IOS 7.1 iphone 4S wifi not available .. help..

I had the same issues - doing some of this solved it temporarily but in the end it is still a hardware fault.

I just went my local mobile repair shop and it an issue with the motherboard soldering on a connection. Fixed for £30!

I had the same issues - doing some of this solved it temporarily but in the end it is still a hardware fault.

I just went my local mobile repair shop and it an issue with the motherboard soldering on a connection. Fixed for £30!

I have to tell you my story. This is a deliberate malfunction caused by Apple to sell more servicing parts and more new Iphone devices.

I am 100% sure this is so because I had the same problem and all answers I got were directed towards the idea that it was a hardware failure.

In any case this happens while you are on wifi or updating your device to new software.

What I did was I reset my Iphone completely, deleting all of its data and returning it to a prior version that way, without updating. The **** thing worked.

This happened with the update to IOS 6.

Now with IOS 7 even after you do it, restore your iphone to factory settings, you still have the mentioned problem.

It is a thing we should sue Apple for and I am glad SAMSUNG and other companies are winning back their market share against iPhone.

So, after doing the heating trick the iPhone worked for months.

After update to 7.1.2 wifi now goes on and off over and over again.

Just did the heating trick again and behold wifi is working again!

Broken hardware? NOT

Earlier today out of no where, my iphone 5s, (3 months old) turned off, and then the wifi was grayed and dimed, and wouldnt work. I have done network reset, all setting reset, rebooting. Airplane mode is not on, and i can not find a solution. HELP!

The WHY and HOW to repair the Wifi and Bluetooth issue with iPhone 4S

The problem is a hardware issue, NOT software.

The reason your wifi goes from working in one version of iOS to failing after an update is because the new iOS version checks the wifi chips functionality before allowing the OS to use it. If it doesn't pass ALL tests, it will not allow wifi to switch on in iOS. The older version of iOS will simply not check the wifi chip for faults and just go ahead and use it.

The problem is the solder joints connecting the Wifi IC to the circuit board fracturing *some* pins. But it often has enough connected pins to allow iOS to operate it without passing all tests. It just won't work with iOS7 which will reject it if any diagnostic pins are not connected or fractured.

Why does it fracture? well, this is a common problem with BGA mounted ICs on a lot of electronics since the banning of lead content solder. The non-leaded solder is more prone to fractures under heat. So we have gone "greener" but sacrificed reliability in the process.

How do we fix this without reballing it with LEADed solder?

REFLOW the Wifi IC

the best way is to use an infrared rework station, but that is uber expensive and out of reach for most people.

An alternative is to use a hot air reflow. While it will do the job, I feel it is not actually the best way as it uses more heat than is necessary and is prone to damaging surrounding components and warping.

The best practical method available to the average person is to reflow it in an oven.

I use a small electric toaster oven, which I use to reflow laptop motherboards, PS3s, graphics cards, DRAM modules, phone and tablet boards and so on.

remove the 4S motherboard and wrap it in Aluminium foil leaving only the wifi chip exposed. Remove the black sticker shield on the wifi chip. The Wifi chip is the large square IC near the headphone socket.

Put the wrapped motherboard in the oven and, HERE IS THE SECRET SAUCE, put a small strand of solder about 5mm long and bend it into a 3D roundish S-shape. This is your temperature guage! Put it on the insulated foil near the area to be reflowed.

The biggest problem with reflowing is getting the temperature and timing right and using a piece of solder as an indicator gets the best results.

the Solder will melt at around 220deg C so set the oven to around 230-240.

after 5 to 10 minutes depending on the power of the oven, you will see the solder slowly melt and fuse into a ball.

start a stopwatch when it turns into a ball blob and give it 60 seconds and turn the oven off and open the door.

this allows the right temperature range to hit the spot to reflow the solder joints without overheating anything.

everything on the motherboard can withstand this temperature range because all of it had to be mounted at manufacture with AT LEAST this temperature.

DO NOT MOVE THE ITEM WHEN IT'S HOT

allow it to cool down to room temperature.

after it has cooled, unwrap it and put it back into the 4S.

Wifi and Bluetooth will now work without resetting anything or restoring.

There is no magic special way around it, the Wifi Chip needs to be reflowed. It is not a software problem.

And it will work after the next iOS update or restore unlike the blowdryer method which is just a temporary workaround to bypass the IC testing. With regards to freezing,all it does is contract the unfractured pins and try to pull the fractured pins together to temporarily press the fracture together. Freezing can fracture more joints than it can repair so it should be avoided unless it is the only method available. You want to repair it for use at room temperature, not for use in the antarctic.

If this is useful, I can start a new thread and write up a proper step by step with pictures.

So, turn off the error checking, problem solved. It worked fine before this..................

This will work - but its worth just taking it to a mobile repair shop - they seem to be everywhere here in the UK. They only charge £30

Same problem.. plz help

me also

Can give some advice? The apple is not give a **** for your consumer. A recall was necessary, to exchange for a new handset, the same, or 5C, or S with the difference paid by the consumer. I would accept that solution. The product has a problem, and it is no misuse of the consumer, but for manufacturing, so the charge should bear the responsibility. Let's join together and hire a law firm and sue the company, that they will understand.

settings > general > reset > reset network settings

you wont lose anything i had the same problem

I am "unable to join network."

Totally agree with you about new Apple's Ethos!

Although the problem is a hardware problem. That does not mean Apple is free not ignore their customers. It seems there is a bad batch of Murata SS1830010 chip. That chip is the one controlling the Wifi and bluetooth. I believe there are enough critical mass to force Apple for a recall and repair. Apple should be smart and ask the WiFi antenna provider to share the cost... The problem is that we have become compliant to short term electronics live expectancies. The other day I was at the Apple Store in Portland OR and the genius bar girl told me that my iPhone 4S is too old for phone years (a 2.5 years old phone!!!). Therefore I cannot expect any solution from Apple.... OK they want me to buy a new phone... but I have been looking a the competition and they have good phones too... I have made my mind to never buy an iPhone again... and that could extend to other Apple's products. That is what this issue and the way genius bar helper accomplish. We just have as consumers only one solution these days: "vote with your feet" and stop buying their products...

I miss Steve!

Cheers!
Javi

kikikiwi said:

APPLE!! It does not seem that you are hearing us! APPLE should be taking responsibility for this issue.

oh and by the way>> I am so not impressed with the ios7 stuff. some cool points but oh my god for slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!!!!!!! I might as well seriously look at an android.

Yes that is the only way Apple might understand. This is a money issue. They calculate that the benefits might surpass their loses, but we have to make sure they get it wrong.

Cheers!Javi

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