Have you tried to connect to a wireless network, but you keep getting the message: “ An authentication error has occurred ” on your Android device?
Good to know : This is indeed an error that often blocks the wireless connection and prevents you from having access to the Internet.
Fortunately, there are a range of solutions to overcome this problem. In this article, we present the causes of WIFI authentication error and some useful solutions!
What causes WIFI authentication error?
There are several reasons why the WIFI authentication error message may appear on an Android device.
Your password is incorrect
You may have made a small typing error when entering your password. You can resolve the issue by typing the correct password in the appropriate password section.
Your phone's network settings are dysfunctional
The WIFI authentication problem appears when the network settings of your Android device are not working properly, making it difficult to connect between WIFI and the device. To fix this problem, you can simply reset your WIFI settings.
Your IP address is incorrect
Very often the DHCP IP settings do not make it easy to configure the WIFI IP address. If you want to fix this problem, just use a static IP address for WIFI network settings.
Other causes
There may also be other causes:
- Malware attack
- Very weak WIFI signal quality
- Total WIFI router malfunction
- Recent update of your Android device
- Limit of people who can connect to the network reached
Now that you know more about the causes of WIFI authentication issue on your Android device, check out some fixes below to fix this error permanently!
What to do to solve WIFI authentication problem?
Before continuing, watch this short video which explains what to do if you notice that your Android device cannot connect to WIFI :
Do you prefer to read and try the solutions as you go? Here are three solutions to try if you get the message: “ An authentication error has occurred ”!
Solution 1: Restart your router
The easiest way to fix WIFI authentication problem is to simply restart your router. To do this, proceed as follows:
1. Unplug the power supply wire from your router and wait for approximately 30 seconds
2. Then turn the modem back on by reconnecting the power supply wire
Good to know : Do you use a Pocket WIFI instead? Very simple: just press and hold the Power button until the Pocket turns off. Then repeat the process to turn it back on.
We also advise you to restart your Android device and try to log in again. If you are still getting WIFI authentication problem, move on to the next solution!
Solution 2: Make sure you enter a correct password
The problem may occur because the password you entered is incorrect. So check that the password is correct. To do this :
1. Go to your Android device settings and click on the “ WIFI ”
2. Select the network name that displays the message “ An authentication error has occurred ” and then click the “Forget it” option
Good to know: For certain Android devices ( Smartphone or tablet ), you will need to long press on the network name to bring up the “Forget it” option
3. Then tap on the WIFI name, retype your password and check that the “ Show password ” icon is checked. This will help you see your password as you type to avoid typos.
Also read: Google Authenticator lost? How to recover it on mobile?
Solution 3: Use a static IP address on your mobile device
An IP conflict may also be causing the WIFI authentication issue. For this, we advise you to use a static IP address instead of DHCP .
The latter is in fact a protocol whose role is to automatically assign IP addresses to the different devices connected to the router.
Very often, this DHCP protocol causes IP address conflicts. The solution would therefore be to change “ DHCP ” to “ Static ” to see if the authentication error will be resolved. For that :
1. Enter the settings of your Android device and select a network connection
2. Long press on the WIFI name you selected and then click on the “ Manage network settings ”
Show advanced options box to display the IP settings
4. Click on static to configure the IP address of your Android mobile as fixed IP
5. A new window showing the IP address field will then appear. Write down, save and then delete the information
6. Wait a few seconds, then enter the same information in the corresponding fields.
7. Finally press “ Save ”
We suggest you view this short video that explains how to use a static IP address on Android:
If the WIFI authentication problem persists
The methods presented in this article should normally fix the WIFI authentication problem on your Android device ! If the error persists, it is most likely that it is much more hardware related. And in such a case, you will have to change your router and get a new one. Here are the best models on the market:
