Wi-Fi problems in smartphones can occur unexpectedly. The main issue tackled in this post is on the Apple iPhone XR Wi-Fi signal that keeps dropping. Potential solutions and workarounds are also provided to serve as troubleshooting references. Read on for more details.
Several factors can cause wireless internet problems to arise, which also denotes that many things are regarded among the underlying causes.
Troubleshooting Wi-Fi connectivity issues must start from the very source of the Internet connection, which is the wireless router or modem, then move on to the affected device. Oftentimes, software errors are to blame. But there are also some cases attributed to hardware damage.
Before anything else, if ever you’re looking for a solution to a different problem, visit our iPhone XR Help Guides for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this phone. We may already have published articles that could help you fix you problems.
Troubleshooting iPhone XR that keeps losing Wi-fi signal
Before troubleshooting, make sure that your iPhone is within range or not very far from the wireless router. Weak or poor Wi-Fi reception often leads to Wi-Fi signal drops and intermittent Internet connection. Also get rid of any possible interference. If none of that helps, then work on these subsequent methods to troubleshoot and resolve the underlying cause.
First solution: Reboot your wireless router/modem then soft reset your iPhone XR.
Random firmware crashes on the wireless router or modem in use typically results to on and off connection. This is where power-cycling the wireless router or modem is needed. By power-cycle means turning the equipment off for a few seconds and then turn on again. Here’s how it’s exactly done:
- Find the Power button on your router/modem then press to turn it off.
- While it’s turned off, unplug its AC adapter from the power source and keep it that way for about 1 minute.
- Then plug it back into power and turn on again.
Just wait until all lights and signal indicators are stable and that should be good. After power-cycling the router/modem, go to your iPhone XR and then perform a soft reset with these steps:
- Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears.
- Drag the power off slider to the right.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button or Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
Wait for your iPhone to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network after the restart and then see if the problem is fixed. If your iPhone XR Wi-Fi signal continues to drop, move on and try the next solution.
Second solution: Toggle Airplane mode on and off.
This trick works by giving a quick restart to your phone wireless functions including Wi-Fi. Enabling Airplane mode disables wireless features at once while disabling it does the opposite. So it’s like a quick reboot on the phone’s wireless functions. Surprisingly, various types of network connectivity issues are resolved by doing this trick. Hence you may as well consider giving it a shot and see what happens then. Here’s how it’s carrier out:
- Navigate to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu.
- Then toggle the switch to turn Airplane mode on. Doing so will turn off network-related apps and services on the phone.
- With Airplane mode enabled, perform a soft reset or reboot your iPhone XS Max.
- Then go back to Settings-> Airplane mode menu and then toggle the switch to turn the feature off again.
Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and then see if your iPhone XR is already getting a stable Wi-Fi signal. If not, then try the next procedure.
Third solution: Forget Wi-Fi network then reconnect.
It’s also possible that the Wi-Fi network your iPhone is connected to has been corrupted and is no longer working unless you set it up again. In this case, you will need to forget or delete the problematic Wi-Fi network, set it up on your phone, and then reconnect. Here’s how:
- Tap to open the Settings app from your Home screen.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the information icon (i) next to the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to forget/delete.
- Then tap the option to Forget This Network.
- When asked to confirm, tap Forget.
- If you see other saved Wi-Fi networks, delete them all to prevent any of them from causing conflict with the current wireless network used on the phone.
After deleting Wi-Fi networks, soft reset your iPhone XR then head back to Settings-> Wi-Fi menu to set up your Wi-Fi network and then reconnect.
Fourth solution: Reset network settings on your iPhone XR.
Network-related issues can also be resolved by performing a network settings reset on the phone. This is usually needed to clear out incorrect network or server settings that might have messed up the phone’s Wi-Fi functions. Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
- Select the option to Reset network settings.
- Enter your device passcode if prompted.
- Then tap the option to confirm network settings reset.
After the reset, your iPhone reboots automatically and then restores the default network options and values. To use Wi-Fi services, enable Wi-Fi and reattempt to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Fifth solution: Update phone software to the latest iOS version available.
The latest iOS update can also help resolve the issue if software bugs have something to do with it. This is likely the root-cause if your Wi-Fi signal was previously working fine and then suddenly the problem occurs. In that case, try checking for new iOS updates to install on your phone. Here’s how:
- Tap to Settings app from Home.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update.
An update notification will show up if a new iOS version is available for your iPhone XR. Read the update details then tap Download and Install.
If you cannot install the update wirelessly because of frequent Wi-Fi drops, then you can use iTunes instead. To update your iPhone through iTunes, you will need to secure a Windows or Mac computer that runs on a later or latest platform. Also make sure that you’re using the latest version of iTunes software to avoid having some sort of system conflicts. Then connect your iPhone XR to the computer via USB cable or Lightning cable and wait for it to connect to iTunes. Follow the rest of the given instructions to reset and restore your iPhone in iTunes.
Other options
You may need to contact your Internet service provider/carrier to check for temporary network service outages happening in your place. Software errors on the phone that caused Wi-Fi drops or intermittent Internet connection are usually dealt with by the previous workarounds but since the problem persists, it could be a problem with your network service provider.
If you think that the wireless router/modem is to blame, contact the device manufacturer and ask help to install firmware updates. To rule out damaged hardware from the possible causes, you can take the router/modem to the nearest service center in your place. Otherwise, take your iPhone to an Apple Genius bar nearby and have it thoroughly checked by an iPhone technician instead.
I hope that this how-to post has helped you one way or another. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post to your friends or people who may also have similar problems. Thanks for reading!
