A Wi-Fi-capable smart TV joins your network through Settings: pick your network name, type the password.
Passwords trip people up. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive, so one wrong capital leaves the TV spinning on “connecting” while other devices work. The menu path depends on brand and, for LG, model year.
Below are Samsung’s and LG’s documented steps, plus fixes when the network won’t appear.
Samsung: Settings → General → Network
Using the remote, select Settings → General → Network → Open Network Settings. Choose your Wi-Fi network, enter the password, select Done, then OK. The TV confirms the connection.
Newer models use Home → Settings → General & Privacy → Network → Wi-Fi.
If your network isn’t listed, select Add Network and type the SSID manually — that’s the fix for a hidden network, not a broken TV. Samsung also notes a wired fallback: run an Ethernet cable from the modem or router.
LG: Path Depends On webOS
LG’s network settings vary by webOS version — following instructions for another generation leaves you on a menu without the option.
2021 and later (webOS 6.0+): Settings → All Settings → General → Network → Internet Connection → Wi-Fi Connection. Select your network, enter its password.
Older generations:
- 2020 (webOS 5.0): Settings → All Settings → Connection → Network Connection Settings → Wi-Fi Connection
- 2019 (webOS 4.5): Settings → All Settings → Connection → Wi-Fi Connection
- 2018 and earlier (before webOS 4.0): Settings → All Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Connection
When The Network Won’t Appear Or Connect
Start with the password. Samsung and LG both say verify the network name and password first; LG flags case sensitivity as the usual culprit.
If clean, test the router. LG recommends checking whether a phone or laptop connects to the same network. If neither can, the problem isn’t the TV. Unplug the router, wait one minute, plug it back in, retry.
To isolate TV from router, LG suggests connecting the TV to a smartphone hotspot. If it joins the hotspot but not your home network, the router or your internet service is the issue, not the TV’s hardware.
If the Wi-Fi list is empty or Wi-Fi Connection is grayed out entirely, LG says the TV may require service — a hardware fault, not a settings mistake.
| Brand / Year | Menu Path | Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Settings → General → Network → Open Network Settings | Some models use General & Privacy |
| LG 2021+ | All Settings → General → Network → Internet Connection | webOS 6.0 or later |
| LG 2020 | All Settings → Connection → Network Connection Settings | webOS 5.0 |
| LG 2019 | All Settings → Connection → Wi-Fi Connection | webOS 4.5 |
| LG 2018 and earlier | All Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Connection | Before webOS 4.0 |
Connecting costs nothing — no streaming subscription is needed just to get online, and manufacturer instructions reference no plan. Subscriptions come up only inside streaming apps. If you’re shopping for a set that holds a strong signal, our roundup of smart TVs with fast Wi-Fi connectivity covers which models stay locked onto a network.
Older TVs
Confirm the TV has built-in Wi-Fi before troubleshooting — older or non-smart sets often don’t, and no menu path will produce a wireless option never installed. Ethernet, a streaming device, or an external adapter is the route.
Check router compatibility against your exact model’s manual: Samsung and LG publish no universal frequency-band spec across lineups. LG’s network help page documents the menu distinctions above, and Samsung’s US support answer covers the connection steps.
Common Questions
Does the TV need a special router to connect wirelessly?
No specific router brand is required, but verify compatibility against your exact TV model’s manual. Samsung and LG publish no one universal wireless standard across lineups, so the manual is the dependable reference. Any standard home router within normal range should work for most current models.
Why does my TV show the network but fail to join it?
Case-sensitive passwords are the most common cause, which is why Samsung and LG say verify the network name and password first. If the password is correct, check whether another device joins the same network. When nothing connects, the router or service is the problem, not the TV.
Can I connect a TV that has no Wi-Fi option in the menu?
If the wireless list is empty or the Wi-Fi menu is disabled, LG says the TV may need service. On sets that never had built-in wireless, the alternatives are Ethernet, a streaming device, or an external adapter rather than a settings change.
Sources
- Samsung. “Connect your Samsung TV to the internet.” Supplies the US menu path, password entry steps, and Ethernet alternative.
- LG. “Network issues on your LG TV.” Documents webOS menu paths by model year, router restart timing, case-sensitive passwords, and hotspot testing.