iOS 7.1.2 wifi problems after update (iPhone 5S)

I responded directly to your misconception. If it was the iOS update, then all devices running that iOS would be affected. ALL of them. Since that's clearly not the case, it's not an iOS side issue. It's either hardware or user data. If you've restored the device as new properly, and it still has this issue, get the device serviced.

As far as being an 'iSheep'? Hardly. I've had harsh criticism for Apple and their products in the past, when appropriate, and I've used the correct channels. The feedback link. Contacting Apple directly. But not on this forum. This forum is for technical assistance, not to gripe about Apple.

Use another forum for that, and use the feedback channel that Apple provides. Use this forum for technical assistance, not on debates/conversations about your dissatisfaction with Apple.

I'm not if I'm experiencing relief or regrets to see I'm not the only one with this issue. I have a 4S updated to 7.1.2 in the last week that is experiencing similar issues, notably very erratic connectivity issues with wifi:

• Intermittent disconnects when wifi is working
• Sometimes the wifi icon displays, sometimes it doesn't (even when it says I'm connected under Settings)
• Under Settings, sometimes the wifi says it's off when the icon is showing
• Under Settings / Wi-Fi, sometimes it shows me connected to my network when the previous screen shows it is off
• And with increasing regularity, the slide toggle for turning Wi-Fi on is grayed out, and I'm unable to turn it on
• Phone freezes intermittently, when I sometimes click on Wi-Fi or Cellular under Settings
• Bluetooth seems to work reliably, although I understand that might be using the same antenna as wifi
• My phone has also been freezing, and also restarted itself once today…it has become practically unusable
• I have experienced these issues with frequency on five different wifi networks over the last week

I called Apple Support. The rep was very professional and seemed to know what she was talking about, or at least she was very familiar with her script. She said sometimes the iOS software update might not deliver all of its packets, and the wifi components of iOS might be corrupted. She then walked me through a factory reset and was intending to restore my phone from iCloud. Everything worked great until the restore from iCloud didn't work. She intended for me to wipe the phone again, but asked if I could turn wi-fi on as a test. I could not. She then told me to go ahead and restore from iTunes saying the issue wasn't what she originally thought, but instead that my wifi antenna was damaged. I asked if this was defect and she would not admit to it. I asked if it was related to heat, and she said that it was not, but that the antenna circuitry sometimes became damaged due to the cycles of electricity passing through it. While she seemed pretty informed, I began to doubt her diagnosis. I asked if this was a common issue, she said that always get a high volume of calls after a software update, and that she had also encountered a fair number of these antenna issues over the years, primarily with the 4 and 4S models.

I know I'm due for a phone upgrade, but the support rep told me my only options are upgrading or paying $199 for a replacement. She also said I might be able to live without wifi and use cellular data for all of my apps (except of course that depend on being connected to a wifi network, like Apple Remote). I'm not very pleased my expensive iPhone hardware has an antenna that goes kaput "after so many cycles of current go through it". I'm not convinced this is a hardware issue, in the time it has taken me to write this my phone has reconnected to a wifi, and displaying the IP of my local network.

I might have to upgrade to something besides an iPhone if this is what I should come to expect from Apple hardware and buggy iOS updates. If this is truly a hardware issue, it smells like a class action suit.

You have an iPhone 4S that is outside of the one year warranty. Therefore, if there is a hardware problem (which has been determined to be the case), you get the device serviced or replaced.

Since you are outside of warranty, you either buy a whole new iPhone 4S (which starts at $450 USD + tax), or you get a replacement from Apple for $199 USD + tax, or you purchase a different smartphone, or you don't buy anything.

If you go with the first option, then get the AppleCare Plus for $99 on your next iPhone. This extends your hardware warranty to two full years, instead of just one.

Had you done so upon purchase of the iPhone 4S originally, you'd be paying $0 for a replacement from Apple instead of $199. [Assuming you were within the two years of coverage].

