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iPhone doesn't pick up wifi automatically

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. Often my iPhone doesn't pick up wifi when I come into a wi-fi zone and stays on GPRS until I go into setting, wifi and then it picks up the network. Sometimes it does it automatically but it's annoying when it doesn't. It sometimes does the same with network signal if you go into a 'No Service' area and then come out of it it often takes a long time to pick up the network signal again. What could be wrong?

iOS 5, MMS, iPhone 4S

Posted on Jun 24, 2012 6:51 AM

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Posted on Jun 24, 2012 7:07 AM

These are wi-fi networks your iPhone has connected with previously?


If not, your iPhone won't automatically connect to an available wi-fi network unless your iPhone has successfully connected to the network previously.


You can try resetting network settings at Settings > General > Reset.


This will erase all saved wi-fi networks and settings your iPhone has connected with previously and require manually re-joining every wi-fi network your iPhone has access to when returning within range of such a wi-fi network. This will also reset your cellular network connection.

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Question marked as Best reply

Jun 24, 2012 7:07 AM in response to Foodage

These are wi-fi networks your iPhone has connected with previously?


If not, your iPhone won't automatically connect to an available wi-fi network unless your iPhone has successfully connected to the network previously.


You can try resetting network settings at Settings > General > Reset.


This will erase all saved wi-fi networks and settings your iPhone has connected with previously and require manually re-joining every wi-fi network your iPhone has access to when returning within range of such a wi-fi network. This will also reset your cellular network connection.

Sep 6, 2012 1:53 PM in response to Foodage

I think I have found a solution:


1) go to Settings->General->Reset->"Reset Network Settings". This will force a reboot of the phone & erase all of the networks previously stored.

2) when the phone comes back on, go to Settings->Wi-Fi-> set "ask to join networks" to "on".

3) join the network, and input password.

4) after successfully connecting, leave the Wi-Fi network coverage area once, and come back into it. It should connect automatically again

5) go back into Settings->Wi-Fi-> set "ask to join networks" to "off"


This has fixed it for me.

Oct 12, 2012 7:43 PM in response to Tnahumck

I just came home from a trip and my iPhone 4S is not only not connecting to my home wifi, but also not picking up surrounding netwoks (in my apartment building). I have done a soft reset, reset the Network Settings, and followed the instructions above to re-add my network but I am getting a message saying that it could not find my network.


Any ideas? Thanks!

Apr 20, 2014 3:31 AM in response to Foodage

I admitted today the same issue. Precisely as original description.


I observed E on the top status bar of iPhone, which means using GPRS.

This is when I was at home and used my home WiFi, parameters of which was not changed for a long time.


But when I unlocked iPhone, E was replaced by WiFi icon connection.

I am not sure if I will be changed for usage of cellular internet or not.


This is on iPhone 4S iOS 7.1.

iPhone doesn't pick up wifi automatically

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