Why does my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 won't connect to Wi-Fi and how to fix it? [Troubleshooting Guide]

Network problems can occur to any device at any time. That is why random network connectivity issues like intermittent Wi-Fi Internet, slow browsing, and no Internet connection are expected to transpire. In fact, you are probably reading this content since you’re already having the same trouble with wireless internet on your device and that you are searching for some fixes. If that is so and the device you have is a Galaxy Note 8, then this post might be able to address your needs.

Keep reading to find out what could have possibly prevented your Samsung Galaxy Note 8 from getting Wi-Fi Internet access and what options you have to resolve the underlying cause.

If you’re one of the owners of this phone and are currently bugged by a similar problem, continue reading as this post may help you. However, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, then I suggest you visit our Note 8 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed a lot of problems with this phone. But if you need further assistance, feel free to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to send the information. Rest assured that we will look into your concern.

Possible causes of Wi-Fi problems on your Galaxy Note 8

There are many factors that you need to consider as possible culprits when it comes to wireless connectivity issues with your smartphone. In most cases, the problem is not on the end-users but rather on the network service provider’s end. Wireless Internet services might be halted by a service outage due to regular system maintenance conducted by your service provider or it could also be due to some unexpected technical problems that may need to be fixed on their end. Other possible reasons as to why you are unable to connect to Wi-Fi internet on your phone are incorrect network settings on the device, software bugs, and worst, hardware damage.

You may consider incorrect settings as the probable cause if the problem started right after making some changes to your phone’s network settings. In this case, you can just revert the settings back to its previous configuration before the onset of the problem or reset the network settings instead. Meanwhile, for network problems that are triggered by a software glitch or system bugs, restarting the device might be able to offer some remedy but for tough bugs and glitches, a deeper system restore may be necessary.

There are also other cases where the problem is isolated to a certain website like when you are able to access other sites but not with a particular website. It’s possible that website you are trying to access is temporarily unavailable or no longer existing.

The worst among the possibilities is a hardware damage on the phone. This can be considered as the main reason especially if there were previous instances of dropping or liquid exposure on the device. The Wi-Fi antenna might have incurred some damage from any of these incidents and is now showing the symptoms. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi problems tied to hardware damage would already require service as remedy.

If you suspect that the problem is associated with physical or liquid damage to any of the network components on the phone, then you can save time and effort by skipping this walkthrough and take your device to an authorized service center instead. However if you still would want to take your chances then feel free to continue and troubleshoot the problem with any of the applicable methods highlighted below.

How to fix Wi-Fi connectivity issues on your Galaxy Note 8?

The following procedures are regarded as generic solutions to wireless connectivity issues in smartphones. As the name implies, these methods can be used to troubleshoot general issues concerning Wi-Fi on a particular device which the Galaxy Note 8. Be sure to test your Internet connection after performing each method to determine if the problem has been resolved and that you are already able to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. If necessary, proceed to the next applicable solutions.

Power cycle your wireless router or modem

It is good to start working on the very source of your internet connection at home. And that is your wireless router or modem. Just like computers, network equipment like the router and modem can also experience random glitches as the firmware gets corrupted. And usually, this can be fixed by restarting the device. The process is also known as power cycle. It’s often the very first recommended procedure by Internet support people when dealing with network-related concerns. And this simple method has been proven effective in rectifying minor system issues by far. Here’s how it’s done:

Turn off your modem or wireless router by pressing the Power button until it powers off.
While it’s powered off, unplug it from the power source.
After 1 minute or 2, plug it back in then press the Power button to turn on.

Wait until all the light indicators on your modem or router become stable. If you see any red light, then that denotes a problem that needs to be address. Contact your Internet service provider or router/modem manufacturer to escalate the problem and seek further assistance.

If everything is okay with the modem or wireless router, you should be able to connect to the Internet flawlessly unless you’ve configured your device improperly.

After rebooting the router/modem, try to connect to the internet on your phone or other network devices available. If other devices are able to connect but not your Galaxy Note 8, then that denotes that the problem is isolated to your phone. This is where you need to troubleshoot your device software.

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Reboot your Galaxy Note 8 (soft reset)

As mentioned earlier, temporary glitches on the device software can also halt your network connection. To rule this out from the possible culprits, restarting the device can help. If you haven’t already, then do so by restarting your phone the usual way. For starters, here’s how:

Press and hold the Power button on the right corner until the Power off prompt shows up.
Release the Power button when you see the prompt.

If the phone is unresponsive, try a force reboot on your Galaxy Note 8 instead.

To do so, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously until the device powers off.
Wait for about 30 seconds for the Maintenance Boot Mode screen to show up.
From the Maintenance Boot Mode screen, select Normal Boot.

Your device will then power cycle. Once it finishes the reboot, toggle Wi-Fi off and then back on. Then try to browse a website with your mobile app browser to see if you can now connect.

Forget and re-add your wireless network

This trick has long been used to fix random problems with a wireless network. If the problem is isolated to a wireless network, then forgetting the network might help. Here’s how to forget wireless network on your Galaxy Note 8:

Navigate to the Home screen.
Swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
Tap Settings.
Tap Connections.
Tap Wi-Fi.
If necessary, tap the Wi-Fi switch to turn Wi-Fi On.
Tap and hold on the Wi-Fi network that you want to forget or delete.
Tap Forget network.
Restart your device then navigate to Settings-> Connections-> Wi-Fi. You will then see a list of networks showing up.
Tap More to add your Wi-Fi network if necessary.
Tap to select your Wi-Fi network.
Enter your password if prompted.
Tap Connect.

Try to browse a website and see if you can now connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Reset network settings on your Galaxy Note 8

If the problem persists, then you can try resetting the network settings instead. This will eliminate any possible incorrect settings and options applied, which might have caused conflict. But before you proceed, take note of your network passwords as they will likewise be erased in the process. Once you’re all set, follow these step to reset network settings on your Galaxy Note 8:

From a Home screen, swipe up or down from the center of the display to access the Apps menu.
Tap Settings.
Tap Backup and reset.
Review the information, and then tap Reset Settings.
If prompted, enter your device passcode or pattern.
Review the information, and then tap Reset Settings to confirm.

Your device then reboots when the reset is finished. If not, then restart it manually instead. Check to see if your device can now connect to Wi-Fi after the reset.

Factory reset or master reset

This should only be considered as your last option if the problem persists after performing all prior methods. A factory reset will wipe everything (including any system bugs causing conflict to Wi-Fi) from your phone including your critical data stored in the internal storage. That being said, creating a backup of your device is necessary before you proceed with these steps:

From the Home screen, swipe up or down from the center of the display to access the Apps menu.
Tap Settings.
Tap Backup and Reset.
Scroll to and tap Reset.
Select the option to Factory data reset from the reset section.
If prompted, enter your device passcode or pattern.
Read and review the information, and then tap Reset.
Tap Delete All to confirm.

It may take several minutes for the reset to complete. Afterwards, your device will be restored to its factory defaults. This means the need for you to set it up as new.

Seek further assistance

You may opt to escalate the problem to Samsung Support or your device carrier, especially if the problem started after installing a new Android software update. It can be considered and tagged among other post-update issues that require a fix patch in the next software update. Also care to check your account status and make sure that your account is in good standing. Other connectivity issues are also tied to account issues that need to be settled between you and your service provider. Otherwise, visit the nearest Samsung service center in your place and have an authorized technician diagnose your device hardware.

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Why does my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 won’t connect to Wi-Fi and how to fix it? [Troubleshooting Guide]