Can’t connect to wifi after updating to ios 18.5

Bought a new Apple Watch today and when I went to pair it with my phone it told me I needed to update my iOS, so I did. Update went fine, and I was able to temporarily connect to my wifi again (previously have never had any issues)


My phone died, and after putting it on charge, I cannot get it to connect to the wifi. I’ve done everything, reset the router, reset my network settings, hit forget network, turned my phone on and off and nothing will work. The lights are all on, wifi signal is perfect, but I can’t get past the loading circle of doom every time I enter the wifi password.


My device is the only one on the network with this issue and I’m at my wits end 😭 I’ve never had any wifi / connectivity issues like this before with any update. Please help 😭

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Posted on Jul 25, 2025 11:07 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 25, 2025 11:18 PM

It may be possible that the router has barred or blocked your device's MAC address on your router has. The MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to each network interface card (NIC) in a device. By blocking a specific MAC address on the router, you can prevent that device from connecting to your Wi-Fi network.


The process of blocking/unblocking a MAC address varies depending on the router's manufacturer and model. Here are general steps to block a MAC address on most routers:


  1. Open a web browser on a device connected to the router's network and enter the router's IP address in the address bar. You can usually find the router's IP address on the bottom of the router or in the router's manual.
  2. Enter the router's username and password when prompted. If you haven't changed them, the default credentials are often found on the router or in the router's manual.
  3. The location of these settings may vary depending on the router's interface. Look for a section related to "MAC filtering," "Access Control," "Wireless Security," or similar.
  4. In the MAC filtering or access control settings, there should be an option to add a MAC address to the blocked list or delete a Mac Address from the blocked list. Enter the MAC address of the device you want to block/unblock and save the changes.
  5. Apply the changes and restart the router: Once you have removed/added the MAC address to the blocked list, save the settings and apply the changes. Some routers may require a restart for the changes to take effect.


After blocking the MAC address on the router, the device with the blocked MAC address will no longer be able to connect to the Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind that MAC address blocking is not foolproof, as MAC addresses can be spoofed or changed on some devices. For enhanced security, it's recommended to use additional authentication methods such as strong Wi-Fi passwords and encryption protocols.


Possible Fixes:

  1. Disable Private Wi-Fi Address:
    1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap on your work network, and turn off Private Wi-Fi Address.
    2. The router may have whitelisted a specific MAC address; make sure the phone is using the correct one.
  2. Turn Off Wi-Fi Assist:
    1. Go to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Assist and toggle it off.
    2. Sometimes, this setting can interfere with connecting to hidden networks.
  3. Ensure iPhone Saves the Network Properly:
    1. After manually entering the SSID and password, make sure Auto-Join is enabled.
    2. If the issue persists, try Reset Network Settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings).
  4. Ask IT to Consider Broadcasting the SSID: Hidden SSIDs do not add security and often cause connection instability.


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 25, 2025 11:18 PM in response to Mtai1995

It may be possible that the router has barred or blocked your device's MAC address on your router has. The MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to each network interface card (NIC) in a device. By blocking a specific MAC address on the router, you can prevent that device from connecting to your Wi-Fi network.


The process of blocking/unblocking a MAC address varies depending on the router's manufacturer and model. Here are general steps to block a MAC address on most routers:


  1. Open a web browser on a device connected to the router's network and enter the router's IP address in the address bar. You can usually find the router's IP address on the bottom of the router or in the router's manual.
  2. Enter the router's username and password when prompted. If you haven't changed them, the default credentials are often found on the router or in the router's manual.
  3. The location of these settings may vary depending on the router's interface. Look for a section related to "MAC filtering," "Access Control," "Wireless Security," or similar.
  4. In the MAC filtering or access control settings, there should be an option to add a MAC address to the blocked list or delete a Mac Address from the blocked list. Enter the MAC address of the device you want to block/unblock and save the changes.
  5. Apply the changes and restart the router: Once you have removed/added the MAC address to the blocked list, save the settings and apply the changes. Some routers may require a restart for the changes to take effect.


After blocking the MAC address on the router, the device with the blocked MAC address will no longer be able to connect to the Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind that MAC address blocking is not foolproof, as MAC addresses can be spoofed or changed on some devices. For enhanced security, it's recommended to use additional authentication methods such as strong Wi-Fi passwords and encryption protocols.


Possible Fixes:

  1. Disable Private Wi-Fi Address:
    1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap on your work network, and turn off Private Wi-Fi Address.
    2. The router may have whitelisted a specific MAC address; make sure the phone is using the correct one.
  2. Turn Off Wi-Fi Assist:
    1. Go to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Assist and toggle it off.
    2. Sometimes, this setting can interfere with connecting to hidden networks.
  3. Ensure iPhone Saves the Network Properly:
    1. After manually entering the SSID and password, make sure Auto-Join is enabled.
    2. If the issue persists, try Reset Network Settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings).
  4. Ask IT to Consider Broadcasting the SSID: Hidden SSIDs do not add security and often cause connection instability.


Jul 25, 2025 11:14 PM in response to Mtai1995

It's not always the iOS update's fault!  Many things can cause phone problems.  If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.



Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!



Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.



iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.


Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.


Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.



See what each update does: About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...



This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Can’t connect to wifi after updating to ios 18.5

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