Start with the simplest fixes first
An iPad that won't connect to the internet usually has one of three problems: the Wi-Fi is off, your iPad has forgotten the network password, or something is blocking the signal between your device and the router. Before you assume the iPad itself is broken, try these steps in order, because the first one solves the problem about half the time.
Turn off Wi-Fi completely, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on. On newer iPads, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, find the Wi-Fi icon, and tap it. On older iPads, go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and toggle it off and on. This forces your iPad to reconnect to the network from scratch, which clears out temporary glitches that prevent connection.
If that does not work, forget the network entirely and reconnect. Go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, find your network name in the list, tap the information icon (the small circle with an "i"), and select "Forget This Network". Then tap the network name again, enter the password, and connect. This tells your iPad to treat the network as new, which fixes cases where it has stored a corrupted password or outdated network settings.
Key Takeaways
- Turning Wi-Fi off and back on fixes about half of connection problems because it forces your iPad to reconnect from scratch.
- If your iPad remembers the wrong password or old network settings, forgetting the network and reconnecting will clear that out.
- Physical obstacles like walls, metal, or distance from the router can block Wi-Fi signals, so moving closer often solves the problem.
- If other devices connect fine but your iPad does not, the problem is usually with your iPad's Wi-Fi hardware or settings, not your internet service.
- Restarting your router by unplugging it for thirty seconds fixes cases where the router itself has stopped responding to new connections.
Check whether the problem is your iPad or your network
Before you spend time fixing your iPad, find out whether the problem is actually the network. Try connecting another device — a phone, laptop, or tablet — to the same Wi-Fi network. If that device connects and works, the problem is with your iPad. If no devices connect, the problem is your router or internet service, not your iPad.
If other devices connect fine, your iPad's Wi-Fi hardware or settings are the issue. Go back to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and look at the list of available networks. You should see your network name appear within a few seconds. If you see it, your iPad can detect the signal. If you do not see it, your iPad's Wi-Fi receiver may be damaged, or it is too far from the router to pick up the signal.
Move closer to the router and remove obstacles
Wi-Fi signals travel through air but bounce off or get blocked by walls, metal, water, and dense materials. If your iPad is in a different room from the router, or separated by multiple walls, the signal may be too weak to connect. Move your iPad to the same room as the router, or at least closer to it, and try connecting again.
Pay attention to what is between your iPad and the router. Microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones all use the same radio frequency as Wi-Fi and can interfere with the signal. Metal filing cabinets, refrigerators, and metal-framed walls also block Wi-Fi. If your router is in a cabinet or closet, move it to an open shelf or the center of a room. If you cannot move the router, move your iPad closer to it.
Distance matters more than you might think. Wi-Fi works best within about 50 feet of the router in an open space, and much less through walls. If your iPad is at the far end of a large house or apartment, it may be at the edge of the network's range. Moving ten feet closer often makes the difference between a weak connection and a strong one.
Restart your router to clear temporary problems
Your router is a small computer that manages all the devices on your network. Like any computer, it can get stuck or run out of memory if it has been on for weeks without a restart. Restarting it clears out temporary problems and often fixes connection issues that affect multiple devices.
Unplug the power cable from the back of your router. Wait at least thirty seconds — this gives the router time to fully shut down and clear its memory. Plug it back in and wait two to three minutes for it to restart completely. You will see lights on the front of the router blink as it boots up. Once the lights settle into a steady pattern, try connecting your iPad again.
If restarting the router does not help and your iPad still cannot see the network, check whether your router is actually on. Look at the lights on the front: most routers have a power light that stays on constantly. If there are no lights at all, the router is off or unplugged. If the lights are on but your iPad still cannot see the network, your router may have a problem that requires a technician to fix.
Check your iPad's Wi-Fi settings for problems
Your iPad stores settings for every network it has ever connected to, and sometimes those settings get corrupted or outdated. Go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and look for your network name in the list. If you see it, tap the information icon next to it and look at the details. The status should say "Connected" if it is working, or show an error message if something is wrong.
