iPhone not connecting to Wi-Fi? 10 fixes (including no internet)

Wi-Fi problems on an iPhone come in two kinds, and the fix depends on which one you have. In the first, the iPhone will not join the network at all, or keeps asking for a password. In the second, it joins, the Wi-Fi bars look fine, but pages will not load. Work out which one you face, then go through the steps below in order. Most people are back online by the fourth or fifth fix.

How to fix an iPhone that won’t connect to Wi-Fi

Why is my iPhone not connecting to Wi-Fi?

The cause sits in one of three places: the iPhone, the router, or the internet line behind it. On the iPhone, a saved network that went stale, a VPN, Private Wi-Fi Address or an old iOS version can stop a connection. On the router, a crashed program, a full list of devices, a new password or a changed security mode can lock your phone out. Behind it, your internet provider may be down, and then every device joins the Wi-Fi but none reach the web. Testing the other devices first tells you which of the three to blame.

Is it the iPhone or the router?

Spend two minutes on this test and you save a lot of wasted steps.

• Other devices fail too: the router or the internet line is the problem. Restart the router and check your provider’s outage page.
• Only your iPhone fails: work through the phone fixes above.
• Your iPhone works on other Wi-Fi: the problem is the network settings or the router, not the phone hardware.
• Your iPhone fails on every network: reset network settings, update iOS, and consider the hardware.

Joined the network but no internet?

When the iPhone shows a Wi-Fi symbol but pages will not load, the connection exists but the data path is blocked. Look under the network name in Settings › Wi-Fi. A message such as No Internet Connection means the router joined but cannot reach the web. Try the steps in this order: open Safari to see whether a sign-in page appears, tap Renew Lease on the network’s info screen, restart the router, then turn off VPN. If the router has no internet for every device, call your provider. If only your iPhone has no internet, change the DNS: tap the ⓘ next to the network, choose Configure DNS, switch to Manual and add a public server such as 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1.

When it says the password is wrong

Check the password on the router label, since people often confuse a zero with the letter O, or a capital I with a small L. Forget the network and enter it again, and use the eye icon to see what you typed. If the router recently changed its security mode, an old saved entry may fail, so forgetting the network clears it. A Security Recommendation notice under the network name means the router uses weak security. You can still join, but ask the owner to switch the router to WPA2 or WPA3. If you cannot recall the password, you can read about finding the Wi-Fi password.

Check the router settings

If the router is yours, a few settings can keep one phone out. Open the router’s app or admin page. Check that MAC filtering is not blocking your iPhone, that the device limit is not full, and that parental controls are not set on it. Update the router’s firmware, because new iPhones sometimes expose bugs in old routers. If your router combines 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one name, try giving each its own name and connect to the 2.4 GHz network, which reaches farther. Restarting the router once a month keeps it running well.

Public Wi-Fi and sign-in pages

Hotels, airports, stores and schools often use a sign-in page called a captive portal. The iPhone joins the network and shows a link, but data does not flow until you accept the terms. If the page does not pop up by itself, open Safari and go to a simple site such as apple.com, or type a plain address that starts with http. Turn off the VPN while you sign in, since it can block the page. Private Wi-Fi Address can also trip these networks, so turn it off for the one you are joining if it keeps failing.

Reset network settings the safe way

Resetting network settings clears every saved Wi-Fi network and password, Bluetooth pairing, VPN profile and cellular setting. It does not touch photos, apps or messages. It fixes a lot of stubborn cases, so it is worth doing before a repair visit. Write down any passwords you need, since you must enter them again. Go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings. The iPhone restarts, and you can join your Wi-Fi like new. If you rely on a hotspot in the meantime, see using a hotspot while you fix it.

Try another network to test the iPhone

To tell whether the iPhone is at fault, join a different network. A friend’s Wi-Fi, a library or your phone’s own hotspot will do. If the iPhone connects there, your home router is the problem. If it fails everywhere, the iPhone needs a deeper fix. This one test saves a lot of time, and it also tells a repair shop what to look for.

When it is a hardware or provider problem

If your iPhone fails on every Wi-Fi network after a reset and a clean iOS install, the Wi-Fi chip or antenna may be faulty. Signs include a greyed out Wi-Fi switch, very weak bars next to the router, and Bluetooth that fails as well. Drops and water damage are common causes. An Apple Store or an authorized repair shop can check it, and it is worth getting a quote before you pay. If instead the whole house is offline, call your internet provider, check the outage page, and ask them to test the line. Replacing an old router that is more than five years old can also fix a lot of weak or slow connections.

If it connects and then drops again, move on to Wi-Fi that keeps dropping. And if the Wi-Fi switch itself will not move, read about a Wi-Fi switch that is greyed out.