iPhone 5 wifi issues

My iPhone 5 would not connect to the WPA2 Personal regular or guest network on my Linksys E3200 router. These are the same networks that my iPhone 4, my wife's iPhone 4, a MacBook, and MacBook Pro connect. Updaing the firmware on the router from 1.0.02 to 1.0.04 and suddenly the iPhone 5 worked. We'll see how I fair at work tomorrow and when I visit other places. Updating the firmware isn't an option...

I was having issues from day one on my iphone 5 using WPA2 security. Switched to WEP as temporary fix. Just had phone swapped at Genius Bar and problem solved. Data flows fast on WPA2 now with new phone. They would not confirm or deny that it was hardware, but they couldn't test it. They had no WPA2 network to test it on :/

Anyway, seems hardware related to me as some iPhone 5's are affected but not all. Just my opinion.

Many pages ago, I wrote about the short Wifi reach of my new iPhone 5 with an older Apple Base Station on iOS 6. Here’s an update of what happened, including a twist that developed in iTunes sync.

So, a bit of a saga with my iPhone 5. At first, after it arrived Friday morning, I thought all was well. Early that evening, sitting in a spot about 40 ft from my Apple Base Station and 2 rooms away, I noticed it was on LTE instead of on my Wifi network. Checked it, and it wasn’t seeing my or my neighbors’ network. Walked back towards the router, and the Wifi came back on. Took my iPhone 4 (already upgraded to iOS 6) and walked back to the usual living room sitting spot and it had full signal; 5 didn’t have it. Started walking back to bedroom, where the router is, and about 1/2 way there, 5 gets the Wifi. That’s about 20 ft away only. Take new iPad, also on iOS 6, to living room spot and it has full signal. So, it’s the 5 that has a problem.

Do a restore and backup from hard drive - no difference. Do a restore and new phone - no difference. Check on Base Station and upgrade its firmware as suggested. No difference. Change channels on Base Station - no difference. Apple Care phone line is closed for the night.

Go to Apple Support Forums and see a fair number of people are having Wifi issues with their new 5’s, especially in the UK, but most of those have to do with having a signal but getting terrible throughput, which seems to go away when they kill security passwords on their networks, which no one particularly likes. A few have Wifi distance reach issues as I do; most of the problems, it seems are with non-Apple base stations. Some fix suggestions other than going to a less secure style of network, have to do with type of WPA2 networking is in place.

Then it got interesting.

I try another restore from backup and iTunes stops the sync right as Step 3 (determining which apps to sync) ends with a pop-up message that it’s an unknown error 1140. I try a sync on 4 and get same error message at same point. Same thing with new iPad.

Search Apple Support for what error 1140 means, and nothing comes up. Search for iTunes sync error messages and “1140” isn’t listed.

It’s now about 3AM on Saturday morning, so I make an appointment for a pre-arranged call from Apple Support to call me at 1PM. Don’t get to sleep till about 4:30. Wake up at 9:15 and change pre-arranged call time on the web to now. Apple Support calls me.

I explain the 5 issue of Wifi reach to the 1st line gent and he ends up making me an appointment at the Upper West Side Apple Store for 3:20PM that afternoon, the earliest appointment, for a replacement phone. But he’s also stumped by error 1140. Connects me to a Senior Apple specialist, a very nice young woman in Boise. We go through all the issues, and she’s also stumped by 1140. Checks with some others who’re also stumped. BTW, I’ve already tried re-installing iTunes. No effect. Repair permissions - no effect. “Repair disk“ shows no problems.

She emails me a program to Capture Data as I run through iTunes sync again, so that I can then send her the files that result. This is for engineers at Apple to examine to see what’s going on. I do this, then head to Apple Store Upper West Side with new 5 and old 4 (which has my apps organized just how I like).

First Apple Genius listens to me explain about new 5’s bad Wifi reach, though it’s already in my record, then brings a Senior Genius over to me. Explain to him what’s up, and explain that I won’t be able to sync the phone once home because of the iTunes sync issues, which are already known to the folks in Boise. He takes 4 and starts an iCloud backup, which takes a long time on the pokey Wifi network in the Apple Store, which is crowded. He then takes 5 with him. About 10 minutes later, comes back with a much smaller white box containing another 5. BTW, I brought the box and packaging that original 5 came in, just in case, but there was no need.

He then swaps my 5’s Sim, already ATT activated, into Replacement 5’s tray (Sim is very tiny), and turns it on. While it’s powering up, he scans barcode on R5’s box and has me sign that I’ve received a new replacment. We go through several screens before he tells me to wait till 4’s iCloud backup is finished before proceeding with the rest of the R5’s screen, and to restore from iCloud. 4’s backup is taking quite a while, but, eventually, is done and I proceed with getting R5 up and running. Decide to finish the backup at home on my faster network, and Senior G says that’s okay.

