Iphone 5 can't connect to wifi at all

Oh dear. Update 2. New phone has started to have the same issue. All the inconvenience of two visuts tonthe "genius bar" and lengthy restore for nothing. So it must be an iOS issue.

I will try the full reset when back home but this is very tedious.

No wifi and a device with a battery that only lasts three hours... Life's too short Apple. Time to see what the Samsung Galaxy has to offer.

I bought iPhone 5 last Novemember and had same wifi connection issues several times. The trick I learned from Apple Care support is:

1. close all applications run in background

2. hold top button and home button at same time for few seconds until phone screen become blank and then apple sign shown. (this is called hard re-setting)

By doing that, the issue is resolved.

I was told that we need to turn iPhone 5 off at least once a week. Just like keep computer on for too long, it will eventually eat your memeries. My son has iPhone 4, never had same problem. It could be iPhone 5 issue.

I had the same problem with my and my wife's iPhone 5. Per AmyCel's thread below, unplugging the router for 30 seconds did the trick. Wifi on both phones is working now. All their devices have been successfully connecting. Hope this helps.

I had similar problem with new 5S. WiFi recognized but WPA2 password constantly rejected. Hard restart fixed it for me.

thank you

I have the same problem

I hope that it woks after I removed it

I was going crazy, trying to connect to wifi. I backed up the phone, restored it and I still couldn't connect. I was a Sprint customer and had trouble with them for so long, I switched. But when I was trying to wipe the Sprint phone when I got the new AT&T phone... I discovered a trick! You have to put the phone into recovery mode and restore and then add your backup... Here are the instructions. Now the wifi works!

How to perform a recovery-mode restore

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is already showing the "Connect to iTunes" screen, please go to step 5.

1. Connect your USB cable to your computer but not to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until step 3.
2. Turn off the device: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red slider appears, then slide the slider. Wait for the device to turn off.

   If you cannot turn off the device using the slider, press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. When the device turns off, release the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons.

3. While pressing and holding the Home button down, connect the USB cable to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The device should turn on.
4. Continue holding the Home button until you see the Connect to iTunes screen. When this screen appears, you can release the Home button:
   
   Note: If the image of a battery appears, let the device charge for at least ten minutes to ensure that the battery has some charge, and then start with step 2 again. If you don't see the Connect to iTunes screen, try these steps 1 through 4 again.
5. iTunes should automatically open and display the following message:
   

i try this hard restart and unplug power modem for 10s . then i can connect to my wifi normally. hope this help.thz

Hi,

I am using I Phone 5. i am unable turn on WIFI and Bluetooth options in my phone at all. Please help me in this.

About three days ago my iPhone 5 began to display the same symptoms. It sees wifi networks, (generally only when prompted) and then gives the message "unable to join network." Once or twice it has been able to connect to my home network (which it had worked flawlessly with for some time) but the connection was slow and then was dropped, and abck to the same "cannot connect" problem. This is also true with other networks at work. Have tried pretty much everything in this thread, but no joy.

So then, a visit to the Genius bar and... it connects to the Apple Store network perfectly. Runs like a top... at home it connects, is slow, and loses connnection, and no joy. No connection since.

Apple tells me that since it is out of warranty, I'll have to pay for a new phone. So what is happening? My theory is the wifi hardware is failing, but at least in my case, only the part that specifically is related to 902-11 G and N (somewhat older but very common networks). The newer protocols, AC and AD are not effected; thus the "runs perfectly" syndrome at Apple. I do not believe this is some sort of network problem, or setting problem. Several devices, including two iPhone5's, are funtioning perfectly on our network. Nothing there changed except one device stopped working.

A few months ago, my phone began to have problems with the camera, and was unable to focus. Apple replaced the phone. That was great, but it does point out that the iPhone 5 is having some hardware problems. As these devices become more and more complex, they are having more problems... So my actions now - a new phone with Apple Care.

I continue to think Apple makes good products.They have never been perfect, and will continue to be imperfect. But their support and dependablity is better than the compettition. Plus I have a lot invested in Apple products. So for now, hold your breath, and accept the flaws.

Most of the entries are all the same but no used until I read the one you wrote. My sister been using this "iphone skin" I bought for her as a birthday present, since then, she had a problem connecting to our home wifi. I did everything: I reset the setting, i connected it to the iTunes but the problem still ain't fix. After reading YOUR entry, I just peel of the skin and VOILA! Her phone returns to its normal functions.

Advice: There some iphone accessories that may interfere with your Wifi Connections.

hope this will fix others problems too 🙂

-Cham, Philippines

Hey -- sorry to say in my case, it was not the case. Made a second trip to the Genius Bar and same result. Worked there, but they seemed to think my theory about network protocol was not true. Anyway, I replaced the phone because Apple said "hey, it works here." Which was true. It just doesn't work anywhere else. The Apple folks suggested I replace my network, but to me that just didn't work; so I'm out $300 (including 99 for apple care). New 5s is very hPpily using the network, inside the old plastic case.

This suggestion worked right away.

http://www.etradesupply.com/blog/solve-iphone-5s-iphone5-wifi-issue/

Troubleshooting:

Connecting to Wifi Network: Make sure the Wifi network you want to connect is available and verify the Wifi password is correct, for the passwords can be case sensitive or with special characters. If everything is fine, but you are still not able to connect the Wifi for iPhone 5S/5, you can try to fix the Wifi problem by tapping General > Rest > Reset Network Settings

This solution doesn't affect anything else on the phone, it doesn't require you to mess with your router and it's still inside its Otterbox.

I plugged in my phone to my computer using the cable and synced itunes. Then, straightaway, I was able to detect the WIFI signal I wanted!

i encountered the same problem just today, i tried the following troubleshooting:

1. reset network settings on my iphone 5

2. perform a hard reset (holding the power button and home button at the same time until the device restarts)

3. reset all settings on my iphone 5

4. reset the router (via reset switch)

5. reboot the router (via router's web control panel)

one at a time but it didn't fix the issue.

i tried changing the password of my wifi and i'm now able to connect to it using my iphone 5. it may work to you also. hope this helps.

well ima drop some knowledge.... i had a problem with my iphone 5, it showed full wifi connected but wasnt able to go on internet only with lte or whatever, so what i did and worked was i restarted my router which i have comcast/xfinity held the little button on back for 30 seconds. waited till all the light came back up and then reseted my network settings on iphone,, like this >settings>general>reset>reset network settings,,, and just hit wifi found my wifi name and logged in and presto wifi on iphone worked,, hope this helps and sorry if someone else suggested this,, i didnt read any other posts,,

--------Mr. Miagi