An iPhone should be able to help us do many things. But almost all features on iPhone need an internet connection to work and some iPhone users are using WiFi networks to do everything. When the iPhone doesn’t want to connect, they are looking for the solution for why won't my iPhone connect to WiFi.
Common Reasons of iPhone Doesn’t Connect to WiFi
If your iPhone doesn’t want to connect to a WiFi network or it keeps saying that the WiFi is not connecting, you must find the best solutions that are going to fix the issue. Various reasons cause the issue. By understanding the reasons, you may find the best solution.
1. WiFi keeps turning off and on itself
The first reason why your iPhone doesn’t want to connect to a WiFi network is that it doesn’t detect any network. If the WiFi is turning off and on itself, then your gadget won’t detect any network that is stable and reliable. That’s why the iPhone doesn’t connect to the network.
2. Connection keeps dropping
Another reason why your iPhone fails in connecting to a WiFi network is that the signal keeps dropping and gets weaker and weaker. Your iPhone is going to connect to a WiFi network if the signal gets better. But if the signal keeps dropping, then your device will keep waiting.
3. iPhone cannot join the WiFi
There may be something wrong with your iPhone so that it cannot join the available network. Probably, the issue is on the software or hardware of your iPhone is the one that makes your iPhone unable to join the WiFi network it detects. Then you need to fix the error on your iPhone first.
4. iPhone disconnects from WiFi after locking
Usually, locking a device will end some background processes on the iPhone. And when you unlock the device, any process you want to run stops and doesn’t work anymore. This may also happen to the WiFi connection, it may disconnect when you lock the device and doesn’t connect again by unlocking.
5. Slow WiFi connection
If the iPhone is okay and there is no error on the device, probably the slow connection of your WiFi is the one that causes the issue. If the WiFi connection is very slow and doesn’t get faster, your cellular device is not going to connect to the WiFi network but will look for a stronger network.
6. Incorrect password
One common reason an iPhone doesn’t want to connect to a WiFi network is you type an incorrect password when you try to connect the device. You may type the regular password you know but if someone changed the password of the WiFi, your iPhone will fail to connect.
7. An iOS update causes an error
Another answer for why won't my iPhone connect to WiFi is the device keeps dropping WiFi after an iOS update. This error was found on some series of iPhones, including the XR, Xs, and Xs Max after the 12.1.3 iOS update. Then you need to wait for another update to fix the error.
Fixing WiFi Network Connectivity Error on iPhone
After figuring out the reason for the WiFi connection error, you need to check some ways that will help you fix the issue so that you can start using your iPhone normally again. Below are the solutions you should try before calling the service center of Apple.
1. Check the router of your WiFi
If there is a problem with your iPhone and it doesn’t want to connect to the WiFi network, you need to check the WiFi router before checking anything else. If your router is too hot, it may not be able to establish a stable WiFi connection to your device.
And if the light of your WiFi router doesn’t flash normally, the WiFi is disconnected. It is crucial to check the router cable and then make sure that everything is connected firmly to the socket. If the connection isn’t firm enough, the router won’t have a great signal and your iPhone won’t work properly.
2. Toggle your WiFi off and on
If the router is working properly and there is no problem with the cable, then you may need to check your iPhone and then switch its WiFi off. Next, you need to turn it back on and check if this step can help you solve the WiFi connection problem.
You can turn the mobile data or cellular on and then see whether your iPhone has a stable signal. If your iPhone doesn’t have a stable signal, then you may want to check the signal in some other places. Try some steps below.
- Run Settings on your iOS device and then locate the WiFi menu, and turn the WiFi menu off.
- Wait for 30 seconds first before tapping the WiFi toggle once more to restart the WiFi option.
- Join the WiFi network after restarting the WiFi of your iPhone.
You can try connecting your iPhone to some WiFi networks to see whether the problem is on your iPhone or on the WiFi.
3. Turn the airplane mode on and off
If your iPhone still doesn’t want to connect to WiFi, you need to restart the network simply by activating airplane mode. The steps to activate and disable airplane mode are easy. But if you cannot perform the action successfully, you need to try it several times to fix the network issue.
- On your iPhone home screen, swipe down or swipe up to find the control center.
- Turn the airplane mode on by tapping on the airplane icon and then wait for at least 15 seconds.
- Tap the icon of the airplane again to turn off the airplane mode and then try to connect your iPhone to any WiFi network.
When activating or enabling airplane mode, don’t turn the WiFi on or try to connect to any WiFi network. Let your iPhone get rest for between 15 and 30 seconds in airplane mode before trying to connect it to the internet again.
