If your Xbox can’t find your Wi-Fi, won’t connect, or the network test shows “Can’t connect to your DHCP server”, “Can’t get an IP address” or “Can’t connect to your wireless network”, Xbox Support points you to the same set of fixes. Work through them in order on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, testing your connection after each one.
How to test your connection
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings.
- Select Test network connection.
If the test says “It’s all good, your console is connected to the internet” but you still can’t get online, check the Xbox status page for a service problem.
1. Check your network name and password
- If no other device can see your network, the problem is with your router rather than your console. Make sure the router is broadcasting its network name (SSID).
- Double-check your Wi-Fi password, then reconnect: in Network settings, select Set up wireless network, choose your network and enter the password. This replaces any wireless settings saved on the console.
2. Power cycle your console and network hardware
- Unplug the power cable from the back of your router, modem or gateway for 5 minutes. If you have a separate router and modem, unplug both.
- Restart your console: press and hold the Xbox button on your controller to open the Power Centre, then select Restart console > Restart.
- After 5 minutes, plug the modem or gateway in first and wait for its lights to return to normal.
- Then plug in the router, if you have one, and wait for its lights to return to normal.
- Test your connection again.
Using a wired connection? The “Can’t connect to your DHCP server”, “Can’t connect with an automatic IP address” and “Can’t get an IP address” errors can appear on wired connections too. For those, follow Troubleshoot a wired network connection.
3. Remove wireless interference
- Third-party wireless headsets can broadcast on the same frequency as your router. Unplug the headset’s base station and test again.
- Other electronics such as microwaves, baby monitors, cordless phones and wireless speakers can interfere too.
- Walls and objects made of concrete, glass, metal, mirrors or tile weaken the signal. Try to clear the line between your router and console.
- Keep the cables at the back of the console gathered away from it.
4. Check your signal strength
- In Network settings, select Test network speed & statistics.
- Look at your wireless signal strength on the Detailed network status screen. Anything below 20% is considered low.
To improve it, move the router and console off the floor and away from walls and metal objects. Take the console out of any enclosed cabinet, move it closer to the router, or add a wireless repeater.
5. Check your router settings
- MAC filtering: if it’s on, add your console’s wireless MAC address to the router’s allowed list. You’ll find it under Network settings > Advanced settings.
- Wireless channel: if a nearby network uses the same channel, change your router’s channel.
- Encryption: for “Can’t connect to your wireless network” or “Your security protocol won’t work”, the encryption on your console must match your router (WPA2, WPA or WEP).
- Router firmware: check with your router manufacturer for updates.
If that doesn’t fix it, try these two router settings. Menus differ by router model, so check your router’s manual or manufacturer’s website for where to find them. Change one setting at a time, test your connection after each, and change it back if it doesn’t help.
- Channel width: most routers broadcast on a channel width of 20 MHz or 40 MHz, and the Xbox console prefers 20 MHz. Set your router’s channel width to 20 MHz.
- Wireless mode: a router set to “mixed” mode keeps reconfiguring itself to suit every device it detects, which can cause connection problems. As a test, set the wireless mode to “G only” (802.11g). This can stop some devices with slower network adaptors connecting to your network.
6. Try a wired connection
Plug a network cable from your router straight into the console and test again. If that works, the problem is with the wireless connection, and a router firmware update may help. If it doesn’t, try connecting the console directly to your modem. If the console still can’t connect on a different network, such as at a friend’s house, it may need repairing through Microsoft Device Services.
For every step in full, see Troubleshoot a wireless network connection.
