iPhone does not automatically connect to WiFi: how to fix it

If you have been having Wi-Fi problems on your iPhone, don’t be alarmed because you are not the only one having connectivity problems. More and more iPhone users have reported that their device does not connect to a Wi-Fi network, while some users can connect but the bandwidth keeps decreasing all the time.

An overheating Wi-Fi chip can cause the problem, but there is a whole list of other suspects that could block your iPhone from connecting. Continue reading and we will give you some tips and tricks that could help you solve your problem.

The cause

A wide variety of factors cause Wi-Fi connection problems. Some are simple and easy to fix, like being too far from the router, having Airplane mode on, or having a weak signal. However, the problem may be caused by something else, such as a software bug or problems with the router or modem. Your iPhone’s antenna is also usually the reason, so you’ll have to narrow down the list of possible culprits before you can fix the problem.

Fix your Wi-Fi connection

Since there are many possible reasons why your iPhone won’t automatically connect to a Wi-Fi network, we’ll go over a list of possible solutions that could help you get things working again. Try the methods as listed until you find one that solves your problem.

Restart the Wi-Fi connection on your phone

Naturally, the first thing you should try is to restart your Wi-Fi connection.

1. Turn your Wi-Fi on and off in the Settings application or the slide-down menu. Be sure to wait a few seconds before turning it back on.

The connection issue could be caused by something as simple as a Wi-Fi IP conflict. Restarting the connection should fix it.

Disable Bluetooth

Sometimes your Bluetooth can be the reason why you can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network. The two functions may conflict with each other, which could prevent you from connecting to a Wi-Fi network. You should turn off Bluetooth and try to connect.

1. Use the settings in the slide down menu or the Settings app and deactivate it.

Check if airplane mode is activated

Many people forget that they turned on Airplane mode when they can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network. When Airplane mode is on, your device cannot connect to any network, including Wi-Fi. You could also activate the mode accidentally.

Turning off Airplane mode should fix the problem immediately.

1. just go to Settings and turn Airplane mode off, then try to connect to your Wi-Fi network.

Wi-Fi Assistance

The Wi-Fi Assist feature has been available since the iOS 9 update and is supposed to provide you with a stable internet connection automatically. However, if your Wi-Fi is too slow or you have a bad signal, the problem may be caused by the Wi-Fi Assist feature because it will automatically switch to your cellular Internet in such cases. Try disabling the feature completely and your problem might be fixed.

1. Gonna Settingsand then Cell phone.
2. Scroll down until you see the Wi-Fi Assistance function and turn it off.

Restart your device

If none of the above helped you regain a stable Wi-Fi connection, try restarting your iPhone to see if that fixes the problem. Turn off your phone completely and then wait about 30 seconds before turning it on again. It’s a simple method but one that often gets the job done, even when you don’t expect it.

Restart your modem

If you’ve already tried restarting your iPhone and Wi-Fi connection, the problem could be on the other end of the connection. Restart your router and modem to see if that fixes the problem. You can unplug it completely or just turn it off for about 30 seconds before turning it back on.

Some users cannot connect to their home Wi-Fi network, but have no problems trying to connect to any other network. If that’s the case, a simple restart of your internet connection should get everything working again.

Turn off location services

It seems that this method has helped many iPhone users. Turning off location services for WiFi seems to get things working in no time. This is what you have to do:

1. Gonna Settings and touch the Privacy eyelash.
2. Select Location services.
3. Tap System services.
4. Turn off Wi-Fi.

Forget about a saved Wi-Fi network

In some rare cases, if the methods listed above still don’t work, try forgetting the WiFi network saved in your phone settings and reconnect. Do it like this:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and then select Wifi.
2. Tap on the information button.
3. Select Forget this network.
4. Connect to the same network again.

Reset network settings

At this point, you’re running out of options, so you only have a few more things to try. If you still can’t get a stable connection, you should try resetting the network settings on your iPhone. That means you will lose all your Wi-Fi networks and passwords, including cellular settings, as well as APN and VPN settings. However, it should fix things for good. This is what you have to do:

1. To get started, go to Settings on your iPhone.
2. Within Settings menu, touch General.
3. For iOS 14 and earlier, select Restart and then Reset network settings. For iOS 15 and later, select Transfer or reset > Reset > Reset network settings.
4. Enter your security password.
5. Tap Restart and confirm your choice.

Update your software

Software bugs can often cause all kinds of problems with many functions, including Wi-Fi connections. Make sure your iPhone is on the latest version of iOS and update all software you have installed. If that doesn’t fix the problem, the only thing you can try is to reset your phone to factory settings. Use that method only as a last resort if nothing else helps. Before doing so, remember to backup your data as it will be permanently gone once the process is complete.

Connect with the rest of the world

There are many different factors that can cause Wi-Fi connectivity issues on your iPhone and we did our best to provide you with all possible solutions. However, if the problem is frequent and you cannot determine what the cause is, you should take your phone to the nearest iPhone service store and see if they can fix it for you.

Have you ever had a similar problem with your iPhone? If so, which of these methods worked for you? Did the problem reappear in the future? Tell us about your experiences with Wi-Fi connectivity issues on your iPhone in the comments p below.