How to fix Samsung Galaxy Note 9 that can no longer connect to a WiFi network?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 seems to be very stable unlike the previous Note models but it’s not perfect. There were owners who encountered some issues shortly after having the phone and among the most commonly reported issues were related to its capability to connect to a WiFi network. Some of the users aired their frustrations through online forums and tech communities but it seems like the problem is actually temporary as there were those who reported that the problem was fixed after a few hours.

However, if you’re one of the owners whose phones can no longer connect to a WiFi network, then don’t worry as I will be helping you troubleshoot your phone through this post. I have personally encountered this problem a few times in the past and I know that you can fix it on your owner provided that there’s no issue with your phone’s hardware or that it hasn’t suffered physical or liquid damage. So, continue reading as this article may be able to help you one way or another.

For users who are looking for a solution to a different problem, drop by our Galaxy Note 9 Help Guides page as we’ve already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. We may have already provided solutions to your problem.

What to do if your Note 9 can’t connect to a WiFi network?

A high-end phone that could no longer connect to a network it used to connect might have a very minor problem or a very complicated one. You may be able to fix it by doing a procedure or two or you might need to bring it back to the store for the technician to check it for you. If it were a hardware problem, you can only do so much about it but if you don’t know why it occurred in the first place, then you should try doing the following…

First solution: Forced Reboot

A forced reboot is always necessary when it comes to troubleshooting your phone with problems you don’t really know what the cause are. I encountered similar issues in the past wherein the phone could no longer connect to the same home network it used to connect. It turned out that it was just due to a minor glitch in the system. Glitches happen all the time and there are times when you couldn’t notice them. In this case, you need to rule this possibility out before moving on to other solutions and here’s how you do it:

  1. Press and hold the volume down button and don’t release it yet.
  2. Now, press and hold the power key while holding down the volume down button.
  3. Keeps both keys held down together for 10 seconds or until your phone restarts.

Had this problem occurred due to a glitch in the system, apps or service, then you should be able to connect to the same WiFi network you used to connect or your phone may already be connected to it. But if not, then try the next solution.

Second solution: Reboot your network equipment

Another thing you need to do if you’re trying to connect to your home network is to power-cycle your network equipment as they may also need to be refreshed. There are times when routers have to be rebooted to regain strong connection.
Just unplug your router or modem from the power source and wait for a minute before plugging it on. If you have both the modem and router, then unplug the modem first followed by the router and plug them back in the same order. Your modem and/or router may need a minute or two to initialize so please wait for moment before reconnecting to it.

If you have other IP-capable devices, check on them to see if they can connect to the same network just fine and if they do, then problem could be with your phone.

Third solution: Find out what’s barring your phone from connecting to the network

Check the status bar of your phone to see if you can find a plane icon because if you do, then the Flight Mode is activated. You need to disable it so you can regain wireless connectivity. If there’s no plane icon, then this time, try to Forget the network you’re trying to connect to and allow your phone to scan for available networks. If you can still see the network, try to connect to it and enter the correct login credentials. This time you would know if has something to do with the password or not.

If your phone is still not able to connect to the network, then try the next procedure.

Fourth solution: Reset Network Settings

When it comes to dealing with wireless issues, this one is pretty effective but we need to exhaust all possible solutions above as the problem could be minor. But after doing the previous solutions and the phone is still unable to connect to the same WiFi network, then you must do this. Here’s what it does…

  • Stored Wi-Fi networks will be deleted.
  • Paired Bluetooth devices will be deleted.
  • Background data sync settings will be turned on.
  • Data restrictive settings in applications that were manually turned on/off by the customer will be reset to the default setting.
  • Network selection mode will be set to automatic.

Aside from these, the caches as well as data files created by the firmware for wireless communications will be deleted and replaced with new ones. Now, here’s how to reset network settings on your Galaxy Note 9…

  1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings > General Management > Reset > Reset network settings.
  3. Tap RESET SETTINGS.
  4. If you have set up a PIN, enter it.
  5. Tap RESET SETTINGS. Once complete, a confirmation window will appear.

This might be the end of the problem but if it continues to bug you after doing this procedure, then you have no other choice but to reset your phone.

Fifth solution: Backup important files and reset your phone

At this point, after doing all the procedures above to no avail, then you need to reset your device. As long as the problem isn’t really that serious and doesn’t include the hardware, you should be able to fix it through this procedure. But before the reset, make sure to make a backup of your important files and data as they will be deleted along with other third-party files and apps.

  1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Samsung account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Samsung credentials to finish the master reset.
  2. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  3. Tap Settings > Cloud and accounts > Backup and restore.
  4. Tap the following sliders to desired setting:
    • Back up my data
    • Automatic restore
  5. Tap the Back key (bottom right) until you reach the main Settings menu.
  6. Tap General Management > Reset > Factory data reset.
  7. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, then tap RESET > DELETE ALL.
  8. If you have screen lock turned on, enter your credentials.
  9. If prompted to verify your Samsung account, enter the password, then tap CONFIRM.
  10. Wait for the device to reset.

Reconnect to the network after this and if your Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is still not being able to connect, then we can assume at this point that problem might involve a component and a help from a technician is necessary now.

I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your phone through this post and if we did, please help us spread the word by sharing this post to your friends as they, too, may have the same problem as yours. Thanks for reading!


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