ios 6.1.3 WIFI problem

Hi! I just got a new Iphone 4s back from repair, a new replacment phone. So I updated the hardware to the new IOS 6.1.3 and after that I cant activate my WIFI, the WIFI button is greyed, so the WIFI is unavailable. So what should I do? Send my 3days old Iphone to service agian or what? I personaly think it the new IOS 6.1.3 so please help me

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1.3

Posted on Mar 22, 2013 2:17 PM

Reply
598 replies

Aug 6, 2013 2:50 PM in response to TheGamerGal

Luckily for me (a Verizon customer), I added the all inclusive protection plan to our iPhones 4S's.


Two days ago, the 6.1.3 wifi bug impacted me and not my wife's phone. This is the first time anything like this has happened where my Apple product (or feature) was rendered useless.


I tried resetting the network settings as Apple suggests and then I wiped it and did a restore when that didn't work. The restore didn't work either.


I contacted Verizon yesterday and spoke with an agent in their tech support division. He knew exactly what I meant when I told him I had the "dreaded 6.1.3 greyed out wifi issue". I was his third customer to report this in recent days and his colleagues have logged even more problems. Verizon has had an open ticket with Apple to review the issues, but Apple has yet to even respond or acknowledge anything is wrong.


In short, Verizon quickly dispatched me a replacement phone and just one afternoon later I'm sitting here with a like-new replacement that is fully functioning (with 6.1.3 running on it).


I came across a theory that I happen to agree with and I'd like to share it (if not previously discussed already).


I read somewhere that the greyed-out wifi problem is BOTH a Hardware & Software issue:


1) I was traveling with my phone on a cross country drive this weekend and the phone was operating normally up until this point. I was streaming iTunes Match music over the phone while plugged into a 3rd Party car dock system (plugged into my car's cigarette lighter). For the first time ever, I noticed songs stopped playing after about half-way through a typical playthrough and the bluetooth car dock would reset as if someone had unplugged and plugged it back in. At the time, I didn't make the correlation that it might have something to do with an impending failure of the iPhone. I assumed it was a failure of my car dock device.


I noticed the phone was warm to the touch. The first car dock I ever bought caused the phone to flash a warning within seconds that the phone was overheating. Remembering that I'd read reviews from people on Amazon that the that particular car dock caused a similar warning on their phones, I unplugged that car dock and returned it for a refund. After a bit more research, I bought a different car dock that I've used quite well up until this weekend.


Ever since the 6.1 iOS update, the phone doesn't seem to warn you that its overheating. Normally, if the phone senses an overtemp situation, it's supposed to enter a protective mode and auto-shut down any services that may be causing it to overheat. Usually, its the data intensive applications that cause this (e.g. maps, pandora, streaming audio/video, etc...). In this case, the first thing the phone does to protect itself is shut wifi & bluetooth off.


2) Because the software fails to warn you of an impending hardware failure, the phone permanately shuts off wifi.


After speaking with Verizon, replacement was the only option.

Aug 8, 2013 11:20 AM in response to evh347

Got my iPhone 4s replaced yesterday.


Upgraded to iOS 6.1.3 in early July and started having unstable wifi connections immediately (frequently dropping after a few minutes). Tried everything but the DFU restore and heat/cold treatments. I went to the Genius Bar yesterday to ask if iOS could be downgraded, thinking this was a software problem. But my iPhone wouldn't even stay connected to the Apple Store's own wifi network for >5 seconds (after a DFU restore).


I was 6 months out of warranty but luckily because I bought my iPhone 4s from that retail store (Cambridge UK), the genius and the manager decided to let me exchange my iPhone 4s for free. They weren't required to by law, but as the retailer who sold me the phone, they said they could.


New one is also on iOS 6.1.3 and wifi connection is stable (to a very old airport extreme at home and a third party router at work). If the wifi does break, I hope it happens within the 90 day warranty period.

Aug 9, 2013 8:21 AM in response to aviadmr

This is *NOT* a hardware failure. It's a software issue. Hardware failures do not occur to so many people after a single non-hardware-related event like a software update. Apple changed the code that interfaces with the wi-fi hardware and released it without testing it properly. Why don't they use the user feedback here and elsewhere and plug this hole, I don't know... Maybe the company is now so big that they've finally learned the Microsoft way: do not care!

Aug 9, 2013 8:37 AM in response to Sid Harper

Technically, it could. I remember, back in the 90s, seeing a proof-of-concept piece of software that would damage CRT monitors by constantly switching modes and refresh rates. However, because so many people have been able to work around the issue by freezing or heating their phone (real classy, Apple!!!) I suspect the hardware here is still good/not damaged. It will be a really interesting read when someone can fully explain how an iOS upgrade messed up so many devices.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

ios 6.1.3 WIFI problem

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.