If you're due for an upgrade via your carrier, then upgrade, and get the AppleCare Plus coverage. Most carriers allow you to upgrade once every two years, and since the AppleCare Plus is two years as well, it works out perfectly. For $99, you have the same length of hardware coverage as you'll probably own the device between upgrades. You'll get free phone support from Apple, free hardware replacements as needed for verified (non-damage or abuse related) hardware issues, and up to two uses of the Damage Protection replacement for only $79 per incident during that time.

It's up to you to make sure that the hardware coverage suits your needs. If it doesn't, then buy another product.

Spot on. I will be due for an upgrade also. And I think I will be moving on from Apple. I like Apple, but this last bug or whatever it is, is unacceptable.

I'm an advocate for AppleCare, more so for laptops than solid state devices. Regardless I'm outside my AppleCare coverage.

If this is an issue with the BCM4330 transceiver chip or how it's seated in its socket, it is a hardware defect. It is curious that this particular chip supports both wifi & bluetooth, and the latter works just fine.

If this is an issue with the iPhone 4S WIFI Bluetooth Antenna Flex Cable, it is a hardware defect. Again it's odd that bluetooth works & wifi does not.

I used to work for a mobile carrier and a global networking company. I'm not naive about the degree to which manufacturers will try to avoid accountability for hardware manufacturing defects. If it is a hardware defect, Apple should call it what it is, don't bullsh*t me.

I'm not convinced that this is a hardware issue, as it's too coincidental with my iOS update. Also strange that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This morning wifi was working and I successfully streamed MixCloud over it. But also noticed that my JBL speaker dock was occasionally making a chopping sound, which I would characterize as the RF of a wifi signal desperately trying to handshake & reconnect with the router. When wifi doesn't work, it messes with apps and the rest of my iOS. It appears many people experience this issue, and that it coincides with iOS updates. This discussion, specific to iOS 7.1.2, already has over 27,700 views. This obviously is not an isolated issue.

I'm outlining an article under the headline of Apple Bricks My iPhone to Sell Me an Upgrade. I was looking forward to that upgrade, but this experience is a real turn-off. I pay extra for Apple products because I expect them to work, and for the manufacturer to stand behind them. This does not appear to be the case anymore, and that is disappointing.

Feel free to do whatever you'd like. But it's not a software issue (99.99% of the time). And it makes no business sense for Apple to 'brick' iPhones. Millions of people buy the new iPhone whenever it comes out. They don't need to do anything to get sales or upgrades. Plus, in the secondary market for used iPhones, those secondary market buyers usually have or create Apple IDs, and then spend money in iTunes or the App Store.

Imagine is a car company was also an oil company. Would it make sense to intentionally cause cars to become defective earlier than normal wear & tear would allow? Of course not. There will always be people that can only afford used cars. And there will always be people that will buy the new models regularly. If you intentionally sabotaged the used cars, then this potential buyers wouldn't have a car. They'd use mass transit or walk. In other words, the oil company makes less money.

Apple makes a LOT of money annually from the iTunes/App Store. It's ridiculous to assume they'd shoot themselves in the foot by 'sabotaging' iPhones.

I agree it's a stretch to say Apple intentionally bricked my iPhone, but it's quite possible that it inadvertently happened and now the situation is simply they are trying to avoid accountability. I do not agree with your impression that it's not a software issue (99.99% of the time) as I know better from professional experience. EDIT: I have managed a product recall on behalf of a mobile carrier.

I really look forward to my $15 back for all the hassle

From: wifi doesn't work with IOS 7

Thank you for writing back to us.

We follow an internal escalation procedure. I am one of the team managers at Vodafone Customer Services. I have come across your query through an escalation.

I apologise for any inconvenience caused to you. We acknowledge your complaint that you are facing issues with the Wi-Fi services after the update to iOS7. To share with you, this is the known fault on which the manufacturer i.e. Apple are working on it to fix the issue. I am afraid we from customer services team not able to comment on this. For that you need to get in touch with Apple store to check for any further update.

