iPhone5 issues with WPA2/AES Wifi

@pichan

Thid discussion is about a very specific software problem with the iPhone 5 that caused problems with WPA2/AES wifi networks. iOS update 6.0.1 fixes this issue.

A lot of below I entered in other forum discussion.

I'm on my 2nd phone with same issues. None of the security setting changes on my WiFi router solved the issue.

Thanks to C4RLOCO pointing out the other forum that is iPhone5 WiFi general (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4322714?answerId=19862832022#19862832022). So ... I don't have the AES only problem, I have the doesn't work at all on my home network problem 😠.

Depending on who reads this, looks like there are least 2 major WiFi issues:

1) iPhone5 (and some iPads?) cannot connect to WPA2-AES secured WiFi

2) iPhone5 (and some iPads?) cannot connect to "some" WiFi networks regardless of security settings.

As someone (think it was C4RLOCO) pointed out, it looks like it is the combination of WiFi chip made by Apple (not all are) + iOS6 is causing both problems.

@C4RLOCO: Thanks for your post regarding WiFi Chip manufacturer (saw on this other forum that was WPA2 specific: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4339516?answerId=19861413022#19861413022&ac_cid=tw123456#19861413. Seems like you're on the right track.

My current iPhone5 that will not connect to my home network is also Apple:

68:96:7B68:96:7B:00:00:00 - 68:96:7B:FF:FF:FFApple Inc

(above from http://www.hwaddress.com/ put in xx:yy first 4 chars of your settings-general-about-Wi-Fi address.)

I have an open case # with Apple Support that has been elevated to the engineers.

But until (and IF EVER!) there is a software fix for the WiFi on iPhone5 for these Apple made WiFi chips... it's time to head back to the Apple Store ... again !

Hope someone is hard at work at Apple somewhere

/Jon

I have tested with two routers:

ASUS RT-AC66U (Firmware 3.0.0.4.220)

DLINK DIR-615 (Firmware 8.02b05)

As I said a couple of times, my iPhone5 isn't stable with AES encryption, but works flawlessly with TKIP.

Apple Store Visit #2 - Exciting!

So went back again today after the deep reset, got the same rep. However, instead of processing a replacement as we'd discussed, she wanted to send me home to call Applecare to "troubleshoot my network". The next part of the conversation was not pretty on either of our parts, and other than saying that won't say anything more.

Basically, she said she couldn't replace the phone because she'd tested it, and hadn't seen the problem. I pointed out she hadn't tested it, because she hadn't connected to an encrypted network. I scanned the list and found "Apple Breakroom", secured. I asked her to connect to that. She did, the 1st link loaded, and she said "See, it works." I slid the phone over, hit a 2nd link, and the lil mofo froze right on cue. She picked it up, started clicking links, and the look of "Aha" on her face was just so nice to see.

Apologies all around, replacement is on order. She was concerned the replacement could be bad, I said we'll just connect it to "Apple Breakroom", and if it works, I'll leave with it.

I don't think it will be feasible to go thru multiple units checking mac id's. Stock is limited. But quit blaming yourselves and your networks if you have other idevices working on them. AND DON'T LEAVE THE STORE WITHOUT PROOF IT WILL CONNECT TO AND MAINTAIN INET ACCESS ON THEIR OWN **** SECURED NETWORK!

In a similar discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4310121?answerId=19869610022#19869610022

I shared my temporary solution, while apple comes up with permanent fix...

I have a 4S and an IPad. After updating to IOS 6 neither would connect to my home Wifi, or they would with a lot intermittence. I tried pretty much everything I found in all the forums I came across (reset settings, clear cache, you name it) until this afternoon, when I noticed that in my office my iPhone connected with no issues.

I checked the security settings in my office's network and realized that it was set to WPA-PSK, whereas in my home network I had WPA2-PSK. I got home, changed the security setting on my router and so far it's been connected like if nothing had happened, to the point that I have updated the 28 apps that had pending upgrades.

The curious thing is that before the IOS update, both devices were working fine.

If you have the opportunity to change your network settings, it's worth the try.

Good luck everyone...

kobyh15 wrote:

That's not the case for the most part. I can connect but my speeds are consistently half of what they should be. I'm having erratic cellular behavior too. Maybe software fixes could help? I'd rather not exchange if I don't have to.

That problem is pretty common too, on the other "iPhone 5 wifi issues" thread. It still could be hardware, as another poster has said Apple have identified antenna issues. Doesn't sound like the AES encryption bug, That one is pretty cut and dried. Internet connectivity fails completely after a couple minutes on an AES encrypted network. Keep pushing.

My mantra is don't wait for "a software fix" longer than your return grace period. Return it and go back to your old iPhone, or buy something else. Apple has changed. In 2 years you can come back if they figure it out.

