What To Do Apple iPhone XS Internet Is Very Slow, Slow Browsing Issue

Slow internet connection is one of the common issues transpiring in computers and wireless mobile devices. Whether you’re on cellular/mobile data connection or using Wi-Fi internet, there’ll be always an instance when slow browsing issue is encountered. And if that happens, you’ve got a problem to fix.

Before anything else, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, then drop in on our iPhone XS Help Guides page for we have already solved some of the most common problems with this device. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our workarounds and solutions.

What makes your iPhone XS internet connection very slow?

Congested network, poor signal coverage, rogue apps are some of factors that can cause the internet connection to become slow. It could be just a minor problem for some, but the fact that you are not enjoying the service you are paying for makes it a priority issue to correct.

It is ideal to determine where the problem lies to save time and effort from troubleshooting. Check if the problem is only isolated to a particular website or application. If the problem occurs to all the websites and apps on all connected devices, then that could be a general issue with your network like outages and scheduled network maintenance with your ISP. In this case, all you can do is to wait for the service to be up and running again as the problem isn’t on your end.

Recommended Fixes for slow internet connection on iPhone XS

I’ve gathered a few potential solutions to internet connectivity issue, particularly slow browsing problem on your iPhone XS. Feel free to use this context as troubleshooting reference before escalating the problem to your Internet service provider.

Solution #1: Check your network signal

The very first thing that you need to do when you are not able to load a website, unable to use apps, or getting very slow connection is to check the signal strength on your phone. When you are using your cellular data to access the internet, having a 4G LTE signal is a must. If you are seeing minimal signal bars on your phone, try to move outside and see if the signal has improved. Note that walls can interfere with the signal that you are getting from the tower, and unstable signal can result to slow internet connection. Then, turn the cellular data off and on again. You may do this through the settings or via the Control Center of your iPhone. In this tutorial, we will be providing you with the steps on how to do it through your phone’s settings:

  1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
  2. Select Cellular.
  3. Toggle the Cellular Data switch indicator to turn it on/off. In this case, turn the Cellular Data off for about 30 seconds and then turn it back on.

Make sure that you still have remaining data on your plan (if you’re on post-paid). Also check if the data has been capped. Carriers usually impose data caps for post-paid accounts. If you are unsure of your data balance, contact your service network provider for further inquiries.

Meanwhile, if you are using a Wi-Fi to connect to the internet, check the signal strength of the network. If it appears to be weak or unstable, try to move closer to your modem or wireless router. If that doesn’t help, then you’ve got to try some means to fix Wi-Fi signal issue on your phone. This is when you would need to power cycle your modem/wireless router. You can refer to the user manual of your modem/router to be guided in the process. Otherwise, refer to these steps:

  1. Press the switch of the modem/router to turn it off.
  2. Then, unplug the AC adapter from the wall outlet for at least 2 minutes.
  3. After the said time, plug the AC adapter back and then push the modem’s switch to turn it back on.
  4. When the Wi-Fi light indicator is already stable, this means that the Wi-Fi signal has resumed.

Your phone will be reconnected to the network automatically, so long as you haven’t disabled the Wi-Fi on your phone when you power cycled the modem/router. Afterwards, open your browser and check some websites. See if it corrects the problem. If you are still getting slow Internet connection, proceed to the next applicable solution.

Solution #2: Restart your iPhone XS

If you have stable cellular data or Wi-Fi network connection and yet the internet is still too slow, the next thing that you need to do is to restart your iPhone. This fix is very simple, but can correct almost all phone issues including intermittent data connection. Doing so will refresh your phone’s internal memory and remove data and cache files. Here is how you restart your iPhone XS:

  1. Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons together for a few seconds.
  2. Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears and then drag the power off slider to the right.
  3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power/Side button again until the iPhone reboots.

Once your phone is already back on, make sure that you are already connected to a Wi-Fi network or the cellular data is already enabled. Then, open your browser and check some websites. If it didn’t correct the problem still, continue with the next fix.

Solution #3: Delete your browsing history, cache and cookies

Another way of removing cached files aside from restarting your phone is to manually delete them from your browser. For phone applications, cache and data files can be deleted by uninstalling and reinstalling the apps. While for Safari browser, browsing history, cached files and cookies can be deleted through the browser’s settings. Here is how you delete the cache and cookies of your Safari browser:

  1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
  2. Scroll down to and then tap Accounts & Passwords.
  3. Select Safari.
  4. Scroll down to and select Clear History and Website Data.
  5. Then, tap Clear History and Data.

