How to fix a Google Pixel 3 XL wifi internet issues [troubleshooting guide]

While not everyone experiences it, having a wifi problem can be real headache. In today’s troubleshooting guide for the Google Pixel 3 XL, we bring you the steps that you can do when experiencing any wifi issue.

How to troubleshooting your Google Pixel 3 XL that has wifi connection problems

Wifi problems can come in many forms. This guide is intended to serve as a general guide to how to fix the common types of wifi issues such as Wi-Fi authentication problems, wifi stopped working or if your device is having difficulty staying connected.

Verify wifi is on

This seems to be a no-brainer but a lot of users who think they have a wifi problem may sometimes belatedly realize that they simply forgot to switch the wifi switch back on. Before doing further troubleshooting, be sure to double check this part right here is taken care of.

If you’re not very familiar with Pixel 3 XL, or if it’s your first time switching wifi on, follow these steps:

1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Tap Wi-Fi.
4. Turn on Wi-Fi.
5. Tap a listed network. If it needs a password, you’ll see the Lock Lock. After you connect:
   • ““Connected” shows under the network name.
   • The network is “Saved.” When your device is near and Wi-Fi is on, your device automatically connects.

Refresh the system

Restarting a device can sometimes do big when it comes to troubleshooting. If a normal restart has already been done, try to restart your Pixel 3 XL by simulating a battery pull. This will clear both the system and its memory (RAM), which at times can cause unexplained bugs. Simply press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds. Afterwards, wait for your phone to complete the reboot sequence and see what happens.

Check Airplane Mode

If wifi was working normally before it stopped altogether, another possible simple reason may be Airplane Mode. While it’s possible to connect to wifi while on Airplane Mode, this setting is not enabled by default. Switching to Airplane Mode must have blocked wifi and you simply forget about it. Or, you may have unintentionally enabled Airplane Mode. To find that out:

1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Turn Airplane mode on or off.

Verify if device can connect to another wifi network

There’s a possibility that there’s a bug in your Pixel 3 XL causing its wifi functionality to not work properly. This means that the problem is with the phone and not with your wifi network. To figure that out, try to see if your device can work with another wifi network. Try to go to a friend’s place or visit a cafe or shop to check.

If your Pixel 3 XL can connect to the internet using another wifi, that means that the problem must be with your own wifi, or that your Pixel device has a bug that prevents it from working properly with that network.

Check if other devices can connect to wifi network

The easiest way to find out if there’s a problem with your own wifi network is to connect other wireless devices to it. If another wireless device is unable to connect to your wifi and shows similar symptoms like in your Pixel 3 XL, there must be an issue with the router or its settings. If you are not familiar how to troubleshoot the router, contact its manufacturer or your Internet Service Provider (ISP). They should be able to identify where the problem lies and how to fix it. If you have someone managing your own wifi, tell that person that your phone is unable to connect so he or she can help you troubleshoot.

On the other hand, if a second wireless device works seamlessly with your own wifi network, then you should focus on troubleshooting your Pixel 3 XL further.

Connected to wifi but no internet?

There are some instances when a phone may be able to connect to a wifi but internet is non-existent. Such a situation can be due to either a phone issue or a router issue. It’s possible that the cause is with the phone, or on the router or ISP-side. In this situation, we highly recommend that you talk to your ISP first to ensure that the router is fully functional to allow internet connection. If they figure out that there’s no problem on their side or with the router, you can then continue to troubleshoot your Pixel device.

Delete problematic wifi network

If your Pixel device has simply encountered a bug with a particular wifi network, deleting the said network can be an easy fix. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Tap Wi-Fi.
4. If needed, turn on Wi-Fi.
5. At the bottom, tap Saved networks.
6. In the list, tap the saved network that you want to delete.
7. Tap Forget.

Now that you’ve deleted the wifi network in question, the next thing that you want to do is to try to connect to it again with these steps:

Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.

1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Tap Wi-Fi.
4. At the end of the list, tap Add network.
5. If needed, enter the network name (SSID) and other security details.
6. Tap Save. If needed, enter a password.

Check if wifi works on Safe Mode

Some apps may interfere with Android and cause problems. To check if a downloaded app is the culprit, you want to restart the phone to safe mode. On safe mode, third party applications will be disabled so if your device’s battery improves significantly after allowing the device to run for some time, you may be able to narrow down the possible causes afterwards.

In order to boot your Pixel 3 XL to safe mode:

1. Press and hold your device’s power button.
2. On your screen, touch and hold Power off. If needed, tap OK.
3. Your device starts in safe mode. You’ll see “Safe mode” at the bottom of your screen.
4. Let your Pixel 3 XL run in this mode for at least 48 hours so you’ll notice any difference.
5. To exit safe mode, simply restart the device.

Remember, booting to safe mode won’t automatically tell you which of your apps is troublesome. You’ll need to observe the phone and check for improvements in order to identify if a third party app is causing the problem. To identify which of your apps is causing the trouble, you should boot the phone back to safe mode and follow these steps:

1. Boot to safe mode.
2. Check for the problem.
3. Once you’ve confirmed that a third party app is to blame, you can start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
4. After you uninstall an app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
5. If your Pixel 3 XL is still problematic, repeat steps 1-4.

Pixel 3 XL Reset Network Settings

Another troubleshooting step that you can try in this case is to clear your Pixel’s network settings to delete possible incorrect configurations or bugs. Resetting network settings will delete all previously connected wifi networks, wifi passwords, VPN settings, and cellular settings. To do it:

1. Open your device’s Settings app Settings app.
2. Tap System.
3. Tap Advanced.
4. Tap Reset options.
5. Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
6. ​If you don’t see “Advanced,” tap Network & internet > More t> Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
7. At the bottom, tap Reset settings.

Wipe the phone thru factory reset

If all the above troubleshooting for the device won’t help, consider doing a factory reset. This will help you tell if the problem is software-related or if it’s something that’s beyond your control. To factory reset your device:

1. Create a backup of your personal data.
2. Make sure to know the username and password for Google account in the phone.
3. Open Settings app.
4. Tap System.
5. Tap Advanced.
6. Tap Reset options.
7. Tap Erase all data (factory reset) and then Reset phone. If needed, enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
8. To erase all data from your phone’s internal storage, tap Erase everything.
9. When your phone has finished erasing, pick the option to restart.
10. Set up your phone and restore your backed-up data.

Get professional support

Factory reset usually fixes 90% of all wifi issues but should nothing change after doing it on your device, you should consider getting it repaired or replaced. Contact Google or your carrier (if the phone is part of contract) to have it repaired or replaced.

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