I bought an ASUS Google Nexus 7 tablet cheaply so I could download webtoons and check email during overnight work shifts. Phones aren't allowed because clients may take them and use them to call emergency services, so I wanted an inexpensive device that wouldn't be a huge loss if damaged. Unfortunately, the tablet won't connect to my home Wi‑Fi, and I'm worried it may not work on the workplace network either. Is there a setting, accessory, or software update that could make it compatible, or should I return it?
4 Answers
Before modifying anything, see whether it can connect to another simple network, such as a phone hotspot or an older router. If it cannot connect anywhere, the tablet’s Wi‑Fi hardware may be failing. Also confirm with your employer that a tablet is allowed, since it may be treated similarly to a phone in a safety-sensitive workplace.
There are two Nexus 7 generations. The 2012 model only supports 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi, while the 2013 model also supports 5 GHz. If your router is using only 5 GHz, the older tablet won’t even see it. Creating a separate 2.4 GHz WPA2 network may solve the problem.
First check the simple things: make sure the tablet’s date and time are correct, restart both the tablet and router, and try connecting to a 2.4 GHz network with WPA2 security. Very old Android versions may not support newer Wi‑Fi security settings or network configurations.
The tablet is more than a decade old, and its final Android versions are outdated. Even if the Wi‑Fi hardware still works, newer routers may require security protocols the tablet doesn’t understand. Installing a compatible community-built Android system might help, but it takes technical work and isn’t guaranteed to fix the problem.
I didn’t realize there were two versions. I’ll check which model I received and look at the router settings before giving up.