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iPhone keeps forgetting my wifi network

iPhone 13, running iOS 16.4.1. My iPhone keeps "forgetting" to connect to my home wifi network. Several times a day, I'll pick up the phone and notice it's on the 5G network, but not the wifi network (which it should default to).


I go into Settings and see that, indeed, my home network is listed correctly in "My Networks":




When I touch it, it always prompts me to re-enter the password, as if it's forgotten it (but it's saved in my iCloud keychain):



When I enter the password, it connects properly and all is well.


I even go into the network to confirm that auto-join is on -- it is:



But hours later, or a day later, the entire cycle repeats itself. It "forgets" to connect.


I have tried:


Forgetting the network entirely, then re-connecting to it from scratch

Resetting my iPhone's network settings (and obviously, rebooting the iPhone)


Any other ideas? This is really bugging me on a daily basis.


Other wireless devices are not exhibiting this problem.

iPhone 13

Posted on Apr 28, 2023 5:44 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 28, 2023 6:02 PM

Go to Settings/Cellular and scroll to the bottom. Turn off Wi-Fi Assist. This feature switches to cellular when the cellular signal is better than your Wi-Fi signal. As 5Guc is faster than most Wi-Fi networks (mine clocks at over 500 mbps) this might be your issue.

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70 replies

Jul 26, 2023 2:31 PM in response to cap3344

Clearly, if it was an iOS issue it would affect MILLIONS of users. It doesn’t. It affects a very small number of users, which means it is most likely a local problem, with the router, device settings, or the way the devices are used. My devices (all 6 of them) remember Wi-Fi settings from day to day, year to year, and some for over 10 years.

Jul 31, 2023 1:35 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

That is indeed the expected behavior, but I now have this problem as well. Across multiple routers in multiple locations that have had credentials that remained the same for weeks (some are routinely changed) to years (a few have not been changed in 5+ years). All of them asking for the password to known networks, still listed in "My Networks", but somehow that password is no longer stored, or the retrieval is being skipped. This on my iPhone 12 Pro since updating to iOS 16 (16.6 now) and also on my 2013 Mac Air which has not had is OS updated in several years. I can put the passwords in and connect just fine from there for a day, sometimes a much longer. Then, without any change to the device or my AppleID, a wifi password will suddenly no longer be remembered. Just now my work wifi network, which I use daily, is asking. It has been fine for a month, but now needs to the password again. Two days ago my home wifi network was the culprit, still in "My Networks" but asking for the password. Same routers being used with other apple phones, laptops, and appleTVs do not exhibit the behavior, only devices tied to my own Apple ID. However, nothing with my Apple ID has changed, nor have I received any notifications to my Apple ID email about any changes. Being that the problem seems (in my case) tied to devices with my Apple ID, l008com's assertion seems to be correct that it is a Keychain issue.

Aug 9, 2023 11:32 AM in response to David Das

I’m so glad I found this thread. This exact thing has been happening to me for over a month now. It’s been really annoying, but not too overly annoying to actually look it up until now. I know I don’t have a solution but at least I have validation that it is happening to other people. I also never update my MacBook Pro, but do I update my iPhone 12. So I don’t think it’s an update issue. But honestly, I have no idea, my tech issues run deep. 😂

Aug 13, 2023 3:53 PM in response to David Das

Same issue. In both my residences, iPhone 13, latest iOS, continues to ask for wifi password. This happens on average about twice a week, with no discernible pattern or logic. Other devices of mine - Macs, iPADs, using same Apple ID never ask for the passwords, which have been the same and unchanged for over 10 years in both locations. As well, other family members with iPhones and their own Apple IDs never experience this, so it is most definitely not a router issue. This has been going on for about 3 months now. Super annoying, but it only takes a few seconds to re-enter password and for the iPhone to accept, so on the list of grievances about tech not living up to its promises, fairly manageable....

Aug 31, 2023 6:36 PM in response to David Das

Ah, the age-old tale of an iPhone with commitment issues—just can't stick to one WiFi network, can it? It's like your iPhone is out there, thinking, "Why settle for stable, at-home WiFi when I can latch onto the ever-fluctuating, wallet-draining 5G network?" Ah, the thrill of the unknown!


