Tablet Freezes When Connecting to Wi-Fi: 12 Reasons and What to Do If the Indicator Spins Endlessly

You are trying to connect your tablet to your home or public Wi-Fi network, but instead of a successful connection you see an endless loading animation (a "spinning circle") or a message Obtaining an IP address, which never finishes? This problem occurs on devices of all brands - from budget Lenovo Tab to the flagship Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 And Apple iPad ProIn 80% of cases, the culprit is a router issue or a tablet setting error, not hardware failure.

In this article we will look at all possible reasons, due to which the tablet cannot connect to Wi-Fi, but only “boots up” - from the trivial (incorrect password) to the complex (IP address conflict or damaged system files). You will receive Step-by-step instructions with illustrations for Android and iPadOS, as well as a table of Wi-Fi compatibility with different tablet models. If the problem persists after all these steps, there's a comprehensive diagnostic checklist at the end of the article.

1. Check basic parameters: password, network mode, and distance to the router

Start with the basics: users often miss obvious issues, spending hours searching for deeper causes. Here's what to do first:

  • 🔑 Make sure you are entering the correct password.On an iPad, an incorrect password may result in an "Incorrect Password" message, while on Android, the app may simply load endlessly. Try entering the password manually (not using autofill!) or changing it in your router settings.
  • 📡 Check the distance to the routerIf the signal is weak (1-2 bars), the tablet may constantly try to connect but fail to obtain an IP address. Move closer or use a repeater.
  • 🔄 Restart your router and tabletUnplug the router for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Perform a full reboot of the tablet (not sleep mode).
  • 🌐 Make sure the network is not hidden (SSID is not hidden)If "Hide network" mode is enabled in the router settings, the tablet will not be able to detect it without manually entering the name.

If after these steps the connection is still hanging, proceed to the next step. Please note: on some tablets (eg. Huawei MatePad) if the signal is weak, an error may appear "Authentication...", but not the actual connection.

📊 What tablet do you have?
Android (Samsung, Xiaomi, Lenovo, etc.)
iPad (Apple)
Huawei/Honor
Another brand

2. IP address conflict: why does the tablet get stuck at the IP address acquisition stage?

One of the most common reasons for infinite loading is problems with issuing an IP address router. This happens when:

  • 🔢 There are too many devices on the network, and the router cannot issue a new IP (the DHCP pool is exhausted).
  • 🔄 The tablet has a static IP address that conflicts with other devices.
  • ⚡ The router has become confused and is not distributing addresses correctly (for example, after a firmware update).

How to fix it:

  1. On Android:

    Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap on the problematic network → Change network → Advanced settings. Install IP parameters in meaning "DHCP"** (automatically obtained). If DHCP is already set, try manually specifying an IP from a different range (for example, 192.168.1.100, if the router distributes addresses with 192.168.1.1).

  2. On iPad:

    Open Settings → Wi-Fi, click on the "i" next to the network → IP Settings → AutoIf it doesn't help, try Manually and enter an IP different from other devices on the network.

  3. On the router:

    Go to the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the section DHCP and increase the address pool (for example, with 192.168.1.100-199 to 192.168.1.100-200). Also check if the old IP is assigned to the tablet in the section ARP Binding or Static Lease.

3. Wi-Fi Standards Incompatibility: Why New Tablets Won't Connect to Old Routers

Modern tablets (especially flagship models) Samsung, Apple or Xiaomi) support the latest Wi-Fi standards - 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E), while older routers work on 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) or even 802.11gThis can cause conflicts, especially if your router has outdated security modes enabled (for example, WEP instead of WPA2/WPA3).

Here is a table of Wi-Fi standards compatibility with tablets of different years:

Wi-Fi standard Year of release of the tablet Problems connecting Solution
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) 2020–2026 Does not connect to routers older than 2018 Update your router's firmware or disable Wi-Fi 6 in your tablet's settings.
802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) 2016–2019 May "hang" at the authentication stage with 802.11n routers Enable compatibility mode 802.11n/ac on the router
802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) Until 2015 Slow connection or disconnections when working with modern routers Disable Mu-MIMO And Beamforming in the router settings

If your tablet was released after 2020 and your router is older than 5 years, try:

  1. Go to the router settings and disable Wi-Fi 6 (if there is such an option) or enable compatibility mode 802.11n/ac/ax.
  2. On a tablet (Android) go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional features and turn off Wi-Fi 6 or 160 MHz (if any).
  3. Change Wi-Fi channel on the router from automatic to fixed (for example, 6 or 11 for 2.4 GHz).
How do I find out my tablet's Wi-Fi standard?

