Wifi „no internet connection“ issues (iOS16)

Check for an update for your router.

Check your WiFi Router / Modem for --> Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points ...

Connecting to Wifi is the first part and then getting connected to the Internet is the second

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

For your Internet connection.

• Over Cellular: contact your Carrier (Cellular Service Provider). The agency who issued the SIM to you
• Over WiFI: Contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider), the agency who provided the Internet Service on your Modem/Router to you

However --> Connect iPhone to the Internet - Apple Support

Delete the profile and see if it fixes the problem. If it does, re-add the profile. Or better yet, don’t, as VPN is practically useless, and creates more problems than it solves.

Something to think about→Don't use VPN - GITHUB

There are two legitimate purposes for using VPN:

• To allow access to a private network such as a school or business when you are not on site. 
• To allow access outside of a country with a repressive government that has restricted Internet access. (This has suddenly become more important)

Any other use is risky, and can lead to problems like the one discussed in this thread. VPN disguises your location by making you appear to be somewhere else in the world. But you usually can’t control that “somewhere else”, and if it is in a location that an app isn’t approved for the app won’t work. Plus the fact that the provider of the VPN knows everything about you and your location, as well as what sites you access through the VPN. So you are totally dependent on the VPN provider’s honesty. As a start, if the VPN is free, DON’T USE IT. The provider has to make money somehow, and if you aren’t paying them then they are selling your private data to make money. But even those that charge can’t necessarily be trusted. For example, a few years ago Avast was caught selling user browsing data. They claim they have stopped doing so. 

You don’t really need VPN when using public Wi-Fi, because all communications between your device and the servers it accesses are end-to-end encrypted.

If you want VPN for privacy about the sites you visit, that’s not a good choice as discussed; instead you should download and use the TOR browser.

With iOS 15.2 and later for iOS/iPadOS and MacOS Monterey 12.2 and later Apple now has iCloud+ Private Relay, which is not VPN, but provides a safer browsing environment than VPN, and it doesn't spy on you→About iCloud Private Relay - Apple Support

Are you using VPN on the phones? If you are delete the VPN app and profile, then reinstall it. Or better yet, don’t reinstall it as VPN provides little or no security and can even compromise your security, as not all VPN providers (even large ones) are trustworthy.

Totally dismissing a router issue is not the greatest of suggestions. It’s all about each individual devices settings.(router/modem/WiFi/Apple device/etc.) one simple change in security settings can upset the whole system. Troubleshooting an issue like this complex and takes time and patience especially if someone isn’t tech savvy. (As a nurse for 20 years I’ve always said using a bandaid and quickly wiping up the trail is ok in some cases but tracing the origin of the blood and treating the wound will always remain the better choice.)

Remember this: 2.4gHz channels may be considered “slower” but it can handle more interference than 5gHz channels. The security settings within each of these channels affect devices differently especially in regards to age of device.

I updated my wife’s phone and my phone and now have this same issue. All other devices still working on network but our two phones will not stay connected to ANY Wi-Fi (not just ours). I’ve tried all the usual remedies to no avail.

This is absolutely and undeniably a bug with the update. Bugs happen - they just need to be fixed and they don’t get fixed until folks accept it’s not a end-user problem.

Bugs don't have to affect all users, but they will usually effect enough that there will be several complaints, and there have not been.

Software is written to standards, and if Apple's software is standards compliant and connectivity breaks because of a router issue, Apple is under no responsibility to modify their software despite it "working before."

When something breaks due to an update, it is in no way a diagnostic that it was due to a bug in Apple's software.

The example I often use is if you have a bug in a CPU where when you add 2 + 3 you get the answer 5 but when you add 3 + 2 you get the answer 6, it's not the responsibility of software authors to only ever add 2 + 3, it has to be fixed from the other end.

Note I never blamed the user, I stated the issue most likely is elsewhere simply because I have been here long enough to know how many complaints arise when an update does contain a major bug.

With something like an iOS update, tens of millions of users have downloaded it by now (ignoring the multitude of beta testers) and I guarantee most of them use WiFi a fair amount of the time.

The suggestion that you try your device at an Apple Store is a good one, as the staff at a store can also report a bug through their channels should it turn out to be one exposed when your device fails on their WiFi network as well.

I have this exact issue (to this day, since installing ios 16.0). I am now on ios 16.1.2, and the issue persists, no matter what I do. It's an apple issue as far as I'm concerned and I hope it gets fixed eventually in a patch. I have never had a VPN installed on any apple device. I have tried every possible configuration on my end, every possible solution, except one I will not do. I will switch back to android before I do it. I will NOT under any circumstances wipe and restore from backup to fix this issue. If that's the solution, I'm a lost customer, for life. I have tried other routers, I have tried all possible settings on the phone. Everything except wiping the device and restoring from backup. I have read other posters say they tried this, and the issue was gone after wiping, but returned upon restoring backup. Apple did something in IOS16 that caused many people to have an issue with WI-FI. I am starting to lean towards planned obsolescence. It is common enough that this is thread has 5 pages. It is common enough that there are multiple threads all over the internet experiencing this issue on a variety of device types (once IOS 16 is installed).

I understand your frustration, but there are hundreds of millions of people using Wi-Fi with iOS 16 with no difficulties whatsoever, so the key is figuring out what's different about your particular configuration that is causing issues.

You've decided you are not even going to try a valid troubleshooting technique, so that limits the amount of help anyone here can offer.

The fact that this thread has "five pages" means nothing in terms of the aforementioned hundreds of millions of people running iOS 16, especially as this forum is post and response, so comments by the same people increase the "page count."

As I stated previously, issues often arise because though there are networking standards, some manufacturers get it wrong, and that often causes issues when an OS upgrade is released (most often the issues are not Apple's.)

Nevertheless I know that's not reassuring when you are having difficulties, but quite frankly as someone with experience in the matter it's nearly impossible to fix an issue if it's not readily reproducible.

Let me ask one obvious question: If you go into an Apple Store, can you connect to their in-store network?

If not, make an appointment with them to have your phone examined (they might be able to do it on the same visit, but with the holidays that's doubtful), as they can run further diagnostics to try to determine if it is your hardware or your configuration at fault - a task made much easier if they can reproduce the issue in-store.

If not, contacting Apple Support directly is your best bet, as they can run remote diagnostics that may reveal more:

• Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
• Contact - Official Apple Support

I have no VPN. I have a netgear RBR750 and satellite. I upgraded the firmware to the latest and that made things worse. Rolled back to last stable firmware 4.6*11 not sure whether the problem is Netgear or Apple iOS 16.2.

Im having the same issues since upgrading to ios 16 , .1 and now same issue on 16.2. On iPhone 13 max +. Its not my router. None of my other devices that are on the network are dropping. Its only happening on my phone. It HAS to be the update.

Indeed.

One thing I've found is that many ISPs have their DNS servers running on the equivalent of an old PC.

Why? No one changes ISPs because DNS service is slow, they just change to a different DNS provider, so the budget goes to keep regular infrastructure running fast.

Hi lawrence,

I am not using any vpn. There is no MAC filtering enabled. At most around 4 devices connects to router at the same time.

Sometimes even 2, when i face “no internet” issue.

Never faced issue while on iOS 15 and i have been using same router for like 8 months.

The issue only started happening after iOS 16. Other devices runs fine with iOS 15 and some windows devices.

Resetting/restarting router or forgetting network doesnt fix the issue. Issue is only fixed after i retsart my iphone. Therefore issue cant be with wifi router.

If anybody here thinks otherwise, just answer me why does restarting iphone fixes the issue(for some time) but restarting router doesnt?