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

Chrisail said:

The phone having its functionality effected by these type of thermal shocks, points to either a bad chip or poor solder joints (intermittent connection).

Searching on-line revealed there is a bad batch of Murata SW SS1830010 Wi-Fi chips that got into the supply chain ... I think in early 2013.

The only permanent fix is to either reflow or replace the chip, but the procedure is not for a noobie:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Fix+iPhone+4S+Wi-Fi+Grayed+Out/22167

That is correct, but where did you find that information?

Cheers!

Javi

<Post Edited By Host>

Thank you Squirrels Dad! I got the message just before Apple monitors deleted you message 😁

If I understand correctly, your post with a link to a petition is deleted by the moderators?

Finally proof at least someone is reading this at Apple!

Yes! hahaha

Well they probably have drones scanning for specific text... I am not sure, but in any way the ones deleting my post were not interest in fixing this problem

Cheers!

The iOS update has nothing to do with this. There are millions of iPhone 4S units using the most up to date iOS, without this issue.

It's a hardware issue, not an iOS issue.

Follow these steps: iOS: Wi-Fi settings grayed out or dim - Apple Support

Also try restoring the device as new: Use iTunes to restore your iOS device to factory settings

If the device will not allow you to turn on wi-fi even after restored as new, it's a hardware issue. Get the device serviced or replaced.

You're simplifying the issue at hand: like Apple you ask us to completely reset our iPhone even though we all know (like posted a dozen times) this won't solve anything. After that our conclusion should be it's faulted hardware and normal service should apply, thus giving us the only option to get it replaced for 200 euro or buy a new model.

But it's the built-in hardware check of the software that's causing our wifi to stop. Not the hardware itself, which is still functioning after some hairdryer tricks.

It's also broken hardware that is expected to last as long as you expect your phone to last: at least 4 years.

And there are laws for that last issue: one may expect that a wifi/bluetooth functionality within a phone works for at least 4 years or will work for as long as your phone works. And my phone is working like expected but the wifi chip is not and therefore I'm entitled to get it fixed for free or almost free (handling fee sounds reasonable) and not for 200 euro.

All in all, we're just not important enough for Apple to get them to do a recall as long as we do not get a judge to acknowledge our rights and that's sad, very sad.

Sorry TJ, but you are just half correct. It is a hardware problem, yes!. It is a faulty WiFi chip, but the fault it is only detected by the new software. The WiFi antenna is still functional, but the new software shuts it down. If you bypass the detraction process the WiFi comes back. The solutions that you are pointing to are just for glitches the OS have, but cannot solve the bad chip problem. I believe the detection issue started somewhere at the late iOS 6, but then the iPhone 4S was still under warranty and Apple had to replace them. No one complaint then. Actually now there are tenths of thousands iPhone 4S users with this problem, but Apple just refuses to admit they got a bad batch of these WiFi chips just because they are out of warranty.

TJ, I am sure you blindly believe in anything Appple does, but this time they got it wrong and they should come clean with these thousands of customers that have paid a lot of money for a quality phone that it is turning out to be a very expensive brick. Maybe you should get out there and find out a bit more about this issue.

Cheers!
Javi

By the way you are posting the same stuff everywhere you see my reply, there is really no point trying to hide the truth...

Edit

No, the fault is not detected by the 'new software'. Search this forum. This issue has been reported on a small percentage of iPhone 4S units for a very long time. All the way back to iOS 5. There were people on this very forum, back in late 2011 (two years before iOS 7 came out), reporting greyed-out wi-fi on iPhone 4S units back then.

This hardware issue is resolved under warranty, as any other hardware issue is resolved. That's one year from date of purchase, or two years from date of purchase if the AppleCare Protection Plan was purchased for the device.

As far as me 'blindly believing Apple', um... no. I've criticized Apple in the past for certain issues. But I deal in facts, not emotions, when it comes to technical issues.

And it's clear that I've 'gone out there and found out more about the issue'. Feel free to research this very forum for more information.

You've obviously got an axe to grind against Apple. Why else would you reply to a post that is 9 months old? And I see you've spread the same misinformation elsewhere.

It's not iOS 7. It wasn't iOS 6. It wasn't iOS 5. It's the defective hardware. It is 'revealed' when the processor generates more heat than the wi-fi chip can tolerate. Sometimes the wi-fi chip is permanently damaged. Other times it is 'partially damaged', which is when these home-brewed fixes work.

Do I personally think Apple should offer some type of program for iPhone 4S customers that experience this issue and are outside of warranty? Yes, I've said so in the past. But this forum is for technical assistance, regarding the facts and reality of the current situation; it's not for speculation. Use www.apple.com/feedback to give feedback to Apple regarding their policies. That's the appropriate place; not this forum.

