iPhone Not Connecting to WiFi? How to Troubleshoot
If you have an issue with your iPhone connecting to the Internet via WiFi, follow this troubleshooting guide for help.
Whether you need to check in with a project at work or just answer a burning question through Google, being unable to connect to WiFi from your phone can be frustrating. Here’s a look at the many potential reasons why this could be happening, as well as some troubleshooting steps you can take to fix the problem.
Potential WiFi Connection Problems
Mobile Internet connectivity problems can make you want to throw your phone. After all, without an Internet connection, you’ll have to use valuable data to get your device to work at all. Your network connection is particularly important if you rely on your phone for work or study, as you may need to access email, files, or applications stored in the cloud.
Here are some common reasons your iPhone might not be connecting to WiFi.
Here are some common reasons your iPhone might not be connecting to WiFi.
Router or Modem Issues
One potential culprit? Your router or modem (or router/modem combo). Rebooting these devices can often fix connection problems. If it doesn’t, it may be time to purchase a new one. If you rent your modem or router from your Internet service provider, contact their customer service and seek out a new device.
A Bad Network Connection
A bad network connection may be another cause. Resetting network settings on your iPhone can often fix these problems. Read on to learn how to reset your iPhone’s network settings.
iOS Software Woes
There may also be a problem with your iOS software. If you're having WiFi problems, updating to the latest version of iOS may fix the issue. Of course, if you have an older iPhone, updating to the latest iOS may create other problems.
Multiple Device Interference
Connectivity issues can also be caused by interference from other devices. If you’re in a household or other environment where the WiFi signal is being utilized by a large number of devices, disconnect the other devices from your WiFi and see if that solves your iPhone trouble. If it does, you likely just need to upgrade your Internet plan so you have more speed and bandwidth to handle all the devices vying for simultaneous Internet connection.
Clearing caches and cookies may also help improve your iPhone's connection to WiFi.
Clearing caches and cookies may also help improve your iPhone's connection to WiFi.
Step by Step Troubleshooting Instructions
The first step in trying to solve your iPhone’s WiFi connection issues is to simply restart everything: iPhone, modem, and router. If this tried and true trick fails, call your Internet service provider and see if they’re experiencing outages. If that still hasn’t solved the problem, it’s time to reset the phone’s settings.
To reset your iPhone’s network settings for iOS 15 or later, go through the following steps:
To reset your iPhone’s network settings for iOS 15 or later, go through the following steps:
- Tap Settings
- Select General
- At Transfer or Reset (Device), Choose Reset
- Select Reset Network Setting
To reset your iPhone’s network settings for iOS 14 or earlier, follow these steps:
- Tap Settings
- Select General
- Choose Reset
- Select Reset Network Setting
If at this point, you still haven’t solved your iPhone’s connection problems, another solution may be to “forget” the WiFi network. To do that:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap "WiFi"
- Tap the blue "i" next to the WiFi network you want to forget
- Tap "Forget This Network"
- Confirm by tapping "Forget"
By forgetting the WiFi network on your iPhone, you will be able to reconnect to the network again by entering the network name and the WiFi password.
Still no luck? If after going through all these options you still can’t connect to WiFi, it’s time to head to the Apple store and see if your phone has a hardware issue. Of course, it may just be time to buy a new one.
Need a better Internet connection? SmartMove can help. Whether you’re moving to a new location or just curious about high-speed plans for multiple devices, enter your address, and we’ll show you your options today.
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