how to stay on a hidden network with iphone 5

the iPhone should stay connected or reconnect automatically to a "known" network, that is, one it has been attached to previously. Do you have Settings > WiFi > Ask to Join switched ON or OFF? Should work with it switched OFF.

For Hidden SSID's you have to set things up as follows, for an iPhone to automatically connect:

First, make the SSID visible..., but, you may not be able to do this, but proceed anyway. When connecting your phone, use "Other" to manually input everything...do not use any other method. Connect your phone. Once connected, turn the SSID off. It should connect automatically now.

That's a setting on the router. But I don't think that's your problem.

I connect to a Wifi at my office that doesn't broadcast SSID and it works perfectly fine every day. The only time I had a problem was when they were testing a linksys as well, and my phone tried to connect to that first. Turns out somewhere in the past I had connected to a router named 'linksys' and it remembered it as a known network and since it was first in alphabetical order it was the lucky router I connected to. I had to "forget" that network and have been fine ever since.

I can't tell from what you've told me. But I can tell you one thing, the person in your IT dept who told you it's an iPhone problem has no idea what they're talking about. You should probably ask someone else there.

Apple has always warned that hidden SSID's can be problematic with iOS devices in regards to auto-connect, & recommends that you not use a hidden SSID. Fact is, a hidden SSID doesn't provide any security & the SSID can easily be determined. Since you don't have access to the router, there's not much you can do.

Hi Paul I am experiencing the same issues at my job I work for a really large company and I have to connect to the wifi like you are doing but sometimes it will automatically take itself off of wifi and when I try to recconect by entering the password again it will either say (wrong password) or (unable to join network)...... I cant ask IT about it because we as employees arent supposed to know the network name and password.... Sometimes it will automatically connect as soon as i get to work and then disable itself after being here for about a hour..... Another thing I've noticed is that everyone I work with that has a Iphone 4,4s,Ipod or any android phone or tablet is able to connect everyday automatically with no problem and never lose signal or have to input the network name and password in again...... I am on my second Iphone 5 and am still having the problems. I've researched everywhere and cant find any resolution.... I've also tried every troubleshooting method available and nothing seems to work.... Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated!!!