Some Apple iPhone 11 owners reported that shortly after installing the recent iOS 13.3 update, the WiFi connection on their devices has started dropping from time to time and thus resulting in a loss of connection and disrupting their normal usage habit. We searched online for similar issues but it seems like it’s not widespread, so basically it’s an isolated problem that may occur to anyone every now and then.
I have personally encountered this problem before, although I couldn’t immediately say that the problem was with my iPhone because there’s always a possibility that your router is also failing. If that’s the case, then you will have the same problem with similar symptoms. It’s hard to tell where the problem lies without actually doing something about it.
So, in this troubleshooting guide, I will walk you through in troubleshooting your iPhone 11 that keeps dropping its WiFi connection or has some connection issues. Based on experience, while this problem is very annoying, it’s actually not that hard to fix. In fact, you may be able to address the problem after doing one or a couple of procedures. Continue reading down below and learn how to fix your iPhone 11 that keeps disconnecting from the network.
Why WiFi connection keeps dropping
There are several factors we need to consider and look into to be able to determine the reason as to why the Wi-Fi connection on your phone drops. Based on experience, here are the possible causes of this problem.
Your iPhone might be experiencing some minor issues with its firmware
There are times when firmware issues occur and when it happens, it’s always the performance of your device that gets affected immediately, although core services like internet and wireless communications may also stop working. It would actually seem like it’s a very serious issue but in reality, it’s something you can fix on your own without any help from a technician.
Your network device may be failing
Electronic devices such as your modem or router may fail if they’ve been online for too long. While it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re defective, they just need to be refreshed from time to time.
There might be some network issues with your iPhone
Connection issues occur all the time and while most of the time they’re not really that serious, you may have to deal with them when your device starts to act funny. Like when your internet connection drops every time you use it.
A firmware issue might be affecting network functions
Most of the time, software-related problems are pretty minor, unless they’re just some symptoms of a serious firmware issues. So if you’ve done almost every troubleshooting procedure and your iPhone is still acting funny, then you may need to reset your iPhone or even restore it.
Troubleshooting an iPhone 11 that keeps disconnecting from WiFi network
When it comes to fixing a device that has some network-related issues, you have to be thorough so as to accurately determine the reason as to why the problem occurs and figure out a solution to fix it. In this post, we will consider all possibilities and rule them out one after another until we can get the problem sorted out. With that being said, here are the things you need to do:
First solution: Perform the Forced Restart
Doing the forced restart must be the first thing that you have to do. It is a simulated battery removal that refreshes your phone’s memory and reloads all its services and apps. If this is just a problem caused by some minor glitches in the firmware, then you should be able to fix it by doing this procedure.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, and then quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- The moment you release the volume down button, press and hold the Side or Power key until the Apple logo shows on the screen.
Once the reboot is done, let your iPhone reconnect to the network and see if the problem still occurs. If the Wi-Fi connection still drops, then move on to the next solution.
Second solution: Reboot your network device
As I mentioned earlier, this problem might be due to a network device that started to fail and the best thing to rule such a possibility out is to power-cycle your modem or router. These devices may start to fail after weeks of being online but it does not mean they’re defective. A simple reboot may make them work perfectly again. Here’s what you need to do:
- Unplug your modem or router from the wall outlet or simply disconnect the power cord from the main unit.
- Leave it without power for a minute or two.
- After that, plug it back into the wall outlet or reconnect the cord.
- Wait for the device to become online and then let your phone reconnect to it.
Make sure your iPhone 11 is properly connected to the network and then try to use it like you normally do to know if your iPhone loses WiFi connection even after this procedure. If it still does, then try the next solution.
Third solution: Reset your iPhone’s Network Settings to fix dropping WiFi connection issue.
When some of the network services stop working for some reason, you can always expect to have connectivity issues like this. The fact is it might not be the WiFi connection that gets affected by it but also other wireless functions like Bluetooth and cellular data. To rule out such possibility, you will need to reset the network settings of your iPhone 11 to refresh the services and delete all existing connections.
How to Reset the Network Settings
- From the Home screen, tap Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and then touch Reset.
- Touch Reset Network Settings.
- If prompted, enter your security lock.
- Tap Reset Network Settings at the bottom of the screen.
- Your iPhone will reboot after this, once it has finished rebooting, try to see if the problem is fixed.
When the network reset is done, get your iPhone to scan the area for available WiFi connection and reconnect to the network. If the problem still occurs after this, then move on to the next solution.
Fourth solution: Factory reset your iPhone 11
If your iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection still drops even after doing the forced restart, rebooting the router and resetting the network settings, then the problem can already be with the firmware. At this point, you will need to factory reset your device to bring it back to its default settings and configuration. However, before you do that, make sure to back up your important files and data as they will all be deleted and you may not be able to recover them after the reset. When you’re ready, follow these steps to reset your iPhone 11.
How to Factory Reset your iPhone
- From the Home screen, tap Settings.
- Find and tap General.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and then touch Reset.
- Tap Erase All Contents and Settings.
- Tap Erase Now.
- If prompted, enter your security lock.
- Tap Erase iPhone at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Erase iPhone again to proceed with the reset.
- Now enter your Apple ID’s password and wait until the reset is complete.
Once the reset is complete, set up your iPhone 11 as a new device. During the set up you will be prompted to connect to a WiFi network so right there and then you may be able to tell if the problem still occurs or not.
After the reset and your device still drops its connection, you have to double-check if it’s really a problem with your iPhone 11 or the router. If you have other devices, try using them like how you use your iPhone to know if the same problem occurs. If you’re pretty sure that only your iPhone disconnects from the network and not your other devices, then it’s time you moved on to the next solution.
Fifth solution: DFU Restore your iPhone 11
If all solutions failed to fix the problem and you’re pretty sure it’s an issue with your iPhone 11, then the next thing you have to do is restore your device. As long as your iPhone does not show any signs of physical or liquid damage, you can get this problem fixed by restoring it. However, this procedure might be a bit complicated for you, so if you’re not comfortable doing it, you should just bring your iPhone to the Genius Bar and let an Apple tech do it for you. But if you want to proceed, here’s how you restore your iPhone 11:
- Connect your iPhone to the computer then launch iTunes or Finder.
- While your device is connected, quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Then, quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Finally, press and hold the Side button until your iPhone screen turns black.
- Keep holding the Side button when the screen turns black and then press the Volume Down button.
- Hold both buttons for 5 seconds.
- After 5 seconds, release the Power button but keep holding the Volume Down button for another 10 seconds.
- When your iphone has successfully entered the DFU mode, a window will pop-up giving you options to ‘Cancel,’ ‘Update’ or ‘Restore.’
- Click Restore and confirm your command.
Once you’ve successfully restored your iPhone 11 and you still encounter issues with it, then set up an appointment at the Genius Bar and let the tech handle it for you.
I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix your iPhone 11 that keeps dropping its WiFi connection after the iOS 13.3 update. Thanks for reading!
