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koro_77 Author

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0 points

iPhone 3G - wifi not working after upgrade to OS4

After the OS4 update completed last night, I am not able to access wi-fi networks. At home, I can't see my own wifi network nor any of the neighbor's networks which I could previously see. At work, I can see the wifi network but am unable to connect to it.

I bought the 3G only 15 months ago and now I don't know if it is going to become a lemon. I have heard rumours that you are not allowed to downgrade to OS 3.1.2 which was working very well for me - is this true? I didn't see any warnings in itunes and I did backup my phone before saying OK to the upgrade.

I have tried all of the diagnostics I could find on the forum:
- resetting the router
- resetting the iphone network settings
- disabling cellular data
- turning off security on my wifi network (still couldn't see it)

Is my only option to do nothing and live with a broken phone, hoping that this is addressed with a software update? (i.e. my own fault for upgrading?)

Hopefully there will at least be an announcement of which problems apple is working on a patch for so I know whether I should be patient or if I need to try and research some more desperate measures such as trying to find a way to downgrade to 3.1.2 (which could lead to even worse problems... but honestly I would rather take the risk then not have wifi access anymore.)

If anyone has any ideas I'd appreciate hearing them.

Thanks.

PC, iOS 4, mac

Posted on Jun 23, 2010 8:49 PM

55 replies

Aug 3, 2010 8:33 AM in response to koro_77

This happened to me and I called Apple about it and they got me to restore it to factory settings and then set it up as a new phone. Then if it still doesn't work it is something in the iPhone and hopefully you have warranty still and they will replace it.

mugwamp

Level 1

7 points

Aug 3, 2010 8:47 AM in response to logan_horse

logan_horse wrote:
This happened to me and I called Apple about it and they got me to restore it to factory settings and then set it up as a new phone. Then if it still doesn't work it is something in the iPhone and hopefully you have warranty still and they will replace it.

How can it be the phone when it's the new ios4 that's causing the problem?

Aug 3, 2010 12:09 PM in response to mugwamp

I dont know but when i called he asked me to restore the phone to factory then set it up as a new phone, I did that and when it still did the same thing he said well looks like its hardware issue and you get a new phone. I'm not saying thats whats wrong with everyones.

.pixr

Level 1

0 points

Aug 4, 2010 6:28 AM in response to koro_77

Has anyone tried one of the beta's to fix the wifi problem, 4.1 beta 3 for example?
Still no WiFi on my 8gb 3G...

Aug 4, 2010 6:53 PM in response to ian15206

I have the exact issue and the same result as Ian.

Took it to a "Genius", he performed a DFU reset and talked it up about how it would work. When that didn't do anything except wipe my data he took it in the back and claimed he would check the antenna connection.

Brought it back out with a suction cup mark on the screen and said it was a hardware failure and I could buy a new 3G for $220 after tax. What a deal! I stated that this happened after 4.0.1 update and he said it was coincidence.

I have since tried freezing, downgrading and 'other' things all with no luck. Seriously considering a Droid now that apple breaks my phone and the fix is to sell me a new model.

Message was edited by: Chris.Rackow

Aug 5, 2010 8:20 AM in response to Chris.Rackow

It isn't the firmware (iOS4). It's a hardware failure. Failure after iOS4 upgrade was just coincidence. The type of hardware failure you had is almost instant. Micro-fissures develop in your solder joints (most likely noticed that your phone was running hot due to increased resistance in the motherboard circuits) and your WiFi signal is next to worthless.

You can do what the Apple guy suggested, or you can fix it yourself http://www.iphonetiquicia.com/repair-iphone-3g-wifi-oven/

Do it right and your phone will be perfect. Do it wrong, it's toast.

mugwamp

Level 1

7 points

Aug 5, 2010 9:40 AM in response to SimpleServe

SimpleServe wrote:
It isn't the firmware (iOS4). It's a hardware failure. Failure after iOS4 upgrade was just coincidence.

