Your iPhone isn’t staying connected to WiFi and you’re not sure why. No matter what you try, your iPhone keeps getting disconnected from the internet. In this article, I’ll show you what to do when your iPhone keeps disconnecting from WiFi!
Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On
First, trying turning Wi-Fi off and back on. There may be a minor connectivity glitch that keeps disconnecting your iPhone from WiFi.
Go to Settings -> Wi-Fi and tap on the switch at the top of the screen to turn off Wi-Fi. Tap the switch again to turn Wi-Fi back on.
Turn Your iPhone Off And Back On
Turning your iPhone off and back on is another way we can address and attempt to fix a minor software problem. Turning off your iPhone allows all of its programs to shut down and start fresh when you turn your iPhone back on.
To turn off an iPhone without Face ID, press and hold the power button until “slide to power off” appears on the screen. If you have an iPhone with Face ID, simultaneously press and hold the side button and the volume down button until “slide to power off” appears.
Swipe the red power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. Wait a few moments, then press and hold the power button (iPhone 8 or earlier) or the side button (iPhone X or newer) until the Apple logo appears on the screen to turn your iPhone back on.
Restart Your WiFi Router
While you’re restarting your iPhone, try restarting your WiFi router too. Sometimes WiFi issues are router-related, not iPhone-related.
To restart your router, simply unplug it from the wall and plug it back in. It’s that simple! Take a look at our other article for more advanced Wi-Fi router troubleshooting steps.
Forget Your WiFi Network & Reconnect
Your iPhone saves information about your WiFi network and how to join to your WiFi network when you connect to it for the first time. When the way your iPhone connects to your WiFi network changes, it can cause a variety of problems.
First, we’ll forget your WiFi network, which completely erases it from your iPhone. When you reconnect your iPhone to your WiFi network, it’ll be as if you’re connecting to it for the very first time!
To forget your WiFi network on your iPhone, go to Settings -> Wi-Fi and tap the information button (look for the blue i) next to the name of your WiFi network. Then, tap Forget This Network.
Now that your Wi-Fi network has been forgotten, go back to Settings -> Wi-Fi and find the name of your network under Choose A Network. Tap on your network’s name, then enter your WiFi password to reconnect to your WiFi network.
Reset Network Settings
Resetting the network settings on your iPhone erases all of its Wi-Fi, Cellular, APN, and VPN settings and restores them to factory defaults. This means you’ll have to reenter Wi-Fi passwords and set up your VPN again, if you have one.
If there’s a software problem with your iPhone’s Wi-Fi settings, resetting network settings will usually fix it. Go to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. Then, tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm. Your iPhone will shut down, reset its network settings, and turn back on.
DFU Restore Your iPhone
If your iPhone still keeps disconnecting from WiFi, it’s time to put it in DFU mode and restore. A DFU restore erases then reloads all of the code on your iPhone, which is sure to fix any deep software problem. Check out our in-depth DFU restore guide to learn how to put any iPhone into DFU mode!
Exploring Repair Options
It’s time to start exploring repair options if your iPhone is still disconnecting from your WiFi network. It’s possible the antenna that connects your iPhone to WiFi has been damaged, making it difficult for your iPhone to connect and stay connected to WiFi.
Schedule an appointment at your local Apple Store if you plan on having the Genius Bar take a look at it. We also recommend an on-demand repair company called Puls, who can send a certified technician to you in as little as an hour.
You may want to try contacting the manufacturer of your WiFi router if you think there’s an issue with it. Google the name your router’s manufacturer and look for a customer support number to get the ball rolling.
WiFi Connectivity: Fixed!
You’ve fixed the problem with your iPhone and now it’s staying connected to WiFi. Next time your iPhone keeps disconnecting from WiFi, you’ll know how to fix the issue! Leave any other questions or comments you have in the comments section down below.
View Comments (59)
Turn off Wi-Fi assist. Go to settings, then to cellular scroll all the way down, turn off wifi assist
All the solutions work but only temporarily. I contacted my provider this morning and she walked through resetting both the phone and the router. It is once again connected but for how long. It is very frustrating. I have since learned that this problem is apparently very common for the Apple iPhone XR which is in fact a model 6 making it a very old model. She said that may be part of the problem. Apple seems to build in problems so that you almost are required to update your phone and/or Apple Watch like my Apple 3 model of the watch. I was told that very soon they would not longer be updating the Apple 3 series watch and that just sucks! Planned obsolescence hard at work.
