How To Fix A Galaxy Note 2 WiFi Auto Connect Problem

If you’ve been an owner of the Galaxy Note 2 for quite a while now, you must have experienced your device automatically turned the WiFi on; it is a very common issue. But what made it so common is that it is not a carrier-specific problem. We have received a lot of emails from our readers asking us to research on this matter.

This post will provide recommendations on how to fix this auto connect problem with Galaxy Note 2. While we are optimistic the following procedures will remedy the issue, we cannot really guarantee an ultimate fix to the problem. In other words, these procedures may or may not work. However, we are open to your questions. So feel free to email us at [email protected].

Here are some questions that may help you evaluate what caused the problem:

  1. 1.        Have you recently updated the operating system of your device?
  2. 2.        Have you installed apps that may trigger or turn the WiFi on?
  3. 3.       Does the problem occur when you’re in range of a trusted or saved network?
  4. 4.        Have you experienced this problem before? If so, what did you do to remedy it? 

The following are our recommendations that we believe would solve the problem. However, before doing any of those, we wanted you to turn your device’s WiFi off and reboot your device. Try to see if the problem still occurs after that. If so, then continue reading the troubleshooting procedures we prepared for you.

WiFi Auto Connects After OS Update

Majority of users who reported to have experienced the problem said it occurred shortly after they updated their device to the most recent version of Android Jelly Bean. It was not a bug. Otherwise, Samsung would have acknowledged it. Some XDA Developers said it can easily be fixed by clearing the dalvik cache (rooted) or by doing a factory reset.

Owners who manually installed a new firmware version into their device are advised to clear the dalvik cache right after the installation. The process will clear all cached app data that were saved in the previous installation. Once cleared, the phone will automatically recreate fresh copies of those files upon reboot and inconsistencies will be eliminated including inconsistencies on both WiFi and mobile data.

For owners who are using stock ROMs (original firmware), they are advised to do a factory reset. However, they need to BACKUP ALL IMPORTANT data in their phone before doing so. Here’s how to do a hard reset on the Galaxy Note 2:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Choose Privacy.
  3. Tap Factory Data Reset.

Alternatively, you can dial *2767*3855# on your phone to do the same job.

WiFi Auto Connects After Installing An App

There were also reports from owners that indicated the problem could also be caused by an app that required constant internet connection. It could be a game, a news app or an entertainment app that needs to update its local database so as to provide more accurate information. If you haven’t updated your OS and this problem occurred, it is more likely an app is causing it. Here’s what you’re going to do:

  1. Go to the most recently used apps by long-pressing the Home button.
  2. Find an app that looks suspicious. (More often you know/remember apps you’ve installed or use frequently.)
  3. Try to ‘freeze’ or disable the app that looks suspicious and see if the phone auto-connects with the WiFi network. If so, try to find a setting inside the app that may not allow it to connect automatically.
  4. If you can’t find the culprit in the most recent list, then try to recall the ones you recently installed.

Remember, this procedure is just a part of determining what causes the auto-connect behavior of your Galaxy Note 2. If you can’t find the culprit in the apps you installed, continue with other procedures.

WiFi Auto Connects When In Range Of Saved Network

Other owners reported that the problem could be replicated only when they have saved networks in their phone. If this is the case in yours, try to ‘forget’ all saved networks in your phone especially the ones that were saved for a long time already. If your GN2 came from Verizon, go to WiFi menu and hit the Menu capacitive button. Choose Advanced and uncheck the Auto Connect option. This procedure also goes for GN2 units under AT&T network.

Sprint has an app called Connections Optimizer that will automatically establish connections for the device. You can disable this so you could solve the auto-connect problem.

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. More Settings.
  3. Mobile Networks.
  4. Choose Connections Optimizer.

Disabling the app will solve this problem but will NEVER affect 3G/4G reception or connection.

Bottom Line

It is important you should look back to know if you’ve already experienced the problem before. If you did, the troubleshooting steps you may have done before may also work to resolve the same problem you are currently experiencing. After all, nobody knows your phone better than you. Again, the best way to reach us is through email at [email protected].

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