You decide to be a good Apple digital citizen and upgrade your iPhone to iOS 17. But then after your update, you realize that your iPhone is now WiFi dropping! You’re unable to retain a stable WiFi connection. Thankfully, we have come up with some tested solutions to fix the WiFi not working issue on iPhone running iOS 17.
It seems that nearly every time Apple releases an iOS update, some users are impacted with WiFi and internet performance issues and iOS 17 is no different!
I am sure all of us want our iPhones to run the latest iOS update available. However, some iPhone users have Wi-Fi connection issues after updating to iOS 17.
For some iOS 17 beta users, their iPhone’s are not even joining a known network and sometimes even show no WiFi available at all.
For others, their iPhone’s randomly disconnect from WiFi or connect to a very low signal only to have it disappear. This WiFi dropping out in iOS 17 is very frustrating, especially when the only thing that changed is iOS software.
Therefore, I have decided to explain what steps you need to take in order to fix your Wi-Fi internet connection in iOS 17 and get back to your everyday work.
How to fix Wi-Fi not working after iOS 17 update
Verify Wi-Fi Is turned on
It’s possible that an update or stray touch turned off Wi-Fi on your iPhone without you realizing it. To start, you should thus confirm that Wi-Fi is actually turned on:
- Open the Settings app.
- Confirm the toggle next to Wi-Fi is turned on.
Toggle your Wi-Fi off and on again
I know this sounds like a cliché fix, but you’ll be surprised how often turning Wi-Fi off and then back on again will troubleshoot the issue. Please follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app from your Home screen.
- Tap on Wi-Fi.
- Tap the Wi-Fi On/Off Switch twice. Once to turn it off and another time to turn it back on.
Make sure you are connected to the right network
If you’re somewhere with multiple Wi-Fi networks that your iPhone could connect to — like in a coffee shop or at a business — your iPhone will pick the first one that pops up in the list, which is less than ideal. Head into your Wi-Fi settings and make sure you’re connected to the right network.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Wi-Fi.
- Tap the Wi-Fi network you want.
Forget and Re-Add the Wi-Fi Network
Forgetting a network removes its password and all other network information from your iPhone. This can help clear up issues with connecting to specific networks. Keep in mind that you’ll need the password to reconnect after forgetting a network.
To forget a network on iOS:
- Start the Settings app and tap on Wi-Fi.
- Tap the i icon next to the network you want to forget,
- Tap Forget This Network.
For best results, try restarting your iPhone before rejoining the network.
Make sure your iPhone is up to date
If there’s a minor iOS update, perform this upgrade. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Disable VPN
One of the most common reasons that seem to cause iPhone WiFi problems in iOS 17 is VPN. If you have enabled it via the Settings app or a VPN app, then try to disable it to see if it resolves the issue. You can disable VPN via the Settings app and navigate to the VPN settings to disable the Status toggle from Connected to Not Connected. If you are not able to disable it, then launch the VPN app to disable VPN temporarily to figure out if it resolves the WiFi problem on your iPhone running iOS 17.
Reset your network settings
If one of the Wi-Fi settings was corrupted in the process of iOS 17 update, it could prevent you from connecting to Wi-Fi. Although this deletes some preferences, sometimes it’s your only option.
- Open the Settings app.
- Select General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Type in your Passcode if prompted.
- Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.
Once this is complete, you’ll have to reconnect to every Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device you own or use, but if your Wi-Fi starts working again, then it will all be worth it.
Reboot your router
If you’re having problems with a specific network, it’s time to check out what’s going on under that network’s hood. If the Wi-Fi network is yours to tinker with, you can dive into your router’s settings to try and reboot or reset it. Alternatively, unplug all the cords from the router and then wait a few minutes. After you plug it back in, wait a minute or two for it to set up.
If you’re having problems with a network that isn’t yours, check with the proprietor or IT administrator — are other people having this problem? Can the network be rebooted? If not, you may be out of luck.
Reboot your iPhone
How to reboot iPhone XR or later
- Press and hold the On/Off button on the iPhone’s right side.
- While still holding the On/Off button, press and hold either of the volume buttons on the left side until you see the power-off slider on the screen.
- Drag the slider from left to right to turn your iPhone off.
- To turn your iPhone back on, hold the On/Off button again until the Apple logo appear.
How to reboot your iPhone SE (second generation) or later
- Press and hold the power) button on your iPhone until the power-off slider appears.
- Drag the slider from left to right to turn your iPhone off.
- To turn your iPhone back on, hold the Side) button again until you see the Apple logo.
Once your iPhone is back up and running, turn on Wi-Fi to see if this solved your problem. If it didn’t, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Restore your iPhone to factory settings
If you’re still unable to connect to Wi-Fi, you may want to take a rather drastic step: restoring your iPhone to its factory settings. This deletes everything from the iPhone and returns it to its original, out-of-the-box condition.
Before you do this, be sure to back up of all the data on your iPhone. Check out this article for step-by-step instructions on how to format an iPhone completely.
Reach out to your internet service provider
Did you try out all the fixes listed in this post but your Wi-Fi is still not working? If so, there’s a chance you’re going to have to make a call. But before you do, try to figure out if the problem is with your device or router. Try connecting as many devices as possible to your Wi-Fi network. If none of them can get online, the problem is with the router or the network. But if only one of them can’t connect, it’s likely there’s something wrong with that specific device.
Give your ISP a call. It can check if there’s any work being done in your area that’s causing interference with the network, or if there is a problem with your router. If the router is to blame, your ISP will send a guy over to replace it.
If All Else Fails, Reach Out to Apple
If you’ve tried all the software options available and you still can’t connect to any Wi-Fi network, your iPhone may have a hardware issue. Wi-Fi chip or antenna failure is rare, but it can happen — and the only way to fix it is to visit your local Apple Store or Apple Authorized Repair Shop.
WiFi not working after iOS 17 update: Fixed!
These are the best solutions for your iOS 17 Wi-Fi problems. Running into any other Wi-Fi problems after iOS 17 update? Drop a comment and let us know.