March 27th, 2009 | Posted by Shane Burley 23 comments

Troubleshooting Your iPhone’s Wi-Fi Connection [iPhone tips]

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iPhone Wi-Fi Settings

No matter how advanced AT&T and Apple try to claim the 3G network is for the iPhone, there really is no way around the fact that using a Wi-Fi connection is the best way to go. It continues to be faster, more reliable, and ultimately the best solution. However, this feature is just as prone to problems as any other part of the iPhone technology, and sometimes even worse because you are relying on more than just your mobile device. When you experience Wi-Fi problems try these troubleshooting tips and seeing if you can figure out what the problem is.

If you are having trouble finding a network it may simply be a setting problem on your iPhone. If a network does not show up when you know you are within range and trying to, then you should tap the Settings icon and select the Wi-Fi option. Make sure that the Wi-Fi switch at the top is ON. Also make sure that the “Ask to Join Networks” switch is marked ON as well, especially since this is the function that automatically shows you what networks are nearby. This Wi-Fi settings area is also where you can automatically connect to any available Wi-Fi networks at any time.

If you are using your own home or business Wi-Fi network to connect to with your iPhone then you may want to check your actual wireless router and modem. These are common problems for all networks and are not just unique to iPhone connection. Try unplugging the modem from its power source for twenty seconds, then plug it back end and give it a couple minutes before trying to connect again. Check all of the connections on your router to make sure that it is plugged in correctly. You might also want to verify that the router is working properly by connecting a computer directly to the router.

Many networks are secure and require passwords to connect. If you are having trouble connecting to a secure network, trying double-checking your password, passcode, or WEP key. These are easily mistaken on the iPhone because of typing errors which are often caused by the keyboards auto correct feature.

Some times you are going to have to reset your iPhone altogether. Try going in to your Settings and select Network. Go to the Wi-Fi option on the bottom and remove yourself from the network. Go back to Settings and select Wi-Fi and turn it off. Wait a little bit, or restart your phone, then reactivate all the default settings and see if it is working again.

Hopefully these iPhone tips for Wi-Fi will help you connect, and stay connected, to the internet. Also, let us know in the comments below if you have other handy Wi-Fi tips to share with us.

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  • http://news4yourears.blogspot.com jason

    Check out the webcam on the iphone set to be released this summer its going to be a hot product on the market this year. http://news4yourears.blogspot.com/2009/05/reviews-for-new-iphone-in-july.html

  • athena

    i have everything ‘on’ even the join the network and i make sure that the wifi is on but im still not getting any network? what do i do?

  • ann

    i do not have any wifi symbol and i cannot connect to wifi. am getting frustrated!!!

  • Andy K

    I tried resetting the network settings several time, but did not work. When I go to Settings–>General–>About–> I do see the wifi address and the Bluetooth addresses, but I cannot connect to any wifi network. Does a downgrade to 2.2 fix it. Currently I have 3.1 firmware. All this wifi problem started ever since I upgraded to 2.2.1. Did it damage the wifi hardware? I tried restoring, but of no use.

  • defiantmacho

    Ok guys. This is the simple way I used to connect my iPhone to my Netgear router. I have posted this a long time ago in several places on the internet in hopes I can help alleviate the frustration of all of you that have spent hours poking your routers, or wasting time with Apple Support.

    1. In your iPhone, go to Settings>General>About. Then, scroll down to “Wi-Fi Address”. This is your MAC address. THIS you will need in order to authorize your phone in your Netgear page (it usually looks something like XXX.XXX.X.X (where “X” are numbers)).
    2. Log in to you Netgear page (address and default user and password are on the label at the bottom of your router).
    3. On the blue left panel of the screen, click on “Wireless Settings”. A new page comes up.
    4. Click on “Setup Access List”.
    5. Click on “Add” to be able to enter the required info needed about your phone in order to gain access to your network.
    6. On “Device Name” I entered “iPhone”. This name is irrelevant for I named my iPhone differently and using just “iPhone” worked. So enter whatever name you wish, but keep it simple.
    7. Now, on “Mac Address” (the single most important info here) enter the number you obtained in Step 1 above. Make sure you enter it with the colons (:) :rolleyes:
    8. Add and apply, and for god’s sakes :) , wait for the blue bar at the top of the screen to do its thing. It will take only a few seconds to update the network.
    That’s all! Connect and enjoy!
    I hope this was helpful, because I have received many thank you emails from people that have spent hours with Apple Support, to no avail. Drop me a line at defiantmacho@gmail.com and let me know if it worked for you!

