iOS: Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections

Products Affected

iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

Symptoms

When using a Wi-Fi network with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you may occasionally encounter the following issues:

  • Unable to locate a Wi-Fi network
  • Unable to join a nearby Wi-Fi network
  • Connected to Wi-Fi network, but unable to access the Internet
  • Weak or low Wi-Fi signal strength

This article outlines basic troubleshooting tips and techniques for Wi-Fi on your iOS device. For information on enabling or configuring a Wi-Fi connection, see the User Guide for your product.

Note: iOS devices sold in China may use the term Wireless LAN (WLAN) instead of Wi-Fi. Not all China iPhone models support WLAN; see this article for more information.

Resolution

Many Wi-Fi issues can be resolved by doing the following:

Basic troubleshooting

  • Tap Settings > Wi-Fi and turn Wi-Fi off and then on again.
  • Verify that you are in range of your Wi-Fi router or base station.
  • Confirm that your Wi-Fi router and Cable/DSL modem are connected to power and turned on.
  • Check whether other devices (portable computers, for example) are able to connect to the Wi-Fi network and access the Internet.
  • Update your Wi-Fi router to the latest firmware.
    • For AirPort Base Stations, refer to this article for information about firmware updates. For third-party Wi-Fi routers, check the manufacturer's website for details on updating your firmware.
  • Restart your iOS device
    • Hold the On/Off button until "slide to power off" appears. Slide to power off your device. When it is off, press the On/Off button to turn it back on.

If you are still experiencing a Wi-Fi issue after trying the above, choose the symptom below that closely matches your issue:

If you're unable to locate a nearby Wi-Fi network

  • Check to see if the network is available by tapping Settings > Wi-Fi and choose from the available networks listed there. Note: It may take a few seconds for the Wi-Fi network name to appear.
  • Wi-Fi networks configured as closed or private do not broadcast the network name to Wi-Fi devices.
    • Join a closed or private network by tapping Settings > Wi-Fi > Other and entering the Wi-Fi network name, security, and password.
  • Try restarting your Wi-Fi router by turning it off and then on again.
    • Note: If your ISP also provides cable or phone service, check with them before attempting this step to avoid interruption of service.
  • Reset network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
    • Note: This will reset all network settings, including passwords, VPN, and APN settings.

If you're unable to join a nearby Wi-Fi network

  • Try restarting your Wi-Fi router by turning it off and then on again.
    • Note: If your ISP also provides cable or phone service, check with them before attempting this step to avoid interruption of service.
  • When joining an 802.11n Wi-Fi network, ensure that your router is properly configured. See this article for more information.
  • Reset network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
    • Note: This will reset all network settings, including passwords, VPN, and APN settings.

After joining a Wi-Fi network, you notice the signal strength is weak or fluctuates

  • Try moving closer to the Wi-Fi router or base station to see if the Wi-Fi signal improves.
  • Check for sources of potential interference.
  • Remove your iOS device from any case, stand, or other attachment to see if the Wi-Fi signal improves.
  • Open Safari and try to load a webpage to see if the Wi-Fi signal improves.

If you are unable to access the Internet while connected to a Wi-Fi network

  • If you are using a public or commercial network that requires a login or subscription, see this article for more information.
  • Verify that you are selecting the correct network if you are in a location with multiple Wi-Fi networks.
  • Verify that the Wi-Fi network settings are correct. You can view and configure Wi-Fi settings using the following steps:
    • Tap Settings > Wi-Fi.
    • Locate the Wi-Fi network you are currently using and tap The right arrow button.
  • If you've verified that your settings are correct and the issue persists, try the following:
    • Tap "Forget this Network" to reset settings for this Wi-Fi network, including the password. Then try connecting to the network again.
      Note: This can be useful if you identify a network issue and want to prevent the device from automatically using this network in the future.
    • Reset network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Note: This will reset all network settings, including passwords, VPN, and APN settings.

Note: If the Wi-Fi network uses MAC address filtering, you will need to add the MAC address to the access list for the Wi-Fi router. The MAC address for your device is listed as the Wi-Fi address in Settings > General > About.

If your iOS device does not auto-join a Wi-Fi network you've already connected to

  • Avoid giving your Wi-Fi network a common name.
    • Apple maintains a list of common or ambiguous SSIDs, including the default SSID for many commercially available access points, as well as the SSIDs "wireless" and "default".
    • If you do have a common SSID, try changing your network name to something unique.

Additional Information

Note: Some older third-party routers may not be compatible with all iOS devices, even after updating to the latest firmware. If your iOS devices can successfully connect to other Wi-Fi networks, contact your router's manufacturer to ensure that your router is compatible with your iOS device.

If you are using a Wi-Fi router at home, refer to your user manual/documentation to assist you with some of these suggestions.

  • Check the manufacturer's website for firmware or software updates for your Wi-Fi router.
  • Check the wireless security option of your Wi-Fi router:
    • If you are using WEP security and have multiple WEP keys on your Wi-Fi router, try configuring your Wi-Fi router to use only a single WEP key in key index 1.
    • Consider using WPA or WPA2 instead. WPA and WPA2 encryption protocols are newer, more effective security options for wireless networks than the older WEP protocol.
  • Temporarily disable wireless encryption or security on the Wi-Fi router to rule out encryption issues.
  • Disable 40MHz in the 2.4GHz settings on the Wi-Fi router. Mac computers, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch do not support this mode. Disabling it may reduce interference issues.
  • Supported Wi-Fi networks vary by iPhone, iPad, iPod touch model (Example: Does my device support 802.11n?). Refer to Tech Specs for detailed information on which standards your device supports.

Find additional information on configuring your Wi-Fi router for use with iOS devices.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
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my ipad wont accept my wi fi code
Toggle WiFi off and on Try forgetting the network and reconnecting. Forget the network by tapping WiFi>"YourNetwork" - press the blue arrow>forget This will allow you to put the password in again when you try to connect. Check out TS 1398 on apple.com/support for further help
in using_ipad, Jan 8, 2013 - 0 people liked this - 2 replies
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