<Link Edited by Host>

You've simply reposted something that a user on this forum (vinpat) posted here almost a year ago, that didn't have any backup documentation. In other words, it's hearsay. Watch:

"From: John Smith, Vodaphone Technical Supervisor

To: Jane Johnson

Ms. Johnson,

Thank you for your feedback and for reporting this issue to us.

While we are sympathetic to your situation, we have determined that this is an issue that affects a very small percentage of iPhone 4S units, and while yours, unfortunately, if one of those affected, it is a simple matter of a hardware defect, not an issue caused by the updated iOS provided by Apple. We will happily replace your iPhone 4S with an identical unit that has been thoroughly tested to make sure it does not have the same hardware defect. Please disregard any erroneous and unconfirmed reports you may have seen in the media regarding Apple's iOS 7 update. In fact, we will make sure the unit we send to you is updated to the newest version of iOS 7 so that you do not have to do so yourself. Apple's iPhone 4S production may have had a higher than normal incidence of hardware defects, but it is still far above the industry standard in regards to quality control. Even in this situation, the iPhone 4S has about one-third the failure rate of any other smartphone. We apologize for any inconvenience, but you can rest assured that this is simply a fluke, and is being addressed under the normal hardware coverage process, which is the industry standard.

Thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,

John Smith

Vodaphone Technical Supervisor "

There we go! See! No different than from what vinpat posted. No supporting documentation, no proof, just a repost of an alleged email or text conversation. And the article you linked had no other supporting relevant documentation. All it did was copypasta some posts from this forum.

These media articles simply care about getting site hits & traffic. There's nothing in that article that provides any real technical documentation.

In fact, at the end of that article, it says that this issue was also noted during the iOS 6 release, but back then you could 'downgrade' the iOS, something that's not possible with iOS 7.

Um... what? Apple has never (let be clear on this: NEVER) provided a method to downgrade the iOS on a device. Why does this 'AppleInsider' article writer not know this? And if this issue has occurred during both iOS 6 & 7 (and actually even during iOS 5), then what's the common factor? The physical device itself.

Yes, in some few cases, a 'downgrade' alleviated the problem. But just as often, reinstalling the iOS did the same thing. That's because in those cases, there was a problem with the installation, not the actual software. A bad install of software can cause symptoms that are visually very similar to hardware problems.

Example: Your iPhone will not turn on. When you attempt to do so, the screen flickers briefly, then goes dark. What could cause this?

• Faulty display. The iPhone is actually turning on, but the screen is dark.
• Bad battery. It will no longer hold a sufficient charge to complete the startup process.
• Bad charging cable. It needs to be replaced.
• Bad charging adaptor. It needs to be replaced.
• Bad wall outlet. Use a different one, and call an electrician.
• Physical short or broken connection in the internal pathways.
• Damaged or inoperative charging port.

In other words, a single symptom doesn't always have a single root cause. Which is why troubleshooting steps are required to determine the real root cause. Which is why if you have greyed-out wi-fi, you troubleshoot the issue, using the article Apple provides. And if you go so far as to restore the device via iTunes as a new device (which reinstalls a fresh copy of the operating system), and the issue remains, then it's hardware related, and you service the device.

For anyone that has actually done all the troubleshooting steps, up to and including restoring as new properly, and the issue remains, 99.99%+ of the time, it is hardware, not software.

But feel free to believe what you want. Let's not use our own critical thinking skills. Let's not use logic. Let's just jump to conclusions without testing the theories.

Name at least two other major electronics/technology manufacturers that offer to replace a product that is outside of it's warranty period for a discount of greater than 20%. Because with Apple, it's about a 45-55% discount.

My apologies. My estimate was off. It's actually between a 55.8 to 68.3% discount.

