WiFi Not Working in iOS 11 on iPhone and iPad? Tips to Fix the Issue

Is Wi-Fi not working on iPhone and iPad running iOS 11 or later and playing spoilsport every now and then? Have a go at these reliable solutions to troubleshoot the issue!

There are two types of problems that I have to encounter on my iOS device. While one set of issues are common and have existed for ages, the other set of issues are rare and seem to crop up out of nowhere. And Wi-Fi issue belongs to the former category. That’s why; I wasn’t surprised at all when I found WiFi not working on my iPhone running iOS 11 the other day.

Been there done that several times before, I was able to overcome the Wi-Fi not working issue in iOS 11 with ease. These are the age-old tricks that did the job for me!

Sponsored Links

Wi-Fi Not Working in iOS 11 on iPhone and iPad: How to Fix the Issue

If Wi-Fi has been playing hide-and-seek with you and just doesn’t seem to be working properly, troubleshoot it using the following solutions. In most cases, you may not have to dig deep. But if the problem persists, you will have hit the ground running and dive a bit deeper to get rid of the issue. After each solution, check out if the problem is fixed. In case you don’t get lucky with one solution, move to give another one a chance.

Solution #1: Start from the Scratch

Step #1. Open Settings app → Tap on Wi-Fi.

Sponsored Links

Step #2. Tap on the “i” button next to a Wi-Fi network. Then, tap on Forget This Network and confirm.

Step #3. Next, turn off Wi-Fi.

Sponsored Links

Step #4. Now, reboot your device.

To reboot iPhone SE, 6s Plus, 6s or earlier, Simply press and hold home and power ON/OFF buttons at once for about 10 seconds to reboot your device.

To reboot iPhone 7/7 Plus, you need to press and hold ON/OFF and volume down buttons simultaneously.

To force restart your iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus, click and release volume up button, click and release volume down button and hold side button until you see Apple logo.

Step #5. Once your device has restarted, turn on Wi-Fi and connect to the network.

Solution #2: Turn OFF/ON Ask to Join Networks

Though it sounds a bit funny, some users have found success by trying out this little trick. So, give it a go as well.

Step #1. Open Settings app → Tap on Wi-Fi.

Step #2. Turn off Ask to Join Networks switch.

Reboot your device and then turn it on.

Solution #3: Turn OFF/On Wi-Fi Assist

On a few occasions turning off and on Wi has fixed the problem on my device. Hence, I would recommend you to use try it as well.

Step #1. Tap on Settings → Tap on Cellular/Mobile Data.

Step #2. Turn off Wi-Fi Assist.

For those unfamiliar, it offers more reliable Internet connection to ensure you continue to use your device without any interruption. Whenever Wi-Fi network becomes poor, it automatically uses cellular data.

Solution #4: Reset Network Settings

Haven’t got the fix as yet? No problem. Try resetting network settings on your iOS device.

Step #1. Open Settings app on your device → General.

Step #2. Tap on Reset → Reset Network Settings and confirm.

Solution #5: Check Your W-Fi Router

Turn off your Wi-Fi router → unplug it from the power source → wait for sometime and then plug it back in. Then connect it to the power source.

Solution #6: Disable VPN

Are you using VPN (virtual private network? It might be creating the problem. Disable it from the Settings app and try connecting to the network. To know more about how VPN apps work, jump over to this complete guide.

Solution #7: Set Custom DNS

Switching to Google DNS or OpenDNS could help you resolve the problem. Many a time, I have found success by setting a custom DNS. Hence, give this trick a try as well. Head over to this guide to change DNS settings on your iOS device.

Solution #8: Turn off Wi-Fi Networking Services

Disabling Wi-Fi networking services could help you resolve the issue. Don’t worry it will only prevent your location from being used for Wi-Fi networking and won’t turn off Wi-Fi on your device.

Step #1. Open Settings app → Tap on Privacy.

Step #2. Tap on Location Services → Scroll down and tap on System Services.

Step #3. Now turn off the switch that’s right next to Wi-Fi networking.

Solution #9: Update iOS on your iPhone or iPad

Is your device running the latest version of iOS 11? If not, make sure it’s up to date. An old version of iOS might be the culprit behind this mess. Hence, it’s time to upgrade your device to the latest software.

Step #1. Head over to Settings → Tap on General.

Step #2. Tap on Software Update and install the latest iOS.

What if nothing has worked?

More often than not, one of these solutions as mentioned earlier can help you troubleshoot the Wi-Fi issue on your iOS device. But just in case nothing has worked, restore your device via iTunes and set it up as new. Make sure to back up your device before restoring it.

Connect your device to computer → launch iTunes → select the device from the top left corner and then hit the Restore iPhone/iPad button. (You will be asked to disable Find My iPhone to restore the device. Settings → your account → iCloud → Find My iPhone.)