Fix Android Wi-Fi Not Connecting or Dropping (2026)

Android Wi-Fi problems come in several flavours: the phone won't join the network at all, it connects but shows "Connected, no internet", or it keeps dropping the connection randomly. Most causes are software-based — from corrupted saved profiles to DNS failures — and can be resolved without touching the router.

Quick fix (TL;DR)

• Forget the network and reconnect: Settings → Wi-Fi → long-press the network → Forget
• Restart the phone and the router
• Change DNS to 1.1.1.1: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the network → Advanced → DNS
• Toggle airplane mode on and off to reset the radio stack
• Reset network settings: Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings

Causes

• Corrupted saved network profile: stale stored credentials or DHCP lease
• DNS server issue: router's DNS unreachable — phone shows "connected" but can't resolve domains
• IP address conflict: two devices on the network were assigned the same IP
• Captive portal not completed: hotel or public Wi-Fi requiring a browser login first
• Router or ISP outage: internet is down upstream, not your device
• VPN interference: active VPN routing all traffic through a broken tunnel
• Android battery optimisation: system killing the Wi-Fi process to save power

Step-by-step guide

Step 1 — Rule out the router

Test the internet from another device on the same network. If other devices also have no internet, the problem is the router or ISP — restart your router and contact your ISP if needed.

If only your Android is affected, continue below.

Step 2 — Toggle airplane mode

A quick way to reset the radio stack:

1. Pull down the notification bar
2. Tap Airplane Mode to enable it — wait 10 seconds
3. Tap it again to disable

This forces Android to reinitialise all wireless radios and often resolves transient connection failures.

Step 3 — Forget the network and reconnect

1. Go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi
2. Tap the network name or the gear/info icon next to it
3. Tap Forget
4. Reconnect by tapping the network name and entering the password

This clears any corrupted DHCP lease, stored IP, or stale authentication data.

Step 4 — Restart the phone and router

Restart your Android phone completely (hold the power button → Restart).

Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. This clears the DHCP table and resolves IP address conflicts.

Step 5 — Change DNS servers

If Android connects but has no internet, DNS is a common culprit.

1. Go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi
2. Tap the gear icon next to your connected network
3. Tap Advanced
4. Change IP settings from DHCP to Static
5. Set DNS 1 to 1.1.1.1 and DNS 2 to 1.0.0.1
6. Save and reconnect

Alternatively, use Private DNS: Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS → select "Private DNS provider hostname" → enter one.one.one.one.

Step 6 — Disable battery optimisation for Wi-Fi

Android can disconnect Wi-Fi when the screen is off to save battery.

1. Go to Settings → Apps → See all apps
2. Tap the three-dot menu → Show system apps
3. Find Wi-Fi or your network-related system app
4. Tap Battery → Battery optimization → Don't optimize

Also check: Settings → Battery → Battery Saver — if enabled, it restricts background network activity.

Step 7 — Check for IP address conflict

If the same IP is assigned to two devices, both will lose connectivity.

1. Go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → tap your network → Advanced
2. Change IP settings to Static
3. Set a unique IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.200 — choose a number unlikely to conflict)
4. Set Gateway to your router's IP (usually 192.168.1.1)

Step 8 — Reset network settings

If all the above fail, reset all network configurations:

1. Go to Settings → General management (Samsung) or Settings → System (stock Android)
2. Tap Reset → Reset network settings
3. Confirm and restart

This resets all Wi-Fi profiles, Bluetooth pairings, and mobile data settings. Your apps and personal data are not deleted.

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Restarting only the phone and not the router
• ❌ Forgetting the network but entering the wrong password on reconnect
• ❌ Leaving a VPN active while troubleshooting — it masks the real problem
• ❌ Skipping the IP conflict check when multiple devices share the network
• ❌ Dismissing a captive portal prompt on public Wi-Fi — you must open a browser and complete the login

Related guides

• If your connection is slow even when it works, read how to speed up your home Wi-Fi.
• If your Android battery drains quickly alongside the connectivity issue, see Android battery draining too fast.