Smart TVs are a genius of information and entertainment technology. They allow you to watch programs over both cable and the internet. In fact, many users see them as a way of saving cable subscription money.
If you own a smart Sony TV, you are likely to love the fact that it is just like an extra-large smartphone. However, just as with your smartphone, you may occasionally encounter errors when trying to stream. One of the most common of such errors is the Connected, No Internet error.
Why Does My Sony TV Say Connected No Internet?
This error means that although your Sony TV is connected to your network (Wi-Fi), it is unable to access the internet.
When you try to open an app on your Sony TV such as Netflix or YouTube, your Smart TV has to connect to your Wi-Fi which in turn connects to the internet to enable you open the app. So, if your Sony TV is to your Wi-Fi but not to the internet, the TV will return the error Connected, No Internet when accessing an app.
There are many reasons why this can happen on your Sony TV, but an explanation of how your network and the internet works will make it easier to understand.
Network and Internet
Your Wi-Fi network, and the internet are two different things. Your Wi-Fi device allows you to connect devices within your location, as far as the strength of the connection can reach. It allows you to connect your TV, phone, PCs, etc to itself.
The Internet, on the other hand, is the global connection of all these millions of smaller networks across the world. In the case of your Wi-Fi, your devices connect to the Wi-Fi router (local network) while the router connects to the wider internet.
From the explanation above, you can see that your Sony TV can be connected to your network but not to the wider internet. That’s when you have the error “Connected, No Internet”.
This error can be caused by a number of factors, and we are going to have a look at all the possible causes. You might need to try different solutions in order to find and fix the root cause of the error.
Here are the known causes of the Connect, No Internet error
1. Wrong Date & Time
You may be surprised to learn that being as little as 2 minutes faster or slower than network time can cause the Connected, No Internet error.
The same applies for date. The fact is that when you try to open an app on your Sony TV, the app collects information from your TV such as model, location, time, date, and so on.
The streaming app uses the time and date from the internet and then converts them to your local time. So, if the time and date on your smart TV are wrong for your time zone, the applications will not be able to establish a secure connection to your TV.
This is more common when the time on your Wi-Fi router is correct while the time on your TV is wrong. This is because the information on both devices needs to be the same in order for your TV to receive connection certificates from the internet applications. If the time and date on your Sony TV are different to that on the network, the application will not trust your TV, and return the Connected, No Internet error.
2. Power Cut
Sometimes, also, power cuts may be responsible for the Connected, No Internet error. There are different ways in which a power cut can affect the connection of your Sony TV to the internet.
a. Power cut can set the time and date back a few minutes when the TV restarts, resulting in the Connected, No Internet error when you try to open an app
b. Power cut may cause some glitch in the Wi-Fi router, making it unable to connect your smart TV to the internet. This glitch can be at the software or hardware level.
This happens because smart systems and devices are designed to go through a particular shutdown process. If the process is bypassed as is the case with a power cut, it can result in errors and glitches.
Therefore, if you experience the Connected, No Internet error after a power cut, you can be sure that one of the two cases above is the cause.
3. Poor Signal Strength
Signal strength of your Wi-Fi is important for streaming services. Streaming requires strong and fast internet connection because it transmits very large amounts of data over long distances in less than seconds. Signal strength may not have the same effect on all apps. It is usually heavier apps that return the error when you try to open them using poor signal strength. That’s why you may be able to open some apps but not others.
If the signal is poor, it can be caused by one of the following:
a. The distance between your Sony TV and the Wi-Fi device is too much
b. The distance between your Sony TV and the Wi-Fi device is too little
c. The signal is being hindered by walls, sound-proof demarcations or other solid obstacles
d. A glitch in your TV or the router is causing the signal strength received or sent respectively, to be low.
4. Other Devices Interfering with Connectivity
As we embrace smart homes and related technologies, we have more and more devices connecting to our networks. Fridges, microwave ovens, wireless speakers, wireless home phones, and other devices that use radio signals can interfere with the connection of your Sony TV to the internet. These radio signals can cross each other, causing distortions. This can then result in the Connected, No Internet error.
4. Poor Internet
Similar to signal strength is poor internet connectivity. Remember that for you to open apps on the Sony TV, two connections have to take place:
* Your Sony TV has to connect to your Wi-Fi
* Your Wi-Fi has to connect to the internet
Sometimes, the issue is at the second part. When your Wi-Fi has poor connection to the internet, you may experience the Connected, No Internet error. The error can also occur when the connection is not steady. That is, the connection keeps breaking.
This Connected, No Internet error can also be experienced when you have several devices actively connected to your network, and you are trying to stream during high traffic periods. This can reduce the quality of the connection and result in the connection error.
