Every smartphone user is familiar with the situation where your device gets stuck on the "Obtaining IP address" or "Authorization in progress" message. Instead of instant internet access, you get an annoying error message or an endless wait. This isn't just a minor glitch, but a fundamental disconnect in the security negotiation process between your device and your router.
Understanding how exactly it happens Wi-Fi authorization, will help you quickly diagnose the problem, whether it's an incorrect password, an encryption protocol failure, or a full router memory. In this article, we'll take a detailed look at the handshake mechanisms, analyze error codes, and offer specific solutions for restoring a stable connection.
Connecting to a wireless network isn't magic, but a strict sequence of data packet exchanges. If even one step in this chain is disrupted, access to the global network will be blocked. Let's figure out what exactly happens during these waiting seconds and how to force the process to restart.
What is the Wi-Fi authentication process?
In the context of wireless networks, authorization is the process of verifying the identity of a device attempting to access network resources. When you select a network from the list of available networks, your smartphone or laptop sends a request to the router. In response, the router requests proof of identity, which is usually passphrase (Pre-Shared Key).
However, simply entering a password is not enough. The devices must agree on encryption methods. It is at this stage 4-way handshake (four-way handshake) is used to generate temporary encryption keys. If the router is configured to use the protocol WPA3, and your device only supports WPA2, the authorization process will fail because they will not be able to find a common security language.
It's important to distinguish between authentication and authorization, although they are often confused in everyday life. Authentication answers the question "Who are you?" by verifying your password. Authorization determines "What are you allowed to do?"—for example, access only to a local network or full internet access. Errors most often occur at the intersection of these processes, when a device appears to have authenticated itself but is not granted access rights.
⚠️ Attention: If MAC address filtering is enabled in the router settings, authentication will fail even if the correct password is entered. The device will be rejected at the access level, not the password level.
Modern routers, such as models from Keenetic or TP-Link, may use additional protection mechanisms, such as Captive PortalIn this case, after connecting to Wi-Fi, you are redirected to a login page in your browser. This is common in hotels, cafes, and public places where you are required to accept terms of service or enter a code sent via SMS.
Why does the "Authorization in progress" error occur on Android?
operating system Android I often encounter the problem of getting stuck during the connection phase. This can manifest itself as an endlessly spinning indicator or the message "Saved, protected." The main cause is a conflict between the power saving settings and the Wi-Fi module's drivers. The system tries to conserve battery life and disables the module at the most inopportune moment during packet exchange.
Another common cause is the accumulation of errors in network configurations. If you frequently changed passwords or connected to networks with the same name (SSID) but different security settings, an error could have appeared in the connection profile. logical conflictAndroid tries to apply old settings to the updated network, which results in a handshake failure.
It's also worth considering the DHCP server. If the router can't assign an IP address to your device (the address pool is exhausted or the server is frozen), the authorization process won't formally complete. The device will wait for a response from the server until the timeout expires.
- 📱 Driver failure: Unstable operation of the Wi-Fi module after updating the phone firmware.
- 🔐 Invalid encryption type: Trying to connect to a WPA3 network from a device that requires WPA2.
- 📡 Weak signal: Packet loss during handshake due to long distance to router.
- 🚫 Blocking: The device was added to the Blacklist of the router settings.
Resetting network settings on Android often helps resolve the issue. This will delete all saved passwords and Bluetooth pairings, but will restore the network stack to its factory default settings. The path to this function is usually found in the menu. Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings.
Authorization issues on iPhone and Apple devices
Devices under control iOS And macOS Wireless networks have their own unique features. Apple strictly enforces security standards, and if the router is configured using outdated or insecure protocols, the iPhone may simply refuse authorization. This is often accompanied by an "Incorrect Password" message, even if you enter it correctly.
One of Apple's key features is Private Wi-Fi Address. To enhance privacy, the device generates a random MAC address for each network. Some older routers or corporate networks with strict filtering may incorrectly handle address changes, interpreting them as an attack attempt and blocking the connection.
Apple devices also frequently encounter issues with automatic network switching. If you have multiple networks saved with similar names, the phone may attempt to authenticate to one but receive a response from a different access point. This leads to desynchronization of encryption keys.
For router owners Asus or Zyxel It's worth paying attention to compatibility settings. In some cases, changing the router's regional settings can help. For example, if the router is set to the US region and the iPhone uses local frequency plans, conflicts may arise at the physical access level.
