Start with the basics: check what your device is actually seeing

When your device won't connect to WiFi, the first step is to look at what your device reports. Open your WiFi settings and look for your network name in the list of available networks. If you see your network name but the connection fails, that's different from not seeing the network at all — and the fix is different too.

On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi and look at "Available networks". On Mac, click the WiFi icon in the top-right corner. On iPhone or Android, open Settings and look under WiFi. Write down exactly what message you see when you try to connect — "Can't connect", "Incorrect password", "Authentication failed", or something else. That message tells you what's actually broken.

If you don't see your network name at all, skip ahead to the section about hidden networks and range. If you see it but can't connect, keep reading here.

Key Takeaways

  • Check your device's WiFi settings first to see whether your network appears in the list and what error message you get when you try to connect.
  • The most common fix is re-entering your WiFi password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive and spaces count.
  • Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait two minutes before trying again.
  • If one device won't connect but others do, the problem is usually that device's WiFi settings, not your router.
  • If no devices can connect, restart your router first, then check that your modem has a solid light (not blinking) before troubleshooting further.

The password is wrong or entered incorrectly

This is the most common reason a device won't connect. WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, which means uppercase and lowercase letters are different. If your password is "MyPassword123", typing "mypassword123" will fail. Spaces and special characters also matter — if your password has a space or a dash, it must be typed exactly.

Go back to your router and find the password. On most home routers, it's printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the device. Look for a label that says "WiFi Password", "Network Key", "PSK", or sometimes just "Password". Copy it exactly as written, including capital letters. Then go to your device's WiFi settings, select your network, and enter the password again. If you're not sure whether a character is uppercase or lowercase, check the sticker carefully — the font may make it hard to tell.

If you've changed your password before and don't remember what you set it to, you can reset it. Log into your router's admin page (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a web browser, or by using the router manufacturer's app) and change the WiFi password to something you'll remember. Then reconnect your devices using the new password.

Restart your router to clear temporary connection problems

Routers sometimes get stuck in a state where new devices can't connect, even though everything is set up correctly. A restart clears this out. Unplug your router's power cable, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait two full minutes for the lights to stop blinking and settle into a steady pattern before trying to connect again.

While the router is restarting, also restart the device you're trying to connect. Turn it off completely (not just sleep mode), wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. Once both devices are fully restarted, try connecting again. This fixes the majority of temporary connection problems.

If restarting doesn't work, check that your router is actually getting power. Look at the lights on the front — you should see at least one light that's solid (not blinking). If all the lights are off, the router isn't powered on. If the lights are blinking constantly, the router is still starting up — wait another minute and try again.

Check whether your device is in airplane mode or has WiFi turned off

This sounds obvious, but it's easy to miss. On your device, look for airplane mode in your settings and make sure it's off. On Windows, check Settings > Network & Internet and look for "Airplane mode" — it should be off. On Mac, look at the top menu bar for an airplane icon. On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to see Control Center and make sure the airplane icon is not highlighted. On Android, swipe down twice from the top to see Quick Settings and check the same thing.

Also check that WiFi itself is turned on. On Windows and Mac, make sure WiFi is enabled in your network settings. On iPhone and Android, go to Settings > WiFi and toggle it on if it's off. If WiFi is already on but grayed out, restart your device — sometimes the WiFi radio gets stuck.

Forget the network and reconnect from scratch

If you've tried the password multiple times and restarted both devices, your device may have stored incorrect information about your network. The fix is to forget the network completely and reconnect as if it's new.

On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > Manage known networks, find your network, and click "Forget". On Mac, go to System Settings > WiFi, click "Details", find your network in the list, and click the minus button. On iPhone, go to Settings > WiFi, tap the info icon next to your network, and tap "Forget This Network". On Android, go to Settings > WiFi, long-press your network name, and tap "Forget".

Once you've forgotten the network, go back to your available networks list, select your network again, and enter your password. This time, type the password slowly and carefully, or copy it from the router sticker if your device allows pasting.

