Your Samsung TV is likely disconnecting because of interference, weak signal strength, or a setting that puts the TV to sleep and drops the connection

Samsung TVs disconnect from WiFi for a few specific reasons, and most of them you can fix yourself without calling support. The most common culprits are a weak signal from your router, interference from other devices on the same frequency, outdated firmware, or a power-saving mode that cuts the WiFi when the TV isn't actively in use. Less often, it's a problem with your router itself or a setting on the TV that needs adjustment.

The good news: you don't need to replace anything to solve this. Start by checking your router's distance from the TV and the strength of the signal it's receiving. Then move through the fixes below in order—most people find their answer in the first two or three steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Move your router closer to the TV or remove obstacles between them, since Samsung TVs often struggle with weak signals below 50% strength.
  • Check your TV's WiFi settings to see the actual signal strength and switch to the 5 GHz band if your router supports it and the TV is close enough.
  • Disable any power-saving or eco modes in your TV's settings, which can cut WiFi when the screen goes dark or the TV enters standby.
  • Restart both your router and TV by unplugging them for 30 seconds, which clears temporary connection errors that cause repeated disconnects.
  • Update your TV's firmware through the Settings menu, since Samsung releases patches that fix WiFi stability problems.

Check your router's signal strength and placement

Samsung TVs need a reasonably strong WiFi signal to stay connected. Open your TV's WiFi settings—go to Settings > Connection > WiFi > Open Network Settings—and look at the signal strength percentage. If it's below 50%, your router is too far away or there's too much between them.

Move your router closer to the TV, or move the TV closer to the router if that's practical. Walls, metal objects, and large appliances (especially microwaves) block the signal. If moving the router isn't possible, try placing it on a shelf or higher up in the room—routers broadcast better when they're elevated and have a clear line of sight to the TV.

If your router supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, try switching your TV to 5 GHz. The 5 GHz band is faster and less crowded, but it doesn't travel as far, so it only works if the TV is relatively close to the router. Go back to Settings > Connection > WiFi and look for your network listed twice—one for each band. Select the 5 GHz version (it often has "5G" in the name) and reconnect.

Disable power-saving and eco modes

Many Samsung TVs have a setting that cuts power to the WiFi chip when the TV enters standby or when the screen has been dark for a set time. This is meant to save electricity, but it causes the TV to drop its connection and then struggle to reconnect when you turn it back on.

Go to Settings > General > Power and Energy Saving. Look for options called Auto Power Off, Eco Sensor, or Energy Saving Mode. Disable any of these that are turned on. Also check Settings > General > Sleep Timer and make sure it's set to Off.

If your TV has a Network Standby or Network Standby Mode setting, turn that on instead—it keeps the WiFi active while the TV is in standby so it can receive commands from your phone or a smart home system.

Restart your router and TV

A restart clears temporary errors that build up in your router and TV's memory and often fixes repeated disconnections. Unplug your router from power and leave it unplugged for 30 seconds. While it's off, unplug your TV as well. Plug the router back in first and wait for all its lights to stabilize (usually 2 to 3 minutes), then plug the TV back in.

Once the TV boots up, go to Settings > Connection > WiFi and reconnect to your network. Use the full password—don't rely on a saved connection. Watch the TV for the next few hours to see if the disconnections stop. If they do, the problem was a temporary glitch. If they continue, move to the next step.

Update your TV's firmware

Samsung releases firmware updates that fix WiFi stability issues. Check whether your TV is running the latest version by going to Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now. The TV will check for updates and install them if any are available. This can take 10 to 15 minutes, and the TV will restart during the process.

If an update is available, install it and then test your WiFi connection again. If no update is available, your TV is already current, and you should move to the next step.

Check for interference from other devices

WiFi operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is also used by microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and some older Bluetooth devices. If any of these are running near your router or TV, they can cause interference and drop your connection.

Try moving your router away from these devices, or turn them off temporarily to see if the disconnections stop. If they do, you've found your culprit. In that case, either keep the interfering device farther away, switch to the 5 GHz band on your TV (if available), or consider upgrading to a newer router that handles interference better.

Forget and rejoin the network

Sometimes your TV's saved connection settings become corrupted and cause repeated disconnects. Go to Settings > Connection > WiFi > Open Network Settings, find your network in the list, and select it. Choose Forget. Then go back to the WiFi list, find your network again, and reconnect using your full password.

This forces your TV to create a fresh connection profile instead of relying on old settings that may be causing the problem. After reconnecting, test the TV for a few hours to see if the issue is resolved.

When to contact Samsung support

If you've worked through all the steps above and your TV still disconnects regularly, the problem may be a hardware issue with the TV's WiFi module. Contact Samsung support with the model number of your TV (found in Settings > Support > About This TV) and a description of what you've already tried. They can walk you through additional troubleshooting or arrange a repair if the WiFi hardware is failing.

If the disconnections only happen with one specific network and not others, the problem is likely your router, not your TV. In that case, restart your router, check its firmware for updates, or contact your internet provider to see if there's an issue on their end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my TV disconnect when I'm not watching it?

Your TV likely has a power-saving mode enabled that cuts WiFi when the screen goes dark or after a set time. Go to Settings > General > Power and Energy Saving and disable Auto Power Off and Eco Sensor. Turn on Network Standby Mode instead so WiFi stays active in standby.

Does the 5 GHz band work better than 2.4 GHz?

The 5 GHz band is faster and less crowded, so it causes fewer disconnections if your TV is close to the router. However, 5 GHz doesn't travel as far through walls. If your TV is far from the router or separated by multiple walls, stick with 2.4 GHz and focus on moving the router closer instead.

Can a bad router cause my Samsung TV to disconnect?

Yes. If your TV disconnects but other devices on the same network stay connected, the problem is likely your TV. If multiple devices disconnect, your router may be overheating, outdated, or failing. Try restarting the router and checking its manufacturer's website for firmware updates.

Will a WiFi extender help if my router is too far away?

A WiFi extender can help, but it typically reduces speed and may introduce new stability problems. Before buying one, try moving your router closer to the TV or to a more central location in your home. If that's not possible, a mesh WiFi system (like Eero or Netgear Orbi) is more reliable than an extender for keeping devices connected.

Should I use WiFi or an ethernet adapter for my Samsung TV?

If your TV keeps disconnecting from WiFi and you have an ethernet cable near the TV, a wired connection is more stable and faster. Samsung makes USB ethernet adapters that work with most models. Wired connections eliminate interference and signal strength problems entirely, though they require running a cable to the TV.