5. Wrong Network
Sometimes your smart TV may be connected to the wrong network. This may be as a result of your own configuration. However, there are cases where the Sony TV has several networks saved and connects to them randomly.
When your Sony TV connects to a network that does not have internet access, it will return the Connected, No Internet error when you try to open an app. This can be tricky because the connection is done automatically, and in the background, so you may be unaware of the network change.
6. Issues with Your ISP
Your ISP, Internet Service Provider, is responsible for giving your router access to the internet. Your ISP may be having issues providing internet connection to your location. This is usually as a result of a technical fault or power outage at their facilities. Or, in some cases, it may be that the link between your location and your ISP’s facilities is broken.
There are also cases where the ISP may be having issues connecting to the servers of a particular streaming service. In such cases, you may be able to open some apps but not others.
Whatever the case, issues with your ISP may result in the Connected, No Internet error on your Sony TV.
7. Out of Date Software
Every smart device works on a set of software programmes which determine the features, performance, interface, operation and functionality of the device. Your Sony TV works on such software.
As is the case with other smart devices you may own such as your smartphone and PC, your Sony TV software needs to be updated from time to time. The manufacturers release these updates to:
1. Fix bugs, performance issues and security loopholes
2. Introduce new features
3. Update the capability of the smart TV to process modern apps. This is important because even the makers of the smart apps such as Netflix and YouTube are also constantly updating their products.
How to Fix Sony TV Connected, No Internet Error
1. Power Cycling
Power cycling should be one of your first troubleshooting steps when you encounter the Connected, No Internet error on your Sony TV. It is easy, quick and fixes most temporary glitches. Sometimes your TV just needs shed off too much electrical charges that it has acquired from prolonged use in order to function properly.
To perform a power cycle:
1. Turn off the TV with the remote or at the switch
2. Unplug the TV from power supply
3. Wait 2 minutes, then plug it back on
4. Turn on the TV and retry
OR
1. Press and hold the Power button until Power Off appears on the screen
2. Press and hold the Power button until a menu shows on the screen
3. Select Restart
When the TV reboots, retry to see if the error has cleared.
2. Restart Router
Just as with the Sony TV, your Wi-Fi router may need to be restarted to get it working well again.
- Switch off the router at the power supply
- Unplug the socket
- Wait 2 minutes
- Plug it back in
It is a good idea to confirm that the issue is from the router first by using your smartphone to test the internet connection.
After restarting, you may retry to see if the error has cleared.
3. Correcting Date and Time
As explained earlier, when the time and date on your Sony TV is incorrect, it may cause the Connected, No Internet error. Do not be surprised if you even find that the date and time has been reset to the date and time as at the time of manufacture; this is an occasional glitch that occurs on Sony TVs.
The steps to correct the Date and Time depend on the type of Sony TV you are using.
For Sony Android TV:
- Press the HOME button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Device Preferences
- Select Date & time
- Select Automatic date & time. Change it to Off
- Set the date and time manually
For Sony Non-Android TV:
- Press the HOME button on the remote control
- Select System Settings under Settings
- Select Setup.
- Select Clock/Timers
- Select Clock Set
- Under Auto or Manual, select Manual to set the current time manually
- Select Date and enter the date
- Select Time and enter the time
It is best to restart your TV after this process to enable the system make the changes completely. When the TV reboots, please try opening the apps again.
4. Setting Time to Use Network time
The best way to avoid time problems is to set the Sony TV to use network time. This allows the TV to pick up and use the time from your WIFI.
For Sony Android TV:
- Press the HOME button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Device Preferences
- Select Date & time
- Select Automatic date & time. Set it to ON
OR
- Press the HOME button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Device Preferences
- Select Date & time
- Select Use broadcast time or Use Network time
For this to work well, you also need to select the correct time zone. To do this:
- Press the HOME button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Device Preferences
- Select Date & time
- Select Time
- Select Automatic time zone and set it to Off
- Select Set Time Zone
- Select your Location and OK
For Sony Non-android TV:
- Press the HOME button on the remote control.
- Select System Settings under Settings.
- Select Setup.
- Select Clock/Timers.
- Select Clock Set
- Under Auto or Manual, select Auto
- Under Automatic time zone, set to ON. Confirm that the time zone displayed is correct.
Again, restart the TV and check if the error has cleared.
5. Check the Network Status
The reason for the Connected, No Internet error could be that the network that you connected your Sony TV to is poor. There are 2 steps to check the status of your network
a. On the Sony TV:
- Press the Menu button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Select View Network Status
It will display the status of the two connections: connection to your WIFI and connection to the internet
b. Verification with smartphone
If the connection to the WIFI is OK but the connection to the internet is Not OK, use your smartphone to connect to the WIFI. If you are also unable to browse the internet, then you are sure it is an issue with the network.