Your network isn't showing up or is too far away

If you don't see your network name in the available networks list at all, either your router isn't broadcasting its name, or your device is out of range. First, check the distance. Move your device closer to the router — within 10 feet if possible — and look again. If your network appears when you're close, you're too far away. Move closer to the router or consider a WiFi extender or mesh system if you need coverage in distant rooms.

If you're close to the router and still don't see your network, your router may have its broadcast turned off. This is a setting called "SSID broadcast" or "Hide network". Log into your router's admin page and look for this setting. Turn it on so your network name appears in the available networks list. After you change this, restart your router and try connecting again.

If you know your network name but it's not showing up, you can usually connect manually. On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi > Manage known networks > Add network manually. On Mac, hold Option and click the WiFi icon, then select "Open Network Utility" and look for "Join Other Network". On iPhone, go to Settings > WiFi and tap "Other", then enter your network name. On Android, go to Settings > WiFi > Add network and enter your network name. Type your password and connect.

Check if other devices can connect to your WiFi

Try connecting a different device — a phone, tablet, or laptop — to the same WiFi network. If another device connects without trouble, the problem is with the first device, not your router. If no devices can connect, the problem is your router or internet connection.

If only one device won't connect, focus on that device's settings. The issue is usually a corrupted network profile, a WiFi driver that needs updating, or a setting that's been changed. Try the steps above — forget the network, restart the device, and reconnect. If that doesn't work, check whether your device's WiFi driver needs an update. On Windows, go to Device Manager, find your WiFi adapter, right-click it, and select "Update driver". On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.

If multiple devices won't connect, restart your router as described above. If that doesn't fix it, check that your modem (the device your router plugs into) has a solid light. If the modem's light is blinking or red, your internet connection is down — contact your internet provider.

Restart your modem if your router has no internet

Your router and your modem are two separate devices. The modem connects to your internet provider's network. The router takes that connection and broadcasts it as WiFi. If devices can connect to your WiFi but have no internet, or if your router's lights show no internet connection, restart your modem.

Unplug your modem's power cable, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait two to three minutes for the lights to settle. You should see a solid light (usually labeled "Internet", "Online", or "Link") that indicates your connection is active. Once that light is solid, restart your router the same way. Wait another two minutes, then try connecting a device.

If the modem's internet light never becomes solid, or if it's red, your internet connection is down. This is usually a problem with your internet provider's service, not your equipment. Contact your provider to report the outage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my device connect but then disconnect after a few seconds?

This usually means your device is connecting but can't complete the authentication process. Forget the network, restart your device, and reconnect with your password typed very carefully. If it keeps disconnecting, restart your router. If the problem continues, check whether your router's WiFi channel is crowded — many routers can switch to a less crowded channel automatically, but some need you to change it manually in the admin settings.

My password is correct but it still says authentication failed. What do I do?

Restart both your device and your router. If that doesn't work, log into your router and change your WiFi password to something simple with no special characters — just letters and numbers. Then reconnect using the new password. Some older devices have trouble with certain special characters in passwords.

Can I connect to WiFi on my phone but not my laptop?

This means your phone's connection is working but your laptop's isn't. On your laptop, forget the network and reconnect. If that doesn't work, restart your laptop completely. If you're on Windows, also check Device Manager to see whether your WiFi adapter has a warning symbol — if it does, right-click it and select "Update driver".

What if I've tried everything and it still won't connect?

If you've restarted both devices, checked your password, forgotten and reconnected to the network, and other devices can connect fine, your device's WiFi hardware may be failing. Try connecting to a different WiFi network (a friend's, a coffee shop, or a mobile hotspot) to confirm whether the problem follows your device. If it does, your device's WiFi radio may need repair.

Does restarting my router erase my WiFi password?

No. Restarting (unplugging and plugging back in) keeps all your settings. Your password, network name, and all other settings stay the same. A factory reset would erase everything, but that's a different action — usually a button you hold for 10 seconds — and you wouldn't do that by accident.