Fix: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 won’t connect to Wi-Fi

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Samsung Galaxy Note series is probably the most renowned phablet series ever. Of course, if we decide to ignore the incidents with the latest addition to the family, the Note 7.

Even though we are expecting the Note 8 by the end of the year, some of the older Samsung devices are still viable options, like the Note 5, introduced back in 2015. This device recently received an upgrade to Nougat, which was indeed an upgrade and not a downgrade like for some other Samsung handsets. That made this already great device even better.

But, if there’s software without an issue or missteps, then we wouldn’t need upgrades/patches in the first place, do we? And one of the best Samsung hybrid phones is not without issues. Namely, a lot of users reported Wi-Fi connectivity issues that are somewhat specific to this device. Some of them were able to connect but the connection was lackluster, others, well, they were not so lucky.

For that purpose, we prepared a list of workarounds that should fix the issue or, at least, improve your connection. You can find those below.

Forget Network and connect again

The first and the simplest step you could take when addressing Wi-Fi issues is to forget/establish a procedure. It’s even advised to forget your trusted network occasionally even when everything works great. This is the counterpart of the router restart, so you’ll clear any possible network conflicts. And yes, while we’re at it, restart your router, as well.

1. Press and hold on the Wi-Fi icon in the Notification panel to open Wi-Fi settings.
2. Click on the network you need to re-establish.
3. Tap Forget.
4. Restart your Note 5 and connect again.

Reset network settings

Another common solution for network issues is the reset of network settings. But, don’t forget that this will clear all of your saved network settings and restore them to factory values. This is how to do it on your Note 5:

1. Tap Settings.
2. Open Backup & reset.
3. Tap Reset Network settings.
4. Enter password/PIN/pattern if prompted and tap RESET SETTINGS.
5. Your device will restart and you can start from scratch.

Disable the IPv6 protocol on your router

Some users succeeded to fix connection issues by disabling the IPv6 protocol on their router and stick to the IPv4 protocol. You can make your changes to the router settings via a browser. Just open your browser and under the address bar type your IP address. Insert your username and password provided by your internet provider. Now, you just got to disable Auto IPv6 protocol and you’re good to go.

Use 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz and vice versa

Another workaround you can apply for this issue is changing your Wi-Fi band. It’s not certain what may work for you so make sure to try both of them and hope for improvements. Simply put, the 5 GHz band has a wider range while the 2.4 GHz is known for a more stable connection.

The procedure is different on different routers, so you can google your router and find the way how to switch bands.

Update to Nougat

If you’ve already obtained Nougat, you can skip this step. However, if you’re still running Lolipop or Marshmallow on your Note 5, we advise you to check for updates immediately. Yes, there is a slight chance that something may go wrong once you install the latest update. However, if it’s believed by numerous users, the seventh edition of Android works like a charm on Note 5.

If your system update is not set on auto, you can check for it manually. Follow the instructions to check for available system updates:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap About phone.
3. Open the Software version.
4. Tap Search for updates.
5. If an update is available, click Download & Install.

Wipe the cache partition

One of the solutions that proved helpful for a majority of users is wiping the cache partition under the recovery mode. We advise you to try it first prior to a factory reset since this operation will preserve your data. You can perform it in a few easy steps and here are the instructions on how to do it:

1. Turn off the device. Make sure that your battery is not critically low.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up key + Home key + Power button.
3. Once the logo appears on the screen, release the Power button while holding the Volume Up key + Home key.
4. Wait for the Android logo to appear and release all buttons.
5. Use the Volume Down key to find and highlight the ‘wipe cache partition’ option.
6. Use the Power button to confirm the selection.
7. Now, scroll down with the Volume Down key and highlight ”Yes”.
8. Press the Power button to select.
9. After the procedure is finished, restart your device and check for changes

Perform a factory reset

In the end, the one thing that no one is willingly doing may be your last resort. The factory reset should clear any of the possible issues within the system. However, it will also clear all of your data and settings, restoring them to their factory values. Nonetheless, if you’re not keen to wait for the developers to address this issue, you may as well do it. And this is how to do it in a few simple steps:

1. Back up your data, remove the SD card, and make sure your battery is not critically low.
2. Open Settings.
3. Tap Personal.
4. Open Backup & reset.
5. Tap Factory data reset.
6. Tap Reset device.
7. Tap Delete All.
8. You may be prompted to enter your password/PIN/pattern before the cleanup begins.

That should be that. Don’t forget to share your experience with the Wi-Fi or suggest some other solution. We’ll be glad to hear from you.