However, if you are able to browse the internet on your smartphone, then you are sure that the issue is the connection between the TV and the WIFI only. Then you can try other fixes below.
6. Check the Strength of the Wi-Fi Signal
The next step to fixing the Connected, No Signal error, is to ensure that your Wi-Fi signal strength is strong enough for streaming. Sony recommends that you place the Wi-Fi device no more than 25 feet away from your Sony TV to guarantee strong connection.
But even having the two devices too close to each other can cause signal issues. Sony recommendation is no closer than 3 feet.
As explained earlier, obstructive structures such as walls and thick doors could also affect Wi-Fi signal. It is best to have the Sony Tv and the Wi-Fi device in the same room or where there is no significant physical obstruction to the signals.
7. Change DNS Configuration
DNS is like the address book that holds the names of all the devices that are connect to the internet. If your device does not have the right DNS configuration, it will not connect to the internet and this can result in the Connected, No Internet error.
To configure your Sony TV DNS correctly:
1. Press the Home button on the remote control
2. Select Settings
3. Select Network
4. Select Network Settings
5. Select Set up the Network Connection
6. Select Custom/Expert
7. Select your Wired/Wireless Setup and select your Wi-Fi
8. Select Manual IP Address
9. Enter Primary DNS as 8.8.8.8
10. Enter Secondary DNS as 8.8.4.4
11. Select No if asked if you want to use a proxy server
12. Save and Ok
8.8.8.8 is the DNS provided by Google and it allows seamless connection to the internet.
Retry and see if this clears the error
8. Reset TV to Factory
This is one of the last resorts to take if the error persists. Resetting the TV to factory will erase every configuration and changes you have made on the TV. To reset your Sony TV
- Press the Home button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Storage & reset
- Select Restore Factory Settings
- Select Erase all data
- Select to Confirm the Reset
Restart the TV. You would need to set up the connection again to your WIFI and retry to see if the error is cleared.
9. Update Software
If your Sony TV software is out-of-date, it can result in the Connected, No Internet error when opening an app.
If you are connected to the internet but just can’t open apps, you can complete the update using your Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you would need to use a wired connection to update your smart TV.
Before you start any update, please beware of these rules:
- Use the remote control that comes with the TV
- Don’t press any buttons when the update is in progress
- Stop any recording before you start the update.
- Do not unplug the TV from power while update is in progress
To update:
- Press the Home button on your remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Device Preferences
- Select About
- Select System Update
- Select Help
OR
- Press the Home button.
- Select the Apps icon (this is the red, dotted circle)
- Select Help.
- Select System software update.
- Select Software update.
If you do not have internet connection, then you can use a USB flash drive to obtain and install the updates. The USB must be formatted in either of NTFS, exFAT, FAT16 or FAT32. Also, the USB must contain no other file except the update file.
To Update Using USB flash drive
- Download the updates from the Sony Support Website
- Save it on the USB flash drive
- Then plug in the USB flash drive at the Sony TV port
- Install the update
After installing the update, restart your TV and retry connecting to the streaming app
10. Change the SSID and Password
On rare occasions, changing the public name (SSID) and password of your Wi-Fi may fix the Connected, No Internet error. When you have performed these steps on your router, you would also have to make the network changes on your Sony TV.
To connect to the new SSID:
Press the Home button on the remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Select Network Setup
- Select Set up wireless network connection
- Select the connection method
- Complete setup
11. Change the TV Network Type From DHCP to Static and Change IP Address to 192.168.100.128
Your Sony TV has an IP address which it uses to connect to the internet. This IP address is issued by the Wi-Fi router. Without a working IP address, your Sony TV is unable to connect to the internet, and this can cause the Connected, No Internet error.
By default, the IP address is issued automatically by the router using a feature called DHCP. This automatic IP address changes often. However, using a particular IP address can resolve the connection issue.
- Press the Home button on your remote control
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Select Network Setup
- Select Expert
- Select your WIFI name
- Select IP settings.
- Select Static
- Enter the IP address as 192.168.100.128. This is the router admin IP address and allows direct access to the internet.
After this, you can retry opening the streaming app again.
12. Contact Your ISP
When you have tried all the options above and still receive the Connected, No Internet error, contact your ISP. The issue may be a network problem on their end, or a problem they have connecting to particular streaming services.
13. Contact Sony
When you contact your ISP and they confirm that the issue is not from their end, please contact Sony support. Using the steps below, you can obtain your TV model details which you provide to Sony:
- Press the HOME button on your remote controller
- Select Settings.
- Select System Settings or Product Support.
- Select Customer Support or System Information.
- Select Product Information