Get home, and R5’s reach is almost what it is with 4; farthest reach is a little shorter than 4 (90 instead of 100 ft through 2 ft stone and metal walls, but covers all the areas I’m likely to be with it at home just fine. So, all’s good there.

Now I’m just waiting till Tuesday morning to find out what error 1140 is and what can be done to fix it.

To all that are simply experiencing slow Wi-Fi speeds but can establish and maintain a connection, try going into the settings, general, reset (at the bottom), then reset network settings. Your phone will restart and should hopefully be faster. You will have to re-enter your password to your Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi speed improved greatly after this, however my 4G LTE speeds from AT&T are still very slow and intermittent. Let me know if this helps.

I'm having major wifi issues with the new iPhone 5. It is NOT my home network, because it worked just fine with my iPhone 4. Connectivity is sporatic. I've tried resetting the router, the cable modem, the iPhones, etc. I've tried all the suggestions listed above and nothing resolves the issue. I've also tried connecting to other wifi networks, but no luck. I created a guest network on my router and that works more reliable than the secure network. APPLE, FIX THIS ASAP! Obvously there is a flaw in the iPhone 5 or the iOS 6 software or the two combined.

I just returned from the Tyson's Corner Apple store.

1. They still don't know anything about this issue.

2. I brought it an airport express configured w/wpa2 to demonstrate the problem.

3. Both my iPhone 5's could connect to the in-store network (unencrypted) and access the Internet w/o packet loss.

4. We connected my airport express to the in-store network. It DHCP'd just fine. The AP was configured in bridge mode.

5. The iPhone 5's connected to the "wpa2" network provided by my AP, and received an IP address via DHCP just fine.

6. Both phones could not access the Internet.

The technican went and talked to a bunch of people...

7. I showed them a partial print out of this thread. They didn't want to read it...

8. Another technican stated that the reason we couldn't get out to the Internet was that the network we were plugging into had the Internet blocked (it was a private/closed network.) I asked if I plugged a laptop in there would I be able to get out? He said yes. I said "Well, a phone or a computer connected to an AP in bridge mode should be no different then plugging a laptop in directly, unless they are doing MAC address locking or something else odd." The technican didn't have a reponse to that, but we didn't test it either (nobody uses ethernet anymore.)

At this point the technican said that my genius appointment was for mobile help, and this seemed like a Mac/Network problem to him. Huh? I gave him a look and he went off to talk to someone else again.

9. Ultimately they agreed to swap out the phones.

10. I didn't get to test the new phones with my access point because they disconnected it (and they didn't think it was a valid test.)

11. Got home, and tested the new phones. Same problem. Connect to a WPA2 network and it's 80-90% packet loss.

12. For now I've re-configured my spare AP for WEP 128bit and I'm using that for the iPhone 5's. This works great (except for the signficant decrease in network security.) Configuring my Airport Extreme to WPA/WPA2 didn't work, and I can't find a way to configure WPA (TKIP, non AES) manually.

My conclusion: While others are reporting success with hardware swaps, it didn't change anything for me. I'm going to wait a few days and hope that 1) Apple acknowledges the problem and 2) Releases a software update/fix. If in ~10 days Apple doesn't have a fix then I will likely return the phones for a refund.

Message was edited by: andrewket, clarified that the in-store network in step #3 was unencrypted and not using WPA or WPA2.

I only posted once but here's my experience so far:

First iphone 5 - sporadic connection, massive packet loss, noted on my D-Link DIR-655 router it only shows that it's connected via 802.11g, not n for some reason. Tried tinkering with security settings, no security etc etc like everyone else has on this thread, but no help. Walked away from the router and lost signal really quickly.

After reading this - went to the apple store today after making an appointment with the Genius Bar. First time they've heard of it too - I showed them it can't even find the apple store's wifi signal. They swap out the phone with a replacement model (the ones in the unmarked white box), which they tell me is essentially the same as getting a new retail phone since they're all new.

Test it in the store - sees al the wifi networks. Great! I didn't check for packet loss though unfortunately. I get home and I see all the wireless networks around me including my own, even from where it would lose signal with my first iphone 5. Great! Then...packet loss. Only connecting via 802.11g. but at least it sees networks again. I don't know what I did but after resetting the router yet again to WPA2/AES only, and reset network settings on the phone...I'm still connected on wireless-g but rock solid connection without packet loss. Ran 8-10 tests in a row with 18-20mbps down, 5mbps up (my connection is 30 down/ 5 up).

