Plug the TV into the router with an Ethernet cable, then use a phone remote app to change its Wi-Fi settings. No cable? Create a hotspot with the exact name and password of the network the TV already knows; the TV joins it, and a second phone on that hotspot can control it. A USB keyboard or mouse also works on most Google TV, LG and Samsung models.
This is the classic trap: you replaced your router (or changed the Wi-Fi password), the TV lost its connection, and the remote is gone. Phone apps can’t help because the TV is no longer on the network. Here are four ways out, starting with the most reliable.
Method 1: Ethernet cable, then your phone
Almost every smart TV has an Ethernet (LAN) port on the back.
- Connect the TV to your router with an Ethernet cable.
- Connect your phone to the router’s Wi-Fi. Now both are on the same local network.
- Open a remote app (the brand’s official app or a universal app like RemotApp) and pair it with the TV.
- Use the app to go to Settings › Network and choose your new Wi-Fi. Type the password with the app’s keyboard.
- Unplug the cable. The TV stays on Wi-Fi.
Most Roku streaming sticks have no Ethernet port; use method 2 for those.
Method 2: The hotspot trick
Your TV remembers the name (SSID) and password of the last network it used. If a network with that exact name and password appears, the TV joins it automatically.
- On phone A, create a mobile hotspot with the same name and password as the old Wi-Fi. Match capitalization exactly. Use WPA2 if your phone offers a choice.
- Wait a minute. The TV should join the hotspot on its own.
- Connect phone B (or a tablet) to that hotspot.
- On phone B, open a remote app, find the TV and pair it.
- Use the app to switch the TV to your new Wi-Fi network.
On iPhone, the hotspot name is the device name: change it in Settings › General › About › Name. On Android, set the name in the hotspot settings. This is the method most often recommended for Roku devices, which have no USB keyboard support.
Method 3: A USB keyboard or mouse
Many smart TVs recognize a USB keyboard or mouse instantly:
- Google TV / Android TV: keyboards work well; arrow keys navigate and Enter selects.
- LG webOS: a USB mouse shows a pointer, similar to the Magic Remote.
- Samsung: many models support both a keyboard and a mouse.
- Roku TV: generally not supported.
Open Settings › Network (or Connection) and pick your Wi-Fi.
Method 4: The TV’s physical buttons
Some TVs let you navigate the menu with the physical joystick or buttons. LG’s joystick and some Samsung control sticks can reach the network settings, but typing a Wi-Fi password this way is slow. Use it as a last resort.
After you’re back online
- Pair a phone app right away so you never get stuck again.
- Turn on your brand’s network standby option (see how to turn on a TV without a remote) so the phone can also turn the TV on.
- If the app keeps losing the TV, read why remote apps disconnect.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t my phone app find the TV to fix the Wi-Fi?
Remote apps talk to the TV over the local network. If the TV isn’t on any network, the app has nothing to connect to. That is why the Ethernet and hotspot methods come first: they put the TV and the phone on the same network.
Does the hotspot trick work with an iPhone?
Yes. The iPhone hotspot uses the phone’s name as the network name. Rename the iPhone in Settings › General › About › Name to match the old Wi-Fi name exactly, and set the hotspot password to the old Wi-Fi password.
Can I use a Bluetooth keyboard instead of USB?
Pairing Bluetooth usually requires navigating menus first, which is the problem. A USB keyboard or mouse works as soon as you plug it in, so it’s the better choice here.
The team behind RemotApp, a universal TV remote app for iPhone and Android. We test every fix on real Samsung, LG, Roku and Google TV sets before publishing. About us
