Hi everyone,
Hoping someone can help me.
The WiFi router was replaced today due to performance issues ( slow connections /latency when FireTV was in use ) But now I’m unable to connect to the “PiFi 5 Setup” network on my phone.
The RPi 5 is plugged in and connected by Ethernet cable to Eth1 port on the new router. All lights are on on both the RPi 5 and the Router.
Can someone help ?
Hi,
When you say you’re unable to connect, what exactly happens? For example, does it reject the password, or show a specific error?
One thing that can cause this is the port setting being on LAN while the Ethernet is plugged into the router’s WAN port (or vice versa).
What I’d try:
If you can tell me the exact error message and device (or a screenshot), I can be more precise.
This is what ChatGPt was saying …(courtesy of my colleague )
"that screenshot is from your router’s port‑forwarding page, but this is not related to why your PiFi AP shows “No Internet access”.
If your PiFi is only a router + VPN client, you do NOT need to open ports at all.
Your PiFi not having Internet is caused by the Pi not getting a proper LAN IP / default route via the new router, NOT by missing port forwarding.
Reinstalling the PiFi firmware will most likely solve the issue — but it’s the nuclear option, and you can fix this with 1–2 commands instead.
The Pi’s Ethernet interface name changed, so PiFi’s routing rules point to the wrong interface.
Examples:
Old router → Pi used eth0
New PiFi firmware → Pi uses enx…
PiFi NAT still forwarding to eth0 (which doesn’t exist)
Result → No upstream Internet → Android warns “No Internet access”
This is very common.
1 minute fix if you give me this output:
ip addr
ip route
Hi,
Thanks for reply.
I did several hours of trouble shooting with a friend on Friday afternoon/evening and managed to address the issue by doing a fresh install of the RPi FW image on the SD card. This seems to have fixed the problem. ( Although the WiFi speed seems much slower than with previous router )
(I put another post about an issue we had with flashing the FW image to SD card. )
Before the router was changed when I wanted to connect to PiFi 5 Set up on my phone I would just select it from the available WiFi networks listed.
It would automatically disconnect from the current one and connect to PiFi 5 Set Up and I would have internet access through that.
With the new router ( Mitra star WiFi 6 router ) the PiFi 5 Set up is still listed as an available WiFi in Networks options but when I click on it it says
" PiFi 5 Setup has no internet access "
The phone also was giving that same Android system message. See screen shot.
I use VPN for work so when I can’t connect my phone to PiFi and open PiFi app then I know I won’t be able to connect my laptop to it either.
Sorry I’m not too savvy on these things… I’m more if it ain’t broke don’t fix it …
Tap the top bar and select Yes (as in my screenshot). That allows your device to talk to the router even when there’s no internet access.
Then open the PiFi app. It’ll explain why you’re offline. Most commonly it’s because the port is set to WAN instead of LAN, and the app should guide you to switch it back and get online again.
Also, if the VPN is enabled while the internet drops, it can look like the device is “stuck” offline. It will not automatically fall back to unencrypted internet without you explicitly disconnecting in the app, as a safety feature.
Hi,
As part of trouble shooting , today I followed the steps you mentioned in the workaround you provided earlier:
( Note : Re power cycle I wasn’t sure if just pressing the power on/off button on the RPi5 was enough. I pressed it for ~ 5 seconds. Then I unplugged the power supply. )
Note: I said to ISP I will test the WiFi and see if it’s stable for work remotely. If not, I said I want my old router back to test the stability of connection with it ( I don’t remember speeds being as slow or stability not as good. It definitely would drop yes but not so much it seems as this one )
"One thing that can cause this is the port setting being on LAN while the Ethernet is plugged into the router’s WAN port (or vice versa).
What I’d try:
If you can tell me the exact error message and device (or a screenshot), I can be more precise. "
I did those steps and when I checked the App it showed WAN. Is that correct ? There are 4 Ethernet ports on the new router we got. I don’t see anything WAN showing on the router. So I’m not sure about this point.
Anyway those steps seemed to have worked as regards getting Internet access again!
