Step 1: Start with the Basics
Before diving into settings, try these quick checks. They solve the problem more often than you might expect.
- 1Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on: swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open Control Center. The Wi-Fi icon should be lit up (not grayed out). Tap it if it is off.
- 2Check that Airplane Mode is not on. In Control Center, the airplane icon should not be highlighted.
- 3Move closer to your router. If you are far away or in a different room, the signal may be too weak to connect.
- 4Restart your iPhone: press and hold the side button and a volume button until the power slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds and turn it back on.
Tip: Restarting your iPhone clears temporary glitches in the network stack and fixes a surprising number of Wi-Fi problems.
Step 2: Restart Your Router
If your iPhone is the only device having trouble, the problem is likely with the phone. But if other devices are also struggling, the router may be the issue.
- 1Unplug your router (and modem, if they are separate devices) from the wall.
- 2Wait 30 seconds.
- 3Plug the modem back in first and wait for its lights to stabilize (about 60 seconds).
- 4Plug the router back in and wait another 60 seconds.
- 5Try connecting your iPhone again.
Step 3: Forget the Network and Reconnect
Sometimes the saved Wi-Fi password or connection settings on your iPhone become corrupted. Forgetting the network and reconnecting from scratch often fixes this.
- 1Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
- 2Tap the (i) icon next to your network name.
- 3Tap Forget This Network and confirm.
- 4Tap your network name in the list of available networks.
- 5Enter your Wi-Fi password and tap Join.
Warning: Make sure you know your Wi-Fi password before you forget the network. It is usually on a sticker on the back or bottom of your router.
Step 4: Check for a Captive Portal or Login Page
Some networks — especially at hotels, coffee shops, or workplaces — require you to accept terms or log in through a web page before you get internet access. Your iPhone may connect to the network but show no internet.
- 1Connect to the Wi-Fi network.
- 2Open Safari and try to visit any website.
- 3If a login page appears, complete the sign-in or accept the terms.
- 4If no page appears, try visiting http://captive.apple.com — this sometimes triggers the login page.
Step 5: Check Your iPhone's Date and Time
An incorrect date or time can prevent your iPhone from connecting to secure Wi-Fi networks. This is an easy thing to overlook.
- 1Go to Settings → General → Date & Time.
- 2Make sure Set Automatically is turned on.
- 3If it was already on, try toggling it off and back on.
Step 6: Reset Network Settings
If none of the above steps have worked, resetting your network settings clears all saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, and cellular settings and starts fresh. This is a more thorough fix.
- 1Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset.
- 2Tap Reset Network Settings.
- 3Enter your passcode if prompted and confirm.
- 4Your iPhone will restart.
- 5Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, select your network, and enter your password to reconnect.
Warning: Resetting network settings removes all saved Wi-Fi passwords from your iPhone. You will need to re-enter the password for every network you use.
Step 7: Check for a Software Update
Apple regularly releases iOS updates that fix known Wi-Fi bugs. If your iPhone is running an older version of iOS, an update may resolve the problem.
- 1Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
- 2If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
- 3Connect to Wi-Fi using your cellular data first if needed, or use a USB cable to update through a computer.