iOS 8 5GHz WiFi issues

Since upgrading to iOS 8, my iPhone no longer lists my 5GHz network in the list of available networks; the only network it shows is my 2.4 GHz one. My iPad Mini (still on iOS 7) and my MacBook Pro are picking up the 5GHz network just fine, so I believe this issue is because of iOS 8. Is this happening for anyone else?

iPhone 5, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 18, 2014 7:50 AM

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109 replies

Sep 27, 2014 7:46 AM in response to untidyscrawls

yes you are not alone in this. first noticed it with few online games I'm playing as usually it timed out way too often which I thought was a game server problems and then I noticed iMessages and other networking tasks also takes quite a long time and my backup 2.4G network works flawlessly with either task. I'm experimenting on few ways and will post back if I could find any way to mitigate.

Sep 27, 2014 8:37 AM in response to untidyscrawls

Same 5GHz wifi issues with iOS 8 as everyone else (unreliable or no connection, even with full signal bars). 2.4GHz is slow, too. Upgraded to latest 8.0.2 on iPad Air with no improvement. 5S seems to have a reliable 5G connection now, but waiting to see.. Still have an iPhone 5 on iOS 7 with no issues on the same router, both 5G and 2.4G.

Sep 28, 2014 11:03 AM in response to mevan

Hello again,

here are few things I have tried & their results.


- restart router / iDevice => no change

- renew lease (wifi settings > scroll down & renew lease assuming using dhcp) => no change

- change channels of 5GHz => no change

- change network parameters like using static IP => no change

- reset network settings in iDevice => works !

- forget network & re connect by entering all data (non dhcp settings and passwords , etc) => works !


I suggest you try the forget network option rather than reset all network settings which might make make every network setting to be entered manually.


my usual network settings are WiFi 5GHz, WPA2 security, DNS = router ip (primary), google dns (secondary), and all iDevices running on iOS 8.0.2.


hope this helps.

Regards,

Sep 28, 2014 2:21 PM in response to mevan

Unfortunately the forget network option was one of the first things I tried, though not noted in my previous posts. Here is a rundown:


iPad Air running iOS 8.0.2 drops connection to 5Ghz network (WPA2 security with different SSID than 2.4 Ghz network on same router) every 10-15 seconds, ever since iOS 8 update. No issue with iPhone 5s running 8.0.2 and two other computers connected to the same router/5Ghz network. iPad connects to the 2.4Ghz network on the same router without an issue.



STEPS TAKEN (none corrected the issue):


  • Restarted wireless router and cable modem
  • Verified current firmware version is installed on router with manufacturer
  • Used “forget this network” option and then reconnected to the 5Ghz network
  • Performed normal reset of iPad
  • Installed iOS 8.0.2 update
  • Performed hard reset of iPad (Home + Power button)
  • Reset network settings and attempted to reconnect to 5Ghz network
  • Tested with Wi-Fi Networking disabled and enabled under Settings/Privacy/Location Services/System Services
  • Reset iPad to factory settings, first from a backup and then as a new device
  • Attempted to roll back to iOS 7.1.2 through iTunes, but since Apple is no longer signing that iOS version it would not work

CONTACTED APPLE SUPPORT:

I just got off a chat with Apple support. The agent tried to blame router firmware (verified current with the manufacturer), and then my network configuration. Despite the fact that I have four other devices connecting to the 5Ghz network with no issues. Stuck with 2.4Ghz as a workaround until Apple addresses this in a future update.

Oct 29, 2014 12:47 AM in response to untidyscrawls

I have the same 5 GHz problem on an iPad Air. Already had it during iOS 7 and now with iOS 8 as well. The 2.4 GHz band is no option as it is way slower here.

There are so many threads about this problem that Apple must know about it (someone collected them at Re: wi-fi access sporadic). Maybe it is a hardware problem and cannot be fixed.

Oct 7, 2014 6:44 PM in response to untidyscrawls

Those who have wifi problem, it will be good news!

Apple contacted me this week to gather some information regarding of wifi issue.

I sent wifi diagnosis log file to Apple and Apple will work on fixing this issue.

Most likely, iOS 8.0.3 will release and this wifi issue will be solved for everyone!!

Please keep patient everyone and Apple is working on it!

Oct 20, 2014 1:08 PM in response to untidyscrawls

Just updated to 8.1, on an iPhone 5S, and sadly I must report that 5 ghz is still flakey and maddening as ever. Connection drops repeatedly, and sometimes the phone will not even re-establish the connection, preferring to stay connected to LTE after the drop.


Whatever issues are going on under the hood with wifi, this latest update still has them, at least on the iPhone 5S.

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iOS 8 5GHz WiFi issues

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