Is your iOS 16 device Wi-Fi not working, slow, or dropping out? There are dozens of reasons why you are experiencing WiFi problems after iOS 16 update. It could be the strength of the WiFi signal, your router or even a problem with the network itself. With so many factors causing iOS 16 WiFi problems, it can be a little hard to pinpoint the problem and fix it. However, there’s always a way, right? If your iPhone cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network after installing iOS 16, is continuously dropping the connection to one, or if the Wi-Fi speeds are extremely slow and you can’t seem to find the problem, then we are here to help you find the problem and fix it. We will walk you through all the tips, workarounds, and solutions to fix Wi-Fi not working on iOS 16 problem.
As there are many factors causing WiFi problems on iOS 16, we are going to start from the basic issues and move on to more advanced problems with their solution.
How to fix Wi-Fi not working in iOS 16 issue
Before we move to the solutions listed below, see if you can connect to your Wi-Fi network from some other device. If you can’t, it would be wise to contact your Internet service provider first just to make sure the connection is there and that everything works fine from their side.
1. Toggle Wi-Fi and Airplane mode
Whether you cannot connect at all or your Wi-Fi connection keeps dropping, toggling the Wi-Fi connection is known to be effective in many cases. Start with the Wi-Fi. You can do this by navigating to Settings > Wi-Fi. Turn the feature off, wait for a couple of seconds and then turn it back on.
After this, toggle Airplane mode. You can do this by heading over to Settings, tap Airplane mode and enable it. Leave it on for a minute then turn it off.
2. Restart your iPhone
Whenever you have Wi-Fi issues with your iOS 16 device, the easiest way to fix it is to restart the phone. When you restart an iPhone, bugs can go away, and you’ll instantly notice the improvement in its performance. So, turn your phone off and turn it back on. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Shut Down.
3. Restart your modem and Wi-Fi router
If either your modem’s internet connection or the router’s Wi-Fi network is malfunctioning, a restart usually fixes the problem.
The fastest way to restart a router is to disconnect the power plug. Wait a good 30 seconds before plugging it back in and letting the router reconnect to the internet and launch the Wi-Fi network.
4. Check the wiring between your router and your modem
To set up a router you have to make sure both the power connections and all network cables are plugged in properly. Double check each cable and ensure they’re fully plugged in.
5. Confirm that the lights on your Wi-Fi router show an active Wi-Fi network
Look for any slow blinking lights or red lights that could indicate a problem. Play close attention to the status of the Wi-Fi icon light especially.
6. Check whether Wi-Fi is connected with too many devices
Depending on the capacity of the Wi-Fi router, you may have problems connecting your iPhone when it has reached the maximum number of devices it can take. If you’re the owner of the router, you can disconnect inactive devices like smartphones that are not in use, as background apps may still be using the bandwidth even when the screen is turned off.
7. Try another device.
After ruling out the router as the cause of iOS 16 Wi-Fi problems, you should also check your device. A straightforward way of doing that is trying another device. You can try your computer or your friend’s phone instead. If it works, try some more fixes below to troubleshoot your iPhone.
8. Forget the Wi-Fi network
A helpful method in solving the iOS 16 Wi-Fi problems, especially when you are unable to connect to a network, is to forget all networks so that your phone’s Wi-Fi gets a fresh start. But before you decide to proceed, make sure you have all the details you need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network. It will include the network name and the password required to connect to the network.
- Head to Settings > Wi-Fi
- Find your network there and tap (i) that is located right next to your network’s name
- Tap Forget this network
- Tap Forget again to confirm the action.
- When you are done, go back to Settings > Wi-Fi, find your network on the list. Type in your password and hopefully, you’ll be able to connect.
9. Disable VPN
If you use a VPN to browse anonymously then you should know that all VPNs slow down internet speed to some extent. VPN route the traffic through their servers and also encrypt and decrypt data in real-time. This leads to slower processing as your internet needs to deal with more data. If a VPN is enabled on your iOS 16 device, open the VPN app and turn it off. Alternatively, just launch the Settings app and tap on the VPN toggle.
In addition, if you have installed many unnecessary VPN apps on your iPhone, try uninstalling a few. This will also delete their VPN profiles.
10. Reset network settings
This option is something you should definitely try if Wi-Fi is not working in iOS 16. It will restore the network settings to factory defaults. Follow the steps below:
- Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset
Tap Reset network settings - You will have to enter your passcode
- Tap Reset network settings.
11. Reset all settings
You can restore all settings to factory defaults. Here is how:
- Navigate to Settings
- Go to General
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Choose Reset all settings
- Enter your passcode
- Select Reset all settings
12. Factory reset your iPhone
If you are still experiencing iOS 16 Wi-Fi issues after trying the above solutions, you have the option to erase all content and settings. It is very important to back up your data first. When you are done with that, do the following:
- Navigate to Settings
- Go to General
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Choose Erase all content and settings
- Enter your passcode
- Choose Erase iPhone.
Your phone will take a couple of minutes for this. When it is all completed, follow a few simple steps to set up your iPhone .
13. Reset Your Router
If you are still facing iOS 16 Wi-Fi problems, you can also completely reset your router to factory settings that should revert any wrong changes that may be affecting the WiFi. To reset the router, you will find a tiny reset button inside a hole right on your router (mostly at the back side). You can use a paper clip to press this button. Press and hold this button for 10-15 seconds and your router should restart confirming it has been reset. Once done, you will have to make all the changes again, and set up a new Wi-Fi password.
14. Contact Your Internet Service Provider
If you are still experiencing The problem of Wi-Fi not working in iOS 16, then you should contact your ISP and discuss the problem. It could be a problem on their end and they may be able to provide the right instructions to solve your iOS 16 Wi-Fi issues. Numerous times, I have managed to get a service agent to come at my place to personally check the system and fix it. You too may get such a service if you ask for it and your ISP is caring enough.
Wi-Fi not working in iOS 16: fixed!
WiFi issues in iOS 16 are among the most frustrating issues that can occur on your Device. They’re confusing, bothersome, and significantly slow your productivity. We hope the methods listed above help you resolve any Wi-Fi issues you face on your iOS 16 device.
Do you use a different method to troubleshoot iOS 16 Wi-Fi problems? Drop us a comment and let us know!
See also: How to fix iPhone Cellular Data not working in iOS 16 issue