Diagnosis
The Tailgater 20 uses a WiFIRE controller, but its signal isn't as strong as the bigger models. Connection problems are super common, and it's almost always about proximity and setup order.
How to Fix It
Let's do a reset. 1) On the grill's controller, hold down the center 'ignite' button for about 10 seconds until the display resets. 2) On your phone, forget the Traeger Wi-Fi network in your settings if it's saved. 3) Bring your phone and grill much closer together—like within 10 feet. 4) Now, start the grill pairing process in the app fresh. Make sure your phone is connecting to the grill's direct Wi-Fi signal (it'll look like 'Traeger-XXXX') during setup, not your home network.
If That Didn't Work
The issue might be your home network. The Tailgater's module sometimes struggles with modern routers using combined 2.4GHz/5GHz networks under one name. Try logging into your router and temporarily separating the 2.4GHz network with its own name (like 'Home-2G'), then connect the grill to that. The grill only works on 2.4GHz.
Heads Up
Even when connected, the range is limited. If you walk your phone too far from the grill, it'll drop the connection. Think of it as a Bluetooth-style connection for control, not a true long-range Wi-Fi link. For monitoring a long cook, keep the grill within a reasonable distance of your router.