Turn off Wi-Fi assist. Go to settings, then to cellular scroll all the way down, turn off wifi assist
Thank you so much. It worked. I did what you wrote and it solved the problem.
To reiterate what others have said - this is a problem that can be caused by VPN apps. Even if they are not currently active. You need to delete the VPN app altogether and restart the iPhone to fix this.
thankk yooooooouuuuuu
But also, make sure you're not using any third party VPNs. I found out that my Google One VPN was preventing my iPhone from connecting to WiFi properly.
Hmm. Sure seems strange that so many people say deleting their VPN, even if they aren’t using it, is the issue. It’s almost as if you need to connect to your WiFi with your personal up address and if you use any vpn you repeatedly get disconnected and auto join doesn’t work. It’s almost as if your network provider or some other Nosy Surveillance Association (NSA) wants you to not even be allowed to have a VPN option installed on your phone? Personally, the entire NSA, are the loser evil mass shooters of schools younger than 5th grade that want to touch little children and are hated by their entire families and live as cowards who must lie to pretend to be something they aren’t. NSA, I hope you read this, and anytime you want to get a wart in your mouth, feel free to s+ck my 8===D ~~~ ~~
Why is it not the broadband provider's fault? Mine disconnects with Virgin Media and it never did with Sky which makes me think it's the provider not my phone.
Why is my WiFi disconnecting after minutes?
it’s been happening to me since the update. Could it be the update?
My son's phone won't connect to WiFi, everything else is connected & fine. He couldn't connect to my hotspot either. When he turns his WiFi on, it shows the bar at the top for a sec & disappears. I saw something about the antenna & found out he couldn't connect to Bluetooth either.
He shut his phone off/on & forgot the network to reconnect, all the basics. I'm going to try turning off 'Ask to Join Networks'. If that doesn't work, I'll double check & reset network settings, last resort I'll DFU restore it! Hopefully I can get it fixed.
good luck to everybody!
- (I have had problems before & within time it works again, unexplained! This hardly happens tho.
The same thing is happening with my phone, but the Bluetooth works. I drop it sometimes, and I think that one time when I dropped it I might have knocked the chip for wifi in my phone out. Like the wires are barely touching, which is why I can connect to the internet for 1 second, but they are not strong enough to keep holding a connection.
I have tried all of this stuff and none of it works long-term. My phone, my ipad, my wife's phone and ipad, and my kids iphones and ipad all have this issue. Had the same issue when travelling and using my ipad with the hotel wifi. Seems like there is an issue with the Apple software or something. Super irritating and has been going on for months now... other ideas would be appreciated.
Update on my situation. I have a (3) node Linksys Velop mesh wifi network at my house. Discovered that my devices did not have the issue with dropping the wifi when I was close to the primary node. Was having an issue with the (2) secondary nodes. Experimenting with different locations within the house for the secondary nodes but it appears better after having moving them into more optimal places.
Hi Rob, is your iPhone currently running the latest iOS?
Running iOS 14.6
Hi Rob, thanks for all this information. That sounds like it could be a problem with your Wi-Fi router or network. I'd suggest reaching out to your Wi-Fi provider directly to let them know about the error. If you and your family are still having trouble on other Wi-Fi networks, I'd recommend reaching out to Apple's support team directly. With such specific issues such as this they're really your best bet for an effective solution. I'm sorry we couldn't be of more help, best of luck!
Very thorough. Several options. It worked. Thank you so much.
Thanks for this information; however, I've now incurred a hit for $15 dollars for going over data limits. My husband's phone and all other devices are just fine. It's just my phone! Any suggestions why?
So my ipad wasn't getting internet i checked and its getting turned off and on so then i went on YouTube and search up why is my internet leaving then i taped a the video said shutdown ipad then i did so then my internet wasn't working so i had to wait until i fixed it
Today I found that EXPRESS VPN if just installed - not connected - cause WiFi connection issues.
Had to delete the APP from IPhone 7 - latest IOS - before connection issue was resolved.
Regards
Thank you! This solved my problem.
Thank you so much! This immediately solved it.
Yep looks like VPN apps and "Wifi finder" apps conflicts with apple auto join function. Removing the app solve the issue.
God Bless you. Network reset did not work on my phone but this solution did. I removed Nord VPN and now my phone doesn’t drop WiFi connections.
This works! OMG I love you guys.
