One of the many issues that hounds smartphones today is connectivity problems. It’s a perennial issue across all types of phones and mobile devices. Our #iPhone7 troubleshooting article for the day will address some of such issues so hopefully you’ll find this useful.
Below are specific topics we’re bringing for you today:
Fix iPhone 7 Unable to Connect Automatically To Home WiFi
Problem 1: iPhone 7 won’t automatically connect to home wifi when in range
My iPhone has suddenly stopped connecting to my home wifi. Earlier it would log on to it automatically the moment I came within the range. Of late, I see that it just doesn’t connect even after selecting that in the wifi options. But it does connect to another wifi network that I have in my office automatically. I have tried to switch off and on the phone, forget the home wifi and rejoined the network but nothing works. Please suggest a way out. Never had this issue earlier. — Siva Sunder
Solution: Hi Siva. If you’re having a problem only with your home wifi, there may be a need to troubleshoot both your iPhone and router to identify the cause. Since you’ve already tried some device troubleshooting, make sure that you completely do them at this time. Here’s what you need to do in your iPhone:
Reset your Network Settings
Forgetting and reconnecting to a problematic wifi network may not be enough in this case. Try to see what happens after you reset the phone’s network settings though. It may be a simple help. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
The steps above will delete all saved wifi networks and passwords, VPN and APN settings, and cellular settings you’ve used. It won’t delete user data such as photos or videos so it can be done safely without fear of losing your files.
Do a Restore
This is a drastic troubleshooting step and must only be done after you’ve made certain that it’s not a router issue. So, if resetting network settings won’t work, be sure to skip Restore first and focus the rest of your troubleshooting on the router.
To Restore your iPhone 7, kindly do these steps:
- Create a backup of your files. You can do that in a number of ways but the fastest and most effective way is by using iTunes in your PC or Mac. If you don’t want to create a backup at all, you can simply erase everything on the phone by following the steps in this link.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer with the cable that came with your phone.
- We assume you remember your phone’s passcode so simply enter it when you’re prompted for it.
- Select your iPhone once iTunes asks you for the specific device.
- Once you’re in the Summary panel or screen, select the option that will restore your device (Restore).
- Confirm by clicking on Restore button.
- Wait for a few moments while iTunes restores your device to its factory settings. It may also take some time if iTunes will need to install an updated operating system version.
- After this factory reset, all software settings should be restored to their defaults.
Troubleshoot your router
We are not going to give detailed router troubleshooting here as step-by-step instruction varies by device. The proper support team that should walk you through the steps for that is either the router manufacturer, or the company that supplied the equipment, usually your internet service provider (ISP). If you don’t know how to access the router’s interface, contact your ISP so they can guide you through it.
If there’s someone who manages the network for you, like another family member, ask for help from him or her. He/she might have changed something that prevents your iPhone from connecting automatically when it’s in range.
Also, be sure to update your router to the latest firmware to minimize bugs. You can either ask support on how to do that by calling your ISP or the manufacturer of the device.
Problem 2: iPhone 7 wifi won’t work when far from router (even though other devices work just fine)
I am so over the iPhone 7. If I had known of the connectivity issues, I would not have upgraded to it. It connects to most any WiFi except out home xfinity network. It connects great as long as I am sitting in the room where the router is located. As soon as I move to the next room, it begins to lose connection. I can take my laptop or other phones or tablet to any room in our home and each has excellent connection. — Kita Dickerson
Solution: Hi Kita. Your iPhone may have a range issue, which means that it’s having difficulty picking up wifi signal even when wifi signal strength is still within acceptable value.
Install iOS updates
To see if the problem is caused by an unknown software bug, try to check first if there’s any available updates for the operating system (iOS). To do that, follow these steps:
- Plug your device into power and connect to the Internet with Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Software Update.
If there’s an available update, Tap Download and Install. Once the installation files have been downloaded, tap Install to begin the installation. You may need to enter your passcode before you can proceed.
Make sure apps are up-to-date
Another good thing to do in this case is to ensure that all your apps are all updated. Poorly coded apps can cause other apps or operating system functions to behave erratically. To minimize bugs, you want to ensure that every app in your device runs their latest version. By default, iOS is set to automatically download app updates. If you changed it before, here’s how to check:
- Open Settings app.
- Choose iTunes & App Store from the left-side menu. You may need to scroll down this menu to find the option.
- Automatically updating apps is the last setting under Automatic Downloads. Tap the button to the right of Updates to turn the feature on or off.
Return all iPhone settings to defaults
If your iPhone has been updated all along before you contacted us, the next best thing that you can do is to do a factory reset. After this reset, all software settings will be back to their known working state (factory state), which means that your phone’s wifi should be able to work with wifi even if the router is about 30 feet away (signal interference can play a role in wifi reception though). If your iPhone, along with other wireless devices work normally at a longer range after you’ve factory reset it, then you may have eliminated the bug.
For reference, here’s how to factory reset your iPhone 7:
- Sign out of your iCloud account (if applicable).
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Contact Apple for support
If the problem remains after you’ve wiped the phone, there must be a hardware error causing the trouble. It’s possible that the phone’s antenna is defective so you’ll need to have it serviced to fix the issue. Otherwise, just ask for a phone replacement.
Problem 3: iPhone 7 has no internet connection when connecting to previously connected wifi network
I am returning to a normal wifi location and my iPhone 7 plus will locate the network, but my phone has no internet access. All other devices have full connectivity as I normally do. Never seen this notification before. Disconnected the router, reset network settings on iPhone menu, powered off and on multiple times over days … no luck still. Never had this problem on any network, haven’t changed or updated my phone since last visit to this wifi hotspot. What can/should I do? Email me please!! — Peter
Solution: Hi Peter. Your issue appears similar to Siva’s above so we suggest that you follow our suggestions for him. This problem can happen on any smartphone but we’ll be monitoring other reports to see if it’s more common to Apple’s iPhone 7. That way, we can report the issue to Apple and hopefully get a response from them. Better still, let them fix the issue by releasing a patch as soon as possible. We’ll be monitoring this issue so we can update this post if there’s any known fix.