Unable to connect to Wi-Fi on my iPhone 14 Pro Max

• Wi-Fi and Internet over Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi itself is just a wireless way to connect devices like phones, laptops, or smart TVs to a local network. But for that Wi-Fi network to access the internet, it needs a data connection from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). You pay the ISP for an internet plan (like fiber, cable, or DSL), and they provide the data that your Wi-Fi router broadcasts wirelessly. Without an ISP subscription, the Wi-Fi network exists, but there’s no internet — just a local connection between devices.
• Cellular Internet: For mobile internet (like 4G, 5G), your phone connects directly to cell towers operated by a cellular service provider (like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.). You need a SIM card (or eSIM) and a data plan from that provider to access the internet over the cellular network. Without a data plan, you won’t be able to browse the web, use social media, or stream over mobile data — though you can still connect to Wi-Fi when available.

Both methods require a service provider to supply the data — one through a wired or fiber-optic infrastructure (Wi-Fi via ISP), the other through wireless cellular towers (mobile data via a cellular carrier).