Have you ever experienced a situation where your iPhone won’t connect to Wi-Fi? It can be quite frustrating and always seems to occur at the most inconvenient times! Whether you’re trying to purchase tickets for an event with a looming deadline or receiving a video call from a family member while using a public network at the airport, these situations always seem to crop up at the worst possible moments.
I hope to assist you with my guide, as I explore some of the common reasons for Wi-Fi not working issues and fixing iOS 17 system. While waiting for the arrival of iOS 18, let’s delve into why this issue may be occurring and how you can resolve it.
What is The Reason Why iPhone Not Connecting To WiFi?
Understanding the root cause of the problem is essential in identifying the most effective solution to get your connection via Wifi back up and running. There could be several reasons why your iOS device is failing to connect to a Wi-Fi network:
- Software Glitch – Occasionally, your iPhone’s software or router’s software may experience a malfunction. It can happen to anyone.
- Network Authentication Error – This is a sophisticated way of explaining that your iPhone and your WiFi are not communicating properly. This is typically due to the router not recognizing the password that you are inputting. It could be because you are trying to connect to a new network or encountering issues with the Wi-fi password. It is common to enter the correct passwords, and if they are written in chalk on a café wall (for their public network), it may not always be clear if a character is in lower or upper case.
- Out Of Range – Your iPhone may be too distant from your router. Despite the documented range of the router, various factors can diminish the range or degrade the signal quality the further you move away!
- Interference – Other devices or objects might be interfering with the signal of the Wi-Fi network on your iPhone.
- Network Congestion – When in a crowded venue like a concert or a busy coffee shop, there could be an excessive number of devices attempting to connect simultaneously. This issue can also occur on older routers or with limited broadband packages on home networks.
- Loss Of WiFi connectivity – Occasionally, the issue may not lie with your own devices, but rather with the WiFi network itself.
- Equipment Malfunction – In rare instances, there could be a physical defect with your iPhone’s configure or router.
Now that we have identified the potential problems, let’s explore solutions to resolve them.
Ways To Fix iPhone Not Connecting To Wi-Fi
When you encounter the frustration of your iPhone not being able to connect to the Wi-Fi, there are various troubleshooting tips you can take to fix the problem. Ensure that your authentication credentials are accurate, especially when connecting to shared networks at cafes where case sensitivity may vary. If that doesn’t work, below are some common solutions to assist you in restoring your Wi-Fi connection. Start with the simplest method first:
Toggle Wi-Fi Off and On
Switching off your iPhone’s Wi-Fi and then turning it back on can sometimes fix your Wi-fi connection. This action refreshes the wireless connection and can establish a new connection to the network. It may also be helpful to restart the Wi-Fi router to ensure all devices can reconnect properly to the network.
Sometimes, the easiest solution is the most effective one. Try toggling your Wi-Fi off and then on again. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select ‘WiFi’.
- Toggle the switch to the off position and then back on.
An alternative method is:
- Swipe downwards from the top right of your screen to activate ‘Control Center’.
- For older models with a home button, swipe upwards from the bottom of the screen, near the home button.
- Tap the Wi-fi network to deactivate your WiFi connection.
- The icon will change from blue to grey.
- Wait a moment, then tap the WiFi icon again to reactivate it.
Turn Airplane Mode Off And On
To reset network settings and potentially resolve connectivity issues, toggle Airplane Mode on and off on your iPhone. This feature can help reset various wireless connections, such as Wi-Fi and cellular data. It’s a quick fix that can help eliminate glitches and refresh your connection.
- Simply open Control Center by swiping down from the top right of your screen
- Tap the airplane icon to turn on Airplane Mode, wait a few seconds, then tap the icon again to turn it off.
- On older models with a home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access Control Center.
Forget This Network
If your iPhone is having trouble remembering your WiFi network, you may need to have it unlearn the network and then re-add it. This does not always indicate a weak signal or a congested channel, although it can suggest this. Sometimes, simply erasing the network information can help refresh and stabilize the connection. Follow these steps:
- Navigate to Wi-fi settings and then click on ‘WiFi’.
- Select the network name. If there is an information (i) icon next to your network, tap on that.
- Choose ‘Forget This Network’ and confirm the action.
- Reconnect by choosing your name of the Wi-fi network again and entering the password.
Reset Network Settings
If you find yourself without WiFi or network coverage, resulting in only SOS service, following these steps can often be beneficial. Keep in mind that by doing this, the data loss may happen with your mobile network and data settings, along with any current or previous VPN and APN configurations, as well as any saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, will be reset. This is how you can proceed:
- Navigate to ‘Settings’ and then ‘General’
- For iPhone 15 only: Choose ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’, then click on ‘Reset’ located at the bottom of the screen. A pop-up menu will appear offering different reset options.
