Apps connecting with hotspot but not wifi

Question

Level 1

1 points

Apps connecting with hotspot but not wifi

Today all the Apple apps (iMessage, iTunes, App Store) and a couple others (Instagram, Find my Friends) on all our iOS devices (3 iPhones, 2 iPads) quit connecting using wifi.

It seems to be primarily Apple apps that are affected, most of the others are working fine.

Apps will work fine if I use my iphone hotspot to connect. I also can't log in to Apple on my Mini unless I use the Hotspot.

All Devices are running the most current version of iOS7.

WIfi is functioning properly & has been reset twice.

I also reset the network connections on one iOS with no luck.

I could really use some help!

Posted on Aug 12, 2014 7:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 12, 2014 7:39 PM in response to Doogerd

Obviously something is wrong with your external wifi. Nothing is wrong with your IOS devices. Wifi can be broadcasting fine but if the wifi's internet connection is hosed then nothing will happen when your IOS device attaches to it. Do you have an indicator light or something on your wifi device that gives you a heads up as to the status of the Internet connection?

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 12, 2014 8:13 PM in response to Doogerd

I'm skeptical but if you really can run non-Apple apps that require a web connection on your wifi connection but Apple apps fail I'm at a complete loss - never heard of that happening. I looked through Settings and found nothing that could reproduce that situation.

Reply

Answer 3

Doogerd Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 12, 2014 8:32 PM in response to pete deville

I'm baffled.

I've been monitoring my daughters flight home, read the paper, and checked weather & forecasts all day/evening on he iPad (wifi). I have to use my cell phone (data) to reply to this forum.

Some of the apps are working fine on wifi, many are not.

Most websites are working fine (wifi) but some are not.

I have spent the day trying to figure this out without success. I haven't been this stumped since ditching my PC.

I will try replacing the external wifi tomorrow & let you know how it goes.

Reply

Answer 4

Aug 12, 2014 8:43 PM in response to Doogerd

Thanks - you got me interested in your problem. To me it sounds like your external wifi is intermittently failing or something is interfering with its signal and that it's just coincidence that it seems like Apple apps are affected disproportionately.

Reply

Answer 5

Doogerd Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 13, 2014 8:48 AM in response to pete deville

I called my ISP to see if they could remotely ping or diagnose my modem & discovered there was a "third party, global technical failure" causing issues for their subscribers. I suspect part of the network they are connected to crashed, causing a domino effect through to my iOS devices, which was bypassed when I connected using Hotspot (cellular vs cable modem). My ISP is different than my cellular provider which helps explain why I had better access using hotspot during the failure. The fact that only part of network crashed explains why some sites & apps worked while others didn't.

Reply

Answer 6

Doogerd Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 13, 2014 9:51 AM in response to pete deville

Your skepticism was certainly valid considering the uniqueness of the "symptoms", that's what had me baffled all day. The initial appearance that it only seemed to affect Apple software had me wondering if there was a security breach. When it looked like there were other sites affected it appeared more widespread than initially thought. While this 'global technical failure' might be just that, the conspiracy theorist inside can't help but wonder....

Reply

Answer 7

JudeSh49

Level 1

13 points

Oct 13, 2014 8:49 AM in response to Doogerd

I am having the same problem with my MacBookAir and MacBookPro. For a year (I am embarrassed to admit - however, it takes all day trying to fix this over the phone to no avail), both my Air and Pro would at first connect very slowly to my home Wi-Fi and likewise my office's Wi-Fi and then I would quickly be kicked off and would have to start using the hot spot on my iPhone5. It is not the networks because I have literally had 2-4 people in the same room as I using Mac laptops and having no problem connecting to the WiFi network at my home or office, while I cannot either connect or stay connected. Now, neither my Pro nor Air will connect to the WiFi network at my home or office ( get the "!" in the middle of my WiFi icon), but I can connect if I use my iPhone5 hot spot. The Apple advisors with whom I have spoken to on the phone are puzzled also I have spoken to 4 now, for hours. One of them had both the Pro and Air working by using the Restore Partition, but after one day, I am back to where I started. I am now (again) reinstalling the OS on the Pro (it should only take 10 hours or so.....) and can't even do that on my Air because I need a converter to be able to connect my Air to my modem. Can it be some 3rd party software that I have installed on both devices? I use Trend Micro and BitDefender. This is so frustrating (and expensive - I spent $60 for hot spot usage which exceeded my plan.

Reply

Answer 8

JudeSh49

Level 1

13 points

Oct 13, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Doogerd

I use AT&T at home and Comcast at my office as ISP's and no one else with Mac laptops are having the same problem (although recently a client with an older MacBookPro couldn't connect to my WiFi at my office, but later that day, she could connect to one at another location and I still could not connect with my Air. Anyway, so much for a "third party, global technical failure."

Reply

Answer 9

JudeSh49

Level 1

13 points

Oct 13, 2014 9:29 AM in response to Doogerd

I just reset the PRAM on my MacBook Air and my WiFi is now working. It will probably fix the problem with my Pro also, but since the Pro is currently in the middle of reinstalling its operating system, I can't test it right now. Will post again when I test that fix on the Pro. Will also let you know if this is only a temp. fix.

Reply

Answer 10

Doogerd Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 12, 2014 7:45 PM in response to pete deville

That crossed my mind Pete, but I can still access the internet using wifi, except Apple communities.

Doug

Reply

Answer 11

Aug 13, 2014 9:13 AM in response to Doogerd

Darn NSA . Just kidding. Very interesting. Thanks for posting that information - its a new one for me. I apologize for my skepticism 🙂.

Reply