iPhone Wi-Fi Not Working? Here’s Why (And What To Check)
Your iPhone’s Wi-Fi isn’t working. Maybe it won’t turn on. Maybe it won’t connect to your network. Maybe it connects but apps can’t reach the internet. Maybe it keeps dropping. Maybe the signal is weak. Or maybe the toggle is greyed out entirely.
The good news is that most Wi-Fi faults are software or router issues, not hardware faults. And in most cases, the fix is free.
The key is working out whether the fault is the iPhone, the router, or a setting. The symptom tells you where to look — and in the majority of cases, the iPhone is fine.
This page covers the eight most common Wi-Fi fault patterns, the symptoms to look for, and the checks you can perform yourself. If you need the complete diagnostic sequence for determining whether the fault is the antenna, the Wi-Fi IC, the router, or a setting, the full guide is linked at the bottom.
Quick Diagnosis
Wi-Fi won’t turn on: a software fault or a failed Wi-Fi IC.
Won’t connect to a network: a password, router, or settings issue.
Connects but no internet: a router or ISP issue.
Keeps dropping the connection: a weak signal or a failing Wi-Fi IC.
Weak signal: distance, obstacles, or interference.
Wi-Fi greyed out: always a hardware fault. The Wi-Fi IC has failed.
Bluetooth also not working: the combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth IC has failed.
Slow Wi-Fi: a router, ISP, or interference issue.
Why Your iPhone Wi-Fi Stops Working
An iPhone connects to Wi-Fi through a chain of components:
The Wi-Fi antenna receives the wireless signal
The Wi-Fi IC processes the signal and manages the connection
iOS handles the network settings and authentication
The router provides the internet connection
If any link fails, the iPhone may not connect, may connect but have no internet, or may drop the connection repeatedly.
On most iPhones, the Wi-Fi IC also handles Bluetooth. That’s why Wi-Fi and Bluetooth often fail together — a single chip controls both.
Common Causes
Wrong Wi-Fi password. The most common cause.
Router fault. The router has failed or lost its internet connection.
ISP outage. The internet provider has an outage.
Router compatibility. The router uses a security protocol or band the iPhone doesn’t support.
Weak signal. The iPhone is too far from the router.
Interference. Other devices or walls interfere with the signal.
Software fault. iOS has a Wi-Fi bug.
Failed Wi-Fi IC. The chip on the logic board has failed.
Failed Wi-Fi antenna. The antenna has failed.
Symptoms To Look For
The symptom tells you which component is at fault.
Wi-Fi Won’t Turn On
A software fault or a failed Wi-Fi IC.
Won’t Connect to a Network
A password, router, or settings issue.
Connects But No Internet
A router or ISP issue. Test on another device.
Keeps Dropping the Connection
A weak signal or a failing Wi-Fi IC.
Weak Signal
Distance, obstacles, or interference.
Wi-Fi Greyed Out
Always a hardware fault. The Wi-Fi IC has failed.
Bluetooth Also Not Working
The combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth IC has failed.
Slow Wi-Fi
A router, ISP, or interference issue.
How to Diagnose the Fault
Step 1 — Restart the Phone
A restart clears temporary software faults. It’s the first thing to try.
Step 2 — Toggle Airplane Mode
Turn Airplane Mode on, wait 30 seconds, turn it off. This forces the iPhone to re-scan for networks.
Step 3 — Restart the Router
Unplug the router, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in. Wait for it to fully boot.
Step 4 — Test on Another Device
If other devices also can’t connect, the fault is the router or the ISP, not the iPhone.
Step 5 — Forget the Network and Reconnect
Settings, Wi-Fi, tap the network, Forget This Network. Then reconnect with the password.
Step 6 — Check DNS Settings
Settings, Wi-Fi, tap the network, Configure DNS, Manual. Add 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
Step 7 — Reset Network Settings
Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, Reset Network Settings. This erases saved Wi-Fi passwords.
Step 8 — Check Private Wi-Fi Address
Settings, Wi-Fi, tap the network. On iOS 14 and later, this feature uses a random MAC address. It can cause compatibility issues with some routers. Try disabling it.