As I posted: Use the articles I provided to troubleshoot the issue. If the issue persists, get the device serviced.

No one is trying to hide anything. There's nothing to hide. It's a technical issue with hardware. The articles on how to address the issue have been posted. And I don't have to 'follow you' when you're bumping old threads with incorrect information and propoganda.

I'm a naysayer who thinks my 4S mostly works and Apple doesn't owe me and millions of others a repair. Maybe they can address it with a software rollback? As for lawsuits, expect to get a check for $50 or equivalent iTunes credit in about 3 years after the inevitable class action is settled. Many law firms specialize in this high dollar, multistate class litigation. In fact, these lawyers race to the court to get their client appointed "lead plaintiff" or "class representative" so that their firm gets to control the litigation and get paid. When a plane crashes, or a hurricane hits or there's an oil spill these firms even join together, create an LLC just for that particular litigation and get down to business.

In other words, I'm sure an action has already been filed.

Smokin&#39;X wrote:

You're simplifying the issue at hand: like Apple you ask us to completely reset our iPhone even though we all know (like posted a dozen times) this won't solve anything. After that our conclusion should be it's faulted hardware and normal service should apply, thus giving us the only option to get it replaced for 200 euro or buy a new model.

But it's the built-in hardware check of the software that's causing our wifi to stop. Not the hardware itself, which is still functioning after some hairdryer tricks.

It's also broken hardware that is expected to last as long as you expect your phone to last: at least 4 years.

And there are laws for that last issue: one may expect that a wifi/bluetooth functionality within a phone works for at least 4 years or will work for as long as your phone works. And my phone is working like expected but the wifi chip is not and therefore I'm entitled to get it fixed for free or almost free (handling fee sounds reasonable) and not for 200 euro.

All in all, we're just not important enough for Apple to get them to do a recall as long as we do not get a judge to acknowledge our rights and that's sad, very sad.

No I'm not simplifying the issue. The 'issue' is very simple. It's a hardware issue. As I've posted in the past, and very recently, software cannot cause hardware problems. And this wi-fi greyed out issue has been reported for a very long time. Even back to iOS 5.

Your consumer protection laws in your country may allow you to get a replacement unit from the retailer. Look into that. However, for those that the Apple hardware coverage is the only option, the terms of the hardware warranty were available prior to purchase for every single iPhone owner. If you didn't like having just a one-year warranty, then as a consumer, it was your choice to not purchase the product.

Your expectations of how long the device should last are irrelevant. All that is relevant is the agreement you entered into with the manufacturer when you purchased the product. Caveat emptor.

Every suit I've heard of so far as resulted (in the U.S.) with the decision that, since the hardware warranty terms are freely available to anyone prior to purchase, and since there was no coercion on the part of Apple to get anyone to purchase a product, the warranty terms (mutually agreed to by both parties upon the purchase of the device) stand firm.

Do I like that decision? No. Do I think Apple should institute a program such as the iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake button or battery programs? Yes.

But this forum is not for speculation. It's about how to resolve a technical issue. And this one is very simple:

1) Take the steps in the recommended articles.

2) If issue persists, get the device serviced or replaced.

2a) If within warranty, the replacement should be free.

2b) If not within warranty, the cost will be approximately $199 USD + tax.

End of technical discussion.

If you want to voice opinions about Apple's policies, don't do it here. That's a violation of the terms of this forum, which everyone that posts here had to have agreed to prior to being able to post in the first place. And all that tells me, when people ignore those terms & conditions, is that they also ignored the terms & conditions of the warranty. And I have no sympathy for willful ignorance.

I'm sympathetic to those that are experiencing this hardware issue. That's why, in the past, I've even posted a script to assist them when they call Apple and request an out-of-warranty exception. But demanding, under the current terms, that something be done? This forum isn't the place for that. Find another outlet to vent.

some solution to the problem of lack of wifi connection on iphone 4s? Apple will process the negligence and lack of answers, my phone is out of warranty and they can not do anything, that's wrong ...

so is there a way to turn off the check of the potentially faulty hardware? I just want my wifi to work again

Nope, that is down to IOS which would be down to Apple to address, which they ignore, unless you write something on their website that they consider not to be "on thread"!!!!!

That's all they need to do tho, take the error correction out of the software and your WIFI will work. OR buy a new phone, which is what they really want you to do.

Hi,

This hardware issue appears when a overvoltage ocurres.

Try the following steps to fix it:

- Force your iphone battery goes down. You can play videos and games to use hardware aceleration.

- After shut down without battery ensure the previous step trying to power on (obviously will not turn on)

- Wait about 30min (fully circuit discharge and normal temperature)

- Connect your cable and your iphone will turn on without the wifi issue

I hope this can help!

Regards