4. Disable the device’s VPN
Why won't my iPhone connect to WiFi? Probably because you turn the VPN on all the time, the VPN may interrupt the iPhone and make your device doesn’t want to connect to any WiFi network. Disable your VPN for a few minutes and see whether the device can connect to the network.
Another way to try is logging into the admin dashboard of your router and then turning the VPN off from there. This step is going to deactivate the VPN and fix the network issue on your iPhone. However, if this method doesn’t help, you need to keep reading to find another solution.
5. Reconnect the network after forgetting it
Another best way to fix the network issue is to disconnect from the WiFi network and then rejoin the network. A brief networking problem or error may cause various problems, including your iPhone doesn’t want to connect automatically. Then you need to remember the WiFi password and then try these:
- Run the Settings app on your iPhone and then tap on the WiFi menu.
- You are going to see a list and then tap the WiFi network’s name you want to connect.
- Tap on the “i” icon next to the name of the WiFi network and then choose to Forget this network.
- Wait for a few minutes before trying to connect your iPhone to the WiFi network.
When you try to rejoin the network again, you should enter the password. That’s why you need to remember or note the password of the WiFi before forgetting the network. After entering the password, you should be able to access the network with no trouble.
6. Force restart your iPhone
Sometimes, all you need is to restart your device and then everything will be fine again. Unfortunately, force restarting different series of iPhone require different steps. Below are the different steps you need to take to force restart your iPhone.
· iPhone 6 and older versions
Press and hold the home button and side button until the screen shows the Apple logo.
· iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
Press and hold your device’s volume down and side buttons together and then release them when you see the screen showing the Apple logo.
· iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, and 14
Quickly press your volume down and up buttons and then release the buttons before quickly pressing the side button until your screen turns completely black and then shows the Apple logo.
Software glitches may cause different issues on iPhone or even Android devices. Force restart may seem simple but this easy step is going to fix different issues because of a software glitch.
7. Change the DNS settings
Why won't my iPhone connect to WiFi? If the problem happens after an update, then probably the latest software version is the one that causes the problem. If so, then you need to change the iPhone’s DNS settings to Google DNS by following some easy steps below.
- Run the iPhone’s Settings app and then locate the WiFi and then tap the WiFi network you want to connect to.
- Tap on the Configure DNS menu before turning it to Manual and then tap on the Add Server option, fill it with 8.8.8 which is the Google DNS.
Changing the DNS will help your iPhone to connect to a WiFi network and gain a signal much more easily. If Google DNS is already available, simply choose the DNS without adding any new server. But if there is no Google DNS, adding the new server is a great idea.
8. Delete the network settings
Some iPhones experience a WiFi network issue after downloading the iOS 16. If this issue happens on your device after an iOS update, then one solution to consider is resetting the network settings. Try resetting the network settings and then try to re-pair and reconnect.
Even though resetting network settings may not be the easiest and simplest method to try, you need to consider this method to fix any network problem. Mostly, this troubleshooting will fix the iOS 16 internet problem. You must give it a try if the error occurs after applying a software update.
9. Removing all data on your iPhone
If you have tried the other eight methods above and none can help you fix the issue, then you need to reset the iPhone completely. However, this method should be the very last option to consider. This method is going to resolve the issue but you must backup all data on your device first.
Resetting the iPhone is going to wipe all settings and data on your device and then restore the OS to the newest. As the result, this method is going to resolve the connection problem on the device but eliminate everything inside the phone.
If you don’t want to lose anything on the phone, then make sure that you create a backup of everything inside the device. And then put them back on your phone after restoring the device. Don’t forget to check whether this solution can help you fix the trouble.
10. Fixing the issue without losing the data
Another option to consider is using the iMyFone Fixppo, which is an app to solve any problem on your iPhone. This app has a very user-friendly interface that is going to ease you in fixing any issue on the device easily.
Why won't my iPhone connect to WiFi? Seven things may cause the network connectivity issue on your device, but fortunately, there are ten ways to fix the error. Make sure that you try these ten methods and see whether any of them can help you fix the issue so that you can use your iPhone again.
Morgan Azhari, the owner of PrinterUpdate.net, is a dedicated expert in the field of printers, leveraging a wealth of experience and education to create a platform that passionately shares insights and solutions.
With a goal to enhance the printer user experience, my vision for the website is to provide valuable content, making a positive impact on individuals navigating the complexities of printers.