Recommend:
Knowledge document #509

Wireless device cannot establish a connection to the FRITZ!Repeater

A wireless device cannot establish a connection to the FRITZ!Repeater. One of the following error messages may be displayed by the wireless device:

  • "Error during authentication"
  • "Unable to connect to this network"
  • "Connection failed"

If the wireless device does not display the name of the FRITZ!Repeater's Wi-Fi network (SSID) when it searches for Wi-Fi networks, proceed as described in the guide FRITZ!Repeater's Wi-Fi network cannot be found.

Simply proceed as described below. After each measure, check whether the problem is solved.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Repeater.

1 Checking Wi-Fi access information

  1. Make sure that the correct Wi-Fi access information was used to configure the Wi-Fi connection to the FRITZ!Repeater.

2 Optimizing the FRITZ!Repeater's Wi-Fi settings

Perform the following steps on a different device connected to the FRITZ!Repeater:

Important:If you cannot access the FRITZ!Repeater with any device, proceed as described in the guide User interface of the FRITZ!Repeater cannot be opened.

Disabling the MAC address filter

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Security" in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Click "Restrict Access to Wi-Fi".
  4. Enable the option "Allow all new wireless devices".
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

Enabling the WPS function

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Security" in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Click on the "WPS Quick Connection" tab.
  4. Enable the option "Push-button method enabled".
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

Unlocking the buttons

  1. Click "System" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Buttons and LEDs" in the "System" menu.
  3. Click on the "Keylock" tab.
  4. Disable the "Buttons locked" checkbox.

Adjusting the name of the Wi-Fi network (SSID)

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Wi-Fi Network" ("Radio Network") in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Click "Additional Settings for the Wi-Fi Network" and disable the option "Different names for the Wi-Fi networks on 2.4 and 5 GHz" to use the same name (SSID) for both Wi-Fi networks. Only then can the FRITZ!Repeater automatically steer your wireless devices to the ideal frequency band ("band steering").
  4. Click "More Information on the Wi-Fi Network" and disable the option "Hide name of the Wi-Fi network". This way, all wireless devices can connect to the FRITZ!Repeater and the FRITZ!Repeater can optimally control your wireless devices in the Mesh ("Mesh Wi-Fi Steering").
  5. If you changed the name of the FRITZ!Repeater's Wi-Fi network (SSID), remove all special characters from the Wi-Fi network name. Since some wireless devices do not support all of the special characters allowed by the FRITZ!Repeater, only use letters (but not special characters such as ä, ë, ö, ü, á, é, í), numbers, and spaces.
  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings. If the wireless devices were only connected to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network with a different name, you must then reconfigure the Wi-Fi connection on those devices.

3 Updating FRITZ!OS and Wi-Fi software

Updates contain improvements, bug fixes, and new functions. Therefore, install the latest FRITZ!OS or software version on all of the devices:

Installing the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Repeater

  1. Install the latest FRITZ!OS on the FRITZ!Repeater.

Installing the latest software for the wireless device

  1. Install the latest software version for the wireless device (for example Android, iOS) or the latest driver for the computer's wireless network adapter (for example from the Intel Download Center).

    Note:Refer to the device's manufacturer for information on how to update, for example consult the manual.

4 Connecting a wireless device to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network

Some wireless plugs, robotic vacuum cleaners, and other wireless devices that are connected via app only support the 2.4 GHz frequency band. To set up the Wi-Fi connection, the mobile device with the app must be connected to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network of the FRITZ!Repeater. Therefore, deactivate the FRITZ!Repeater's 5 GHz Wi-Fi network before setting it up. This way you ensure that the app transmits the correct frequency band to the device:

Disabling the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Wi-Fi Channel" ("Radio Channel") in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Enable the option "Adjust Wi-Fi channel settings".
  4. Disable the Wi-Fi network for the 5 GHz frequency band.
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

Setting up a Wi-Fi connection to the FRITZ!Repeater

  1. Set up the Wi-Fi connection from the wireless device to the FRITZ!Repeater according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Enabling the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Wi-Fi Channel" ("Radio Channel") in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Enable the option "Adjust Wi-Fi channel settings".
  4. Enable the Wi-Fi network for the 5 GHz frequency band.
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

5 The FRITZ!Repeater does not support Wireless 802.11b

The FRITZ!Repeater does not support the wireless standard 802.11b. 802.11b was standardized in 1999 and does not support modern security functions. Devices such as Fitbit Aria wireless scales that only support the obsolete standard 802.11b can therefore not be used together with modern Wi-Fi 6 routers and repeaters, which means that they cannot establish a Wi-Fi connection to the FRITZ!Repeater.

6 Adjusting the FRITZ!Repeater's Wi-Fi security settings

If the wireless device still does not connect to the FRITZ!Repeater, it does not support the modern security functions used by the FRITZ!Repeater. The security settings are already optimized for older wireless devices in the factory settings of the FRITZ!Repeater. If you changed the FRITZ!Repeater's Wi-Fi settings, configure the following settings:

Optimize the Wi-Fi security settings for increased compatibility with older wireless devices

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" in the user interface of the FRITZ!Repeater.
  2. Click "Security" in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Enable the option "Optimize the security settings for Wi-Fi access for increased compatibility with older wireless devices".

    ATTENTION!This option enables WPA2 encryption and disables the security feature PMF for the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. 

  4. Click "Apply" to save the settings.



Similar errors:

Language selection