Your iPhone loses WiFi connection for one of five reasons: the router needs to restart, your phone's WiFi settings are corrupted, the network password changed, your iPhone is too far from the router, or the router itself is failing
Most of the time, restarting your router fixes the problem. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait two minutes for it to fully restart. If that does not work, the next step depends on whether your iPhone sees the network at all.
If you can see your WiFi network in Settings > WiFi but cannot connect, the problem is usually your phone's memory of that network. If you cannot see the network at all, the problem is usually the router or distance.
Key Takeaways
- Restart your router first — unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait two minutes before trying to connect again.
- If your iPhone sees the network but will not connect, forget the network in Settings > WiFi, then reconnect using your current password.
- If your iPhone cannot see the network at all, move closer to the router to rule out distance, then check that the router is powered on and broadcasting.
- If other devices connect but your iPhone does not, restart your iPhone by holding the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.
- If nothing works after these steps, your router may be failing or your iPhone may need a factory reset through a computer running iTunes or Finder.
Your iPhone sees the network but will not connect
When your iPhone shows your WiFi network in the list but refuses to connect, your phone has stored bad information about that network. The fix is to delete that information and reconnect.
Open Settings, tap WiFi, find your network name, and tap the information icon (a circle with an i inside). Tap "Forget This Network" and confirm. Your iPhone will remove all stored details about that network. Now tap your network name again from the WiFi list, enter your password exactly as it appears on your router or modem (passwords are case-sensitive), and tap Join.
If you do not know your password, check the sticker on the back or bottom of your router. If you changed the password and forgot the new one, you will need to reset the router to factory settings — usually a small button you hold for 10 seconds — which will erase all your settings and return the password to the one printed on the sticker.
Your iPhone cannot see the network at all
If your WiFi network does not appear in your iPhone's list of available networks, either your router is not broadcasting, your iPhone is out of range, or your router is off.
First, move your iPhone to within 10 feet of the router and try again. If the network appears, you were straightforward too far away — move the router to a more central location in your home, or use a WiFi extender if the far end of your house cannot reach it.
If the network still does not appear, check that your router is powered on. Look for a light on the front — most routers have a power light that glows when they are running. If the light is off, plug in the power cable. If the light is on but you still cannot see the network, restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
Other devices connect but your iPhone does not
If your laptop, tablet, or another phone connects to the same network without trouble, the problem is specific to your iPhone. This usually means your iPhone's WiFi hardware or software is stuck.
Restart your iPhone: hold the power button on the side until "slide to power off" appears, swipe to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears. Once it restarts, go to Settings > WiFi and try connecting again.
If restarting does not work, turn off WiFi entirely for one minute — go to Settings > WiFi and toggle it off — then toggle it back on. This clears your iPhone's WiFi cache without restarting the whole phone.
Your password recently changed
If you changed your WiFi password but your iPhone still tries to use the old one, it will fail to connect. Your iPhone stores the old password and uses it automatically.
Go to Settings > WiFi, find your network, tap the information icon, and select "Forget This Network." Then reconnect using the new password. Make sure you type the new password exactly — spaces, numbers, and capital letters all matter.
If you are not sure what your new password is, check your router's admin page. Open a web browser on a connected device, type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar, log in with the username and password printed on your router (usually admin and admin, or admin and the router's serial number), and look for WiFi settings or Security settings to see the current password.
Your router is failing or too old
If you have tried restarting, forgetting the network, moving closer, and restarting your iPhone, and nothing works, your router itself may be failing. Routers typically last five to seven years before the hardware degrades.
Test this by trying to connect a different device — a laptop, tablet, or another phone — to the same network. If that device also cannot connect, the problem is the router, not your iPhone. If that device connects fine, the problem is your iPhone's WiFi hardware.
If the router is the problem, you will need to replace it. If the problem is your iPhone, you can try a factory reset as a last step: connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes (Windows or older Mac) or Finder (newer Mac), select your iPhone, and choose "Restore." This erases everything on your phone and reinstalls iOS from scratch, which fixes software problems but not hardware failures.
Check your router's broadcast settings
Some routers have a setting that hides the network name from the list of available networks. If your network is hidden, your iPhone will not see it unless you know the exact name and add it manually.
If you set up the router yourself, check the admin page (type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a web browser on a connected device) and look for WiFi settings. Find the option labeled "SSID broadcast" or "Hide network" and make sure it is turned on. If it is off, turn it on, save the settings, and restart the router.
If you did not set up the router and do not know the admin password, contact your internet provider or the person who installed it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my iPhone's WiFi hardware is broken?
If other devices connect to the same network without trouble, but your iPhone cannot connect even after restarting and forgetting the network, your iPhone's WiFi hardware is likely failing. A factory reset through a computer may fix it if the problem is software, but if it persists, the hardware needs repair.
Why does my iPhone connect to WiFi but then disconnect after a few minutes?
This usually means your iPhone is moving out of range or the router is dropping the connection. Move closer to the router and try again. If it still disconnects, restart the router. If only your iPhone disconnects while other devices stay connected, forget the network and reconnect.
Can I connect to a hidden WiFi network on my iPhone?
Yes. Go to Settings > WiFi, tap "Other," enter the exact network name, choose the security type (ask your router admin or check the router settings page), enter the password, and tap Join. Your iPhone will remember it and connect automatically in the future.
What should I do if I forgot my WiFi password?
Check the sticker on your router — the default password is usually printed there. If you changed it and forgot the new one, reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds, which will restore the default password. You will need to set up the network again from scratch.
Why does my iPhone keep asking for the WiFi password even though I entered it correctly?
Your iPhone is storing an incorrect password. Go to Settings > WiFi, tap the information icon next to your network, select "Forget This Network," and reconnect. Type the password slowly and carefully — check that Caps Lock is off unless the password requires capitals.