If you’re an iPhone user, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of having your device unexpectedly disconnect from your wifi network. Whether you’re in the middle of a crucial work call or trying to stream your favorite show, the sudden interruption can be a major inconvenience.
Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue. In this post, we’ll explore the common causes of why your iPhone keeps disconnecting from wifi and provide you with practical solutions to get your device back online. So if you’re tired of dealing with frequent wifi disconnections on your iPhone, keep reading to learn more!
Reasons Why Your iPhone Keeps Disconnecting From Wifi
While there are several reasons why your iPhone keeps disconnecting from wifi, it’s important to understand that this issue is not uncommon. In fact, many iPhone users have reported similar problems, especially after updating their devices to the latest version of iOS.
It can be hard to pinpoint exactly which one. However, it generally comes down to two things: problems with your phone or problems with the router. To find out which is the culprit, simply try connecting another device to the same wifi network and see if you encounter the same issue.
If you do, there is nothing wrong with your phone, and you can focus your troubleshooting efforts on your router. However, if the connection stabilizes once you use another device, then there is a good chance that your iPhone has a problem.
Another (albeit similar) way to go is to look for a different wifi source and try to connect your iPhone to it. If it still struggles to keep the wifi signal, then there might be a problem with your phone. Otherwise, your router is to blame.
How to Stop an iPhone From Dropping Wifi Connection
Depending on what you find out from using the technique outlined above, you might have to check your phone or router. Here’s a rundown of what you can do to try and fix the problem.
1. Check Your Settings
One of the simplest things that you can try is to check your settings. It might sound silly, but you would feel much sillier if you went through so much trouble only to find out later that you just accidentally disabled your wifi setting.
Here’s how to verify it:
1. To get started, launch “Settings” from your home page and look for the wifi section. It should be in the second row, right below “Airplane Mode.”
2. If the connection is active, you should see the wifi name on the right side of the wifi section.
3. If there is no connection, you will see the word “Off” instead.
4. If your wifi is disabled, just click on the wifi toggle. Tap the button in the upper right corner, just below the “Edit” option.
5. Click on the wifi that you want to connect to and enter the password.
Another thing that you need to check in the “Settings” section is if the “Airplane Mode” is enabled. If it is, you will not be able to connect to the internet.
Here’s how to check if your airplane mode is enabled:
1. Look at the upper right corner of your phone’s screen. Instead of the wifi signal symbol, you will see an airplane icon.
2. To turn it off, launch “Settings” from your iPhone’s home page.
3. The “Airplane Mode” should be right at the top of the selection. Tap the toggle button to its right. It should change color from green to faded gray.
2. Turn Your Wifi On and Off
Even if you see that the wifi symbol is on the upper right corner of your screen, there might be a glitch that is preventing your iPhone from actually connecting. A possible quick fix is to turn your wifi off and on again. Here’s how:
1. Launch “Settings” from your home page.
2. Tap on the wifi option. This should take you to the wifi settings page.
3. Below the “Edit” button in the upper right corner. Tap on the toggle to disable wifi and wait for a few seconds.
3. To enable your wifi connection again, simply tap on the same toggle button. The toggle button should turn change color from gray to green after you do this.
4. Tap on the name of your wifi source and input the password if needed.
3. Update Your iPhone’s iOS
Apple regularly comes out with iOS updates to fix bugs, beef up security, or offer new features. If your iPhone connection is unstable, it is worth downloading and installing the latest software to see if this fixes the problem.
To do this, simply follow the steps outlined below:
1. Launch “Settings” from your iPhone’s home page, and tap “General.”
3. You will see the “Software Update” in the second row from the top. Tap on this option.
4. The next page will show if your iPhone’s “Automatic Updates” feature is on. You will also see which iOS version your iPhone is using and if it is up to date.
5. If your current iOS is not the latest version, tap on “Automatic Updates” > “Download iOS Updates” > “Install iOS.”
The latest iOS version as of this writing is 16.3. If you are using older software, upgrading it might fix your problem.
NOTE: There are rare cases where the update can cause the problem. If you start experiencing it right after an update, you can also try downgrading to the previous version.
4. Make Sure Your Wifi Is Set To Connect Automatically
Another possible reason behind an unstable wifi connection is that your iPhone is not set to join the network automatically. Here’s how to check it:
1. Launch “Settings” from the home page.
2. Tap on the “Wifi” option.
3. Tap on the network name that you want to connect to.
4. Make sure the “Auto Join” toggle is turned on. If it is disabled, the toggle will be a faded gray color. Simply tap the toggle to turn it on.
5. Disable Wifi Assist
iPhone has a cool feature known as “Wifi Assist,” which automatically transfers your internet connection to mobile data if your wifi connection is weak. It is helpful to enable this feature if your wifi connection suddenly drops, and you can use your carrier’s signal instead.
To turn off Wifi Assist, here’s what you can do:
1. Launch “Settings” from the home page.
2. Tap on “Mobile Data.” It should be right below the “wifi” and “Bluetooth” options.
3. Scroll to the bottom and look for the “Wifi Assist” feature.
4. If the toggle is turned on, it will be green. If it is turned off, it will be faded gray. Note that your cellular data has to be active before you can enable “Wifi Assist.”
6. Restart Your iPhone
If you’re familiar with the show “The IT Crowd,” then you are no stranger to the power of turning a computer off and on again. It is one of the first things that you can try if you experience a problem with a device or gadget, and the iPhone is no exception.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Press and hold the power button and one of the volume buttons. After around one second, the power slider should appear at the top of the screen.
2. Swipe the slider to the right and wait for a few seconds for the phone to power down.
3. To restart your iPhone, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.
7. Restart Your Router
Aside from your device, you can also try resetting your router. You can do this by turning it off and waiting for between 30 to 45 seconds before turning it on again.
Some models come with a physical button that you can press. If yours does not, you can also try unplugging it for a few seconds before plugging it back into the wall socket.
8. Turn Off Your VPN
A VPN allows you to go online without having to worry about prying eyes. However, there is a chance that it could mess up your wifi connection. This issue is connected to the complex process of encrypting your data, which is a big part of the app’s enhanced security.
If you are using an app, you can disable it from within it. You can also disable it from your “Settings.” Here’s how:
1. Launch “Settings” from the home page and tap “General.”
3. Scroll down to the “VPN & Device Manage” option and tap on it.
4. The top row should show you if the VPN is connected. If it is, tap on “VPN.” This will take you to the status page.
5. Tap on the slider to the right of the “Status” option to turn it off. The button should turn green.
Wrapping Up
There you have it — eight potential solutions if your iPhone keeps disconnecting from wifi. If the problem persists after you have tried them all, then it might be time to book an appointment at a Genius Bar near you and have an expert look at your iPhone.
If you’re looking for more iPhone tips and tricks on how to master your iPhone, then check out these iPhone courses.
Related:
- Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting? 10 Easy Fixes
- How to Share WiFi Password: macOS, iOS, Android, & Windows
- How to Mirror iPhone to TV With or Without WiFi [3 Ways]
- Connected Without Internet? Here’s 15 Fixes
- How to Fix Face ID Not Working on iPhone: A Complete Guide
Emma Collins is a tech writer for Productivity Spot. She's been writing tech tutorials & how-to guides on Windows, Android, iOS, Social Media, Data Recovery, Cybersecurity, Gaming, and more as a tech writer for over 6 years. You can find her work on many established tech websites, including Hackr.io, MakeUseOf, Help Desk Geek, Online Tech Tips, Switching To Mac, HandyRecovery, Cleverfiles, and more.