Product - Retail - OOW/Discount off retail price

iPhone 4S 8GB - $450 - $199/55.8%

iPhone 5C 16GB - $549 - $269/51.0%

iPhone 5C 32GB - $649 - $269/58.6%

iPhone 5S 16GB - $649 - $269/58.6%

iPhone 5S 32GB -$749 - $269/64.1%

iPhone 5S 64GB - $849 - $269/68.3%

If I had one of each of the above models, retail price is: $3895.

If I had to replace each of those outside of warranty, I'd pay: $1544.

That's an average of 60.4% discount.

I am unaware of any other manufacturer that offers such a discount on a replacement device that is not within it's warranty time period or that has been physically damaged. I can still get my iPhone 5 32 GB, that cost around $649 new, replaced by Apple for $269 (a 58.6% discount), even though they don't sell them retail anymore, even if the screen is cracked and it's been water damaged. The only times they won't replace it is if it's had an unauthorized modification or service, or if it is so badly damaged it's literally in so many pieces that can't even get any identifying marks from the internals.

Please, educate me. Name me even two other manufacturers that have such a policy, with such a discount.

Your out-of-warranty pricing is irrelevant. The build cost of a 4S when it launched was $195, and is now substantially less (their margin is in the 60-70% range for their phones). You think Apple is doing me a huge favor selling me a replacement for above cost? After they don't take responsibility for a known defect. Ridiculous!

And your hearsay example is just your own fiction, whereas the source of the Vodaphone slip seems credible to me, having worked inside the industry.

I've worked inside the industry as well, and I know that wireless carriers aren't supposed to take a position on their smartphone partner's policies without permission from that partner. It's a violation of their agreements.

In other words, unless Apple has made an official comment on a situation, it's not the place of the wireless carrier to comment on their behalf.

You don't get to set the retail or out of warranty prices that any manufacturer sets. That's their business. If you ran a business, would you allow another person to set your prices? It's none of your business what the markup is. That's irrelevant. All that is your business is whether or not the retail price of the product is a fair price for you. And if you bought the product, then you decided it is fair. So, what, you're mad that Apple made a profit when you bought the iPhone? Not your concern. How much money the make per unit is none of your business. Period. Same goes for the out-of-warranty replacement.

But just for your education, any replacement iPhone from Apple isn't one that came of the assembly line. It's one that has been built, by a technician, from brand-new, known good parts (with only the exception of the camera & processor, which may be reclaimed from other units). Those components are then op-checked again by the technician, who them assembles the device manually. Then, the final product is op-checked a third time, before it goes into the replacement unit queue.

So, no, the 'build cost' of a replacement iPhone is not the same as a new iPhone. It's much higher, because there's more labor involved, by multiple people.

Whether it's a known defect or not is irrelevant. There are known defects in virtually every mass manufactured product, or at least a percentage of those products. That's why warranties exist. Warranties are there for people that have no hardware defects with their devices. People with no hardware defects in their products never need a warranty.

The point of a warranty is to give the consumer a period of time in which to report a defect to the manufacturer, who will then take the actions that are agreed upon within the warranty. And the terms of the iPhone warranty are freely available to everyone to read. And anyone purchasing an iPhone is agreeing, by the action of the purchase, to the terms of the warranty.

Didn't like the one year warranty of the iPhone? Then why did you buy it? And why do you think you have the right or authority to modify your agreement after the fact?

You don't get to alter the deal just because you don't like the deal. That's not your right.

And I'll try again: Name me even two other manufacturers that have such a policy, with such a discount.

i have problems with my wifi after I updated to ios 7.1.2. I can not connect to my home network. sometimes it worked but I get disconnected and have since giant problems to connect again. I ried everything. restarted the phone, reset my network settings Settings>General>Reset>Reset network settings removed the network and joined again with the code i do iOS: Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections. without success.

why apple not fix this big problem

Has anyone had this issue fixed after updating to ios8?