Wi-Fi Not Working on iPhone but Working on Other Devices?

What to Know

  • iPhone won't connect to Wi-Fi? It could be a software, settings, or hardware issue. 
  • Try a software update or forgetting your Wi-Fi network to get your iPhone to connect to Wi-Fi.
  • Open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap Reset, then tap Reset Network Settings as a last resort.

It can be perplexing when your iPhone won't connect to Wi-Fi, but other devices will. Don't worry; we have the fix to reconnect your iPhone or iPad to Wi-Fi again.

Wi-Fi Not Working on Phone but Working on Other Devices?

If your iPhone is not connecting to Wi-Fi, but your other devices are, you should read, What to Do If Your iPhone Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi. But, if your iPad or iPhone won't connect to Wi-Fi and your other devices connect to the same network with no problem, we have the fix.

First, check the basics. Make sure to update your iPhone to the latest iOS and your iPad to the latest iPadOS. Reboot your iPhone or iPad, and reboot your router as well. Don't forget to make sure you're in range of your router and there's no physical interference between your iPhone and router that would block the Wi-Fi signal. Also, check that your iPad or iPhone is compatible with your router; older models may not be. Read on for more troubleshooting steps, and check out our free Tip of the Day for more great Wi-Fi tutorials!

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Make Sure You Can See Your Network on Your iPhone

Check to be sure that you can see your Wi-Fi on your iPhone by doing the following:

  1. Open the Settings app.

    ipad and iphone settings app
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.

    tap iphone wifi settings if wifi iphone won't connect
  3. Make sure that Wi-Fi is toggled on and that there's a blue checkmark next to the name of your preferred network. If you have two frequencies, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, switch to 2.4GHz to see if your iPhone or iPad will connect. 

    look for blue check next to wifi network
  4. Tap the Info icon next to your network.

    tap the info icon next to the wifi network
  5. Make sure Auto-Join is toggled on as well.

    toggle on auto join if iphone wont connect to wifi

Forget Your Wi-Fi Network

Try using the Control Center to turn off Wi-Fi and turn it on again. If this doesn't get your phone to connect to Wi-Fi, forget your Wi-Fi network on your iPhone or iPad, then rejoin it. Be sure to have the network password written down before taking this step!

forget wifi network if ipad or iphone won't connect to wifi

Reset Network Settings on Your iPhone or iPad

If you've followed all the troubleshooting steps above and your iPhone or iPad won't connect to Wi-Fi still, it's time to Reset Network Settings. Resetting your Network Settings resets your cellular settings and removes your saved Wi-Fi connections and forgets all Bluetooth devices. So, write down any Wi-Fi passwords you need before taking this step, because you’ll need to enter your Wi-Fi password again to rejoin your network.

reset network settings if phone won't connect to wifi

Factory Reset Your iPhone or iPad

As a last resort, you can Factory Reset your iPhone or iPad, then restore from a backup made before your device stopped connecting to Wi-Fi.

factory reset iphone or ipad if phone won't connect to wifi

FAQ

  • Why won't my iPhone connect to Wi-Fi but other devices will? You may need to update software, forget and then rejoin your Wi-Fi network, correct or reset settings, or even restore your iPhone or iPad from a backup. 
  • Do I need a new Wi-Fi router if my Wi-Fi is not working on my phone, but is working on other devices? If you have a newer iPhone or iPad and an older router, your router may not support the latest Wi-Fi standards, so a new router may fix the problem. 
  • What if I try all these steps and my iPhone or iPad won't connect to Wi-Fi still? Contact Apple Support in case a hardware issue needs to be repaired.

By now, your iPad and iPhone should be connecting to Wi-Fi with no problems. Be sure to check back in with iPhone Life for more great Wi-Fi troubleshooting articles and tips, including what to do if your iPhone keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi, and the difference between each 5G network, and what 5G UC means.

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Author Details

Leanne Hays's picture

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays has over a dozen years of experience writing for online publications. As a Feature Writer for iPhone Life, she has authored hundreds of how-to, Apple news, and gear review articles, as well as a comprehensive Photos App guide. Leanne holds degrees in education and science and loves troubleshooting and repair. This combination makes her a perfect fit as manager of our Ask an Expert service, which helps iPhone Life Insiders with Apple hardware and software issues.
In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.