The basic steps to get your Samsung TV online

To connect your Samsung TV to WiFi, you need to go into the TV's settings menu, find the network section, select your WiFi network, and enter your password. The exact path depends on which Samsung TV model you have — newer models use a menu system called Tizen, while older ones use a different layout — but the core steps are the same on all of them. Most connections take less than five minutes once you have your WiFi password ready.

Before you start, make sure you have your WiFi network name (the one you see when you look for networks on your phone) and your WiFi password. If you do not know your password, you can find it on your router or in your internet provider's account settings online.

Key Takeaways

  • Use your TV remote to open Settings, then navigate to Network or Connection settings to find the WiFi option.
  • Select your WiFi network name from the list and type in your password exactly as it appears — uppercase and lowercase letters matter.
  • Wait for the TV to show "Connected" before closing the settings menu, which usually takes 30 seconds to two minutes.
  • If your TV does not find your network, move closer to your router or restart both your TV and router.

Steps for newer Samsung TVs (2016 and later)

On newer Samsung models, press the Home button on your remote to open the main menu. Look for a gear icon or the word "Settings" — it is usually in the top right corner of the screen. Select it and scroll down until you see "Network" or "Connection".

Open Network settings and select "Open Network Settings" or "WiFi". Your TV will scan for available networks and show you a list. Find your network name in the list — it will be the same name you see when you connect on your phone — and select it. A keyboard will appear on screen. Type your WiFi password carefully, paying attention to capital letters, numbers, and special characters. Select "Connect" or press Enter. Wait for the TV to display "Connected" or a checkmark, which means you are online.

Steps for older Samsung TVs (2015 and earlier)

On older models, press the Menu button on your remote instead of Home. Navigate to "System" or "Setup", then look for "Network" or "Internet". Select "Wireless" or "WiFi".

Choose "Select a Network" and wait for the TV to scan. Select your network from the list when it appears. When prompted, enter your password using the on-screen keyboard. The process is the same as newer models from this point — type carefully and wait for the connection confirmation.

What to do if your TV does not find your network

If your network does not appear in the list, the most common reason is that your TV is too far from your router. Move your TV closer to the router, or move the router closer to the TV, and scan for networks again. Walls, metal objects, and other electronics can block the signal, so removing obstacles between the TV and router often solves this.

If moving the router does not help, restart both devices. Unplug your router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. While the router is restarting, unplug your TV, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Once both devices have fully restarted, try scanning for networks again. If your network still does not appear, check that your router is actually broadcasting your network name — some routers have a setting to hide the network name, and if that is turned on, you will need to enter the name manually instead of selecting it from a list.

Entering your password if your network is hidden

If your network name does not appear in the list but you know it exists, your router may be set to hide the network name. Look for an option that says "Add Network Manually", "Enter Network Name", or "Other Network". Select it and type your network name exactly as it is set on your router.

After you enter the network name, you will be prompted for the password. Type it carefully and select Connect. Hidden networks work the same way once you enter the name — the TV just needs you to tell it what to look for instead of finding it automatically.

Checking your connection after setup

Once your TV shows "Connected", you can verify the connection is working by opening an app that requires internet — Netflix, YouTube, or your streaming service of choice. If the app loads and plays content, your WiFi connection is working properly.

If you want to see your connection details, go back into Network settings and look for "Network Status" or "Connection Status". This screen will show your network name, signal strength, and IP address. A strong signal is shown as three or four bars. If you see only one bar, your TV is at the edge of your WiFi range and may drop the connection during use — moving the router or TV closer will improve reliability.

Troubleshooting a connection that keeps dropping

If your TV connects but then loses WiFi repeatedly, the problem is usually weak signal or interference. First, check your signal strength in Network Status — if it is one or two bars, move your router and TV closer together. If the signal is already strong, try changing your router's WiFi channel. Most routers broadcast on channels 1, 6, or 11, and if your neighbors' routers are using the same channel, they can interfere with each other. Log into your router's settings on a computer or phone and try a different channel.

If changing the channel does not help, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the problem continues after that, try "forgetting" the network on your TV and reconnecting. Go to Network settings, find your network in the list of saved networks, and select "Forget" or "Delete". Then scan for networks again and reconnect with your password. This clears out any corrupted connection data and often fixes dropping connections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to enter my WiFi password every time I turn on my TV?

No. Once you enter your password and the TV connects successfully, it saves that information. The next time you turn on the TV, it will reconnect to the same network automatically without asking for the password again. If you change your WiFi password, you will need to reconnect and enter the new password.

What if I do not know my WiFi password?

Check the sticker on the bottom or back of your router — many routers have the default password printed there. If the sticker is not readable or you changed the password, log into your router's settings from a computer or phone. You can usually do this by typing your router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1) into a web browser. If you cannot access the router settings, contact your internet provider — they can reset your password or help you recover it.

Can I use a wired ethernet connection instead of WiFi?

Yes. If your Samsung TV has an ethernet port on the back, you can plug in an ethernet cable connected to your router. Go to Network settings and select "Wired" or "Ethernet" instead of WiFi. A wired connection is more stable than WiFi and does not require a password. Most newer Samsung TVs have an ethernet port, but some smaller models do not.

Why does my TV say "Incorrect Password" when I know the password is right?

WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, meaning uppercase and lowercase letters are different. Check that you are typing capital letters where they appear in your actual password. Also make sure you are not accidentally adding extra spaces before or after the password. If you are still stuck, try entering the password on your phone or computer to confirm it is correct, then try again on the TV.

Can I connect my Samsung TV to a mobile hotspot from my phone?

Yes. Turn on your phone's hotspot feature, find the hotspot network name in your TV's WiFi list, and enter the hotspot password the same way you would for a regular WiFi network. Keep in mind that using your phone's data this way will use your phone's data plan, and streaming video will use data quickly. This works best for occasional use or when your main internet is temporarily down.