Slow internet connection has been emerging among other issues from the iOS 12 update and this continues to plague even the newer iPhones including the top of the line iPhone XS Max. A lot of people are complaining since they’ve bought their phones on a hefty price and yet it’s not performing very well as expected. If you’re one of those folks having this kind of issue on your new iPhone XS Max, here are some few fixes that you can try should you need more input on how to troubleshoot slow internet connection. Don’t forget to test browse using Safari or your preferred browser app to see how your Internet connection speed has improved after performing each of these subsequent methods.
Before anything else, if you are looking for a solution to a different problem, then drop in on our iPhone XS Max Help Guides page for we have already solved some of the most common problems with this device. Try to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our workarounds and solutions.
First solution: Reboot (soft reset) your iPhone XS Max.
The soft reset is known to fix multiple issues caused by minor software glitches including intermittent or slow internet connection. Regardless if the problem lies with the connection or the browser itself, this method can possibly rectify the issue in no time as it refreshes your phone’s operating system and eliminates cached files from its internal memory. Here’s how it’s done:
- Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- When the Slide to Power off command appears, release the buttons.
- Drag the power slider to the right to power off your phone.
- Wait for a few seconds then press and hold the Side/Power button again until the Apple logo appears.
Check your Internet speed by launching the browser after performing a soft reset to see if the internet connection has improved. You can use speedtest.net to determine your Internet speed. If still has a slow internet connection than the actual data speed you’re subscribed to, then continue to troubleshoot and rule out other factors.
ALSO READ: How to fix your iPhone XS Max that cannot set up email, email setup error
Second solution: Force close running apps on your iPhone XS Max.
The downside of leaving your apps running in the background is that they may become rogue or get corrupted in the long run. When this happens, it is possible that these apps could slow down the phone’s Internet connection as they might have interfered with the browser app. To clear this out, force close all background apps from your iPhone XS Max with these steps:
- From your Home screen, swipe up from the bottom and slightly pause in the middle of your screen.
- Swipe right or left to find apps preview that needs to be closed.
- To close each of the apps, swipe up on individual app’s preview.
Give your iPhone another restart after clearing all background apps to clear out corrupted temporary data along with other junk files from your iPhone’s memory cache. Try to see if the slow internet has improved, if it does not, move on to the next solution.
Third solution: Clear cache on your Safari browser app.
Unlike other iOS apps, the Safari app has its own options for you to clear cache and temporary data from within the application itself. Browser cache and cookies particularly those that contained some malwares and corrupted URLs can also slow down your Internet connection and therefore must be eliminated. To clear Safari cache and browsing history, just refer to these steps:
- From the Home screen, go to Settings.
- Select Safari.
- Scroll down to and tap on Advanced.
- Then select Website Data option.
- Tap on Remove All Website Data option.
- Then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the clearing process.
However, if you are using different browser app other than Safari on your phone, use the steps below to clear the cache and cookies on that app:
- Go to Settings from the Home screen.
- Select General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down to and select Documents & Data.
- Select your browser app and tap Delete App option.
- Tap the option to confirm the app deletion when asked.
- Then head to App Store to download the browser app again.
You should reboot (soft reset) your iPhone XS Max after applying all the necessary changes to refresh your phone’s system. After this, test the connection to see if the slow internet is fixed.
ALSO READ: How to fix an iPhone XS Max that has no sound
Fourth solution: Reset network settings on your iPhone XS Max.
Wi-Fi errors including those affecting your Internet browsing speed can also be corrected by clearing your phone’s network settings. This means that your current network information will be deleted from your Wi-Fi directory so be sure to take note of your Wi-Fi password. If you want to proceed, then just follow these steps:
- From the Home screen, go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
- Select Reset network settings option.
- When prompted, enter your device passcode to continue.
- Then select Reset network settings option again to confirm the reset.
Your phone will reboot automatically after the reset and loads the default network configurations. Proceed to reboot your iPhone and then set up your Wi-Fi network again and reconnect to the Internet afterwards. If your iPhone still has a slow internet, try the next solution.
Fifth solution: Perform Software update.
Complex network bugs can be sometimes tough to eliminate and therefore need more advanced fixes to be cleared out. Software updates that contain network fix patches and codes that are designed to correct major system errors inflicted by complex bugs can bring you the required network patches. If you still can connect to the Internet and your iPhone has sufficient storage space and power, you can try checking for iOS update wirelessly. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings from the Home screen.
- Select General.
- Tap Software Updates.
- An update notification will pop up if a new iOS version is available.
- Review the terms and conditions then follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the new iOS update.
Once completed, restart (soft reset) your iPhone to make sure that the system update will be properly applied so as to refresh your apps system. Afterwards, open your browser and test some websites to make sure that the slow internet connection has been corrected with this trick.
If the internet connection is way too slow that your iPhone seemed to get stuck on check for updates, you can use iTunes to update your iPhone on a computer instead.
The computer must have a stable Internet connection and the latest iTunes software installed. Once you’re all set, connect your iPhone to the computer using the original USB cable and wait for it to sync with iTunes. Select your iPhone when it appears in iTunes then navigate to the Summary section to view options to check for updates available for your iPhone XS Max.
Follow the rest of the onscreen commands to proceed to update downloading and installation.
After updating, disconnect your iPhone from the computer and then restart it to apply the recent system changes and likewise to refresh its memory.
ALSO READ: How to fix iPhone XS Max Bluetooth pairing error or can’t pair
Sixth solution: Perform a factory/master reset on your iPhone XS Max.
A factory reset is deemed among the last options if none of the given solutions is able to correct the slow internet connection problem on your iPhone XS Max. This process does not only clear out complex software glitches and bugs but will also revert all software settings to defaults. It will also erase all saved data on your phone’s internal memory, so be sure to back them up first. Once you have secured a backup of your iPhone data, you may proceed to these steps to factory reset your iPhone XS Max through settings:
- From the Home screen, select Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
- Select Erase all content and settings option.
- Enter your device passcode when prompted to continue.
- Then tap the option to confirm the factory/master reset.
Wait until the master reset is completed and follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone as new again.
Still having slow Internet connection on your iPhone XS Max?
Random firmware crashes as well as hardware damage on the network equipment must also be ruled out especially if none of the above solutions is able to solve the problem. You can carry out the so-called power cycle on the wireless modem/router if you can access it right now. Just follow these steps:
- Turn off the modem/router by pressing on its power button.
- While the equipment is turned off, unplug its AC adapter from the power source.
- After 30 seconds, plug it back and then turn it on.
Wait for the signal indicator to become stable. If your device is set to auto-connect, it will immediately attempt to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network the moment the router/modem is back up and running again.
Minor firmware crashes on the modem or router can also be the main reason why slow browsing and other internet connection problems arise. And performing the above tweak is an effective way of clearing them out.
If that doesn’t help, then this is the point when you’d consider escalating the problem to your Internet service provider or carrier. This may be due to some unexpected problems on the network base like a temporary outage or unexpected technical difficulties. You can ask your carrier to double check on their system for any possible occurrences. Otherwise, opting for service can be deemed as your last resort. If you suspect that your modem/router is damaged, then take it to an authorized service center for further assessments. If you doubt it’s on your iPhone, then you can visit an Apple-authorized service center nearby so that it can be examined thoroughly. If your device is still covered by AppleCare+ warranty, then you better talk to your carrier first so they can give you official recommendations to avail for warranty .
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