I disagree with this statement. I've got NO WiFi at work when I had it the day before I upgraded to ips4.
It's not heat nor a micro solder issue. I have perfect WiFi at home and most other places. iso4 changed the way the iphone gets a WiFi signal, plain and simple.

Aug 5, 2010 9:47 AM in response to mugwamp

Then your answer involves discovering the difference between your work wifi and your home wifi.

Aug 5, 2010 9:53 PM in response to koro_77

I just upgraded my 3G to 4.0.1 and it worked fine for a couple of days then stopped seeing any wireless access points at all. Read through this thread and found the freezer suggestion. Tried it and sure enough it sees the available WIFI and can connect. I'm sure this is not a permanent solution, but it's certainly interesting.

Xarro

Level 1

0 points

Aug 6, 2010 1:57 AM in response to WebWrangler

My brother visited unlockit.co.nz with his iPhone through Wi-Fi and followed the instructions, created a profile, and it solved the problem - without having to reset his hole phone (wich can be another solution). I dont know if it's the ideal solution, but it works 🙂

Aug 6, 2010 11:02 AM in response to koro_77

I too recently upgraded my iPhone 3G and experienced many issues, including WiFi . I tried all of the logical steps to address the issue, a hard reboot, toggling the airplane setting, and then a reset of the network settings. Lastly I performed a backup and restore to the phone. Nothing worked.

In reading through the thread I came across the freezer suggestion, to turn off the phone and put it in the freezer for 8 minutes. I laughed and thought this was a joke. Well, this morning I thought, no one will know and what could it hurt. To my surprise, the WiFi connection came back. It now displays the list of available networks. Let’s see how long this will last.

Could this really be a hardware issue? Will Apple acknowledge the issue and post something, anything to address it?

Aug 6, 2010 11:25 AM in response to ChicagoJohnathan

Yes, it's really a hardware issue, lead-free solder joints http://www.metallurgy.nist.gov/solder/clech/Introduction.htm

Don't hold your breath waiting for Apple to do anything about it.

Aug 6, 2010 1:50 PM in response to SimpleServe

It's possible that it is a hardware issue but the 'cause' was iOS4 You can't simply state coincidence when so many 3G/3GS phones break immediately following an upgrade to iOS4. My phone and 2 of my friends phones all had their wifi break a day or so after iOS4 upgrade. That's not a coincidence...we call that a pattern. I suspect the way wifi is being acquired now is overheating the wifi chip/connections, hence why the 'chill' method temporarily fixes the problem. The one thing I noticed differently when I upgraded my 3G to iOS4 before the wifi died was that it would connect much quicker from sleep mode. It seemed almost instantaneously compared to firmware 3.

Aug 6, 2010 5:19 PM in response to vanfanel1car

@ vanfanel1car

Maybe your wifi failure is related to the iOS4 update. But let me call your attention to this thread http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2044754&start=0&tstart=0

The complaint was that iPhone OS3 caused the failure. Same ice trick. Furthermore, if you read the link I posted above you'll notice the problem plagues printed circuit boards manufactured using lead-free solder; it isn't a problem restricted to Apple.

It is my opinion that this specific hardware problem (damaged solder joints) is unrelated to iOS4. Could I be wrong? Sure. But let Apple's software and hardware engineers fight that battle with their operations manager. As consumers, we just need to fix our phones, hopefully without paying Apple more money for something that is their manufacturing problem. Good luck with your phones, it's my opinion that Apple should fix them for you for free. But, unfortunately, they might be too big for their britches to be a good citizen.

Sep 9, 2010 11:55 AM in response to SimpleServe

My wifi problems also came about after an upgrade to 0S4 ... the recent OS4.1 does not fix the problem. No problems with my iPad OS 3.2.2 connecting to my home wifi network ... I guess a real test will be when the iPad gets an OS 4 upgrade to see if wifi is broken as well ... THIS WOULD MAKE me EXTREMELY UPSET and render the iPad useless to mean since it is wifi only ... Can someone from Apple help out here???

iPhone 3G - wifi not working after upgrade to OS4