Network problems are among the most common concerns raised by many iOS device owners including users of the new iPhone 7 Plus. Being troubled with these problems is indeed a bummer given that this device is deemed powerful and new. Indeed it is very frustrating for users to have such as a new handset with network services that are not working.
Among the most widespread issues affecting this new iPhone’s network functions would include no service, searching, connection failed error, or unable to connect to Wi-Fi or Cellular network. If you too are experiencing any of these network troubles and that you need help in getting them fixed, then this content might be able to help you out. Read on to learn how to deal with these issues on your new iOS device.
Possible Causes of network problems
Several factors can affect network services on your new iPhone 7 Plus. It can be an issue with your network provider, account status, software glitches, or a faulty network component (hardware damage) on the device.
Network problems that are associated with the network service provider can comprised of outages, system maintenance or activities that can lead to network service unavailability. Other cases of network problems are linked to account issues such as inactive account status or the account is in soft disconnect. Soft disconnect here means that network services or other outgoing services are temporarily disabled due to some issues with the account that needed to be resolved. For example, unpaid balances that has to be paid in order to resume services.
Meanwhile, network problems that are triggered by software glitches include faulty updates that messed up with the iPhone’s network settings and thereby caused network connectivity errors on the device.
In worst cases, network problems can occur due to hardware damage or defective network components on the device. This is likely the case if there were previous incidents of drops or liquid exposure on your iPhone. A hardware-damaged iPhones typically require service for repair.
Network problems that are software-related are likely to get resolved by performing a series of workarounds that would rectify the cause. Thus, it is imperative to determine the possible cause prior to troubleshooting.
Recommended Solutions and Workarounds
Highlighted below are recommended solutions and workarounds used to deal with network problems on the iPhone 7 Plus. These methods however only work for problems that are software-related. If you are certain that the network problem on your iPhone is not inflicted by hardware damage, then you can go ahead and give these methods a try to fix the problem on your end.
First things to check:
There are times when troubleshooting is actually not necessary especially if the problem is associated with the account status. In order not to waste time performing any troubleshooting procedures, be sure to check your account status as well as verify network outages in your area.
- Account status – Before troubleshooting, be sure to verify your account status and ensure it is in good standing and active. Contact your carrier or service provider for account verification.
- Network outages – Another thing to verify with your carrier or service provider is on network outages. Make sure that there is no on-going outage or service maintenance that might have temporarily affected network services in your location.
After verifying that your account status is active and that there are no network outages, yet still you are having trouble with network services on your new iPhone, then you may now proceed with the following methods.
Recommended Troubleshooting Procedures and Potential Solutions to Network Problems
The following methods are comprised of generic solutions and recommended workarounds to deal with network problems affecting the iPhone 7 Plus.
Method 1: Reboot (soft reset) your iPhone 7 Plus.
Minor software glitches can cause random network service downtimes in mobile devices even the new ones. And often times, these glitches can be rectified by a reboot on the device. Others would call it a soft reset. Here’s how it’s done:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button or Power button on your iPhone 7 for a few seconds until the red slider appears.
- Drag the slider to power off the iPhone completely.
- Wait for about 30 seconds and then press the Sleep/Wake or Power button again until the Apple logo appears.
Your iPhone should then reboot. Try to connect to the network after the reboot and then see if it is now working fine.
Alternatively, you can do a force restart especially if your iPhone is unresponsive or tends to freeze while attempting to browse or connect to the Internet.
Here’s how to force restart:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake (Power) button and the Volume Down key simultaneously for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Both of these methods are considered safe as no data on your iPhone will be erased in the process.
Method 2: Configure network settings.
Misconfigured or incorrect network settings might also be the reason for getting network errors on your new iPhone. For example, your Wi-Fi service is not available because Airplane mode is activated or turned on. When Airplane mode is enabled, other network services like Cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are automatically turned off. In this case, you will need to turn off Airplane mode so as to re-enable other network features.
Is Airplane Mode enabled?