On Android: Open the app Wi-Fi Analyzer (free in Play Market) - the network information will indicate the standard (for example, 802.11ac).

On iPad: Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → i next to the network — the standard is not specified directly, but if the speed is above 300 Mbps, it’s definitely 802.11ac or newer.

4. Tablet or router firmware failures: when only a reset helps

If the tablet was previously connected to this network, but suddenly stopped, the reason may be software failures:

  • 🤖 On Android: file corruption wpa_supplicant.conf (responsible for storing Wi-Fi data) or a conflict after a system update.
  • 🍎 On iPadOS: module failure Wi-Fi Firmware, especially after updating to a new version of iOS.
  • 📶 On the router: DHCP server freezes or configuration files become corrupted after a power surge.

How to diagnose and fix:

Check if other devices are connected to the network

Restart your tablet in safe mode (Android)

Reset network settings on your tablet

Update your router firmware

Reset your router to factory settings

-->

For Android:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & mobile network settingsThis will delete all saved networks but will not affect any personal data.
  2. If it doesn't help, try safe mode: Hold down the power button → "Safe Mode." If Wi-Fi works in this mode, a third-party app (such as a VPN or antivirus) is to blame.
  3. For advanced: through ADB run the command: 
    adb shell su -c "rm /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml"

    (root rights required).

For iPad:

  1. Open Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPad → Reset → Reset network settings.
  2. If the problem persists, update iPadOS to the latest version or reset it via iTunes (Finder on Mac).

For router:

  1. Update the firmware via the web interface (section System Tools → Firmware Upgrade).
  2. If updating doesn't help, do hard reset (press and hold the button Reset for 10–15 seconds).

5. Problems with MAC filtering and device blocking

Many routers (especially corporate ones or those with firmware from providers) use MAC filtering — a list of allowed or blocked devices based on their MAC address. If your tablet isn't whitelisted or is blacklisted, it won't be able to connect, even with the correct password.

How to check and fix:

  1. Find out the MAC address of your tablet:
    • On Android: Settings → About phone → General information → Wi-Fi MAC address.
    • On iPad: Settings → General → About → Wi-Fi Address.
  • Check your router settings:

    Go to the router's web interface and find the section MAC Filter or Access ControlMake sure your tablet's MAC address is on the allowed list (or not blocked).

  • Turn off filtering (temporary solution):

    If you are unsure about the settings, disable MAC filtering completely (option Disable MAC Filter).

    • 6. Impact of VPNs, antiviruses, and third-party applications

    Applications that monitor network traffic (VPNs, firewalls, antiviruses) can block Wi-Fi connections at the system level. For example:

    • 🔒 VPN (For example, NordVPN or ProtonVPN) can redirect all traffic through its servers, preventing the tablet from obtaining a local IP.
    • 🛡️ Antiviruses (For example, Kaspersky or Avast) sometimes block "suspicious" networks.
    • 📱 Battery saving apps (For example, Greenify) may turn off Wi-Fi in the background.

    How to check:

    1. Disable VPN in settings or uninstall the app.
    2. Temporarily deactivate your antivirus and try connecting again.
    3. On Android, check the section Settings → Apps → Special access → Battery optimization and make sure that Wi-Fi is not limited.
    4. Launch the tablet in safe mode (as described above) - if Wi-Fi works, one of the installed applications is to blame.
    How do I disable VPN on my iPad if the button is grayed out?

    If the VPN switch in the settings is grayed out, the VPN profile was installed through a configuration (for example, by a school or employer). Remove it. Settings → General → VPN and device management → VPN setup.

    7. Hardware faults: when the Wi-Fi module is at fault

    If none of the above methods helped, it is possible hardware failure:

    • 📶 The Wi-Fi module is damaged (for example, after a fall or exposure to moisture).
    • 🔌 Antenna problems (often found on tablets with a metal case, for example, iPad Pro).
    • 🔋 Motherboard failure (occurs after unsuccessful firmware updates or overheating).

    How to diagnose:

    1. Try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network (for example, at a cafe or at a friend's house). If the problem persists, the tablet is at fault.
    2. Turn on modem mode on your phone and try connecting your tablet to its access point. If it doesn't connect, the Wi-Fi module is faulty.
    3. Check if the Wi-Fi adapter is detected in the settings:
      • On Android: enter the code into the engineering menu ##4636## → select Wi-Fi information. If the status Unavailable — the module is not working.
      • On iPad: if in Settings → Wi-Fi networks are not displayed at all (even neighboring ones) - a hardware problem.

