Connecting tv to network with wifi

How to Connect a Smart TV to Wi-Fi

Robert Silva has extensive experience in consumer electronics and home theater product sales and sales supervision; he has written about audio, video, and home theater topics since 1998. Robert has articles published on HBO.com and Dishinfo.com plus has made appearances on the YouTube series Home Theater Geeks.

What to Know

• Go to the TV’s welcome screen, search for available wireless networks, select your network, and enter the password.
• To change the network, go to Setup >Network >Open Network Settings > Wireless > choose your network, and enter the password.

This article explains how to connect a smart TV to a home network and the internet using Wi-Fi and troubleshoot issues making a connection.

The on-screen menu appearance and navigation for Wi-Fi setup may vary depending on the smart TV brand and model but include the same core steps. Some TV brands refer to Wi-Fi directly or use the terms Wireless, Wireless Network, Wireless or Wi-Fi Home Network, or Wi-Fi Network. The examples in this article use the term Wireless.

Connect to Wi-Fi During First-Time TV Setup

Here’s how to connect your smart TV to the internet using your Wi-Fi network:

To connect to Wi-Fi, you need a wireless router and your network name. For example, ATTxxx, TWCxxx, Coxaaa, or something you came up with.

Turn on your smart TV. You’ll see a Welcome or Setup screen.

The TV prompts you to start the TV setup.

As you continue the TV setup, it may automatically search for available networks or prompt you to choose between a wired or wireless (Wi-Fi) network before it searches. For Wi-Fi, choose Wireless.

Once the network search is completed, you may see several networks listed. Select your network from the list.

Enter the network password (key).

Once your password is confirmed, a message displays that the TV is connected via Wi-Fi to your network and the internet.

Change or Add Wi-Fi After the Fact

If you want to switch from a wired connection to Wi-Fi, installed a new wireless router, or changed your internet service provider (ISP), you can re-establish a Wi-Fi connection.

1. From the TV’s home screen, select the Setup or Settings icon.

In the Settings menu, select Network.

Choose Open Network Settings (it may be labeled Network Settings).

If the Network Settings menu has a selection labeled Network Status, select it at any time to see if the current internet connection to the TV is active.

What to Do if Your TV Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi

If you can’t connect your TV to Wi-Fi, or the connection is unstable, try one, or more, of the following steps.

1. Move the wireless router and TV closer together, or get a Wi-Fi extender for the router and connect again using the above steps.

Depending on the TV brand and model, the Ethernet connection may be labeled Ethernet/LAN or LAN (Local Area Network). The Ethernet cable may be referred to as a network cable.

In the TV’s network settings menu, select Wired. You may be prompted to connect the Ethernet cable.

Wait for a confirmation that the connection was successful. Upon confirmation, follow any additional prompts (such as for a software or firmware update).

Two additional ways to connect the TV with Ethernet or Wi-Fi are the PBC and PIN setting methods. Check the owner’s manual for specific details for your TV.

If none of the above options work, contact your internet service provider (ISP) for assistance in entering the router’s IP address and DNS server information manually.

Not All Smart TVs Have Wi-Fi

Older model smart TVs may not have a Wi-Fi option. If your smart TV doesn’t have Wi-Fi but has an Ethernet or USB port, you may be able to access Wi-Fi with an Ethernet or USB Wi-Fi Adapter.

Consult the user guide or contact customer support to determine if you can use this option and which Wi-Fi adapters may be compatible.

Network and Internet Connection Benefits

When a smart TV is connected to the internet and a home network, you have access to one or more of the following:

• Firmware and software updates: Keep your TV updated with the latest fixes and features.
• Streaming services: Get access to video and music streaming services, such as Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, and more, depending on the brand and model.
• Local network content access: Play videos, still images, and music from PCs or media servers on your network.
• Remote management and support: The tech support staff for your TV may be able to take control of your TV (with your permission) to fix setting issues, depending on the brand and model.
• Control of smart home devices: Some smart TVs can be used with Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartThings that allow it to control, or be controlled by, other devices.

