Why does only my TCL smart TV keep dropping Wi‑Fi?
Answer
Smart TVs often drop when a router’s Smart Connect / band-steering feature moves them between 2.4 and 5 GHz. Turn off Smart Connect or give the TV a stable 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz SSID of its own.
Follow these steps
Open the router Wi‑Fi settings
On a phone, open the TP-Link Tether app, or in a browser go to the router’s admin address (often on the label, such as tplinkwifi.net), and sign in.
You should see: You reach Wireless / Wi‑Fi settings.
Turn off Smart Connect / band steering
If you see Smart Connect or a single combined SSID option, turn it off so 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz use separate network names.
You should see: Two distinct Wi‑Fi names are available.
Reconnect the TCL TV to one band
On the TV, forget the old Wi‑Fi network, then join either the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz name and enter the password. Prefer 5 GHz if the TV is close to the router.
You should see: The TV stays associated to one band.
Test a long streaming session
Play a streaming app for 20–30 minutes and watch whether the connection drops.
You should see: The TV remains online without manual reconnects.
Use Ethernet if Wi‑Fi still drops
Connect an Ethernet cable from router to TV if a port is available, or move the TV closer / add a mesh node dedicated to the TV’s location.
You should see: A wired or stronger wireless path stops the drops.
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Extra tips
What to look for: TV-only disconnects, especially during streaming apps, while phones and other devices stay connected
Before you change anything: Have the router admin password ready (often on the router label). Note whether the router uses Smart Connect or a single combined SSID. Avoid factory-resetting the TV again until router wireless settings are checked.
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