How to Connect a Smart TV to Wi-Fi: Step-by-Step Guide
A smart TV can only show Netflix, ABC iview and the rest once it’s connected to your home internet. The good news is that you set this up just once. After that, your TV remembers the connection and joins it on its own every time you turn it on.
The one thing you’ll need to hand is your Wi-Fi password. Here’s how to do the whole thing, step by step, with no rush. If you are choosing a new television too, our guide to the best smart TVs for seniors is a good place to start.
Quick answer
On your TV remote, open Settings, find Network or Wi-Fi, choose your home network from the list, and type in your Wi-Fi password. The TV connects and remembers it. You only need to do this once. Your Wi-Fi name and password are usually printed on a sticker on the underside of your router.
Before you start
Find your Wi-Fi name and password. These are usually on a sticker on the bottom or back of your router, the box your internet company supplied. The name might be called the network name or SSID, and the password the network key. If someone set up your internet and changed these, use whatever they wrote down. If the word Wi-Fi itself is unclear, our guide to what Wi-Fi is explains it simply.
Step by step
1. Open the TV’s settings
Turn on the TV and pick up its remote. Look for a button marked with a cog or gear symbol, or labelled Settings or Menu, and press it. A menu appears on the screen. This is where all the TV’s options live.
2. Find Network or Wi-Fi
In the settings menu, look for Network, Wi-Fi, or Connection. Use the arrow buttons on the remote to move up and down, and the middle button to choose. Different brands word it slightly differently, but it’s always under settings somewhere.
3. Choose your home network
The TV shows a list of nearby networks. Find yours by its name, the one from the router sticker, and select it. You may see your neighbours’ networks in the list too, so take care to pick your own.
4. Type in your password
An on-screen keyboard appears. Use the remote’s arrows to move to each letter and the middle button to select it. The password is usually a mix of capitals, small letters and numbers, so enter it exactly as written. Take your time. There’s no penalty for going slowly.
5. Connect and test
Choose Connect or Done. After a moment the TV says it’s connected. To check, open an app like ABC iview or YouTube and see if it loads. If it does, you’re set, and the TV will join your Wi-Fi by itself from now on.
If it won’t connect
- Check the password for a capital where you typed a small letter, or a zero where you typed the letter O.
- Make sure you picked your own network, not a neighbour’s.
- If the TV is far from the router, the signal may be weak. Moving closer, or a Wi-Fi booster, can help.
- Turn the TV and the router off, wait a minute, and turn them on again. This clears most small glitches.
Once you’re connected, you’re ready to watch. Our guide on how to watch Netflix or YouTube on a smart TV covers the next step. If your TV isn’t a smart one, a small streaming device adds the same apps.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: connecting a smart TV to Wi-Fi
Where do I find my Wi-Fi password?
It’s usually printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of your router. Look for network key or password. If someone changed it, use what they wrote down.
Do I have to do this every time?
No. You connect once and the TV remembers it, joining your Wi-Fi automatically each time you turn it on.
The password isn’t working. What now?
Check carefully for capitals, and for a zero versus the letter O. Passwords are exact. Re-enter it slowly, letter by letter.
Can I use a cable instead of Wi-Fi?
Yes. If your TV is near the router, an ethernet cable between them gives a very steady connection and skips the password step.
My TV is too far from the router and keeps dropping out.
A weak signal causes this. Moving the router, or adding a Wi-Fi booster, usually fixes it. Your internet provider can advise.