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How to connect your TV to your Wi-Fi network

To connect an older TV to the internet, you can use a dedicated streaming device, HDMI cable, Blu-ray player or gaming console.

We’re firmly in the age of streaming, but not all of our TVs have gotten the news. If you have a TV that doesn’t have the ability to connect to the internet, don’t despair just yet: There are several easy (and affordable) options for turning your older TV smart — and they don’t require an IT degree to set up. Here are some of our favorite options.

3 ways to connect your TV to Wi-Fi

1. Purchase a streaming device

Using a streaming device is by far the most user-friendly way to connect your TV to your home Wi-Fi. In most cases, they plug into your TV’s HDMI port and power outlet to bring every streaming app out there right to your screen. (There are a few exceptions here and there, but they’re rare.)

Streaming devices generally cost around $30 without 4K compatibility, and $50 with it. If you think you might be upgrading to a 4K TV soon, it might be worth going with a 4K streaming device. While your new 4K TV would be able to connect to the internet directly, streaming devices almost always provide a better user experience, and they generally give you access to more apps than smart TVs.

We walk through the pros and cons of each streaming device in detail, but here are the basic stats on the most popular brands out there:

Google Chromecast	Apple TV	Roku	Amazon Fire TV Stick
Starting price	$35	$149	$30	$25
Pros	✔ Lets you mirror your phone, tablet or laptop on the TV

✘ Have to download streaming apps to your device

Keep in mind, no matter which streaming device you go with, you’ll still have to subscribe to apps like Netflix and Hulu separately.

2. Use an HDMI cable

If you only plan on using your TV for streaming every once in a while, you can probably get by just fine with an HDMI cable. As it mirrors everything on your laptop, tablet or phone, you can use this method for things like sharing vacation photos or home videos as well.

Almost every laptop has an HDMI port built into it, so all you’ll need in this case is the cable itself. If you don’t already have one lying around the house, they generally cost around $10 new.

Connecting a smartphone or tablet usually requires an extra step. For Apple products, you’ll need a Lightning Digital AV Adapter, while most newer Android phones and tablets have a Type C connection (also known as USB-C) or Type D (Micro HDMI). Depending on which type your Android device uses, you may have to purchase an adapter.

3. Blu-ray player or gaming console

If you’ve purchased a Blu-ray player or video game console in the past decade, you likely already have everything you need to connect your TV to Wi-Fi. Consoles as far back as PlayStation 3 (2006-2013) and Xbox 360 (2001-2013) come equipped with the ability to connect to the internet. Granted, you won’t have access to as many apps as a dedicated streaming device does, but you’ll have no problem downloading popular services like Netflix and Hulu.

Blu-ray players are slightly more hit-or-miss. If you have an older model, it might not have the ability to connect to the internet. But most models released in the past five years or so all tout their streaming ability as a key selling point. If you’d rather invest in a new Blu-ray player over a streaming device, most models with Wi-Fi start around $70.

Tips for getting the most out of your internet connection

Connecting your TV to the internet is only step one to a smooth streaming experience. We also recommend taking the following steps to ensure the dreaded buffering wheel never derails movie night.

Use an Ethernet cord if possible

While wireless connections have improved a ton in recent years, Ethernet cords still provide a more reliable connection in most homes. But because they plug into your wireless router, your TV will have to be relatively close to your router to use a wired connection. Of the four main streaming devices, only Apple TV has an Ethernet port on all of its models. For Amazon Fire TV Sticks and Google Chromecasts, you’ll have to purchase an adapter separately, while Roku only includes one on its most expensive model. You can learn more about choosing the right Ethernet cord in our guide.

Make sure you’re getting enough download speeds

Most streaming services recommend around 5 Mbps of download speeds for smooth, buffer-free streaming in HD — an easily reachable target for most homes. That said, the more devices are using your connection at once, the higher speeds you’ll need. If you’re not sure what speeds you’re currently getting, you can use our speed test below to find out.

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