You've bought a TCL TV and you want to take advantage of its smart features, like accessing your favorite apps, streaming videos, or browsing the web. But your TCL TV isn't connecting to Wi-Fi, and you don't know what to do. Don't panic, there are simple and effective solutions to this problem. In this article, we'll explain the possible causes of this malfunction and give you eight solutions to reconnect your TCL TV to Wi-Fi.
Check that your TCL TV is compatible with Wi-Fi
Before attempting to resolve your TCL TV's Wi-Fi connection issue, first ensure your model is Wi-Fi compatible. Not all TCL TVs have built-in Wi-Fi. To check, consult your TCL TV's user manual or visit the official TCL website. If your TCL TV is not Wi-Fi compatible, you can use a USB Wi-Fi adapter or an Ethernet cable to connect it to the internet.
Activate Wi-Fi on your TCL TV
If your TCL TV is Wi-Fi compatible, the first thing to do is activate Wi-Fi on your television. To do this, you can follow these steps:
- Press ▲/◄/► to move the cursor to (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen and press OK to enter the system settings.
- Select the network setting and activate the Wired Network button. The smart TV will automatically acquire the internet connection.
- Next, go to the settings (small gear icon in the top right corner of the Android TV menu) and access the "network" option by clicking on it.
- Activate the TV's Wi-Fi, select your home network and enter the password.
Another method is to access the system menu by quickly pressing the Info, Menu, Mute, and Power buttons in this sequence. After this sequential combination, the system enters service menu mode. Select Option and press Enter.
Restart your TCL TV and your router
If your TCL TV isn't connecting to Wi-Fi despite Wi-Fi being enabled on your TV, there might be a temporary issue with the smart features or your router. In this case, you can try restarting your TCL TV and your router to restore the connection. Here's how:
- Turn off your TCL TV and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
- Also turn off your router and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
- Wait a few minutes, then plug your router back in and wait for it to fully power on.
- Then reconnect your TCL TV and turn it back on.
- Try connecting to the Wi-Fi again.
Change the time and date settings
Another possible cause of your TCL TV's Wi-Fi connection problem is that the TV's built-in internet clock is out of sync with your network. This can lead to connection errors or error codes appearing on your screen. To avoid this, you need to change the time and date settings on your TCL TV. Here's how:
- Access system settings by pressing ▲/◄/► and selecting (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the Date and Time option and press OK.
- Select the "Set date and time automatically" option and disable it.
- Manually set the date and time according to your time zone.
- Confirm the changes and try connecting to the Wi-Fi again.
Furthermore, you can also resolve the Wi-Fi connection problem on a Samsung TV by following these steps:
- Press the Menu button on the remote control and select Network.
- Select Reset network settings and confirm with OK.
- Wait for the Samsung TV to restart and search for available Wi-Fi networks.
- Select the Wi-Fi network you wish to connect to and enter the password if required.
- Check that the Wifi connection is established and that you can access the Internet.
Change the DNS
The Domain Name System (DNS) is a system that translates domain names into IP addresses, and vice versa. This facilitates communication between devices connected to the internet. Sometimes, the DNS you're using may be slow or blocked, preventing your TCL TV from connecting to Wi-Fi. To resolve this issue, you can try changing the DNS settings on your TCL TV. Here's how:
- Access system settings by pressing ▲/◄/► and selecting (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the network setting and press OK.
- Select the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to and press OK.
- Select the "Change network settings" option and press OK.
- Select the Show advanced options option and press OK.
- Select the IP Settings option and choose Static.
- Select DNS option 1 and enter 8.8.8.8 (Google's DNS).
- Select DNS option 2 and enter 8.8.4.4 (Google's DNS).
- Confirm the changes and try connecting to the Wi-Fi again.
Use an Ethernet cable
If your TCL TV still won't connect to Wi-Fi despite trying all the previous solutions, the Wi-Fi signal may be too weak or experiencing interference. In this case, you can opt for a wired connection using an Ethernet cable. This will give you a more stable and faster connection. Here's how:
- Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to your router and the other end to your TCL TV.
- Access system settings by pressing ▲/◄/► and selecting (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the network setting and activate the Wired Network button. The smart TV will automatically acquire the internet connection.
Update the firmware of your TCL TV
Updating your TCL TV's firmware is important to fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, improve TV performance, and enhance compatibility with other devices. If your TCL TV isn't connecting to Wi-Fi, the firmware may be outdated or corrupted. To resolve this issue, you need to update your TCL TV's firmware. Here's how:
- Access system settings by pressing ▲/◄/► and selecting (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the About TV option and press OK.
- Select the System Update option and press OK.
- Select the "Check for updates now" option and press OK.
- If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.
Reset your TCL TV to factory settings
If none of the previous solutions work, your TCL TV may have a more serious problem that requires a factory reset. This will erase all data and personalized settings from your TV, including the Wi-Fi connection. You will therefore need to set everything up again after the reset. Here's how:
- Access system settings by pressing ▲/◄/► and selecting (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the Storage and Reset option and press OK.
- Select the Reset TV option and press OK.
- Confirm your choice by pressing OK.
- Wait for the reset to complete and for your TCL TV to restart.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your TCL TV and connect to Wi-Fi.
