Android cant find certain WIFI, Any idea?

[ade73]

As the title says, I'm having a problem on my android phone (Nothing Phone 1) where I can't find a certain WIFI to connect to that I normally can but other people can.

So at work we have a WIFI network that we can connect to (were not officially supposed to but its handy to keep an eye on things without having to go to a PC terminal and it uses the same login for everyone on the department (the password changes every 30 days)

On Monday I could find it and login no problems, Tuesday morning I could find it but not login it said incorrect password, I tried again with the same result. Now this is where it went strange, I cant remember if I tried the next number password or clicked on the forget network and tried again (this is the usual way to sort issues with it)

Since then the network does not show in my list of networks (sometimes you have to add it as a new network and then it shows in your list) After trying this numerous times I checked if anybody else were having problems but they were not.

No matter what I've tried this network does not show up on my list of WIFI. (Don't know if this is relevant but a new network called SETUP shows up after I search or add the usual network name manually. (no padlock to the side of it and it does not connect if I try to.

So far I have tried

WIFI turned off and on again (nothing)
Toggled airplane mode on and off (nothing)
Resetting the internet on the WIFI screen on the phone (nothing)
Going in system menu and reset WIFI, Mobile and Bluetooth (nothing)
Checked for software update for my phone (nothing)
Restarted the Phone (nothing)
Installed WIFI analyzer to see if it shows up on that WIFI list (nothing)
Used another persons Android phone that never uses the network and found it on there no problem.

The only other things I have found on googleto try are to factory reset my phone (don't want to do this) or reboot the router (can't be done as everything/everyone else would be effected)

Anybody know how to sort this?

TIA

[megaphone]

The network SSID is probably 'hidden' so it will not show up in the normal list of available networks. As you mentioned, you have to add it manually. This is often done by admins who don't want anyone on the network.

It could be 2.4GHz or 5GHz only, rather than both, maybe you phone is struggling with one of those frequencies.

Maybe your device has shown up as new on the network and the admins have blocked it?

[jonsp]

Could it be that IT have blocked your device from the network?

[Corso Marche]

I'm leaning towards your device got blocked for some reason.

Try sharing the network via a QR code from the WiFi settings on someone else's phone (scan it on your phone when displayed on their screen). See what happens.

[ade73]

jonsp said:

Could it be that IT have blocked your device from the network?

megaphone said:

Maybe your device has shown up as new on the network and the admins have blocked it?

That's what I'm thinking, but how do I get unblocked :/

[NWMark]

Speak to whoever administers the Wi-Fi network in IT - you cant do it yourself

[ade73]

Corso Marche said:

I'm leaning towards your device got blocked for some reason.

Try sharing the network via a QR code from the WiFi settings on someone else's phone (scan it on your phone when displayed on their screen). See what happens.

I thought of this lastnight after work and doing more googling, my nothing 1 phone has this option, my GF has a pixel and it has the option, a guy I work with has a pixel and we tried it first thing this morning but his didn't have the option when we clicked on the network :/

But It will show up on other peoples phones who have never used the network before.

[Corso Marche]

Speak to your IT Administrator.

I think from the bits of info you're sharing it's becoming increasingly obvious they've decent control over the network and are employing strict usage policies.

So talk to them directly.

[Sheepshanks]

I'd be wary of making a fuss if you're not supposed to do this - you'll not be popular if everyone else gets banned. When I worked for a big company they used to freak out if there was anything unauthorised on the network.

[ade73]

Sheepshanks said:

I'd be wary of making a fuss if you're not supposed to do this - you'll not be popular if everyone else gets banned. When I worked for a big company they used to freak out if there was anything unauthorised on the network.

Yes that's the dilemma.

[ade73]

Update.

OK so a couple of updates on this.

Firstly the WIFI randomly showed up in my list of Available WIFI 2 or 3 weeks after it first vanished, used the regular login info and all was well.

Then it vanished a few more times over the past year, once was after an Android update and another time was after a Nothing OS update.

After the OS update it stayed off for a lot longer, a work around was using my old phone to connect to the WIFI and blue tooth share. During this time I went back and forwards through Nothing Tech team to try and sort the issue.

All the suggestions from the first post were tried again with the only 2 options left to do a full factory reset and sending the phone back to Nothing for a full check.

Tried the first option and still no joy, I wasn't keen on sending the phone back as I would be without it for who knows how long and if it did turn out to be faulty, what would I get back.

Again the WIFI randomly came back on after an Android update, updated Nothing of this and they still said I could still send the phone back to check.

Random Googling found a similar problem, when adding a network there is an advanced options drop down menu, never used these but when putting this network as yes on the Hidden network tab it makes it show up on the available network list.

Never had to do this before but Case solved.