So seems again 2 issues:

1) some iphones aren't seeing wireless networks or have very limited range. This is pretty much hardware and I'd take it in for a replacement.

2) with the 801.22g issue (nobody else seems to have this though) and packet loss...might be firmware related or still hardware? Might consider applecare+

FYI, at least what the apple genius told me - once you get a replacement iphone...you can't return your phone for a refund, only continue to get replacements.

My experience thus far anyways for what it's worth. Might consider getting yet another replacement if the packet loss issue returns again. Hopefully my 802.11g only issue will be resolved with a firmware update.

I really hope your comment about not being able to return after replacement isn't true. I will be really annoyed if this isn't fixed and they refuse to honor the return. I wanted to test the replacement units in-store; the genius bar representative wouldn't do it. If we had, and it didn't work, I would have returned both phones. I could have returned them to begin with and just bought two new phones rather than a swap. I paid full retail for both of my phones. That's ~$1700 w/applecare.

I hope so for your case too - $1700 eep! I hope it's false - I should have read what they asked me to sign, but I was a little too eager once I saw that my replacement could see wireless networks again. Because if the packet loss issue comes back I really want to return the phone and either stick with my iphone 4 a bit longer until the issues are resolved, or...move over to the Galaxy S3...

I'm guessing not everyone reads the previous comments posted...

Fellas, try turning off your iCloud back up under settings>iCloud.

My wifi on my iPhone 5 has been working fine and fast.

It seems like the problem is with iCloud. Remember whenever you connect to wifi it tries to back up your stuff onto iCloud so I'm thinking that there's something wrong with it. By having it turned off completely, your iPhone shouldn't be doing anything else besides being connecte to your wifi.

Try it please and post up your results.

Interesting. I restored my iPhone5 and didn't turn on iCloud back up and my phone doesn't have the wifi problems anymore. I never changed anything on my router settings either... Did you guys also do a hard reset after turnin off iCloud back up?

I have the same problem here with my iPhone 5 and my iPad 2, both running iOS 6. Wifi works fine when I use the unencrypted network, but when I try to use the encrypted one it works maybe 50% of the time.

I just got a replacement at my local Apple store. The genius i spoke to hadn't heard about the issue but she swapped it with no hassle. I'm glad to report that this one is working perfectly. No modifying router settings etc... out of the box perfect. Looks to me like this is/was a hardware issue.

Those still having issues, you shouldn't have to open up your network, change to WEP, create static IP's, reset routers to factory settings, etc... if you're having problems, go to your nearest store if possible and swap it out.

Went to the Apple Store to exchange mine. The new one works flawlessly with my network. This is definitely a hardware problem. Apple will NOT fully admit this is a problem as this is only happening to a small number of devices (in comparison to the millions they have sold already.)

I suggest booking an appointment, explain to the Genius rep that you're having an issue with the iPhone being on WPA/WPA2 encyptioned networks. He told me since they can't really test it out at the Apple store it's very hard for them to determine if that was the case. I then proceeded to show him a video that I made of what was actually happening. As soon as he had that proof that something is wrong, he submitted a repair order, and gave me a brand new one. He assured me that because it's still early, all replacement phones are essentially brand new. If I were to go 2 or 3 weeks after, that may not be the case.

The new phone works under WPA/WPA2 at my rated speed. The new phone was in better shape (cosmetically) than the first one I got. The first one i got had a little discoloration near the power button. There was this small (but noticeable) brown spot. I thought and hoped that it wasn't a rust but because it was so small, it didn't really bothered me. What bothered me was the WIFI issue.

If you do have a WIFI issue(s), I suggest you to make an appointment as soon as possible. Make a video to show the Apple Genius rep, because it is very unlikely that you can show them on the spot (especially regarding WPA/WPA2 encyptions.) With the iOS6.0 Wifi issues and the new iPhone 5 hardware issues, I'm not surprised to see so many variation of wifi problems surrounding the new iPhone.

Best of Luck everyone, and thanks to all those that posted your experience. It helped me out a lot.

This iOS6 issue is the same issue I've had on my MBP since upgrading to Mountain Lion - I can connect to the WiFi network but can only surf/download for less than a minute before it quits. On the MBP I have to run the network diagnostic and renew DHCP lease or whatever, so I can use the net for a couple more minutes before it has another heart attack. And that's still not been fixed since ML release date. iPhone 4S worked just fine on iOS 5 yesterday...now I can't even update my apps. Really, REALLY unimpressed with Apple right now.