If your Wii was successfully connected online before, but is no longer working, let's see what might have changed to cause that. This page will provide you with helpful troubleshooting steps to get your Wii connected online.

When did the connection stop working?

• After there was a change to your home network (like a new wireless router or Internet Service Provider)
• During a download
• After you performed a Wii System Update

And if none of those choices fit, click here and we'll get started on troubleshooting your online connection.

If there was a change to your home Internet connection, such as new equipment or a changed security key, starting over with a new connection file often helps. Let's do it!

Let's start from scratch!
Our experience shows that erasing any existing connection settings, and starting over from scratch, is the best way to troubleshoot connection issues like this. To erase your connection settings on your Wii, follow these steps:

1. Use the Wii Remote to move the cursor over the "Wii" button in the bottom-left corner of the screen and press the A Button.
2. From the main Data Management and System Settings screen, use the Wii Remote to move the cursor over the "Wii Settings" option (wrench).

   

3. Click on the blue arrow once to reach the Wii System Settings 2 menu options, and click "Internet."



4. Select "Connection Settings," to reach a screen with three connection files. Select any file that is not "Empty", and choose "Clear settings."
5. Repeat for all connection files that exist.

Connection settings are cleared, continue >

Let's set up a new connection:
Stay on the "Connection Settings" screen (previous steps) and we'll create a new connection to your Internet connection.

1. While still on the "Connection Settings" screen, select "Connection 1."
2. Select "Wireless Connection" (if you would like to use a wired connection, click here).



3. Select "Search for an Access Point"

   

4. Select your router from the list that appears.
   • Your router does not appear
   • Don't know which one is yours

   Note: If your connection strength icon shows yellow or red, then the signal may not be strong enough to be reliable. Click here for interference troubleshooting.

   

5. If your connection appears as a closed padlock, as shown above on the connections labeled as 'Internet 3' and Internet 4', then the Access Point requires a security code or passphrase
   • Don't know what your WEP/WPA key is or where to find it
   • "Information you entered is incorrect" error message
   • Error Codes
6. Select "OK" on the following screens. The Wii console will then run a "connection test" with your network.

   

   If you receive an error code during the connection test, click here for troubleshooting.

Connection test successful?
If so, then you're almost done! What to do next will depend on whether or not your Wii was connected online before, or if this was your first time:

• First time setup: There are a few other things you'll need to do before you can use the Wii's online features. After your connection test, the Wii console will check if there is a new Wii System Update available. Once you select "Yes" and "I Accept," the Wii will begin to download any available updates. For step-by-step help on the remaining tasks once the Wii System Update begins to download, click here.
• Your Wii has been online before: You're probably good to go. Visit the Wii Shop Channel to truly test your connection and find out if there are any updates you need to download. Otherwise, you should be all set to enjoy the online features that the Wii has to offer!

Connection problems after a Wii System Update

If your Wii console's online connection has stopped working after you downloaded a Wii System Update, it can typically be reestablished by erasing the previous connection file and setting up a new one. Let's do it!

Online Connection stopped during a download

1. Hold the power button on the front of the console until the light turns red.
2. Press the power button again to turn the system back on. On the "Health & Safety" precautions screen, press the A Button to continue to the Wii Menu.

   • If you were attempting to download a Wii System Update, Select the Wii button from the Wii Menu, then select "settings." Select the right arrow to go to the third page, then select "System Update."

   • If you were attempting to download something from the Wii Shop Channel, simply return to the item and retry your download for no additional Wii Points.

If you're still experience downloads that never finish and your Wii console's online connection drops, the problem could be wireless interference. Click here to see some tips that may help solve wireless interference.

Are you getting an error code when the connection drops? Click here for assistance.

"Information you entered is incorrect" error message

It appears that the WEP or WPA security key for your router has changed, or it was entered in a way that is incorrect or incompatible with the Wii console. Please read the following:

• WEP

  A WEP Key can be entered in several different ways:

  Hexadecimal
  Hex WEP Keys are either 10 or 26 characters. They consist of letters A-F and numbers 0-9, and usually don't make any sense. Capitalization is not important. You can use this with the Wii.

  ASCII
  ASCII WEP Keys are either 5 or 13 characters, and can be any letter, number, or character, including spaces. ASCII keys are case sensitive. You can use this with the Wii.

  Passphrase
  A passphrase can be any length. A passphrase is used to generate a hexadecimal key. You cannot use this with the Wii. You'll have to use the hexadecimal or ASCII key instead.

  • If more than one WEP Key is listed, use the WEP Key from the first slot.
  • If the WEP Key appears as *****'s, the router manufacturer has hidden the key and there is usually no way to look it up. If that is the case, and you have forgotten it, you will need to change the key. Important: if you make any changes to the WEP key, you will need to update the key in all other wireless devices in your home before those devices will be able to connect to the router.
• WPA

  A WPA Key can be presented in a couple of different ways:

  Hexadecimal
  Hex WPA Keys are 64 characters. They consist of letters A-F and numbers 0-9, and usually don't make any sense. Capitalization is not important. You can use this with the Wii.

  ASCII
  ASCII WEP Keys are either 8 to 63 characters, and can be any letter, number, or character, including spaces. ASCII keys are case sensitive. You can use this with the Wii.

  Passphrase
  A passphrase can be any length. A passphrase is used to generate a hexadecimal key. You cannot use this with the Wii. You'll have to use the hexadecimal or ASCII key instead.

  • If more than one WPA Key is listed, use the WEP Key from the first slot.
  • If the WPA Key appears as *****'s, the router manufacturer has hidden the key and there is usually no way to look it up. If that is the case, and you have forgotten it, you will need to change the key. Important: if you make any changes to the WPA key, you will need to update the key in all other wireless devices in your home before those devices will be able to connect to the router.

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