Q: iOS 6 WiFi option is GREYED OUT (unrelated to iOS 6 WiFi connectivity issues)

On the other very long thread dealing with different wifi problems including the grey wifi button here

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4310121?start=1635&tstart=0

someone mentioned to check the mac address of their iPhone and there seems to be a pattern. Including me three people checked and every mac address of affected iPhones starts with 68:09:27. Some other still working phones have some other addresses.

Anyone else?

no I have a different mac address for WiFi grey out issue.. As a side note My Bluetooth works ok.

74:E2

I am thinking it might be some sort of firmware issue with IOS6 update being the cause, hence the randomness of phones being affected. If Suppliers have been changed during production wifi chipset may have changed.

Here is the answer to all your questions - I updated a 2 week old 4S to iO6 and my wifi greyed out and could not access it.

First call to Apple - told me phone is broken and got a case number. First call to O2, my carrier - told me it's a software problem.

Second call to Apple - told me it's an issue, we're looking at it, wait for a response. Heard nothing.

Third call to Apple - They said we have set aside a budget to replace handsets so take it into the Applestore for a replacement.

The Applestore told me that the upgrade to iO6 broke my phone. Left store with new handset which they upgraded successfully infront of me.

Apple know the upgrade iO6 can damage some phones so persist and you'll get a new phone.

As a developer I can tell you that this is most definately a firmware problem. Firmware is the lowest layer of software on the device used to communicate directly with the hardware.

Its very possible the problem could be with a particular batch / build of phones; or alternativly with some sort of signature compatibility. If the wifi chip is even slightly different across builds then its very possible the device driver has compatibility issues after a firmware update, hence disabling the feature for some users with that particular combination of the software and hardware.

The question is why Apple readily swaps these phones (nothing really wrong with the hardware), is there an unsolvable compatibility issue going forward since they have known about the issue according to some reports for several months. Maybe its simply a case that a new firmware version will take too long to produce.

Whatever the case Apple won't comment, either swap the phone or find a way to run 5.1 firmware, because its not something we can solve.

web_guy wrote:

 

The question is why Apple readily swaps these phones (nothing really wrong with the hardware)

Because it's the easiest way for Apple to quickly solve the problem for the user.

I agree.

But how come the freezer trick solve the problem of my iPad 2?

After replacing my phone at apple store just a few days ago (due to greyed out WiFi after upgrade to iOS6) it is greyed out again! It was working fine for a couple of days and then it stooped connecting to or seeing any WiFi networks and today it is greyed out again. I didn’t do anything to my phone like resetting or updating. It simply stopped working on its own … I’m very disappointed, because I don’t have a lot of time to deal with this issue, but I need WiFi.

I did get a new phone, and I have exactly the same issue again. I don't know if it is just a good "luck" or if getting a new phone may not solve this issue for everyone due to certain factors.

I retunerede my to my local dealer a week ago. Have now got it back replaced. Opdated the new one to 6.0 and wifi is working fine. Hope it keeps working...

After 3 days of use, wifi dropped out again. After putting my iPad 2 to freezer again, it worked for now.

Please have an iOS update put out to resolve the issue. My freezer has no space!

in related news

Genius bars around the world increase freezer capacity...

might have to send mine in to get replaced totally over waiting for fix...

If its cold I will ask for another one...

OK..my iphone 4 wifi has been greyed out all week. I've been trying all kinds of stupid ****, that didn't work but what the heck, I tried.

Tonight I decided to reset my network, then did an immediate HARD reboot...and my freakin' wifi popped up, it's still trying to connect, but it was blue and not grey!!

Worth a shot, this is my first post here, and only because I was so desparate for my wifi...maybe it'll help someone...

Alright, I was one of the first on this thread, so I wanted to post the resolution and then cut myself out.  It seems that this is only occurring w/ 4S 64G hardware.  There is NO FIX.  You have to get a new 4S loaded w/ iOS 6.  Luckily, I had 12 days of hardware support left, so my local Apple Store swapped it.  Quick and easy.  Good luck.  Later..

No, not only 4S 64GB

In my case it was an 32GB 4S that has been replaced to solve the problem.

*** My Wi-Fi doesn't work. I restore my phone doesn't work!!