Force Android to Prioritize Wi-Fi Hotspots - HTG
Troubleshooting Incorrect Wi-Fi Connections on Android
If your Android device consistently connects to an unintended Wi-Fi network, a solution is available. This guide details how to prioritize preferred hotspots, ensuring your device automatically selects the network you desire.
Note: The original instructions were based on a cyanogenmod environment, and these specific settings may not be present on standard Android installations. An updated version of this article is currently in development.
Dear How-To Geek,
My workplace has numerous Wi-Fi hotspots available, and I have access to them all. However, my Android phone frequently defaults to a hotspot located far away. I often find my phone connected to a network with a weak signal (1 out of 4 bars) instead of a strong one (4 out of 4 bars) that is clearly visible.
Is there a way to configure Android to intelligently select my preferred Wi-Fi hotspot without requiring manual adjustments several times daily?
Sincerely,
Wi-Fi Frustrated
We appreciate reader questions that prompt us to address our own technical challenges. We understand the issue of Android’s occasionally illogical hotspot selection process, as one of our devices has experienced similar behavior for months. Let’s demonstrate the solution.
Accessing Wi-Fi Settings
Begin by navigating to the Settings menu on your Android device, then select "Wi-Fi".
Tap the menu button on your device, or utilize the on-screen menu option as shown in the image above. From the Wi-Fi menu, choose "Advanced Wi-Fi".
Configuring Wi-Fi Priority
Within the Advanced Wi-Fi menu, two settings are important to adjust. Enabling "Avoid poor connections" can be beneficial, as it prevents the device from connecting to significantly weaker hotspots. More importantly, select "Wi-Fi priority" to manage connection preferences.
To reorder the network list, press and hold the arrow icon next to the desired hotspot’s name (avoid pressing the name itself). After a brief press, you can drag the entry up or down to adjust its priority. Note that the Wi-Fi strength indicators within the Wi-Fi Priority menu are not updated dynamically and will consistently display 1 of 4 bars.
In our example, we prioritized the local connections (wireless-5G and wireless) over other networks, particularly the distant connection (NETGEAR54) to which the device previously defaulted. Following this adjustment, your device should consistently prioritize connections as intended.
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