Wi-Fi Wireless internet connection unstable when spouse unlocks their iPhone.

Question

Level 1

21 points

Wi-Fi Wireless internet connection unstable when spouse unlocks their iPhone.

This seems like an odd issue, and is unnoticeable if not for my use of Nvidia GeForce NOW for gaming on my MacBook Pro. This takes a lot of bandwidth to be seamlessly run 2K @ 120mhz. I always know when my spouse is looking at their iPhone because suddenly I have an unstable connection and it gets VERY hard to play. Most of the time, it subsides, but it seems to happen even if they have disabled Wi-Fi on the iPhone.

Could it be that the unlinked iPhone and MacBook Pro are sensing each other and trying furiously to decide what to do? I can stream 3 shows in the house, including one on the same MacBook as the game. Yet, only when that iPhone is unlocked will I have an unstable connection.

I have 1 Gbit/s AT&T fiber, optimized channel, reduced width to 40Mhz per device. MacBook Pro (M1) and the iPhone is iPhone 11.

What is happening? What can I do to stop it?

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Jan 23, 2023 10:41 AM

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Answer 1

chuckbl

Community Specialist

Jan 25, 2023 10:42 AM in response to Einaunewarre

Hello Einaunewarre,

Let's use the steps below to make sure their iPhone is all up to date:

1. Back up your device using iCloud or your computer.

2. Plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi.

3. Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.

4. If you see more than one software update option available, choose the one that you want to install.

5. Tap Install Now. If you see Download and Install instead, tap it to download the update, enter your passcode, then tap Install Now. If you don't know your passcode, learn what to do.

You can also find those steps in this resource: Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Additionally, you'll also want to make sure macOS is up to date: Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support

Before following these steps, it's a good idea to back up your Mac.

1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings or System Preferences.

• If you chose System Settings, click General on the left side of the window. Then click Software Update on the right.

• If you chose System Preferences, click Software Update in the window.

2. Software Update then checks for new software.

• If Software Update finds new software, click the button to install it. The button might be named Update Now, Upgrade Now, Install Now, or Restart Now, for example. You might then be asked to enter your administrator password.

• If Software Update says that your Mac is up to date, then no new software is currently available for your Mac model. Software Update shows only software that is compatible with your Mac.

Updating should help to further isolate any potential software conflicts.

Should that still persist, have you had the opportunity to test this behavior while your MacBook Pro is in another room or location? We ask to further rule out wireless interference as a contributing factor: Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

Also, does this behavior only impact GeForce Now, or do you experience difficulties with other online services or features when this occurs?

Let us know, and we'll keep moving forward based on those details.

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Answer 2

Feb 2, 2023 3:57 PM in response to Einaunewarre

Most likely your router screwed up and assigned the same IP address to both devices. As Wi-Fi is off when the phone is asleep, you would only notice it when the phones are both unlocked. To check go to Settings/Wi-Fi on both devices, tap on the i next to the network name, and note the IP address. If they are not both the same we need to check further, but that’s a first step.

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Answer 3

Feb 2, 2023 3:37 PM in response to Einaunewarre

Hello Einaunewarre,

Thank you for that additional information. That certainly is an odd occurrence. Do you have any other devices that connect to your Wi-Fi network, such as an iPad, another Mac, or even another iPhone? If so, when those devices are being used, do you experience the same thing? A great step to take would be to test whether it's only your spouse's iPhone that causes the issue, or if all devices that connect to your network cause the same thing.

Another suggestion is to use an Ethernet connection to connect your Mac to the internet, rather than a Wi-Fi connection: Connect your Mac to the internet using Ethernet - Apple Support. If your MacBook Pro doesn't have an Ethernet port, you can use a USB to Ethernet adapter, or a Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter.

Since this seems to be an issue with your Wi-Fi, the next step you might want to take is to reach out to your internet service provider to see if they have any suggestions.

Take care.

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Answer 4

Feb 3, 2023 11:09 AM in response to Einaunewarre

How fast is your internet connection? Two ways to check:

https://fast.com

https://speedtest.net (also has Mac, iOS and Android apps)

Run the test with only one device active.

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Answer 5

Einaunewarre Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 3, 2023 9:56 AM in response to melissa_m77

We have many devices connected.

2 iPhone 11s

1 MacBook Pro (the one experiencing the issue)

1 MacBook Air

1 iPad

1 Toshiba laptop

1 Dell laptop

recently 2 Apple Watches

1 TV (ethernet)

1 desktop (ethernet).

There are only two people here, so the most devices we have active is 5, a computer and phone for each and the TV. This can happen with the TV paused and just my MacBook Pro running GeForce NOW. If she unlocks the iPhone it will have the effect.

I think the reason GeForce NOW is the only app showing disturbance is because it can't buffer like a movie stream. And websites are mostly static so there is no way to tell an effect. GeForce NOW is taking up to 75 Mb/s.

I do keep my phone clean of unwanted background activity, but now both our iPhone's cause a disturbance, it is possible I just didn't see it with my own last time. That is, both of our iPhones are causing the issue now, but it doesn't persist if just unlocking. But when I unlock either iPhone, the game becomes choppy for a few seconds.

With both iPhones sitting on a table across the room, I am getting bursts of the issue. Although, I can still cause them by unlocking an iPhone, too. I think this is coming down to a router and Wi-Fi issue. I've noticed that my ridiculously expensive MacBook Pro can't handle bluetooth connections with a mouse and Airpod Pros without ruining the audio experience. I think it is possible that the Wi-Fi in my MacBook is actually just not intended to support a smooth experience for something as demanding as GeForce NOW. I tested GeForce NOW on my other desktop with older Wi-Fi PCI-e card and three antennas, and there is no interference.

Thank you both for your help, I spent an hour today testing everything as thoroughly as I knew how and wrote this message as I did it.

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Answer 6

Einaunewarre Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 2, 2023 3:10 PM in response to chuckbl

Both devices are updated. I can tell when she unlocks her phone in her office upstairs and across the house because the game becomes choppy. I’ve called out to her and asked if she just unlocked her phone and she had, multiple times. Lately, the issue doesn’t persist, but that is partly because she has started turning off Wi-Fi and using cellular data only. It still stutters at first, but clears up after a minute or less.

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