iPhone 14 won’t connect to internet via WiFi

jafulton wrote:

I bought a 14 Pro Max yesterday and started having this problem the 1st evening. I tried all the reset and reboot suggestions without effect. Finally I deleted my vpn configuration and was immediately back on WiFi. I reinstalled the vpn and everything is still working fine.

See my post right above yours. It explains why that worked.

Extra details. Same symptoms, as of 2023-07-01, on an iPhone 14 with iOS 16.5.x -- working just fine, then at what feels like random, all apps and services start reporting it can't connect to the Internet. ( Browsers won't browse, Apple's Mail says the accounts need attention, phone can't check to see if it needs an update, iMessages don't deliver, purchase notifications don't appear, etc. )

Apple's forums seem to blame the Internet, ISP, router, or WAP, everything but the phone {which I doubt it is the hardware since most of the time it works} or the iOS release {which I suspect is the issue}.

However during times of WiFi failure, all other devices, including older iPhones, iPads, and computers work just fine. The very infrastructure being blamed is working for all other Apple (and non-Apple) devices; the problem is localized to the phone (or more specifically later phones running the latest iOS, as a iPhone XS Max running the same iOS version works just fine).

Taking the "Microsoft" solution of turning off the device and back on does correct the problem (temporarily until it happens again), except this is Apple, and their community knows that should not be necessary with their hardware (and I suspect they believe Apple knows about the issue and is dodging admitting something is wrong for the time being, based on passed patterns).

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Turning the WiFi off and back on, changing to any other WiFi network, or going into Air Plane mode and back out does not correct the problem.

All the while, the phone does show a successful WiFi connection icon with the Wireless Access Point; the settings screen also confirms this (though the 'No Internet' text in red sometimes is present and sometimes not -- either way, Apps can't reach the Internet). You can switch and authenticate to other WiFi networks, too, but all report No Internet when connected.

EXTRA INFO: Using UniFi, it's possible to see what the Wireless Access Point sees. And while the Phone connects to the Access point (even though it's not servicing the Internet), the Wireless Access Point does see the phone (as you'd expect). The phone successfully gets an IP address via DHCP; using several test networks with static IP addresses, the correct IP is assigned after the WiFi Connection happens ...but the phone's applications and setting screen report there's No Internet Connection over that link.

The Wireless Access Point is servicing other devices as well, so the WAP has Internet connectivity, despite where Apple would like to point the finger.

Additionally, I've put a Firewalla box in between as a monitor, as well as a pfSense firewall downstream of that. They each see the iPhone's DHCP connection request and claim that small, rare bursts, very far apart (many minutes later), of intermediate trickles of traffic (in the very low kilobytes) are making it onto the network from the iPhone and are being delivered back to the phone. I suspect we're the DHCP negotiations, and then nothing from the phone.

And just since someone's going to ask, no VPN is in use.

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE: We notice the problem seems to happen the most when the phone shifts into using 5G and then returning to WiFi.

e.g., go to lunch, come back, phone acts as if the Internet is no longer there -- power cycle required.

Devices that only handle 4G have no problems handing off between WiFi and 4G as familiar WiFi networks reappear.

COMMUNITY QUESTION: Does anyone else notice anything about the events around when 'No Internet Connection' problems surface, such as our 5G woes?

It is not just the browser. No app connects to the internet, I get a message from the app that there is no internet connection, even though all other devices get a signal over the same Wi-Fi and are working just fine. Even though the phone settings show a strong Wi-Fi connection and there is no indication the internet connection has been lost. The phone failure happens on all Wi-Fi networks, not just my home network.

I’m not too technical, but I can set things up for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi… I do alright. So my kids and I all have iPhone 14’s. One of my kids stopped being able to access the internet via wifi. We did the network reset and the cold reboot and a couple other things, w/no luck. It sounds like all of the other things you guys have mentioned… all the other devices are accessing the internet from the wifi and no problems except for the one phone… so I called apple support. More trouble shooting… and finally got an appoint for the Apple Store. Everything was backed up and updated… but it was not a software issue. It was not a hardware issue (like the Wi-Fi adapter going bad) but the FIRMWARE… the genius pulled out his cord and plugged the phone into his iPad and removed/replaced the firmware… I am finally able to use the Wi-Fi for streaming my little pony on Netflix for her in my house. Hope this helps some of you guys. Good luck!!

I'd had issues with this in the past when connected to Nord VPN, usually disconnecting or pausing the app cured the problem. I'd just done an update on Nord and even though the VPN was not connected it was causing this issue. Deleting the app cured the problem. Thanks for your help.

Thank you! It was the VPN. Once I deleted it I had full Internet access restored. My question is – How the HE¬¬ is anybody supposed to know that? I've had this problem for 9 days and spent fruitless hours on the phone with my service provider and ISP and it was Apple's eSIM tech fail all along. Crazy money for a crazy phone.