Fixing Specific Wi-Fi Faults
iPhone Wi-Fi Not Working
The general fault. Restart the router and forget the network first.
iPhone Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi
A password or router issue. Forget the network and reconnect.
iPhone Connected to Wi-Fi But No Internet
A router or ISP issue. Test on another device.
iPhone Keeps Dropping Wi-Fi
A weak signal or interference. Move closer to the router.
iPhone Wi-Fi Signal Weak
Distance or obstacles. Test near the router.
iPhone Wi-Fi Greyed Out
A hardware fault. The Wi-Fi IC has failed. A board-level repair is $100 to $200.
iPhone Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Not Working
The combined IC has failed. Board-level repair required.
iPhone Wi-Fi Slow
A router or ISP issue. Test on another device.
iPhone 13 Wi-Fi Not Working
The diagnostic sequence is the same across models. Restart the router first.
iPhone 14 Wi-Fi Not Working
Same sequence. The 14 has similar Wi-Fi architecture to the 13.
iPhone Wi-Fi Not Working But Working on Other Devices
This confirms the fault is in the iPhone, not the router. Reset network settings.
iPhone Wi-Fi Not Working After Update
A software fault. Restart the phone, reset network settings, and check for a further update.
Repair Cost Guide
Wi-Fi antenna replacement: $20 to $60 for the part, $80 to $150 fitted.
Wi-Fi IC repair: $100 to $200 fitted.
Combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth IC repair: $100 to $200 fitted.
Network reset: Free.
Software restore: Free.
Router replacement: $40 to $200.
When to Repair vs Bin
Repair if:
The fault is the Wi-Fi antenna
The phone is under four years old
The repair cost is under half the cost of a comparable new phone
The phone has no other faults
Bin if:
The Wi-Fi IC has failed on a phone over five years old
The phone has multiple failed components
The repair cost exceeds half the cost of a comparable new phone
The fault is water damage that’s reached the Wi-Fi IC
Safety Warning
Electrical risk. Lithium batteries are a fire risk if punctured, bent, or crushed. Do not attempt to remove a swollen battery.
Antenna risk. The Wi-Fi antenna and its flex cable are delicate. Do not force the connector.
Screw risk. iPhone screws are different lengths. Putting a long screw in a short hole punches through the logic board.
Water risk. Do not charge a phone that’s been in water.
FAQ
Why is my iPhone Wi-Fi not working?
The most common causes are a router issue, a password issue, or a settings conflict. Restart the router and forget the network first.
Why won’t my iPhone connect to Wi-Fi?
A wrong password, a router compatibility issue, or a saved network conflict.
Why does my iPhone connect to Wi-Fi but have no internet?
A router or ISP issue. Test on another device to confirm.
Why does my iPhone keep dropping Wi-Fi?
A weak signal, interference, or a failing Wi-Fi IC.
Why is my iPhone Wi-Fi signal weak?
Distance from the router, obstacles, or interference.
Why is my iPhone Wi-Fi greyed out?
A hardware fault. The Wi-Fi IC has failed.
Why is my iPhone Bluetooth not working?
If Bluetooth and Wi-Fi fail together, the combined IC has failed.
Why is my iPhone Wi-Fi slow?
A router issue, ISP throttling, or interference.
Why is my iPhone 13 Wi-Fi not working?
The diagnostic sequence is the same across models. Restart the router first.
Why does my iPhone say “Unable to join network”?
A wrong password, a router compatibility issue, or a saved network conflict.
Why does my iPhone connect to Wi-Fi but apps won’t load?
A router or DNS issue. Try changing the DNS to 8.8.8.8.
Is it worth repairing an iPhone with Wi-Fi issues?
Usually yes, if the fault is the antenna. If the Wi-Fi IC has failed on a phone over five years old, replacement is usually the better call.
Get the Complete Diagnosis
Need to determine exactly which component is causing the fault?
The complete diagnostic guide takes you beyond the basic checks and walks through all eight fault patterns step by step.
The complete guide includes:
Wi-Fi antenna testing with expected results
Wi-Fi IC fault identification
Software settings review
Router diagnostics
Network reset procedure
Private Wi-Fi Address troubleshooting
Model-specific notes for iPhone 6 through iPhone 15
Repair and replacement considerations
Repair-or-bin guidance
iPhone Wi-Fi Not Working Repair Guide
Complete diagnostic guide for iPhones with Wi-Fi faults.
What’s included:
Diagnosis for all eight fault patterns
Step-by-step testing procedures
Wi-Fi antenna and IC testing
Router and settings diagnostics
Network reset procedure
Required checks and tools
Repair information
Replacement considerations
Repair-or-bin guidance
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$7.95
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If you’re dealing with several problems rather than just a Wi-Fi fault, the iPhone Fault Diagnosis Guide covers the most common iPhone faults in one reference.
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Repair or Bin?
Before spending money on a repair, find out what is actually wrong with your appliance.
Repair or Bin gives you the information to diagnose the problem and make an informed repair-or-bin decision.
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