User profile for user: Marcel_4321
Marcel_4321 Author
User level: Level 1
20 points

iPhone 11 doesn’t switch to stronger wifi connection automatically

So since I got my iPhone i noticed its very slow at connecting to the wifi. So slow that it forces me sometimes to go to settings & have to select it manually. This is with wifi that i have connected to before. 


It is also very slow at switching wifi when one connection is slow & there is another wifi closer that I’ve already connected to before that is faster. 

Specifically i have a MacBook Pro with internet sharing on that it gets from an ethernet cable in my room. The other wifi comes from the living room which can get slow because siblings are gaming on it. 


You guys need to fix this. I would guess that it’s software because the phone could just be paying attention for better wifi connections that are near by when one connection is slow. You guys can even make it an option in settings if someone wants to have automatic connection to closer or better wifi. 


i know this iphone is slow because my One Plus 7 which is a Chinese phone from 2019 connects way quicker to the wifi & also knows to switch to the closer one when the other one is slow because its far away. The One Plus 7 i might add is also cheaper that the iPhone 11 which i got in 2021 for $700. 


so when I’m in my room my phone struggles to load a youtube video from the living room wifi & fails to just connect to the 5Ghz Macbook wifi thats right next to me. But for some reason if cellular data is on my iphone knows to connect to that instead of the fast wifi thats right next to me. I checked & the wifi connections I’m talking about have connect automatically on.


please fix this and show it to whoever at Apple can help get this fixed.


Posted on Mar 13, 2024 6:11 PM

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5 replies
User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
User level: Level 10
443,506 points

Mar 14, 2024 6:10 AM in response to Marcel_4321

iPhones don't directly let you prioritize WiFi connections based solely on signal strength. However, your iPhone prioritizes networks based on a combination of factors, including:


  • Signal strength: This is a major factor, but not the only one.
  • Internet speed: Ideally, the strongest signal will also have good internet speed, but that's not always the case.
  • Previously connected networks: iPhones prioritize networks you've connected to before, especially if they were reliable.
  • Network type: Private networks are generally preferred over public ones.


Here are some things you can do to influence which WiFi network your iPhone connects to:

  • Manually connect to the desired network: Go to Settings > WiFi, choose the network you want, and enter the password if needed. This forces your iPhone to connect to that specific network.
  • Forget weaker networks: If there are weaker networks your iPhone keeps trying to connect to, go to Settings > WiFi, tap the "i" icon next to the network name, and select "Forget This Network."


While you can't directly prioritize based on internet speed, by manually connecting or forgetting networks, you can influence which WiFi network your iPhone chooses. If you're unsure about a network's internet speed, try running a speed test after connecting to it.

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User profile for user: Marcel_4321
Marcel_4321 Author
User level: Level 1
20 points

Mar 14, 2024 10:59 AM in response to SravanKrA

The thing is is that the 5Ghz wifi from the laptop doesn’t reach as far so it will disconnect easier when walking away & my phone will connect to the living room one but like i said the wifi from the living room does reach my room but if other people are using it it can be slow.

& i think Apple should make it a feature that the iphone should be checking for closer or faster known networks especially when the network its on is slow.

I shouldn’t have to completely lose the wifi signal for the iphone to look for another connection. Because i need both signals to have coverage throughout the house

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iPhone 11 doesn’t switch to stronger wifi connection automatically

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