This post contains potential solutions and workarounds used to deal with a post-update problem on an Apple iPhone 6 (#iPhone6), in which the device is unable to connect to a wireless network. If you are one of those who are facing the same #iOS update drawback, then this content is addressed to you.
Software updates are generally designed to offer performance enhancements as well as bug fixes to a device. However, not all users can get the same positive output after upgrading. A matter of this fact, many iPhone owners are complaining about different issues that have instigated after getting the latest iOS firmware. One of these issues is on wireless connectivity. Read on and learn what has possibly caused this post-update flaw to occur on your iDevice and what needs to be done should you too encounter the same problem after getting the latest iOS update.
Here’s a pertinent problem we got from one of our readers just recently.
Problem statement:
“I updated last week my phone o iOS 9.3.2 and since then I am not able to connect to the Wi-Fi I sill gave me that the password is incorrect while it’s working on all other phones and I tried all the fixing issue mentioned on the net with no success. Please help.”
Possible causes
Several factors can trigger some system flaws to occur on a device after installing software updates. Some firmware updates may not be compatible with certain third-party applications currently installed on the device, and thereby inflicting system glitches and inconsistencies. Insufficient memory can also cause problems to arise on a device especially if the update file size is too large for it to accommodate. Other problems may also be triggered by erroneous upgrades, like interrupted or unfinished upgrades due to loss of power on a device.
Meanwhile, connectivity issues that instigate after getting the most recent iOS update are often associated with some program structures that automatically alter or supersede existing settings. For instance, the network settings are reset and therefore needs to be reconfigured.
Recommended Solutions and Workarounds
Since an official fix is not yet made available, iDevice owners who are having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi network after installing the latest iOS update may resort to any of the following methods suggested by others who have encountered the same issue.
Here are a few temporary fixes that have been used by other iPhone owners in dealing with Wi-Fi problems after update.
Note: Be sure to test your device after completing each of these methods to see if the problem has been fixed. Otherwise, proceed to the next method available if necessary.
Step 1. Reboot your iPhone (Force Restart, if needed).
Minor software glitches are often resolved by a simple restart on a device. If you haven’t done it yet, then do it now. To restart, press and hold the Sleep/Wake (Power) button until you see the red slider. Next, drag the slider to power off your device completely. After a few seconds, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button again until the Apple logo appears. This process won’t affect any data stored on your device, thus it’s safe.
Alternatively, you can force your iPhone to restart instead. To force restart your device, hold down the Sleep/Wake (Power) and the Home buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds until the Apple logo shows up on screen.
Step 2. Forget Wi-Fi Network and then reconnect. It is also possible that the update overrides or nullifies existing network settings and the reason why you can no longer connect to your Wi-Fi network with the current settings. In this case, forgetting Wi-Fi network may likely be the best option. Here’s how it’s done:
- Go to your iPhone Settings.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the name of the current network you are using.
- Tap the option to ‘Forget this Network.’
- If prompted with the Forget Network message, tap Forget to confirm action.
- Reboot your iPhone.
- Rejoin or reconnect to the Wi-Fi network.
Note: You may be required to enter the network password again for you to rejoin. Enter the correct password and then try to connect to the Internet using your Wi-Fi network again.
Step 3. Disable Location services for Wi-Fi Networking.
Turning this feature off will not disable Wi-Fi completely. Only those location services that are being used for wireless networking will be disabled.
Other users said they’ve managed to fix the problem and get connected to their Wi-Fi network again after disabling Wi-Fi networking services on their iPhones. So you might as well want to give it a try and see how it does on your end. Here’s how:
- Go to your iPhone Settings.
- Tap Privacy.
- Tap on Location Services.
- Select System Services.
- Toggle the switch next to Wi-Fi Networking to turn the feature OFF.
Try to connect to your Wi-Fi network with Wi-Fi network services turned off.
Step 4. Reset Network Settings.
Resetting the network settings often helps in resolving network-related issues occurring on any device. The process will erase current network settings and restore them to defaults. Network caches, DHCP settings, and other network-related information are also flushed in the process. Follow these steps to reset network settings on your iPhone 6:
- Navigate to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Reset.
