How to Fix Android Internet Connection Problems Despite Connected to Wifi/Cellular
Last Updated on November 1, 2023 by Angelos Chronis
The internet seems to have permeated every aspect of our lives. Almost every device in our homes has access to the internet one way or another. Naturally, our phones could not be the exception to that rule. In fact, phones are unique in the sense that they can bring the wonderful world wide web to us wherever we are.
But sometimes, our phones fail to connect to the internet, even when we have available data or are connected to a working wi-fi. And this is not as uncommon as it may seem. For example, it was very recently that my phone was connected to the router but couldn’t access the internet.
After checking the router, I realized that the issue did not lie with my internet connection, rather with the phone itself. It is for this reason that I am writing this article, for those of you who have no connection to the internet despite having a working router or data on your mobile plan.
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Tip: Back up your Android before starting to fix it at the shop
There are very few reasons why a mobile phone would fail to connect to the internet; One is that there is something wrong with the network adapter, or the wi-fi antenna on your phone.
In that case, there is very little you can do save for taking the device to the repair shop. The other reason why your phone would not be able to connect to the internet has to do with the settings. It is this we are going to concern ourselves with, in this article.
And if you have to do that, you shouldn’t just trust that you’ll get your phone back with all its data. Very often, fixing a major issue requires a complete wipeout of your data. Thankfully, you can rest easy that you won’t lose anything thanks to Android Backup & Restore.
With Android Backup & Restore you can:
- Back up your Android phone’s data to both PC and Mac.
- Restore data to your phone losslessly.
- Back up all file types.
- Works on almost any device like Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, etc.
Solutions to the internet may not be available on Android
In this part, we will see what we can do at home to reconnect our phones to the internet. No technical knowledge is required, so you can rest assured that even if you are a complete newbie you can still fix it.
Solution 1: Check the date/time on your phone
It might seem unrelated but the date and time on your phone are used by servers for authentication as a protection mechanism against bots. If the time and date on your phone do not correspond to the actual ones, you may get blocked from accessing certain apps, servers, or even the internet.
To change the time or set it to auto:
- Go to “Settings” > ”Additional Settings”.
- There, select “Date & time”.
- Either set the right time or enable “Automatic date & time”.
Solution 2: Enable DHCP
Every time a device connects to the internet, it needs an address, also called an IP. That can always be the same (static) or different each time (dynamic). DHCP is a system that automates the process of finding a new IP each time. A dynamic IP would help us in this case as it makes it less probable for us to do something wrong and dynamic IPs cannot be blocked from domains.
- Select the “Wireless and Networks” option and click on “Wifi”.
- Press and hold the wifi connection that you are trying to connect to.
- Select the “Modify Network” button and click on the “Show Advanced Options” button.
Before we begin, we should clarify some terms that we will be seeing.
DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is a system that detects certain settings on your phone and allocates an IP to it every time you try to connect. You may not be able to connect to the internet if that is not enabled or encounters an error.
DNS: Domain Name System is a centralized system that controls and monitors the unique names of each computer, phone server, etc. It is used to allow or restrict access to certain places online. There are many DNS servers to choose from when connecting to the internet. If your DNS server is denied access to certain domains, you may not be able to connect to the internet at all.
Solution 3: Check for system or app updates
Sometimes, an incomplete update might prevent your phone from connecting to the internet. This is very common with apps that are necessary for the running of the phone’s OS.
You may check for updates by:
- Going to the play store.
- There, tap on the symbol at the top right of the screen.
- Go to “Manage apps and device”.
- And tap on “Update all” or go to the “Manage” tab, find the app you need to update and update it manually.
Solution 4: Clear the cache on your phone
Our phones store temporary data (such as preferences, search history, and a number of other things) in the cache in order to operate faster and more efficiently. Everything runs smoothly until said memory fills up, in which case, the phone could encounter a number of issues, including being unable to connect to the internet.
Thankfully, clearing the cache memory is a very simple process on most Android phones.
On the Xiaomi Redmi for example, all you have to do is:
- Swipe left on the main screen.
- Tap on the “clear cache” button.
Solution 5: Boot your Android phone in safe mode
When a phone is in safe mode, it uses the barest minimum it requires to operate. It is the best way to diagnose any issues on your device.
To run an Android phone in safe mode you have to:
- Press and hold the “Power” button.
- Tap and hold “Power off” until a prompt saying “Reboot to Safe Mode” appears.
- Tap “OK” and you are done.
Solution 6: Use ReiBoot for Android to fix the issue
Wouldn’t it be great if, instead of having to fiddle about with your phone, you were able to resolve any issues with a few clicks? What if that way worked on any Android regardless of how old a version your phone is running?
With ReiBoot for Android, you get just that. You can:
- Fix 150+ Android errors in just one click.
- Use it with most Android phones.
You can get your Android phone fixed in just a few minutes. Is the Internet not available? Not anymore. With it, you can get the connection back on your phone and have fun with your phone with just several clicks. Try it now!
Conclusion
While it sounds a bit strange, it is possible for an Android phone to be unable to connect to the internet despite there being working WiFi or data. Fortunately, while it can get frustrating – doubly so if you can’t exactly figure out what is causing it – there are ways to resolve the issue. In this article, we have listed some of the most effective ones.
FAQs
What does connected but no Internet mean?
When your phone connects to the internet, it does so via a port (It’s also called a network); a sort of entrance to the worldwide web. In most cases, this port comes in the form of a router. Be that as it may, being able to connect to the router doesn’t guarantee that you will also gain access to the internet. Either due to a router issue or one with your phone, you may not be able to connect to the internet despite being “connected”.>/p>
What does ##72786## do?
It is a number you can dial on your phone to reset its network settings without having to navigate the settings menu. It works like a command on a computer.