How to Fix the PS4 'Cannot Connect to the Wi-Fi Network' Error

There are few things worse than encountering connectivity issues when you fire up your PlayStation 4 to play a few matches of an online game like Fortnite or Overwatch. One particularly troublesome problem is when your PS4 can't connect to the Wi-Fi network within the time limit. You may get a blue screen simply stating, "Cannot connect to the Wi-Fi network within the time limit." There's also an OK prompt, but no additional information like an error code.

Alternatively, you might get an NW-31247-7 error that states, "Network connection has timed out. Your network connection is likely unstable or not strong enough." We'll show you some common troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve this issue and continue gaming.

Causes of PS4 'Cannot Connect to the Wi-Fi Network Within the Time Limit' Errors

Typically, when a connection times out, it means a server is taking too long to respond to a request for data from another device, in this case, the PlayStation 4. The error message appears when the request isn't fulfilled within a predetermined amount of time. As you can see in the above example, the message doesn't offer any clues about what's causing the timeout and how to fix it.

How to Fix PS4 'Cannot Connect to the Wi-Fi Network Within the Time Limit' Errors

Use the following suggestions to troubleshoot your connectivity issue and get back online:

1. Check your internet connection. Confirm your internet is working correctly using a computer or mobile device. If you can't connect to the internet, you may need to contact your internet service provider (ISP).

2. Use a wired internet connection. Connect the PS4 to your modem or router directly using an Ethernet cable instead of using Wi-Fi.

   Use the shortest Ethernet cable you can, no longer than 25 feet. Also, make sure it's compatible with 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, or 1000BASE-T networks.

3. Check the PlayStation Network status. It might be temporarily unavailable or undergoing maintenance.

4. Perform an internet connection test. You can do this on your PS4 by going to Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.

5. Reboot your router and modem and restart the PS4. Unplug the PS4 and your modem/router for about two minutes. Then plug the modem/router back in and turn the console on. Check to see if you can connect to the internet.

6. Upgrade the router firmware. An update might fix the issue.

7. Connect to another channel. If you use a dual-band router, changing the Wi-Fi channel number can help avoid interference. For example, if your PS4 usually uses the 5 GHz channel, connect to the 2.4 GHz one instead.

   Only the PS4 Slim and Pro models support 5 GHz.

8. Set up port forwarding on your router. Make sure the router isn't blocking the ports the PS4 uses to connect with the PSN servers. These are the port numbers that need to be forwarded:

   • TCP: 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480
   • UDP: 3478, 3479

9. Change the router's DNS server. If you normally let the PS4 assign a DNS server automatically, you might need to enter one manually. Or, if you typically use a specific DNS server, you might need to change its settings. To change the settings, go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Custom.

10. If none of the above steps solve the issue, contact your internet service provider.