Jokes aside, I get that this is frustrating. There are a few things you could try:


1. **The Turn It Off and Turn It Back On Technique**: Let's start with the basics. Have you tried turning WiFi off and back on? While you're at it, go the extra mile and reboot your phone and router too. Yeah, it's the 'unplug it and plug it back in' of the digital age, but you'd be surprised how often it actually works.

2. **Forget This Network**: Go to your WiFi settings and tell your phone to "Forget This Network." After that, reconnect by entering your password. Yes, it's the equivalent of relationship therapy for your phone and WiFi, but sometimes a fresh start is what a relationship between your phone and router need needs.


3. **Network Reset**: This one's a bit more drastic, but it might just do the trick. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Be warned: this will forget all WiFi networks and Bluetooth devices, so you'll have to get reacquainted.


4. **Update Drama**: Is your iPhone running the latest and greatest iOS? If not, this could be the tech universe's way of nudging you to hit that update button. Sometimes stability issues get sorted in those updates—along with a thousand new emojis you didn't ask for.


5. **Router Revisit**: If all else fails, maybe it's not your iPhone; maybe it's your router being the difficult one in the relationship. Check if its firmware is updated. Or maybe move your router move it to a central location for better coverage.


So go ahead, give one (or all) of these a whirl and see if your iPhone decides to finally make an honest WiFi connection out of your home network.

Sep 7, 2023 5:23 PM in response to David Das

Another me too. 14 max pro. iOS 16.6 My phone keeps forgetting WiFi passwords often everyday. Like others here, my known network is still listed but I have to re-enter my password to join. This happens on more than one network and on a home network that hasn’t changed for years. Tried WiFi off on, forgetting network and resetting all network settings. Nothing has made a difference. I just updated to 16.6.1 but when my phone restarted I was again not connected to my WiFi, so I doubt the update fixed it.

Oct 6, 2023 6:06 AM in response to l008com

I’m having the same issue as the author where my phone recognizes my home network but fails to connect by itself. Once I select my network, it prompts me for a password, and have to reenter my password. If I turn off my WiFi, and turn it back on, it would fail to auto connect again and have to go through the same process. Yesterday I found that if I entered my password then clicked to show the password, I could turn WiFi on and off and it would reconnect automatically. Unfortunately this morning my phone was disconnected from WiFi so it doesn’t look to be a robust solution…

Oct 8, 2023 8:38 PM in response to David Das

I’m curios if you ever found a solution?


I have the same problem. It was happening on both my iPhone 13 Pro and my iPad Air. Then, I upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro. It worked fine for a few days, but now it’s prompting me for the WiFi password every time again, even though it’s saved.


I know it’s not our router, because my partner has an iPhone 12 and isn’t having any issues.


Since it’s persistent through two different phones and a tablet, seems to be related to my AppleID.

Nov 9, 2023 4:48 PM in response to David Das

As was mentioned a couple of times, this issue appears to be (at times) iCloud Keychain related. Had the same issue and after seeing those comments went and turned off the iCloud Keychain sync (Settings->iCloud->Passwords and Keychain), waited a bit, and then turned it back on. It appears to have corrected the issue for me.

Dec 13, 2023 1:12 AM in response to Mark Exposito

Just to add to my previous post.

If you have multiple devices (phone, ipad etc) using your iCloud KeyChain you have to go into each one individually and select 'Forget This Network' for the WiFi connection that no longer Auto Joins.

Turn each device off in turn.


Then turn them on, one by one, rejoining the network by entering your password etc.


That should sync all the devices so they all treat it as a brand new network and the problem should right itself.

Feb 17, 2024 12:24 PM in response to Mark Exposito

I'm glad it worked for you. Ironically, I ran into an issue with my Apple TV last week and wasn't being able to get it setup so it prompted me to contact support. The support tech was awesome, so when he had me mess with keychain sync to icloud I asked him about this issue. He said he hears about it regularly so it's a known issue (obviously). The one wrinkle he added was needing to "power off" (not restart) mobile devices and let them discharge for 1-2 minutes. He said the issue has to do with information being stored in local "cache" memory and the shutdown is required to truly fix the issue.


I'll update the instructions to include this step.

iPhone keeps forgetting my wifi network

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