Diagnosing and troubleshooting Windows and laptops
In operating systems of the family Windows Authorization errors are often related to wireless adapter drivers. After a major system update (for example, upgrading from version 21H2 to 22H2), the driver may not function correctly. Device Manager may show normal operation, but actual packet transmission will be disrupted.
A common cause is a security protocol conflict. Windows may attempt to use a newer encryption standard by default that your router doesn't support, or vice versa. Checking the wireless network properties in Control Panel can help identify the protocol being used. Make sure the security type is selected. WPA2-Personal AES, since it is the most universal.
For a more thorough diagnosis, you can use the command line. Resetting network settings via the console often resolves issues with frozen DHCP and DNS services that prevent authorization from completing.
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
Running these commands requires administrator privileges. After entering the last command, be sure to restart the computer. This action clears the DNS cache and resets the TCP/IP stack, eliminating software errors accumulated over the system's lifetime.
Router Setup: Troubleshooting
If authorization issues occur on all devices, the source of the problem most likely lies in the router's settings. Overloaded device memory or a software glitch may prevent the router from processing new connection requests. First, we recommend performing a full reboot of the device by disconnecting the power for 10-15 seconds.
An important aspect is choosing your wireless network mode. If you're set to "802.11ac Only" (Wi-Fi 5) or "ax" (Wi-Fi 6), older devices may simply not see the network or be unable to authenticate. It's recommended to set a mixed mode, for example, 802.11 b/g/n/ac mixedto ensure compatibility with all appliances in the home.
☑️ Router diagnostics
It's also worth checking your DHCP pool settings. If your network has many smart devices (light bulbs, sockets, cameras), the default pool of 50 addresses may be exhausted. Increasing the range of addresses allocated will resolve the issue where new devices are unable to obtain an IP address and are stuck at the authorization stage.
Remember to keep your firmware up-to-date. Manufacturers regularly release updates that fix vulnerabilities in encryption protocols. An outdated version of your router's firmware may not work correctly with new smartphones released in 2026-2027.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on authorization |
|---|---|---|
| Security Mode | WPA2-PSK (AES) | Maximum compatibility |
| Channel Width | 20/40 MHz (Auto) | Signal stability |
| DHCP Lease Time | 120 minutes (or more) | IP refresh rate |
| Max Clients | 32 or 64 | Connection limit |
⚠️ Attention: Router settings interfaces are constantly being updated. The layout of menu items may vary depending on the firmware version. If you don't find the setting described, check the official manual for your device model.
Specifics of social networks and Captive Portals
The mechanism is used in cafes, airports and hotels Captive PortalThis is a special web page that opens automatically when you attempt to access any website. The problem is that modern browsers and operating systems use the HTTPS protocol by default, which blocks redirection to the authorization page.
If the login page does not appear automatically, try entering the address of any website without encryption in the browser address bar, for example, http://neverssl.com or http://example.comThis will force a request, which the router will intercept and redirect to the authorization portal.
Why won't the hotel login page open?
The browser often caches DNS requests. Try opening Incognito mode or completely clearing the browser cache before connecting to a public network. Temporarily disabling mobile data (LTE/5G) may also help.
Another feature of public networks is session timeout. The router can automatically turn off the device after a certain period of time (e.g., 1 hour) to redistribute resources. In this case, the authorization process will have to be repeated, entering the code from the SMS or accepting the terms and conditions again.
Sometimes the problem lies with the public network provider's DNS servers. If they don't respond, the login page won't load. You can manually enter Google's DNS in your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), which often helps to break through the blockage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does the router say "Incorrect password" even though I'm entering it correctly?
Most likely, the wrong keyboard layout or letter case is selected. Check the input language (RU/EN) and the CapsLock key status. Also, check that the password isn't overwritten by a space at the end of the line.
Can antivirus software block Wi-Fi authentication?
Yes, some firewall features in antivirus software can block DHCP requests or consider the handshake suspicious. Try temporarily disabling the firewall for diagnostic purposes.
What should I do if authorization freezes after changing my router?
Delete the network profile on all devices ("Forget network") and reconnect. Old security settings may conflict with the new hardware.
Does weather affect the authorization process?
Indirectly. Severe thunderstorms or magnetic storms can create interference in the airwaves, leading to packet loss during handshake. In such cases, the connection process may be interrupted multiple times.