After my epic confrontation with my Apple tech specialist today, she said, "I think these phones left the factory too soon". I think that sums it up. Heaven help her when the iPad Mini is released next week.

I have a 16GB Model ND297X which has a serial number starting with DN and it would not connect to my Cisco Access Point running WPA2-PSK AES. When i changed the router to TKIP+AES it connected fine. So definately AES only problem.

Production year: 2012

Production week: 36 (September)

Name: iPhone 5

ModelCode: iphone_5

Group1: iPhone

Group2:

Generation: 7

Machine Model: iPhone5,1

CPU speed: 1.3GHz

Family name: Become a pro user to see this information. (sorry)

Screen size: 4 inch

Screen resolution: 1136x640 pixels

Colour: Black

Capacity: 16GB

Factory: DN (China, Chengdu - Foxconn)

MAC is 68:96

BigZ12 wrote:

Didn't do anything for my problem with AES... 😟 Connection stopped after about 30 seconds... (after I first deleted Facebook, and then reset my network settings)

Yeah, from everything you've posted, it sure sounds like you're one of us lucky folks that got a genuine lemon. Try to make them connect it to an encrypted network before you leave with it when you get the replacement.

My new phone just arrived. No Wifi issues! (but 3 scuffs so getting another replacement 😐)

New phone:

MAC address: D8:D1

Production week: 39 (September)

Factory: F2

Type: Black 32GB AT&T

Old defective phone:

MAC address: 68:96

Production week: 36 (September)

Factory: F2

Type: Black 32GB AT&T

Guys, my problem is SOLVED!

Wherever I go, I have good wi-fi reception with my iPhone 5. At my parents or sisters house, reception is fine. However, at home it was really poor, around 1Mpbs.

What did I do to solve the problem?

I changed the AES encrpytion from WPA2 to TKIP, and now I get 22,9Mbps :-)

V_77 wrote:

Guys, my problem is SOLVED!

Wherever I go, I have good wi-fi reception with my iPhone 5. At my parents or sisters house, reception is fine. However, at home it was really poor, around 1Mpbs.

What did I do to solve the problem?

I changed the AES encrpytion from WPA2 to TKIP, and now I get 22,9Mbps :-)

Sigh. Great, glad you're happy with your solution. Have you read much else on this forum? The problem we are addressing is phones that won't work on ANY network with AES encryption. If your parents and sister are running TKIP or Open Networks you have solved nothing, you probably still have a broken phone and need a replacement. You WILL NOT be able to change router settings at a hotel, airport, or workplace (where you're not the network administrator.)

If they ARE running AES, yes, there is something wrong with your router. I.E. it needs a firmware update or something. But switching to TKIP is still not the solution, just a workaround until you get your router up to date.

A working iPhone5 will connect to any up-to-date AES network, and run blazingly fast with no effort whatsoever. Please take advantage of the expericences, freely shared only for the benifit of our community, of the many posters on here, like me, that went from lemons to beautifully running machines only when we got a non-defective iPhone replacement.

Just to add my opinion...

I was against swapping my phone (as it was perfect cosmetically) until my earpiece broke.

I got my replacement yesterday morning and I can confirm my WIFI issues have gone away, also.

I was really hoping for a software fix, but switching the hardware fixed the issue for me.

Ignatius Devandy wrote:

Bro please help me.. My problem is only with the Wi-Fi signal strength.. It seems my iphone 5 black 64GB received weaker wifi signal compare to my another iphone 5 white 32GB and iphone 4 32GB.. What's wrong with it? Was it color problem only or hardware problem that affect my wifi receive signal weaker?

You might want to check the other, more general iPhone wifi issues discussion. There are quite a few reports of folks saying they have to be within 5-10 ft of the base station. This one was created for a very specific issue - your phone connecting to a password protected network, maybe loading a couple pages, then losing all internet access while still appearing to be connected. No issues with signal strength. Most of us eventually got working replacements which fixed it (hardware issue) and have moved on back to real life :-) In fact, my next move is to turn off email alerts from this discussion. Good luck with your issues folks. Once you solve your hardware, firmware, software, whatever issues, it's the best iPhone ever. Blazing fast, impossibly light. Generally speaking, if it's not the best iPhone you've ever had (with anything other than Maps) keep working at it.

Reset All Settings -- follow up #2

Beyond doing a Reset All Settings (see previous post on what to expect) I set the DNS to google's 8.8.8.8 and also set the HTTP Proxy to Auto. These last two changes show up in a number of tech posts and recommendations. Don't know if it's a placebo effect, but it seems that each change leads to a modest improvement. The google DNS was especially helpful. I compared my webpage download times to those on a 4S running iOS 5 and my IPH 5 with iOS6 beats it by a smidge every time. So I think WPA2 probs are solved for me, at least as far as I can tell. Also suggests to me that the problems (mine, at least) are software and will hopefully be fixed with an iOS update.