Weak Security WiFi on iPhone

A "Weak Security" notification means that your Wi-Fi router is not configured correctly. There is a new feature in iOS 14 that checks and displays a message if your router is not using the most up-to-date security. Note that your router has always had weak security, you just didn’t know about it until now.

See this Apple support article for how to configure it correctly—>Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support, specifically the section headed Security.

Thank you CakePrincess.

I cannot see anyway of changing my router’s name in its settings (TP-Link AX3000). I can, and have, changed the wireless network names (SSID) of both wireless frequencies. I access the router by entering its IP address into my Web browser and then entering the password.

What is the setting you changed in your router?

Many thanks.

Since you have TP-Link you can access your settings here: http://tplinkwifi.net/webpages/login.html?t=1603185012713

Your password will be the same as your WiFi password. Go to wireless and under wireless settings you can change the name of your SSID there and save it. They also have an app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tp-link-tether/id599496594 that you can download and change your network’s name on there.

Ah - you meant SSID network name not router name. ;o)

As I said in my first reply, I had already changed the SSIDs from the originals. However, I went ahead and changed them again and whilst the wireless setting on my iPhone and iPad did not show the weak security immediately after the change, it is has now returned.

I’d still like to know why IOS 14.2 seems to think I am not connected to WPA2 AES when my router is set to that encryption????????

Thanks again for trying to help.

When you go to router settings check the setting for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The encryption settings are separate for the 2 bands.

WPA/WPA2(AES) is NOT secure, because it will fall back to WPA if the device attempting to connect only supports WPA, which means that anyone with such a device can hack your router. The following are secure:

• WPA2(AES)
• WPA2-PSK(AES)
• WPA2-Personal (on most routers; this is not a defined setting in the standard, but some manufacturers want their routers to sound more user friendly. This is to differentiate it from WPA2-Enterprise)
• WPA3 (Not all devices support WPA3, so this is probably not a good choice if you have older equipment)

NOT secure:

• WPA
• WEP
• WPA/WPA2
• WPA2(TKIP)
• WPA2-PSK(TKIP)

Also, if your router supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) it should be turned off, as it is not secure.

Finally, any time you change router settings, you should forget the network, then reconnect.

Thank you for your response.

WRT my router (TP-Link AX3000) its settings are WPA/WPA2-Personal (Recommended) and WPA2-PSK AES for both frequencies.

I have the latest 2020 iPhone SE running IOS 14.2, so can I assume it does support WPA2 and therefore not revert to WPA? If it can, then what else can be causing the problem?

One very specific question perhaps you can answer (setting aside the cause of the Weak Security message for one moment) why does my iPhone think I am using WPA2 TKIP?

Many thanks for your help.

As per my reply to Horsetcher yesterday at 12:37, I am using the very latest firmware (downloaded 3 days ago). The router was bought 3 days ago.

It seems to me that you are dismissing the fact that my iPhone reports that I am using TKIP when I am not. Why is that?

Having said I wouldn’t bother anyone again with this issue .......

I thought I’d try to analyse the wireless signal to check what encryption type actually is. I looked for something in the App Store but couldn’t find anything suitable.

I then thought I’d I’d unplug the Ethernet cable on my Windows 10 and connect that to the router via WiFi.

When Windows 10 asks the router what the encryption level is, it is replying that it is AES.

Problem solved!

It turns out it was my range extender that was transmitting a weak security signal. My Apple devices were happy and didn’t issue a weak security message when I turned the extender off. Not knowing what extenders actually do, I naively assumed they took in a weak signal, amplified it and then sent the identical signal out again. That is obviously not all that happens, the signal is re-transmitted using whatever security settings the extender applies. Clearly, with my extender that was too weak for Apple’s liking.

I then started to look into the extender’s settings - I had never done this before. The settings were extremely basic, but on checking the firmware, it was way out of date. I downloaded and installed the latest version. That version allowed access to many more settings including the security ones so I set them to WPA2 and AES.

Now feeling confident the extender would work OK I connected my Apple devices to it —— WEAK SECURITY!!!!

I checked the extender’s signal via Windows 10 and it showed WPA2 AES is being broadcast. Not quite sure where to go from here, but I’ll continue battling with the issue. I’m like a dog with a bone when I hit problems like these. In the meantime I can live without the extender.

The main reason I got it was to strengthen the 5GHz signal to a room that’s a fair way from the router - I’ll use the stronger 2.4 GHz signal directly from the router until I get to bottom of this issue, or find some other way of boosting the 5GHz signal.

Thanks to everyone, especially Lawrence, for your help and patience. 👍

Right On! The extenders are the culprits! When they are removed, the weak security warning disappears. Therefore the extenders need to be able to offer the wpa2 option, otherwise the message will appear if the extenders are used.

Scale2020 wrote:

It is running IOS 14.2.

The weak security wifi message appears on all phones that run 14.1 and 14.2. The message doesn't appear in previous versions.

WRONG! It appears on any device running any version of 14 IF THE ROUTER IS MISCONFIGURED. It has nothing to do with the phone. I have 4 devices running a version of iOS 14, and none of them display the message because my router is configured correctly. I’m also currently at an inn with Wi-Fi, and their router is configured correctly, because I do not see that message.

Can anyone help? I had this issue randomly after my wifi working fine for a week on my new iphone 12. However, suddenly i had this issue. I've gone into my router settings and changed it to what it says it needs to be. the 'weak security' message is now gone, but still no internet connection even though it says it's connected? internet is working fine on all other devices. fyi i have virgin media hub 3 wifi

Just click renew lease and the problem will be solved if your using a public wifi. The ideal fix however is to change the router settings but in case you dont have access like me then renew lease works fine.

No one is preventing you from using a network with weak security. You can use your friend’s network even if it has weak security. Your iPhone won’t prevent you from using it. But you might tell your friend that his router can be easily hacked by bad people.

Have you read the topic you posted in?