  • rod

    you might also try a 3rd party wifi app, e.g. wififofum or wifitrak. These will show you more networks and more options. I too couldn’t connect with the built-in wifi-Icon under settings, but wifitrak worked like a charm…

    Also watch out fpr aother networks using the same channel like yours, especially in cities and on evenings when everyone else uses they wifi…

  • Happy Bunny

    Thanks a million. Struggled for days to get a my iPhone to pick up from my home wi fi – and a simple solution like disconnecting for a few seconds and then re- connecting sorted it Immediately! Why couldn’t Apple tell me that!!

  • Geoff Clark

    I’ve now had two IPHONE 3G’s where both the WiFi and Bluetooth have just stopped working, I’ve got WiFiFoFum app but that can’t see any wireless networks either.
    I’ve also taken the phone back to setup level but also to no avail.
    Any ideas anyone?

  • jahidul islam

    i need a wi fi connection. but how do i connect it. please need some idea

  • jahidul islam

    hi i am looking for a iphone wi fi &itunes connection . so i need some idea

  • jahidul islam

    hi i am created an iphone id but. i forget the password and i am not abale to open the any file. so what do i do ?

  • hhhh

    I would like to suggest adding your MAC address of your iphone to your home network and this will resolve the problem of failing to connect to the network.
    Thanks

  • gav_aka_olez

    My Iphone lost my home connection a few days ago, it never had any issues before and my ipod touch connects to it. I have reset it, I have restored it but still nothing, I reboot the wifi and it still wil not connect, it will not even find any other wifi’s around, it looks to search but stops after about 3 secs and gives up… HELP!!

  • Simmyh

    Hi Guys, My partners iphone lost its wifi connection at home suddenly for no reason so i entered the wifi information manually in “wifi settings/my home network/static on the iphone and this seemed to work, few days later mine did the same however i couldnt get mine to work, after a little thought and research i have found that my netgear router uses mixed security for wifi both WPA & WPA2 and this confused the hell out of our iphones when the router automatically changes its encryption,
    I logged into my router changed security to WPA2 only and then put the iphone back to DHCP in the wifi settings on the iphone and shazam both iphones working again no problems.

    So try changing security settings for your wifi network if you having problems, it seems to me like the iphone cant handle certain router wifi security encryption

  • Enrique

    Since I upgraded my iPhone 3G to the firmware 4.1 I can’t connect to my wireless network at home like I used to,,, now I have to be close to the router to get the signal,, before it didn’t matter where I was in my house,, please can someone help me how to solve this problem,,,,

  • jack

    i keep typing in the correct password to my wifi and it keeps telling me that I am typing in the incorrect password. I feel like I’m going crazy….

  • Bob O’Neill

    I read and studied many comments for 3 days and now have my iPhone connected. I have the Linksys E-1000 router and was incorrectly using the password I created. I then used the passkey provided with the router and was able to get connected. I picked WEP on the iPhone for security prior to entering the passkey. The password is only required for making changes to the router through the host PC.

    Thank you.

  • Phil

    Usual benign drivel from iPhone “help” sites. Would someone give me some real advice to overcome the fact that iPhones are basically sh** if you want to do anything other than “basic” stuff. I have s secure home network – laptops, Blackberry and WM Phone all connect no problem. iPhone – not a chance unless I remove ALL security from the router.

    Spent the last 4 hours searching the web for USEFUL solutions …. nothing !

    Go back to your beer drinking apps and iTunes … clearly iPhones are just toys …………..

  • Joe

    Not sure if this helps anyone, but I was having the same problem where the IPhone was asking for a password – I would type it in, and it would tell me it was incorrect. I had a long alphanumeric password – so I changed it to something simple – and this worked. Try changing your password to something simple, like “bob” or “dog”

  • faiz

    my iphone always show..unable to connect wifi….why?

  • Lindy

    i have tried all the things that poeple have said to connect . We have four iphones in the house that do connect to the wifi and mine has just decided it doesnt want to. accepts password though just doesnt connect. All onfo in network settings has gone but cant type it in manually. Wont let me

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  • http://www.daytodayinfo.com Swathi Reddy

    Recently i had faced wifi problem for my iphone But now it is solved.Good post.You provide good post on Technology.