- Select ‘Reset Network Settings’ from the menu
- If prompted, provide your password and confirm the reset.
Restart Your iPhone
If you’re unsure, try powering off and then back on again. This is a primary guideline for resolving IT issues, and it can effectively eliminate various minor software problems:
- Hold down the power button until the ‘slide to power off’ option appears.
- Slide to power off.
- Once your iPhone shuts down, wait a few moments before holding down the power button again until the Apple logo appears.
- Your device should reboot normally, providing a clean slate and a straightforward troubleshooting step to try.
Less Distance To The Router
If you are experiencing connectivity issues, consider moving closer to the router. This is a common problem in crowded places like cafes and shopping malls where signal interference can occur. Whether you are in a busy cafe or at home, being too far from the router can cause poor signal quality. If you are unable to relocate your iPhone closer to the router, you may want to invest in a WiFi booster to extend the signal range.
Checking WiFi Outage
If other devices are also unable to connect to the WiFi, the issue might be with the WiFi signal reaching the property. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot:
- Try connecting your devices to another network if available.
- Check the lights on the router to see if they are showing a stable connection (usually indicated by a normal color) or if they are flashing a different color, which could mean there is an outage or a faulty connection.
- If you have access to mobile data on your phone, visit your internet service provider’s website to check for any reported outages or scheduled maintenance in your area.
- Contact your ISP to report the issue. They can test your line and the network to identify any faults.
Disable Any VPN Currently Using
If you are using a VPN, it may be causing issues with your WiFi connection. Try deactivating it to see if that resolves the problem. Some VPNs operate at the router level, while others are specific to certain devices. If, for example, connecting your iPhone with a VPN is unable but your Xbox can without one, the VPN may be to blame. Turning it off could potentially fix the issue.
Switch To A Different WiFi Channel
Your router may be set to a congested WiFi channel. In areas where multiple routers are operating nearby and numerous devices are vying for bandwidth, a WiFi channel can become overcrowded, leading to slower and unstable Internet connections.
If you suspect this is the issue, you can modify the WiFi channel settings through your router’s admin console. To do this, you will need a computer or device capable of accessing URLs and IP addresses. Consult your router’s manual or your ISP’s documentation for instructions specific to your router.
Change DNS Settings
Adjusting the DNS settings on your iPhone may improve your internet speed. This can be particularly beneficial for gaming on unstable networks. Follow these steps to change your DNS settings:
1. Open ‘Settings‘, then go to ‘WiFi‘.
2. Select your network’s name or tap on the ‘i‘ button next to your connected network.
3. Scroll down to find ‘Configure DNS‘ and click on it.
4. Choose ‘Manual’ in the menu.
5. Tap on ‘Add Server‘ and input the DNS server addresses.
6. Save the address you have entered.
7. Make sure to research and find the correct DNS server to connect to before making any changes.
8. If the new settings don’t improve your connection, delete them and try other troubleshooting methods.
Router Firmware Updating
If the Wi-fi issue lies with the router and not with your iPhone, and you have exhausted most troubleshooting options, consider checking for a firmware update for your router. Visit your internet service provider’s website to see if there are any patches, updates, or firmware releases available for your router. These updates typically install automatically, without any action required on your part. However, there is a possibility that the update could fail or cause glitches, leading to connectivity issues. While this is uncommon, it can still occur.
The process of manually installing firmware can vary depending on the router and ISP, so refer to your router’s manual for specific instructions.
Software Updating
To make sure your iPhone is running the most up-to-date software, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to ‘Settings’ and then ‘General’.
2. Select ‘Software Update’ to check which software version is currently installed on your device.
3. If you have the latest software version installed, you won’t see an option to download a newer one.
4. If a newer version is available, tap on ‘Download and Install’.
5. Enter your password to confirm the installation process.
It’s possible that the connectivity issue, or other problems like Face ID not working you’re experiencing was caused by the software update. This is especially common if automatic updates are enabled, as they may start downloading in areas with poor signal or when your battery is low.
Factory Reset iPhone
If everything else doesn’t work, you may have to reset your iPhone to its factory settings. This action will erase all your media, settings, profiles, and apps, so make sure to back up your data before proceeding. It will revert the phone to its original factory state. After the reset, you can reinstall the latest software version and retrieve your files from the backup. A fresh installation can help resolve various issues and is actually recommended before selling your phone.
Conclusion
So, I have provided some troubleshooting steps for various situations where of iPhone is not connecting to Wifi. There are guidelines for fixing issues with both your iPhone or iPad & the network. If none of these steps are successful, and other devices are connecting properly to your WiFi, it may be a good idea to seek assistance by contacting Apple Support.
