What to Do if Your iPhone Wi-Fi Won’t Turn On

Part of the convenience of having an iPhone is using it at home in conjunction with a Wi-Fi network. That way, you won’t use any of your data, and it cuts back on your phone bill every month. But what can you do if your iPhone’s Wi-Fi won’t turn on? There are a few different potential reasons that this could be happening, and there are several possible fixes for the problem as well.

Try Turning Your iPhone’s Airplane Mode On and Off to Restore Wi-Fi

Sometimes, it can be helpful to turn Airplane mode on and off with your device as a way of restoring Wi-Fi connectivity. This is easily done. Go to Settings, and then scroll down to where it says Airplane Mode. Toggle it on, then wait 10 seconds and toggle it off again. Now you can try to see if the phone’s Wi-Fi connectivity is fixed. If it isn’t, then toggle Airplane Mode on and off a few more times. If that fails to get the job done, then move on to the next fix.

Resetting Your iPhone’s Network Settings Might Fix Your Wi-Fi

You might also be able to connect your phone to Wi-Fi by resetting the network settings. For instance, this would be something to try if the toggle switch for your Wi-Fi remains gray and you can’t move it to the green “on” position. A network setting issue is often directly tied to your phone’s ability to connect to Wi-Fi, so this is a fix that usually works.

1. Open the Settings app and go to General.
2. Hit Reset, followed by Reset Network Settings. Be mindful that if you do this, your existing network settings will be purged, along with your passwords. You’ll have to re-establish contact with your network by searching for it and putting the password in. Make sure that you remember it or have it written down somewhere close by.

Wipe the iPhone and Start from Scratch

If neither of these first two fixes has worked, you can wipe the iPhone clean, restore it to factory settings, and completely start from scratch. This is a more drastic action, so you might be hesitant to take this step. It’s at least worth considering, though, since it will probably take care of any software issues that are interfering with your Wi-Fi capabilities.

1. Hit Settings, then General.
2. Scroll down to where it says Reset.
3. Hit Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Enter your Apple ID and password. The process will take a few minutes. When it’s finished, you will see the welcome screen. Now you are free to set up your iPhone again and check to see if you can connect to Wi-Fi.

If you decide to go through with this, then you should back up your iPhone with iTunes or iCloud first. That way, you’ll have access to any of your contacts, pictures, videos, music, etc. that you would like to have again on the device once you have wiped it clean.

Do a Forced Reboot of the iPhone

Doing a forced reboot of the iPhone is another possibility that you might want to pursue. You may do this with any iOS device, and it often helps with Wi-Fi issues. You can hold down the Power button and the Home button simultaneously if you have an earlier version of the iPhone.

If you own an iPhone version 8 or later, then you’ll need to press and release the Volume Down button, followed by the Volume Up button on the left-hand side of the phone. Finish by pressing and holding down the Power button on the right-hand side of the device until the screen goes black and the Apple logo comes up.

In many cases, this will resolve your Wi-Fi dilemma.

Your Wi-Fi Network Could Be the Issue, Rather than Your iPhone

It is also possible that the inability to connect to Wi-Fi could be because of something going on with your network and not the phone. You can see if some of the other devices in your home are likewise malfunctioning. If you have a laptop or a PC, see if you can connect to Wi-Fi with it. You could also see if you’re getting Wi-Fi to power your TV streaming service if you have one.

If it becomes clear that it is the network rather than your iPhone, then it will be a relief at least in the sense that there is nothing wrong with the device. You might be able to resolve the difficulty by turning off your Wi-Fi router and then turning it back on. You must wait at least a few moments for service to be restored, but then your phone can probably connect again. You should also check each of the router connections to see if any of them are loose. If you have any pets in the house, look over the cables to see if your cat or dog has been chewing on them.

Next, you can call your service provider and see if there are any known outages happening in your area. They can tell you if something is going on that’s interfering with your local service, and they may be able to provide you with an approximate time that it can be restored.

If All Else Fails, Contact Apple

If you’ve gotten to this point and nothing has worked, then it’s probably time to get Apple Support involved. If you go to their website, they have a troubleshooting guide, though it will likely mention the same fixes that we did. You do have the option there of live chatting with them, and they might have some additional ideas for you to try.

If you’re ready to take a more hands-on approach to the problem, then you can bring your iPhone to an Apple Store near you that has a Genius Bar. Since you’ve exhausted most of the software fixes that could get your Wi-Fi working again, the issue could be related to hardware. Internal damage to the iPhone might be what’s keeping your device from connecting. If you dropped it recently or it got wet, then this is not outside the realm of possibility.

If your iPhone is under the original warranty, then you shouldn’t have to pay for whatever the repairs might be. If the phone’s warranty has expired, then it could prove to be a costly fix. You need your device to be able to connect to Wi-Fi, though, so you will probably find it worth it to part with that money.

If the cost of getting your current model of iPhone fixed seems too high, then you can always take this time to trade it in and get a newer one. If so, you should go through BuyBack Boss. We’ll give you the best deal for your trade-in, and we’re always happy to match a competitor’s offer.