→ I can now connect my Android phone to PiFi 5 Set Up and have Internet access again…
→ I can connect my work laptop to PiFi Set up network and have internet access again via the PAN GP VPN.
In the PiFi App settings I noticed the SSID as being empty.
Not sure if I did something wrong here but I populated that with “PiFi 5 Setup” and the password for the PiFi 5 Setup network ( I had changed it from default one last year )
It’s correct ?
I noticed the App wasn’t able to connect ( usually when I click on VPN in the PiFi app it says connected and shows me the server I’m connected to )
I did the below steps but not sure if in exactly always this order…
Opened the PiFi app
More Settings > Delete App cache
Rebooted phone ( Android Motorola Fusion 50 Edge )
Opened PiFi app
Click VPN
I get the Network not detected message.
Click Fix
Brings me to the screen with msg:
“Visit WiFi settings on this device and connect to PiFi to continue”
The last saved password is showing as the password I set last year ( i.e. not the default RPi password )
The page is spinning as if it can’t sign me in
( Ref : Issue: App Won't Detect / Captive Portal )
I uninstalled the PiFi app ( from Apps > PiFi >Uninstall )
Rebooted Phone
Reinstalled PiFi app from Playstore.
I still have the same issue. The PiFi app does not connect.
So to summarise:
I can access PiFi 5 Setup network from my work laptop and I have internet access ( although speeds are not v fast but that is a separate issue - right now : 12 Mbps d/l and 54 Mbps u/l )
I can connect to PAN GP VPN and work remotely which is my main concern!
But I would like to make sure everything is set correctly and for the App to work ( "Your PiFi is ready " and shows me the server I am connected to etc. )
Is it relevant that the PiFi app doesn’t connect ?
I can send more screenshots too ( only 2 allowed per post it seems )
Thanks for your help 
Hi,
Ok I finally fixed this. I had wait for some quiet time around the house 
I put an update on this post :
as it seemed to be the exact issue I was having.
Thanks, hope it helps
Hi,
Coming back to this as I had lots of problems last night with PAN GP work VPN ( lost 1.5 hrs in one dropped session trouble shooting, reconnecting, disconnecting, rebooting etc . Had a few other shorter ones ~ 20-30 mins 
)
I’ve asked the ISP for my old router back to see if I can get more stability with the PAN GP connection.
So, now they ( ISP ) did some trouble shooting remotely and
again the situation has reverted to as before…
I.e. I’m unable to get connected to PiFi 5 Setup network on my Android phone ( so I will also not get a connection to PiFi 5 Set up from my work laptop )
I followed what you advised in the last post.
Here is the system report from PiFi app:
PiFi Status: error
LAN IP: 192.168.3.14
Ethernet: connected
Port: WAN
Hardware: Pi 5
Offline: false
PiFi USB: missing
Beta: No
AP: Unavailable
STA Mode: notconnected
AGHome: On
Protocol: openvpn
Wireguard: disconnected
OpenVPN: connected
ForceDNS: Off
App Version: 1.0.57
System Time: 2026-02-23
Firmware Version: 0.1.5.21
Can I fix this or do I have to do another fresh RPi FW installation?
Lots of stuff online about trouble shooting but ideally I don’t want to be doing too many changes in case I make the situation worse ( I also may not have the Admin rights to do so )
Thanks for your help,
Some Android models require explicit permission to communicate with routers that aren’t yet online. Once you tap Yes, the device should be reachable in the app.
If at step 2 (as in doesn’t connect at all, let me know)
Hi !
Thanks for the feedback.
Just to make sure ( in case I have this issue again )
After Step 1 should I unplug the RPi from the power source
And then leave it unplugged and proceed with step 2?
Or
Unplug it and then plug it back into power source
Then proceed with Step 2?
I assume it’s the latter as my phone won’t detect PiFi 5 Setup otherwise right?
Sorry, just want to be sure so I am following the exact steps and not feeding back confusing messages.
Keep ethernet unplugged until you are connected with the Pi (even if ‘connected, no internet’)
You’ll need to reconnect power, but ethernet can stay unplugged until the phone establishes a connection and the app recognises the PI
