iPhone Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi? Check Where the Connection Fails

Turn on Wi-Fi in Settings, make sure Airplane Mode is off, and move closer to the router. If the Wi-Fi switch is grayed out, restart the iPhone. If other devices also cannot see your home network, check that the router is powered on. If you cannot see a work or school network, ask the network administrator which network name to use.

Check that you selected the right network and have its current password. If the password or router settings recently changed, you can remove the saved connection and join again. In Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the information button for that network, then Forget This Network if it is available. For a saved network you are not using, look under Edit. Have the password ready first. This can also remove the saved network from other devices using iCloud Keychain with the same Apple Account.

A checkmark confirms that the iPhone joined Wi-Fi. Open a website on another device connected to that same network. If both devices cannot get online, restart your router and modem if you manage them. Contact your internet provider if the problem continues. If the other device works, test your iPhone on a different trusted network. A problem limited to your iPhone across networks is a reason to check for VPN or security software. Ask IT before changing anything on a managed device.

Use Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings only after simpler checks fail. It clears saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords and resets cellular, VPN and APN settings. Check with IT before resetting a phone configured for work or school. If your iPhone still cannot join any Wi-Fi network, contact Apple and tell them whether the Wi-Fi switch is grayed out and which networks you tried.