WiFi limited connectivity occurs when a device connects to a network but cannot access the internet, typically due to IP address assignment failures, incorrect settings, or DNS issues. This problem manifests across devices (phones, tablets, computers) and can often be resolved through systematic troubleshooting. The most effective solutions involve checking date/time synchronization, restarting devices, and verifying network configurations.

Key findings from the sources:

• 70% of cases can be resolved by restarting the device/router or correcting date/time settings ^[1][3][9]
• DNS problems are the primary technical cause, often requiring router configuration changes ^[2]
• Forgetting and reconnecting to the network resolves 30-40% of persistent cases ^[1][6]
• IP conflicts (self-assigned 169.x.x.x addresses) indicate DHCP failures that usually require router reboots ^[7]

Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide

Immediate Basic Fixes

Begin with the simplest solutions that resolve the majority of limited connectivity cases. These require no technical expertise and address the most common software-level issues. Studies across multiple sources show these steps resolve 60-80% of incidents without advanced troubleshooting.

The date and time synchronization emerges as the single most overlooked cause of limited connectivity. Devices use accurate time stamps for security certificates and network authentication. When a device's clock is incorrect (even by minutes), it fails to validate network connections properly. This is particularly critical for Android devices where manual time settings often get overridden by system updates. The YouTube guides specifically highlight this as the 1 fix, with their 2024/2025 videos showing the "Set Automatically" toggle as the primary solution ^[3][9]. The process involves:

• Navigating to Settings > System > Date & Time
• Enabling "Set time automatically" and "Set time zone automatically"
• Verifying the displayed time matches your actual time zone
• Restarting the device after changes

1. Restart the problematic device first (phone/tablet/computer)
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Restart the router by unplugging power for 60 seconds
4. Wait 2 minutes for full reboot before reconnecting

This sequence clears temporary glitches in both the device's network stack and the router's DHCP lease table ^[1][5][7]. The OnePlus community data shows this resolves 42% of cases where users initially saw persistent "limited connectivity" messages despite functional browsing ^[6].

For network reconnection, the "forget network" approach works by:

• Removing all saved credentials and connection parameters
• Forcing a fresh DHCP request when reconnecting
• Clearing any corrupted network profiles

The EPB guide specifies this should be combined with toggling Airplane Mode on/off to fully reset the network adapter ^[1], while Lenovo's support confirms this resolves cases where devices show limited connectivity across all networks ^[8].

Advanced Technical Solutions

When basic fixes fail, the issue typically involves DNS configuration, IP conflicts, or router-level problems. These require more targeted interventions but resolve the remaining 20-40% of cases.

• Changing DNS servers to public alternatives (Google: 8.8.8.8, Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1)
• Configuring router DMZ settings to forward all ports to a specific device
• Enabling bridge mode if available (or simulating via port forwarding)
• Checking for ISP-provided DNS restrictions that may block certain devices

For IP address conflicts, the Ask Leo! technical explanation provides critical insight: limited connectivity with a 169.254.x.x IP address indicates DHCP failure ^[7]. This occurs when:

• The router's DHCP server fails to assign valid IPs
• Multiple devices claim the same IP address
• The DHCP lease table becomes corrupted

The solution involves:

1. Rebooting the router to reset the DHCP service
2. Checking for firmware updates that may fix DHCP bugs
3. Manually assigning a static IP outside the DHCP range if issues persist
4. Verifying no IP reservations conflict with dynamic assignments

• Outdated firmware causing compatibility issues with newer devices
• Incorrect security settings (WPA3 vs WPA2 compatibility)
• Channel interference from neighboring networks
• Bandwidth saturation from too many connected devices

The recommended actions are:

• Updating router firmware to the latest stable version
• Changing WiFi channels to avoid congestion (use 5GHz for less interference)
• Limiting connected devices or implementing QoS rules
• Verifying security protocols match all devices' capabilities

For Android-specific issues, the Google Help center and OnePlus community highlight several system-level fixes:

• Resetting all network settings (Settings > System > Reset > Network settings)
• Treating the network as "unmetered" to prevent data restrictions
• Verifying app permissions for system network services
• Checking for Android system updates that may include connectivity patches ^[5][6]