If the status shows "Cannot Connect" or "Incorrect Password", your iPad either has the wrong password stored or the network settings have become corrupted. Forget the network (as described in the first section) and reconnect. When you reconnect, enter the password carefully — Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters and lowercase letters are different. If you are not sure of the password, check the back or bottom of your router, where it is usually printed.
If your iPad shows "Cannot Connect" even after you forget and reconnect, try connecting to a different network if one is available — a friend's Wi-Fi, a coffee shop, or a mobile hotspot from your phone. If your iPad connects to a different network without problems, the issue is with your home network settings, not your iPad. If your iPad cannot connect to any network, the Wi-Fi hardware in your iPad may be damaged.
When to restart your iPad itself
Restarting your iPad is different from restarting your router, and it fixes a different set of problems. Restarting clears out temporary software glitches that can prevent connection. Do this after you have tried the steps above and before you assume the hardware is broken.
The way to restart depends on which iPad you have. On newer iPads (iPad Pro, iPad Air 3 and later, iPad 7 and later), press and hold the top button and one of the volume buttons until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off the iPad. Wait thirty seconds, then press and hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears. On older iPads with a home button, press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears, then follow the same process.
After your iPad restarts, go back to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and try connecting to your network again. If it connects this time, the problem was a temporary software glitch. If it still will not connect, the problem is either with your network or with your iPad's Wi-Fi hardware.
When the problem is your internet service, not Wi-Fi
It is possible for your iPad to connect to Wi-Fi but still not reach the internet. This happens when your internet service itself is down, or when your router is connected to the modem but the modem has lost its connection to your internet provider. Your iPad will show the Wi-Fi icon as connected, but web pages will not load and apps will not work.
To check this, look at your modem — the device that connects your router to your internet service. It usually sits near your router and has lights on the front. Look for a light labeled "Internet", "Online", or "WAN". If that light is off or red, your modem has lost its connection to your internet service. Unplug the modem, wait thirty seconds, and plug it back in. Wait two to three minutes for it to reconnect, then try loading a web page on your iPad.
If the modem light stays off after you restart it, or if it keeps turning off and on repeatedly, your internet service may be down. Call your internet provider to report the problem. If the modem light is on and steady but your iPad still cannot reach the internet, restart your router as well (as described above), because the problem may be between the modem and router rather than between the router and your iPad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my iPad connect to Wi-Fi but then disconnect after a few minutes?
This usually means your iPad is at the edge of the Wi-Fi signal range and keeps losing the connection. Move closer to the router. If that does not help, restart your router by unplugging it for thirty seconds. If the problem continues, your router may be overheating or failing — try moving it to a location with better air circulation, or contact your internet provider for a replacement.
My iPad shows the Wi-Fi network but says "Cannot Connect" — what does that mean?
Your iPad can see the network but cannot join it, usually because it has the wrong password stored. Forget the network in Settings, then reconnect and enter the password again. Make sure you type it exactly as it appears on your router — Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive. If you still cannot connect, restart your router by unplugging it for thirty seconds.
How do I know if my iPad's Wi-Fi hardware is broken?
If your iPad cannot see any Wi-Fi networks at all, or cannot connect to any network even after restarting your iPad and router, the Wi-Fi hardware may be damaged. Try connecting to a different network (a friend's Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot) to rule out a problem with your home network. If your iPad cannot connect to any network, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for a hardware diagnosis.
Should I reset my iPad to factory settings to fix connection problems?
No — factory reset should be your last resort, not your first. It erases all your data and settings, and it usually does not fix Wi-Fi problems. Try all the steps in this guide first: restart your iPad, forget and reconnect to the network, restart your router, and check your modem. If none of those work, the problem is likely hardware, and a factory reset will not help.
Why does my iPad connect to Wi-Fi at home but not at coffee shops or other places?
Some public Wi-Fi networks require you to open a web browser and log in or accept terms before you can use the internet. Open Safari or another web browser and try loading any website — you should see a login page appear. If you do not see a login page, try restarting your iPad. If your iPad still cannot connect to public networks but connects fine at home, your home network settings may be interfering — try forgetting your home network and reconnecting to it.