Unable to connect iPad to Wi-Fi network
after typing the password each time it says “unable to join network “
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone XR, iOS 17
You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
after typing the password each time it says “unable to join network “
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone XR, iOS 17
If by "iPad 4s", you mean a 4th-generation iPad, MacTracker indicates that those
There are newer Wi-Fi radio standards – but I believe that Wi-Fi routers using them typically offer some backwards compatibility for older radio standards. My guess is that the issue is more likely to be with security.
The Wi-Fi Alliance announced the WPA3 security protocol in 2018. The 4th-generation iPad doesn't support WPA3 (see WPA3 section of linked Support article). That could be for hardware reasons, software reasons (there was only one iOS 10 update after 2017), or both. It is what it is, and is obviously not going to change.
Secure access to wireless networks - Apple Support
If the problem is that you are trying to connect a 4th-generation iPad to a Wi-Fi network that only allows WPA3, and you have control of the Wi-Fi network (e.g., because it's the one in your home), you could try relaxing Wi-Fi security on the router to let clients use either WPA2 or WPA3.
Start with basic WiFi troubleshooting - as detailed here:
If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support
Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support
Consider that your Router, to which you are attempting to connect, may be configured to require support for security features that are not supported by older versions of iOS. If you have an older iPad and your router is configured for WPA3 or WPA3/WPA2 mixed authentication, you will need to change this to WPA2 PSK(AES). Newer models of iPad support WPA3.
Some Mesh WiFi Routers are known to be troublesome in some circumstances.
If your WiFi has been set-up according to Apple’s recommended settings, WiFi and Internet connection difficulties are usually an indication that your device does not have a routable IP Address - your IP Address usually being assigned by DHCP. When this occurs, your iPad may only have a self-assigned link-local IP address that begins 169.254.x.x.
If you have a VPN App or profiles installed, or a security App such as Norton, these may be interfering with DHCP - and preventing your device from obtaining a valid IP Address for the WiFi network/hotspot to which you are attempting to connect. The resolution is usually simple; if installed, you may only need to temporarily disable or remove the Security App and/or VPN.
Which iPad? (I’m unable to locate any iPad 4s model.)
Which iOS or iPadOS version is running on that iPad?
What Wi-Fi security? Older versions won’t be able to join a WPA3 network, for instance.
Who is administering the Wi-Fi network? You? Or some group or organization?
After typing password several times iPad says “unable to join network “
Unable to connect iPad to Wi-Fi network