Once the process is completed, reboot your iPhone XS. When the phone is already back on, open the Safari browser and check if you already have a fast connection.

Solution #4: Update iOS of your iPhone XS

You might probably ask, what is the connection of the iOS version update of your phone with having slow internet connection? We know for a fact that Safari is the built-in browser app for all iOS devices. Unlike any other browsers, the version of the Safari app will only be updated during iOS updates. Slow internet connection can also be attributed by system malware resulting to data connectivity issue. Thus, updating your iOS will potentially rectify the issue.

If your phone is not set to automatic updates and you are not sure if your iPhone XS is running the latest iOS version, check out the steps below:

  1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Then, select Software Update.
  4. If you are prompted with a new software version, this means that the iOS version of your iPhone is outdated.
  5. Tap Download and Install. Follow the onscreen message to complete the process.

If you don’t want to go through this hassle in the future and wants to have automatic updates, then you can enable the automatic updates on your phone’ settings.

  • To set your iPhone to auto-update, just to go Settings-> General->Software Update->Automatic Updates.

Or if you are using a different browser instead of Safari, check and make sure that the browser is running on its latest version. You can check the App Store for any pending app updates including those for your browser app.

  1. From the Home screen, go to the App Store.
  2. Select the Updates tab located at the bottom right of the screen. You will then be prompted with a list of apps with available updates.
  3. Tap the Update button beside your browser app to install the update.
  4. Otherwise, tap on Update All button to install all pending updates for your apps.

Restart your iPhone once all app updates are completely installed. Doing so will save the recent changes from the updates you’ve implemented.

Solution #5: Uninstall/Reinstall the browser app (if applicable)

If you’re using a third-party browser app, uninstalling and reinstalling the application can also be the key to resolving the issue. It is possible that the browser app has been corrupted and therefore not working unless it’s reinstalled. So here’s what you should do then:

  1. Navigate to the Home screen of your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold the app gently until it jiggles.
  3. Tap the X icon on the upper-left corner of the browser app.
  4. Tap Delete to confirm the action.

When the app has been successfully deleted, go to the App Store. On the search tab, type in the browser app name and proceed in downloading and reinstalling the app.

Solution #6: Reset All Settings

While iOS updates are intended for good purposes, some updates contained some bugs that would trigger new problems to arise. Updates that are programmed to override settings automatically are usually the culprits. The current settings on your phone can be automatically changed or overridden after updating.  If you started to experience the connectivity issue on your internet after updating iOS, then this is likely the cause. To correct the errors, you need reset all the settings on your phone to retrieve its original configuration. The customized settings on your phone will be deleted in the process but without affecting the internal data. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down to and tap Reset.
  4. Then, select Reset All Settings. If prompted, enter your passcode to continue.
  5. Tap Reset All settings to confirm.

Once the process has been completed, restart your phone. When the device is already back on, make sure that the cellular data or Wi-Fi is enabled. Then, go to your browser and test some websites.

Solution #7: Restore your iPhone XS to factory default (Master Reset)

Though slow internet connection is often occurring among other minor issues, it may still require a full system reset especially if the aforementioned solutions have been exhausted and slow internet browsing problem persists. Erasing the phone and restoring its factory defaults hence considered as last resort. This process will eliminate complex system bugs and major errors affecting network services. This will also wipe all data saved on your phone, so make sure to back it up beforehand. You can either back up your data files using iCloud or iTunes. Then proceed with these steps when you’re all set to factory reset your iPhone XS:

  1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down to and tap Reset.
  4. Select Erase All Content and Settings. If prompted, enter your passcode.
  5. Then, tap Erase All Content Settings to confirm the action.

You can also perform a master reset your iPhone XS via iTunes. You will need to use a computer to carry out this process. Also be sure to use the latest version of iTunes on the computer to avoid system conflicts.

Once the phone has been restored to its factory defaults, you can set it up as new. To set up the iPhone, just follow the startup wizard.

Still having slow Internet connection on your iPhone XS?

If none of the aforementioned procedures is able to solve the problem and your iPhone XS internet is still very slow, then this is when you should escalate the problem. For more advanced troubleshooting procedures like IP address configurations, contact your Internet service provider/carrier. To rule out other major system issues with iOS, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Meanwhile, if you suspect that problem is with the wireless router or modem, you can ask more help from the device manufacturer. If the router/modem is supplied by your carrier, then call technical support instead.

Or you can also take your device to the nearest service center in your place and ask an authorized technician for help. The slow browsing problem you’re dealing with could be due to some hardware damage on the network equipment and so it needs service.

I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your device. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!

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