    If the diagnosis is confirmed:

    • For tablets under warranty, please contact the service center.
    • For older devices, repairs may not be cost-effective (the cost of replacing a Wi-Fi module is often comparable to the price of a used tablet).

    8. Diagnostics via system logs (for advanced users)

    If you're willing to dig deeper, you can analyze the system logs to pinpoint the exact cause of the crash. This is especially true for Android devices (logs are not available on non-jailbroken iPads).

    Instructions for Android:

    1. Connect your tablet to your PC and turn it on USB debugging (Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times) → return to Settings → System → Developer options → USB debugging).
    2. Install on PC Android SDK Platform Tools (download from Google website).
    3. Open a command prompt in the folder with adb and run: 
      adb logcat | grep -i "wifi\|dhcp\|wpa"

      This will output logs related to Wi-Fi.

    4. Look for errors like:
      • WifiStateMachine: Failed to connect to network - authentication problem.
      • DhcpClient: Failed to get IP address — DHCP failure.
      • WpaSupplicant: Authentication failed - Incorrect password or MAC lock.

    Example output with DHCP error:

    

    05-20 10:30:45.123 E/DhcpClient(1234): Failed to get IP address from DHCP server
    

    05-20 10:30:45.124 E/WifiStateMachine(1234): IP configuration failed

    If there is a mention in the logs wpa_supplicant, the problem is most likely in the router's security settings (see section 3).

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    My tablet connects to Wi-Fi, but the internet isn't working (there's an exclamation mark next to the network). What should I do?

    This means the tablet has received an IP address but can't access the internet. Check:

    1. DNS settings on the tablet (try specifying 8.8.8.8 And 8.8.4.4 manually).
    2. Is the router blocking internet access for this device (section Parental Control or Access Control).
    3. Is the internet working on other devices? If not, the problem is with your provider.
    After resetting the router, my tablet stopped connecting. What's wrong?

    Resetting your router changes the network name (SSID) and password. You need to:

    1. Find the new network name and password on the router sticker.
    2. Delete the old network in the tablet settings and connect again.
    3. If this doesn't help, check if the router is in the "Remote mode" mode. WPS (sometimes it interferes with normal connection).
    My tablet only connects to 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz. Why?

    Possible reasons:

    • Your tablet does not support 5 GHz (applicable to older models before 2015).
    • In the router settings, 5 GHz is disabled or an incompatible channel is set (for example, DFS, which some devices do not see).
    • The distance to the router is too great - 5 GHz has a smaller coverage area.

    Solution: Go to your router settings and turn it on. 5 GHz (chapter Wireless Settings), select the channel manually (for example, 36 or 40).

    My tablet says "Saved, WPA/WPA2 protected," but it won't connect. What does this mean?

    This is an authentication error that occurs when:

    • The password you entered was incorrect (even if you are sure it is correct, try entering it again).
    • The router is in the enabled mode. WPA3, but the tablet doesn't support it (try changing to WPA2-PSK).
    • The network uses 802.1X Enterprise (corporate authentication), but the corresponding profile is not configured on the tablet.
    Is it possible to connect a tablet to Wi-Fi without a password?

    Yes, if the router is configured to open network (without encryption). However, this is not secure—anyone can connect to your network. Alternative options:

    • Use WPS (Press the WPS button on the router, then select this option on the tablet).
    • Create a guest network with a separate password (section Guest Network in the router settings).

    If none of the suggested methods resolve the issue, we recommend contacting a service center—especially if your tablet is under warranty. In 90% of cases, freezing when connecting to Wi-Fi is caused by software glitches or incorrect settings, which can be corrected independently. For convenience, bookmark this article—it will come in handy if the problem reoccurs after a system update or a new router.

    📖 Read also

    Why Wi-Fi is slow on my phone: causes and solutions Slow internet on your smartphone? Find out the main causes of slow Wi-Fi and how to fix them. Why Wi-Fi is twice as slow as cable: 7 reasons and how to fix them We'll figure out why Wi-Fi internet speed is slower than cable, and what to do to speed it up. How to Enable Wi-Fi Network Discovery: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026) Can't see available Wi-Fi networks? Learn how to enable discovery on Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, and Computer Can't Detect Wi-Fi: 12 Causes and Solutions (2026) Why can't my laptop or PC find any Wi-Fi networks? We'll explore the hardware and software causes, from How to Check Wi-Fi Channels on iPhone: A Complete Guide Learn how to check Wi-Fi channels on your iPhone, find an open band, and speed up your internet. Instructions Rostelecom Wi-Fi is not working properly on my phone: 12 reasons and solutions Why is Wi-Fi slow on my Rostelecom phone? From interference to router settings. Step-by-step diagnostics and