Among various Wifi connection problems, iPhone won’t connect to Wifi but other devices will be the most common.
It not only happens with iPhones but can also occur with other devices. Your Wifi network connects to all devices except one such as iPhone in this case.
The problem may be either in the iPhone or Wifi. So, we need to troubleshoot both devices.
This guide lists several solutions to fix the issue of Wifi connectivity. These solutions are tested and verified and will surely solve your problem.
1. Some Basic Checks
There are some simple things you need to consider before trying the troubleshooting methods. Although these are very basic things sometimes we forget them.
So, make sure;
- The Wifi router is connected to the modem and turned ON.
- Your iPhone is within range and not too far away from the Wifi router.
- Your iPhone is in Wifi mode and the data connection is OFF.
- You are connecting to the right Wifi network and entering the correct password. Some nearby Wifi can also appear on your device, so be careful while making a connection.
2. Reconnect Wifi
A very simple solution is to turn the Wifi ON and OFF on your iPhone. This quick trick removes network errors and junk files. You can do it by following these steps;
- On your iPhone, open the ‘Settings’ and choose ‘Wifi’.
- Toggle its switch to OFF. Now, reboot or soft reset your iPhone.
- Again go to Wifi settings and turn it ON. Wait for your phone to discover the Wifi.
- Enter the correct password if required. If this does not help then try the next solution.
3. Airplane Mode
This trick is very helpful and many iPhone users solved the connectivity issue by trying this.
It allows your phone to power cycle by turning OFF all the functions including cellular network, internet, and others. The process is as follows;
- Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone and select ‘Airplane’ mode.
- Turn ON the Airplane mode, your phone will show the symbol.
- Now, reboot or soft reset your iPhone.
- Follow the same path and turn OFF the Airplane mode.
- Finally, enable the Wifi again and try connecting your iPhone to the internet.
4. Clear Wifi List
Some other Wifi networks can also interfere with the connectivity. Maybe your Wifi has corrupted thus unable to connect.
So, clearing the Wifi list on your iPhone will help;
- Open the Wifi menu on your iPhone and turn the Wifi ON.
- You will see a list of all the Wifi networks that were connected to your iPhone.
- Click on the (i) or information button that shows next to each network name.
- Click on ‘Forget’ and repeat the process with all networks.
- Now, turn OFF the Wifi and reboot your iPhone.
- Go back to the Wifi settings and tap the ‘Join’ or ‘Connect’ button.
- Enter the password of your network because your phone has deleted all the information.
5. Change the Wifi Password
Believe me, this simple trick is very useful to resolve the connection problem. It happened to me that my Wifi network would connect to all other devices except my iPhone.
I tried multiple times but in vain, it frustrated me beyond extant. Then, from somewhere, I found the solution.
I just changed the password of my Wifi and smoothly connected to my phone. Previously, I had set a password including alphabets and numbers.
Then, I included only numbers in my Wifi password. So, try your luck, surely it will work for you.
However, you will need to reconnect other devices with your Wifi network after changing the password.
6. Soft Reset or Force Restart Your iPhone
Since your Wifi is connecting to other devices except for your iPhone, the problem may be in the iPhone.
A soft reset or force restart can help solve network errors and wireless connectivity issues. It also removes the caches and corrupt files.
Simply shut down your iPhone and turn it back ON after a few seconds. If it does not help then force restart your device.
The process of soft reset and force restart is different for various models of iPhone.
iPhone 6s or SE (1st Generation)
- Press and hold the ‘Home’ button and ‘Sleep/Wake’ button simultaneously.
- Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears on the screen.
iPhone X, 7, or Later
Soft Reset
- Press and hold the ‘Side’ button (on the right) and one of the volume buttons on the left.
- Release the buttons when the screen shows the ‘Power OFF’ slider.
- Swipe the slider to the right to turn OFF your iPhone X.
- Wait for 30 seconds once your phone shuts down.
- Now, press and hold the ‘Side’ button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Force Restart
- Press and hold the ‘Volume Down’ and the ‘Sleep/Wake’ buttons simultaneously.
- Release the buttons when you see the Apple logo on your phone screen.
iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and SE (2nd Generation)
Soft Reset
- Press and hold the ‘Side’ or ‘Top’ button till you see the ‘Power OFF’ slider on your phone screen.
- Swipe the slider to the right to turn OFF your iPhone 8.
- Switch ON your iPhone after 30 seconds by long-pressing the ‘Side’ or ‘Top’ button.
- After performing the soft reset, connect your iPhone again to the Wifi network.
- You can do it by going to ‘Settings’, clicking on the ‘Wifi’ menu, and turning it ON.
Force Restart
- Press the ‘Volume Up’ button located on the left and release it quickly.
- Repeat the same process with the ‘Volume Down’ button.
- Next, press and hold the ‘Side’ button until the Apple logo appears on your phone screen.
iPhone with Face ID
This force restart method is for the latest iPhones that come with Face ID such as iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, or iPhone 13.