I was having this issue and about to send the new iPhone 14 pro max back. But I noticed in Settings that the VPN kept flickering. After I disabled and deleted the VPN that came pre-installed, everything went back to normal like it should.

I use ExpressVPN anyway, not the factory installed junk.

Hope this helps people.

None of these steps have helped the situation. We have gone through all of these steps as well as taking both of our phones to the apple store for diagnostics to be completed. I have update the firmware in both my extenders and my router to no avail. My son and I both have an IPhone 14, and both of our phones have the same issue. I can sit beside my wife who has an older IPhone, and she has no problem while I cannot connect to the wifi in our home. All of our laptops, both MAC and Windows, connect with no issue. It is only our IPhone 14 with the newest operating system. I did not have this issue until I updated my phone to IOS 17.1. With that being said and all the diagnostics and updates that I have done, this has to be an IOS issue.

I am about to do the same as well. I have a mac studio top spec and I foolishly purchased an Iphone 14 pro to ease file transfers as I have been a long time android user. The iphone 14 has lingering Access point issues (which have been verified as a fault by apple) i.e the phone hangs on to an AP rather than migrating to a more powerful or stronger signal etc. But other than that the phone was fine. Then exactly as warranty subsides I find it identifies the problems reported in this long thread. I have 4 Vlans through 3 layer 3 switches in a very secure home network. EVERYTHING else works, connects fine.

The rather opinionated fool who identifies that VPN's are more trouble than they are worth is a defeatist oath.

I have adjusted radios on the AP's I have given it a tagged fixed AP and nothing. Whats worse is as I hooked it up through the firewire it migrated the problem to the studio. Easy fix on that as thankfully I have the option of 10G switching through a hard wired ethernet.

OK so troubleshooting.

Cache wasn't an issue, I use Brave over Safari but clearing cache did nothing. My settings clear cache upon exit anyway.

I use a wifiman reporting app to check radio strengths and apart from some minor conflicts all was sweet with no drop out areas throughout my property. I uninstalled VPN and restarted nakedly without - Nothing, I reinstalled VPN and same. I configured the DNS servers from my wireguard to defaults and nothing. I have reset all network configs and nothing.

This is one of the worst experiences I have had to muddle through and to come to a forum to see the belittling and useless assistance offered was a deal sealer. will sell this factory reset Iphone and get a graphene Pixel.

Thanks anmadaru95. This is the quickest way to solve this problem. I didn’t read other messages below, you seem to be the only one to provide this solution.

I hope you can help me further. I think it is safe to turn it off when my iPhone s connected to a private network, and better to turn on if I connect it to a public network? Thanks.

BTW, all the ways suggested above, only restarting the Wifi router/modem works for me

Was having the same issue, resolved it by going into settings and deactivating VPN. Settings> General > VPN & Device Management> had to deactivate the McAffee first then VPN on phone. Once VPN "showed not connected", phone now connects to WIFI. Hope this helps others. Seems like every time I upgrade my iphone more and more issues, this 14 promax gives me problems constantly, smh.

I like everyone on this string have been so frustrated with the problem of no WIFI or spotty WIFI. I thought I had tried everything suggested to no avail, but at last I have found the fix to the problem at least in my case. I went back to the VPN suggestion of turning off VPN. I use McAfee Secuity Suite. I had turned off the VPN, but I still had the problem of the WIFI disconnecting immediately. I then went back to the VPN into the next layer to McAfee Safe Browsing and pushed the blue information button on the right of the screen and disabled the Connet on Demand function. Then I did the same with the next item McAfee Secure VPN and disabled Connect on Demand. Vola, my WIFI came right up, and all Apps and internet functions statred working again. It has been at least six hour and no hiccups with my WIFI. The next thing I will work with McAfee to see how the no WIFI with their VPN can be resolved or is there any degradation to their security package due to the VPN issue as described herein. IN closing I have my WIFI back working on my iPhone 14 Plus.

I really appreciate the long explanation that was given. I am just having a problem with my husband‘s phone. I have the same phone and it’s fine and I have Internet no problem. We had a bad box for a while and didn’t have it and someone came in the other day and fixed our Internet put in a new box and mine is fine. Husband) is not. I will try some of the Suggestions that were given. Thank you so much!

More Apple garbage!!! 14 pro was working fine until Apple messed with it and refused to fix the problem. EVERYTHING else connected just fine to WiFi at speeds over 350 mps. Apple wake up and fix this issue your temporary fix does NOTHING.

Mi iPhone14 suddenly decided to lose connection with wifi that was connected for a couple of years. When I finally managed to reconnect, no internet. I tried all suggestions and it turned out the easiest was the solution. I disconnected Avast VPN and internet was restored. Nothing else had worked. Why it suddenly the problem surfaced, I don't know and the internet provider claims nothing has changed. By the way, the iPhone has also its own VPN.