Follow these steps to configure Airplane Mode on your iPhone 7 Plus:
- Swipe up from the bottom of your Home screen. Doing so will open the Control Center.
- Tap the airplane icon in the Control Center to toggle Airplane mode OFF.
- Check your Wi-Fi settings and enable Wi-Fi if necessary after you turn off Airplane mode.
- To check Wi-Fi settings on your iPhone, go to Settings-> Wi-Fi-> then toggle the switch to turn the feature back ON.
Wi-Fi button is inactive or greyed out?
If the Wi-Fi button is greyed out, try to reset network settings on your iPhone 7 Plus.
- To do so, go to Settings-> General-> Reset-> Reset Network Settings.
Note: Network information such as APN and VPN settings as well as your Wi-Fi password will be erased in the process so be sure to take note of them before you proceed with the network settings reset.
Cannot connect using LTE network?
In case you are having trouble connecting to the network using LTE, you can try switching to other network bands like 3G or 4G network.
- To do so, head over to Settings-> Cellular-> Cellular Data Options-> disable LTE and then select other network bands like 3G or 4G.
After changing cellular data options, restart your iPhone and then try to see if the network is already working fine afterwards.
Method 3: Update iOS to the latest version available.
Apple has released a series of minor updates after the major release of the iOS 10 platform. These updates contain feature enhancements as well as bug fixes to address post-update problems. If the network problem occurs after you install an iOS update, then you can either restore your iPhone from a previous backup or update to the latest iOS version available.
To check for available updates on your iPhone 7 Plus, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select About.
- Go to Software Update to view available software update for your device. You will be notified if an update is available.
Follow the onscreen instructions to proceed with iOS update download and installation.
Method 4: Remove and re-insert SIM card on your iPhone 7 Plus.
If you are prompted with SIM card related errors, then most likely the network problem you have is caused by a faulty SIM card. To possibly fix the problem, you can try removing and re-inserting the SIM card on your iPhone. Here’s how:
- Power off your device completely.
- Use a SIM-eject tool or a small paper clip to eject the SIM card tray.
- Gently remove the SIM card from the tray.
- Check the SIM card for any signs of damage like scratches. If there’s none, place the SIM card back into the tray. Make sure the SIM card is properly placed and secured.
- Close the SIM card tray.
- Turn on your iPhone.
Try to connect to the network and see if it can now connect successfully.
Method 5: Power-cycle your router or modem.
This method is highly recommended by Internet service providers when dealing with network problems in computers and mobile devices. The main source of your Internet at home is your router or modem. For wireless network setup, here’s how to power cycle your wireless router/modem:
- Power off your wireless router/modem by pressing the power button.
- Unplug your wireless router/modem from the power source.
- Leave it unplugged for at least 30 seconds.
- After the elapsed time, plug it back in.
- Press the Power button to turn it back on.
- Wait until all LED indicators on your router or modem resume.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Connect to your wireless network.
Note: If your network setup is wired, follow the same steps indicated above and be sure to check the Ethernet cables from the router/modem, and make sure both ends are secured.
This method works most of the time. Thus, be sure to not miss this one.
Method 6: Factory reset your iPhone 7 Plus.
A factory reset should only be considered a last resort considering your account status is good, no network outages and that you’ve tried all possible methods but still the problem persists. The process will wipe or erase your device completely and restore it back to its factory default settings. It can take longer depending on the number of contents you have stored in your device. Thus, this method is optional.
If you’re decided to go for it, then here’s how to factory reset your iPhone 7 Plus:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Erase All Content and Settings.
Wait until the entire reset is complete and then set up your iPhone as new.
Contact Apple Support for further assistance
If the network problem on your iPhone 7 Plus persists even after performing every method recommended in this post, then you should now consider escalating the problem to Apple Support. Some major network problems would require advanced troubleshooting procedures using advanced system tools used by Apple technicians. Apparently, the problem is already beyond every end-user’s capacity to fix. Therefore, it has to be taken care of by authorized personnel.