You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Gray wifi

iOS recently updated on my iphone 8+ and my wifi now is grayed out. At times I can turn it on and have no issues for an hour or 2 then it will turn off again and the toggle is gray. It's not that it has trouble connecting it's just not letting me turn the wifi toggle on. I have tried hard reboot and resetting the wifi. Any help what might cause or fix it?

Posted on Sep 18, 2019 11:30 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 18, 2019 4:20 PM

WiFi Connectivity issue on iPhone / iPad


Connecting to Wifi is one part and then getting connected to Internet is second part

  1. If you are connected to a Wifi, doesn't necessarily mean you are connected to internet. If you are not connected to wifi could be a problem of iPhone settings or Router/Modem Settings
  2. If you are not connected to internet is the sole issue of Router / Modem Settings


Connect to the WiFi network in question.


  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap the Info button next to the WiFi network name. (It looks like a lower-case 'i' in a circle.)
  4. Ensure that the Auto-Join switch is on.
  5. If Auto-Join is off, turn it on


Have you tried forgetting the network and reconnecting for reassigning your IP address from DHCP pool. At times when you move from one network to another the wifi at times does not immediately get hooked on to home wifi. 




Consider more secure wifi configuration.

Change your router’s WiFi to use WPA2-AES (CCMP) with no WPA or TKIP. Updating this setting ensures that your devices always connect in one encryption mode


  1. TKIP is obsolete and not considered secure. Choose WPA2, the latest encryption standard, with AES encryption for optimal security
  2. If your router doesn’t specify TKIP or AES, the WPA2 option probably uses AES


Try a Reset ALL Settings.

This is usually the last resort since it resets all your personalised features back to factory defaults

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings

    • This resets to default everything in Settings, including notifications, alerts, brightness, and clock settings like wake up alarms
    • Resetting all settings also reverts all your personalised and customised features like wallpapers and accessibility settings back to factory defaults.
    • Performing this action does not impact any of your personal device data, including photos, texts, documents, and other files
    • You need to reconfigure these settings once your iPhone or iDevice restarts


Privacy Settings

  1. Toggle off Location Services. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and turn it off
  2. Many users find that disabling System Services’ WiFi Networking solves the problem
  3. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > and toggle off WiFi Networking


Restart your iDevice. If a normal restart does not help, perform a forced restart by holding down these buttons at the same time for at least ten seconds until the Apple logo appears


  1. On an iPhone 6S or below plus all iPads & iPod Touches, press Home and Power at the same time until you see the Apple logo
  2. For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo
  3. On an iPhone X Series model (XS/XR/X) or iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple Logo


Connect to Wi-Fi on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT202639

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 18, 2019 4:20 PM in response to jamey257

WiFi Connectivity issue on iPhone / iPad


Connecting to Wifi is one part and then getting connected to Internet is second part

  1. If you are connected to a Wifi, doesn't necessarily mean you are connected to internet. If you are not connected to wifi could be a problem of iPhone settings or Router/Modem Settings
  2. If you are not connected to internet is the sole issue of Router / Modem Settings


Connect to the WiFi network in question.


  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap the Info button next to the WiFi network name. (It looks like a lower-case 'i' in a circle.)
  4. Ensure that the Auto-Join switch is on.
  5. If Auto-Join is off, turn it on


Have you tried forgetting the network and reconnecting for reassigning your IP address from DHCP pool. At times when you move from one network to another the wifi at times does not immediately get hooked on to home wifi. 




Consider more secure wifi configuration.

Change your router’s WiFi to use WPA2-AES (CCMP) with no WPA or TKIP. Updating this setting ensures that your devices always connect in one encryption mode


  1. TKIP is obsolete and not considered secure. Choose WPA2, the latest encryption standard, with AES encryption for optimal security
  2. If your router doesn’t specify TKIP or AES, the WPA2 option probably uses AES


Try a Reset ALL Settings.

This is usually the last resort since it resets all your personalised features back to factory defaults

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings

    • This resets to default everything in Settings, including notifications, alerts, brightness, and clock settings like wake up alarms
    • Resetting all settings also reverts all your personalised and customised features like wallpapers and accessibility settings back to factory defaults.
    • Performing this action does not impact any of your personal device data, including photos, texts, documents, and other files
    • You need to reconfigure these settings once your iPhone or iDevice restarts


Privacy Settings

  1. Toggle off Location Services. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and turn it off
  2. Many users find that disabling System Services’ WiFi Networking solves the problem
  3. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > and toggle off WiFi Networking


Restart your iDevice. If a normal restart does not help, perform a forced restart by holding down these buttons at the same time for at least ten seconds until the Apple logo appears


  1. On an iPhone 6S or below plus all iPads & iPod Touches, press Home and Power at the same time until you see the Apple logo
  2. For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo
  3. On an iPhone X Series model (XS/XR/X) or iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple Logo


Connect to Wi-Fi on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT202639

Sep 18, 2019 4:52 PM in response to SravanKrA

Yes I am sure it isnt my router because I cant turn wifi on on the phone. It cant surch for wifi unless the wifi is toggled on and the toggle is gray. It will not let me turn wifi on at all. I have done a reset on the wifi services. I have tried a hard reboot. I have connected to a computer and reinstalled the latest version of iOS. The only thing I haven't tried at this point is a factory reset. I was just hoping that I'm missing something before I try that. I'm starting to think it may be a internal component.

Gray wifi

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.