- Tap on Reset Network Settings.
If prompted, tap OK or any other given options to proceed and confirm the network reset process. Wait for the network settings to reset completely.
Step 5. Set Custom DNS.
Changing the Domain Name Server or DNS settings can also help resolve wireless connectivity issues including slow browsing or no Internet access.
For some reasons, some software updates can cause conflict to the ISPs DNS servers and thereby causing connectivity problems to end-users. There’s only one way to determine whether or not this is what’s causing you trouble connecting to your wireless network, and that is to try altering the current DNS server settings on your iPhone.
If you are willing to try it now, take note of your current DNS settings before you start making changes. That way, you can always revert it back to the original settings should the alteration won’t do any good at all. To those who don’t know how, here’s how to change the DNS settings on your iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on the Wi-Fi menu.
- Locate your Wi-Fi network from the list of available networks and then tap the information (i) icon next to it.
- Scroll down to the DNS section.
- Tap on the numbers next to DNS to change them.
- From the keyboard, enter the new DNS server address.
Note: If you may ask what DNS server to use instead of the one provided by your ISP? Here are your options then:
- Google DNS – this is a free DNS service promising speed, performance and security. You can select any of Google’s DNS you prefer to use:
- 8.8.8
- 8.4.4
- Open DNS – this is another free DNS service that also offers speed, reliability, and security.
- 67.222.222
- 67.222.220
Once you’re done making changes to the DNS server, tap on Wi-Fi.
Step 6. Power-cycle or reboot wireless router and/or modem.
Power-cycling or rebooting the wireless router or modem to which your iDevice is connected can also help resolve connectivity issues. It’s also recommended to reboot your iDevices after power-cycling the wireless router and/or modem to re-establish network connections.
If none of the aforementioned workarounds is able to fix the problem and that your iPhone is still unable to connect to your Wi-Fi network, then I suggest contacting your carrier or Apple Support to escalate the issue you have and ask for further troubleshooting support and/or other options.
Engage with Us
We are willing to help you out! Should you need further assistance in dealing with other issues on your iPhone or other iDevices, you can reach us through this form available in our Troubleshooting Page. Simply fill up the form with all the required information and then submit it to us. We would appreciate if you could provide us with all significant details including error codes, warning messages, or any other prompts you may get, as they will help us determine what has possibly gone wrong with your device and what needs to be done in order to fix it. The more information we have the easier for us to come up with a more precise and efficient solution and recommendation for you to try on.
You may also browse for more solutions to other iDevice issues we previously addressed and posted in our dedicated troubleshooting pages.
I currently own an iphone 6.
I have tried all of the above options with zero luck.
My phone is not connecting to wifi. And I need his resolved.
Thanks,
Chriss Smith
Dear,
Step 5, changing the DNS resolved my IPHONE 6 wifi failure, which has been going on for the last 4 months.
Thank you for your help and wish you all the best.
Kind regards
Jem
Hi Felix,
After finally upgrading to IOS 10 I had a problem connecting to my own network.
Was able to connect at public spots but not my home.
I rebooted phone and rebooted modem and router…..About the extent of my skills!
Did not help so I noodled around online a bit and found your post.
Step two, forgetting the network and re connecting worked for me the first time.
Thanks very much for taking the time to post!
I will check out the rest of your site.
RC/DG
6s . I am not able to connect to any network yet my settings say I am connected . The wifi symbol doesnt appear at the top of the screen . I cannot sign into my apple account to restore my phone – was planing on reinstalling the OS .
May take it in to apple as it seems they should cover this regardless of not having apple protection
Any advise is welcomed . Thank You
Dear all.
This might help. I was facing same issues of unable to connect to wifi and waze (no GPS).
Coincidentally, my battery has reached its time and due for change.
So i went to a local i phone shop, changed the battery and after that everything back to normal.
NON OF THESE WORK
thanks for the tips the DNS solved my problem for iphone6+