How do I make IOS 6 keep wifi on when iPod is sleeping?

Hi, I've been very annoyed by IOS 6 disconnecting from the wifi after a few minutes in sleep mode. I need my iPod to stay connected at all times so I can receive information and get a ringer notification the moment I get anything (examples are e-mail, texts from texting apps, skype calls, etc.). I really dont like having to keep checking my iPod and reconnecting every now and then just to see if I got something. I am considering changing back to IOS 5 just to get my iPod to stay connected 24/7 but I don't want to do that unless I know that there is no hope for me in IOS 6.

iPod classic, iOS 6, iPod touch 4th generation

Posted on Sep 23, 2012 11:14 AM

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185 replies

May 19, 2013 11:52 PM in response to thetechi

My iPod Touch 5g has started doing this, I haven't been getting email notifications and it's taken me a while to realize exactly what's going on. I've figured out that it's disconnecting from wifi whenever in standby/sleep mode. I think this just started spontaneously, not with a system update. I never had this issue with my iPhone 3GS which I only used as an iPod, wifi only. The iPod 5 was fine too, but not any more. I just tried the "forget network settings" and then reconnect idea, will see if that helps. This is a huge problem.


I just tried Muji_23's steps to fix this, hopefully that works. I don't believe I ever did the steps that he says cause this problem, I haven't turned wifi off but I do put it in airplane mode on a regular basis and now that I think about it I've recently started using the Do Not Disturb feature occasionally, which I had never used in the past.

Jun 19, 2013 11:40 AM in response to linksith

Look guys, I finally found the solution. Just follow these steps:

1) Go to your Settings and tap on Wi-Fi

2) Find your Wi-Fi connection and tap on the little blue arrow

3) Select, "Forget this Network"

4) Then ReBoot your iDevice by holding the sleep/wake button & the home button until the Apple logo appears

5) Go to Settings and go to your Wi-Fi and tap on, "Other"

6) Enter your Network Name and choose your Security (If you have a password lock for you Wi-Fi) if so, continue by entering your password

7) Tap, "Join", and whenever you put your iDevice to sleep, Wi-Fi should remain on and you will be able to recieve your push notifications (FaceTime calls, iMessage, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)


Hope That Helps ツ

Jul 10, 2013 12:08 PM in response to linksith

After trying everything, I found a real 100% Solution.


I changed my router to an Apple AirMac express, now everything works as it once did on iOS 5.


I get all notifications, Facetime, viber, tango and Skype etc, without fail, no matter how long it has been in sleep mode, no disconnections at all, I know it's not ideal for everybody, to buy a 100$ router, but, it works for me 100% of the time, the Apple router virtually sets itself up.


For me this is the only thing that has actually worked 100% of the time.


Now I like my iPhone again.

Jul 11, 2013 12:06 AM in response to thetechi

I agree and understand your point, why should we have to sink more money into another Apple product to rectify an issue that was caused by them in the first place with a really poor iOS 6 release, I would have preferred to roll back to iOS 5.


Yet we cannot do that, so we look for solutions, I have an old DLink router that keeps my connection alive in one location, yet in my office, my SMC router did not keep the connection alive, so I thought I'd buy another DLink router, which I did, took it to my office, and could not get it to work properly.


I could connect to the App Store and the native Apple weather app, but I could not use Tango or Line or Facetime or Skype, there is something I am not doing right probably, but being an impatient type of guy, I went out to Ginza and bought an AirMac express, problem solved.


I didn't want to spend 9,800 Yen, but it was the solution to my frustration.

Jul 11, 2013 8:20 AM in response to jridg103

This solution only works for certain users / routers. It is not a catchall panacea. For others the problem remains intractable, with the worst affected being workplace wifi which deauthorises as soon as the device goes into sleep.


I find my own home Netgear works fine but the Cisco work wifi doesn not. So it's not compulsory to have an Apple Airtime to maintain connectivity.


It's disappointing that a global solution to this issue, introduced at the launch of iOS 6, is still to be found.

Jul 12, 2013 3:05 AM in response to linksith

Perfectly agree ...


Just purchased an iPad 3 at a bargain, that was running IOS 5.1.1. Problem was noticeable but I was able to live with. Now upgraded to IOS 6.1.3, and guess what: same issue with my iPad now


At least, Apple should continue to sign old software, since 5.1.1 worked fine (I was of course not able to save shsh blobs) - but hopefully did at the time of my 3GS


Now, my guess is that issue is more related to network than to IOS, since Galaxy Tab I've purchased to my wife seems to do the same (she did not wanted to purchase Apple because she knows I get constantly disconnected -yes, that issue caused Apple to loose one customer ;-)


My network is full Cisco, and it seems that while sleeping, an IOS 6 device does not send enough 'keepalives' to have device still authenticated to acces-point (I will give a try on how). Interestingly, this question has already been raised in Cisco support forums. If I had a Smartnet associated with my AP, it would have been much more easier ;-)


BTW, one thing I did not try is to constantly ping device (ping -t) and see what happens when device goes to sleep mode (it will probably not answer to pings). I should have done this test while I was running IOS 5 on iPad :-/

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How do I make IOS 6 keep wifi on when iPod is sleeping?

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