How to Fix If iPhone Disconnecting From Wi-Fi?.
Losing WiFi during an important work call or online competition can be annoying. Fixing an iPhone that keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi can be either simple or complex, depending on the root cause of the problem.
Putting your iPhone in and out of Airplane Mode might fix the problem. If your iOS device keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi, one of the following 12 troubleshooting fixes should fix the issue.
1. Join Other Wi-Fi Networks
Connecting to a different network can help determine if the problem is with your device or router. Connect your iPhone to different Wi-Fi networks and keep track of the connection.
If all Wi-Fi networks won’t stay connected to your iPhone, the problem is likely with a setting or software on your phone. But if the problem occurs only on a specific network, the router is responsible for turning off Wi-Fi. It is also possible that your network provider is experiencing downtime.
Go to sections #3, #4, #7, #8, and #12 for router-specific Wi-Fi troubleshooting troubleshooting tips.
2. Enable Auto-Join
iOS can occasionally drop Wi-Fi connections if your iPhone isn’t set to automatically connect to a network. Turning on Auto Connect can help your iPhone stay connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the information icon next to the affected Wi-Fi network, and enable auto-join.
3. Adjust Your Router’s Location
Your iPhone will not stay connected to Wi-Fi if it is too far away from your wireless router. You’ll only enjoy a stable (and fast) connection if your phone is within range of the router’s signal – the closer the better.
If the network router cannot be moved, use a Wi-Fi repeater or Wi-Fi extender to improve the connection quality.
It should also be mentioned that routers fail when overheated. The router may overheat when used in a hot environment, near electronic devices, or if its ventilation grilles are blocked.
Move the router to a cool or well-ventilated area away from interference. Check out this guide to boosting Wi-Fi signals for more tips.
4. Check the Router Settings
Your iPhone may keep dropping the Wi-Fi connection if it is limited on the network. Or if there is a limit on the number of simultaneous connections allowed on the network.
If you have access to the network admin panel, make sure your iPhone is not on the list of blocked or blacklisted devices. You will find blocked devices in the MAC Address Filtering or Device Management section of the network admin panel.
Whitelist your device if it’s restricted, or contact your network administrator if you don’t have access to the admin panel. Disconnecting idle devices from the network can also free up bandwidth and improve connection quality.
5. Forget and Rejoin the Network
If the Wi-Fi connection is stable on devices other than your iPhone, reconnecting to the network may solve the problem.
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the information icon next to the network name. Click “Forget this network” and select “Forget” in the confirmation window. Wait a few seconds and reconnect your iPhone to the Wi-Fi network.
6. Disable Wi-Fi Assist
Wi-Fi Assist helps iPhone users stay connected to the Internet by automatically switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data. The switch only happens when iOS suspects that your Wi-Fi connection is bad. This is a great feature, but the guess is not always accurate.
Let’s say a song won’t play in Apple Music over Wi-Fi, or Safari won’t load a web page. Wi-Fi Assist – if enabled – will attempt to play the song using cellular data.
Disable Wi-Fi Assist if your iPhone keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi even though there is an internet connection on the network. Or if network switching happens too often.
Open the Settings app, select Cellular (or Mobile Data), scroll down and turn off Wi-Fi Assistance.
7. Restart the Router
Switching the router off and on is a reliable solution to temporary system failures causing network outages. Disconnect the router’s power adapter or remove its battery (for battery-powered mobile routers). You can also remotely reboot the router from its web or mobile administration app.
As mentioned earlier, a hot router can affect connection speed and network performance. If the router is hot, we recommend letting it cool down for a few minutes before turning it back on.
8. Update Your Router Firmware
You may experience occasional drops in internet speed and connection if your router firmware is buggy or out of date. Install the latest firmware available for your router and check if that resolves the issue.
Refer to your router’s instruction manual or manufacturer’s website for instructions on how to update its firmware. You should also configure the router to automatically download and install firmware updates.
9. Reboot Your iPhone
Turn off and restart your iPhone if it’s the only device that keeps disconnecting from your Wi-Fi network.
Press and hold the iPhone side button and the volume up or volume down button. If your iPhone does not support Face ID, press and hold the Home button and any of the volume keys. Better yet, go to Settings > General and click Turn Off.
Then drag the slider to the right and wait about a minute until your iPhone turns off completely.
Hold down the side button or the power button until you see the Apple logo. Unlock your iPhone and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network. Continue to the next troubleshooting step if the issue persists.
10. Update Your iPhone
Apple frequently releases software updates that fix bugs that affect Wi-Fi performance on iPhone. For example, iOS 14.0.1 and iOS 15.1 fix issues that prevent iPhone from discovering or connecting to Wi-Fi networks.
If you haven’t updated your iPhone for a long time, do it immediately. Running an outdated or erroneous version of iOS may be the reason your iPhone disconnects from Wi-Fi networks.
Go to Settings > General > Software Updates and click Download and Install to install the latest version of iOS.
Wi-Fi connection is required to download iOS updates. If you can’t update your iPhone because it keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi, install the update using your Mac.
Unlock your iPhone, connect it to your Mac with a USB cable, and open Finder. Select your iPhone in the sidebar and select “Check for updates”. Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet.
11. Reset Network Settings
Incorrect network settings can cause Wi-Fi to be permanently disabled on your iPhone or iPad. Restoring your device’s network settings to factory defaults should fix the issue.
For iOS 15 or later, go to Settings > General > Transfer or reset iPhone > Reset and tap Reset network settings< /span>. Enter your iPhone passcode and select “Reset network settings” again at the confirmation prompt.
For iPhones running iOS 14 or earlier, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset network settings. Enter your iPhone passcode and click Reset Network Settings to continue.
Note that resetting the network will also reset your cellular, Bluetooth, and VPN settings. Connect to a Wi-Fi network when your iPhone turns back on and check if it maintains a stable connection.
12. Factory Reset Your Router
Restoring your router to factory settings is a great way to reset your password and fix connection issues. If your router has a physical reset button, press it until the device restarts. This is called a “hard reset”.
Resetting a router from its admin web interface is known as a “soft reset”. You will need access to the admin panel to perform a soft reset. Refer to our guide to resetting your wireless router or contact the manufacturer for clear instructions.
Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting? Get External Support
Contact Apple Support to check your iPhone for hardware damage, especially if it disconnects from all Wi-Fi networks. Your iPhone’s Wi-Fi antenna may be defective. Contact your ISP if other devices experience similar problems.
How to Fix If iPhone Disconnecting From Wi-Fi?
How to Fix If iPhone Disconnecting From Wi-Fi?