blocks all internet traffic.

06Update the phone and set the date and time automaticallyEasy

  1. On Samsung: go to Settings > Software update > Download and install and install any update. Use mobile data or another Wi-Fi network if needed.
  2. On Pixel: go to Settings > System > System update and install any update.
  3. On Pixel: go to Settings > System > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically.
  4. On Samsung and other phones, search Settings for date and time and turn on the automatic option.
  5. If Wi-Fi broke right after an update, check again for a newer update, since fixes are often released quickly.

Why it helps: Software updates fix known Wi-Fi bugs, and a wrong date or time can stop secure connections from working.

07Run the phone's built-in diagnosticsEasy

  1. On Samsung: open the Samsung Members app, tap Get help, tap Start under Diagnostics, then choose Wi-Fi.
  2. On Pixel: if your model offers it, go to Settings > Device health & support > Wi-Fi diagnostics. Google currently offers this only on some newer Pixel models in the US.
  3. Follow any advice the test gives you.

Why it helps: The built-in tests can confirm whether the phone's Wi-Fi hardware is working, which helps if you need to contact support.

08Test in Safe mode to rule out an appMedium

  1. On Samsung: open the Quick panel, tap the Power icon, then touch and hold Power off until Safe mode appears, and tap it.
  2. On Pixel 6 and later: press and hold Power and Volume up, touch and hold Power off or Restart, then tap OK. On older Pixels, hold the Power button, then touch and hold Power off.
  3. Check that Safe mode appears at the bottom of the screen. On Pixel, Airplane mode turns on in Safe mode, so turn it off before testing Wi-Fi.
  4. If Wi-Fi works in Safe mode, a downloaded app is likely the cause. Restart to leave Safe mode, then uninstall recently installed apps one at a time, newest first, testing after each.
  5. If Wi-Fi still fails in Safe mode, the problem is more likely the network or a phone setting.

Why it helps: Safe mode turns off downloaded apps, so it shows whether one of them, such as a VPN or firewall app, is blocking Wi-Fi.

09Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settingsMediumResets settings

  1. Know what this erases first: all saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, and all paired Bluetooth devices. Your apps, photos and other data stay.
  2. Make sure you know the password for your home Wi-Fi before you start.
  3. On Samsung: go to Settings > General management > Reset > Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, then tap Reset settings. Samsung applies this straight away without a second prompt.
  4. On Pixel: go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, then tap Reset settings.
  5. Afterwards, connect to your Wi-Fi network again and re-pair any Bluetooth devices such as headphones or your car.

Why it helps: This clears every Wi-Fi setting the phone has saved, which fixes problems that forgetting a single network doesn't.

Check it's fixed

  • The network shows as Connected in Wi-Fi settings and the Wi-Fi icon appears at the top of the screen.
  • Web pages and apps load with mobile data turned off.
  • The phone reconnects by itself after you turn Wi-Fi off and on, or walk out of range and come back.

When to get help

If no device can get online, contact your internet provider. If only your phone fails on every Wi-Fi network even after a reset, contact Samsung, Google or your phone maker, since the Wi-Fi hardware may need repair.

Questions

What does Authentication Error mean on a Samsung phone?

It means the phone couldn't sign in to the network, usually because the saved password is wrong or was changed. Forget the network and enter the password again, checking capital letters.

Why does my Android phone say connected but no internet?

The phone has joined the router, but the router isn't passing internet through, or a public network wants you to sign in. Restart the router, check other devices, and look for a sign-in page on public Wi-Fi.

Why does my Android keep disconnecting from Wi-Fi?

Weak signal, a router that needs a restart, or a glitch in the saved network are the usual causes. Move closer to the router, restart both devices, and forget and rejoin the network.

Will resetting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings delete my photos?

No. It only removes saved Wi-Fi networks, their passwords and Bluetooth pairings. Your apps, photos and messages stay on the phone.

Related fixes

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