- Press the ‘Volume Up’ button and release it quickly.
- Next, press the ‘Volume Down’ button and release it immediately.
- Press and hold the ‘Side’ button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
7. Update Your iPhone
Updating the carrier settings and software can also solve the problem. Because some carrier updates are a must while others are optional.
Mandatory updates are automatically installed on your iPhone while optional need manual installation.
Since your iPhone cannot connect to the Wifi, you can use cellular data to update it.
Carrier Updates
- Open ‘settings’ and choose ‘General’.
- Next, tap on the ‘About’ menu and select the ‘Carrier’ section.
- If the updates are available, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
Software Updates
To install the latest software update;
- Go to ‘Settings’, select ‘General’, and then tap on ‘Software Update’.
- Download and install the latest software versions by following the instructions.
- Once the update process is complete, reboot your iPhone and reconnect it to Wifi.
Related: Activate New iPhone From Old iPhone
8. Power Cycle Your Wifi Router
Possibly, the problem creator is the Wifi router or modem. Minor firmware crashes can lead to a connection issue. So, you should try to fix it by power cycling;
- Turn OFF your Wifi router or modem and then unplug it from the power outlet.
- Leave it for 60 seconds and then reconnect to the wall power outlet.
- Turn ON the router and wait for the signals to become stable.
- Now, connect your iPhone to the Wifi.
Another trick is to reset the Wifi modem or router. You can find the method in the user manual or here.
9. Reset Network Settings
This is one of the last solutions if all other lighter tricks fail. We recommend doing it before resetting your phone.
Because network reset will delete the configurations such as saved Wifi and Bluetooth, APNs, server settings, and other information.
In addition, it removes the errors that are blocking your Wifi connection. The process is as follows;
- On your iPhone, open the ‘Settings’ app and then choose ‘General’.
- Navigate to ‘Reset’ and then select ‘Reset Network settings’.
- Enter the passcode of your iPhone to confirm the action.
- Wait for the process to complete, reboot your iPhone, and try connecting to Wifi again.
10. Restore Factory Settings on Your iPhone
This solution is the last option because it will delete all the data and settings. So, you will need to customize everything again.
But, it has a greater guarantee of solving the issue. Restoring factory settings removes all the software glitches and stubborn errors.
Sometimes, you unknowingly perform some wrong action or choose the wrong settings. So, your iPhone cannot connect to Wifi while other devices connect well.
Before that, Backup your phone data to iCloud or iTunes. You can recover all the data afterward.
If you have a cellular network or any other internet source connected to your iPhone, back up to iCloud. Both processes are explained here.
iCloud Backup
- Open ‘settings’, tap your name, and Apple ID appears at the top of the screen.
- Next, choose ‘iCloud’, turn it ON, and click on ‘iCloud Backup’.
- Scroll down and select ‘Backup Now’.
- It will take a few minutes to back up your data.
iTunes Backup
In case, your iPhone has no access to the internet, you can Back up the data to iTunes through a computer.
- Make sure your computer or Mac has installed the latest version of iTunes.
- Connect your computer to a Wifi network and open iTunes.
- Take a USB cable, plug one end into your iPhone, and insert its other end into the relevant port on your computer.
- Be sure to use the lightning cable that came with your iPhone and avoid using a third-party cable.
- Tap your iPhone name when it appears on iTunes. If required, enter the passcode of your iPhone or choose the “Trust this Computer” option.
- Tap the “Backup iPhone” option and wait for the process to complete.
- Go to the ‘Summary’ section on iTunes and then click the ‘Restore’ button.
Restore Factory Settings
The final step is to restore factory settings;
- Open ‘Settings’ on your iPhone and then go to ‘General’ settings.
- Scroll to choose ‘Reset’ and then click on ‘Erase All Content and Settings’.
- Enter the passcode of your device and then proceed further by confirming ‘Erase’.
- It will take a few minutes and your phone will restart.
- You need to initialize and set it up like a new device.
11. Contact the ISP or Apple
This guide has listed all the possible solutions to the connection problem. If the issue still persists, your Wifi or iPhone has some intricate error.
For example, there is an issue with the ISP (Internet Service Provider). So, contact your ISP and tell them the problem. They can help you diagnose the root cause and fix the device.
Sometimes, the connection issue arises after you install the iOS update on your iPhone.
In this case, a technical issue continues to persist even after trying all the troubleshooting methods. This error may be released in the latest firmware.
So, you need to contact Apple Support either online or by visiting a nearby Apple Store.
Related: Turn OFF iPhone Without Touching Screen
Final Words
We hope you liked our effort. We always try to bring the best and most verified solutions to your problems. In this article, we have included all the possible tricks to fix your connection problem.
If you need further help, tell us in the comment box. Also, tell us whether your problem ‘iPhone won’t connect to Wifi but other devices will’ has been solved or not.