Fix Nintendo Wii Error Codes 51330, 51331, 52030, 51030

The Nintendo Wii was a smash hit when it was released back in late 2006. Its revolutionary idea of an active video game console changed the way people thought about gaming. Eventually, competitor Microsoft caught up and released the Kinect, and the gimmick lost its flare. Now the Wii is not nearly as popular as it once was. It may have been a fad, but many people still have these consoles, as they allow you to access the internet and play Gamecube and Wii games alike.

Unlike some articles on here like the Ultimate HTTP Error Code List, this article is not an exhaustive list that covers all error codes you may encounter on a Wii. It has several common error codes and the ones on this list all are related to internet connection. Getting these errors can be extremely frustrating for users, as many people use it for streaming services or playing online.

These codes are similar and may seem the exact same at first glance, but there are some subtle differences. Understanding these differences is crucial in understanding how to correct them.

Nintendo has a good support system on their website where you can look up error codes and it gives you a very detailed description of the problems and how to fix them. However, it may take some time scrolling through different pages, opening up multiple tabs, and some of the wording is a little bit confusing. That’s why my goal for this article is to simplify the process and make the language a little bit more understandable. This article is a one stop for everything you need to know about these error codes.

“I got to play with Nintendo’s Wii, yes it’s a funny name and not very revolutionary but it was fun whipping your arms around”. – Olivia Munn

If the solutions fail for these error codes, make sure you visit Nintendo Support for further assistance and details on other error codes.

51330 and 51331: Unable to Connect to the Internet

Starting off this list are the two most common codes. I combined these two because they are virtually the same. On Nintendo’s website, the causes and solutions are word-for-word exactly the same.

The issue is between the console and the router. It is most commonly caused by an incorrect security key being entered into the Wii.

Solution:

Here’s a list, in chronological order, of what you should perform. Make sure after each step to test the internet connection with the Wii.

1. Power Cycle Your Router

• Start off with doing the simplest thing possible: power cycling your router. If you are unfamiliar with that term, it is simply turning off your router, unplugging it, waiting for at least 30 seconds, and then turning it back on.
• After that, verify that it is connected to the internet and this simple trick may fix this issue. Yes, it is the stereotypical customer service response we have all heard, “turn it off and back on again”, but it is easy and may work.

2. Change the Security Type

If the power cycling doesn’t work, the next thing you should try is to change the security type. You want to change the type to WPA2 – PSK (AES), which is what you always want to be on. This solves the issue because sometimes the console automatically selects the wrong security type when initially setting it up, so giving it the correct security type may fix the problem.

This can be done by selecting the ‘Wii’ button from the Wii menu and from there going to: Wii System Settings->Wii Settings->Wii System Settings->Internet->Connection Settings->Change Settings->Type of Security->WPA2 -PSK (AES).

3. Check the Password

If the console already had WPA2 – PSK (AES) selected as its security type, check your router’s password, and then confirm that the correct one is entered into the Wii. Double check that the password and security type are both correct, and then test the connection.

4. Confirm your Router’s Wireless Mode is Either 802.11g or 802.11b

The wireless mode of a router is basically the speed at which the routers can operate at. The Wii supports the 802.11g and 802.11b wireless formats (labeled as “Up to 54Mbps” by some routers).

If the router you are using is set to something other than the modes listed above, change this setting, as this may be what is preventing it from connecting.

Changing the setting is a little bit different for every router, so here is a good list Nintendo provides on how to change it based on the brand.

5. Change your router’s channel

This is something you should do even if you don’t have a problem, as it speeds up your network just in general. If you have a 2.4 GHz router (the most common) it naturally broadcasts on channel 6, which overlaps with other channels and may be weaker. The more routers around you, the weaker your signal on channel 6 may be, so you should avoid this channel at all costs.

Changing your router’s channel to 1 or 11, as they are the furthermost from 6, will most likely increase your router’s range and strength.

For a great article on how to change your router’s channel, read this article from howtogeek.com.

51030: Unable to connect to your wireless network

This is the easiest error to fix, as this problem lies with your router. Usually what happens is the connection settings on the router have changed, which means the Wii has incorrect settings for the router.

Solution:

Your first step should be to power cycle your router, as I discussed in the previous section. It’s such an easy step, and for this error code, it will usually work.

However, if power cycling doesn’t work, there is one more thing you can try. Delete your router from your Wii, and set it up again. Just by entering the password again and starting over usually will fix this error.

52030: Unable to connect to your wireless network

This error is much more complicated than 51030, as there are a couple things that could be causing it.

One cause could be that the security settings entered into the console aren’t the same as what your router is set for. It may also be that your router is unable to give the Wii and IP address automatically.

Do these solutions in order, and make sure to test the connection after each step.

Solution:

1. Confirm Security Key

The first and easiest thing you can do is to make sure the security key and security type are entered into the Wii exactly as they appear in your router’s settings. Keep in mind that these keys are case sensitive, contain numbers 0 through 9, and only letters A through F.

You should be able to find your security key on your computer where the router is saved as a device, or sometimes it is even listed on the router.

• Linksys – 192.168.001.140
• Netgear – 192.168.001.250
• Belkin –  192.168.002.090
• D-Link – 192.168.000.190

After entering your IP address, click on the Subnet Mask box and enter 255.255.255.0. The cool thing about this common subnet mask is that it can be used no matter what brand of router you are using.

After entering the subnet mask, select the Default Router box. Here you enter a default gateway address, which again is different for each brand of router. Here are the same brands, and you can find the others in the same way to find your IP address.

• Linksys – 192.168.001.001
• Netgear – 192.168.001.001
• Belkin – 192.168.002.001
• D-Link – 192.168.000.001

After inputting your default gateway, click on”Auto Obtain DNS.” From there No->Advanced Settings->Primary DNS.The number you can input for the Primary DNS is 008.008.008.008. For the Secondary DNS, enter 008.008.004.004. 

Note: These numbers I am giving you are not the only you can use, just the most common.

Conclusion

Yes, I know the pain of hopping on your console and the network isn’t working. It can make you want to throw your remote at your TV. But, take a deep breath and look at what error is coming up. The best part about this list is that each solution anyone can complete within 5-10 minutes max. Besides just the Nintento Wii, gaming consoles are notorious for error codes; odds are you’ll have to deal with them some day. If you also use a PS4, check out our Ultimate PS4 Error Code List.

I hope you found this article easy to read and helpful for fixing these common errors. If you have any questions or other good pieces of information, make sure to leave a comment below.

For another article on how to fix internet connectivity issues, make sure you read Netflix Error 1012.

Ryan Nelson

Ryan is a computer enthusiast who has a knack for fixing difficult and technical software problems. Whether you’re having issues with Windows, Safari, Chrome or even an HP printer, Ryan helps out by figuring out easy solutions to common error codes.