Next time, a simple network reset may solve the problem ?
I tried this - it didn't work. You need to delete the Express VPN app.
I have reset network settings. I have turned off "ask to join networks" I have replaced my router. I constantly turn of "wifi calling".....spent hours at Verizon (6 visits) and hours on the phone with Apple. They are all stumped. I was told that some cell towers are not updating their service and when apple adds an update to the phone they have trouble connecting?? I think my phone is confused and keeps trying to connect between the home wifi and wifi calling. I turn it off but it doesn't seem to matter....calls drop in my home, but nowhere else. Has to be something to do with the home wifi is my guess. Never had this problem before. STUMPED
It’s become obvious to me that Apple will not allow use of a VPN on their phones! After hours of trying various fixes I found that the phone works perfectly until I try to turn on my VPN service. After I get my Wi-Fi up and running all I have to do is go and turn on my VPN, get into my Wi-Fi settings and watch it turn off my connection! If I don’t turn on VPN nothing happens. Simple.
my phone keep disconnecting from the wifi n i tried everything
I have tried all the options when losing WIFI connectivity with my I phone at home; nothing works!
I am trying to set up my Gosund plugs and every time, the phone drops the internet and will not connect Gosund !!??
I have an iPhone 12 pro and my Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting so I'm pretty sure it's not my phone. I called spectrum about it a few weeks ago and they gave some lame excuse that there's too many people connecting to Wi-Fi. I live in a city. If you have any insight let me know. Thanks
ok i have an iphone 6s and even though i reset my network settings it keeps disconnecting every time i turn it off can u give me ideas or tips?
Check the auto-join or auto-login sections when you press the I in a circle next to your wifi name. Make sure that both of them are on. The same thing happened to my iPhone 7 because for some reason they turned off, even though I never turned them off myself.
omg same
Go to wi fi in settings. Then turn off “ ask to join other networks “ problem solved.
nope
Go to wi fi in settings. Then turn off “ ask to join other networks “ problem solved b
hey i have iphone 11 and its reconnenting evry time =(
I have iPhone 7 in uk and it keeps dropping out even thought family members have the same phone and I also have full bars
Please help! My iPhone X frequently gets disconnected from my router and doesn’t reconnect until I literally put the phone next to it, while it again disconnects when I move away. Tried it with a different WiFi network, same issue. It wasn’t like this before
My iphone keeps disappearing whenever i move from a different room but other devices are still connecting to the home wifi. I have tried every move bit its in vain pls help me
You have one of the special edition partially invisible iPhones. It may disappear from time to time but you’ll usually find it in the end.
Hmm yeah it must be a very special edition, in fact it has be a Iron Man iPhone edition.
Had to go down the list to the "Reset Network Settings" tab under 'General' and 'Reset'. It worked a treat - thank you!
done that
my iphone7plus keeps switching on and off ,the bluetooth connects off and on ,and wifi is connecting off and on, resest network settings not working,reset settings not working, i havent done the resest and erase of all data
i have a problem that my iPhone disconnected and reconnected again to my with WiFi
i have a cisco setup and did a debug from WLC during the issue but no output
I have got a long problem of disconnecting internet through my iphone.. but after reading here of one of the tip here.. RESET NETWORK SETTINGS... YES!!! it worked..
thankyou.. ???
DID YOU LOOSE ANY OF YOUR APPS, DATA OR PHOTOS ETC
THANK OU
My iphone (7) keeps disconnecting even though it shows the wifi icon on the top left corner of the screen. I have to manually connect it and after some seconds it automatically disconnects. I am using a public network from a University and it only happens to me. I tried resetting network settings and mostly everything on the list. No luck!
Linda some company WiFis time out and disconnect after like 5 minutes of inactivity. One way I have thwarted this is but connecting then playing Padora! I turn down the volume so no one can here it but the phone will stay connected all day. Try it!
Hey, have you got your iPhone fixed? how?
if u solved this issue please tell me how
I discovered a much simpler way to reconnect my iphone6s to wi-fi; unplug the charger cable. Every time I do this, it immediately connects to wi-fi, and when I plug the charger back in it reverts to 3G or occasionally 4G. I have no idea why this happens, but surely my phone can't be unique, can it?
Hi Jon - this happens all the time to me if I'm charging the phone on a flight and try to connect to wifi. It won't connect till I unplug the charger. Strangest damn thing...
iphone 8 wifi calling not working at all celler data calling not working at all