Home wifi is suddenly cutting in and out (iPhone 5)

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Level 1

8 points

Home wifi is suddenly cutting in and out (iPhone 5)

Hi everyone. This just started happening today, but it's been all day. I also have a Macbook and a (non-Apple) tablet that are not having any issues with my home network wifi. Extra oddly, today I had no problem connecting my phone to 2 different public free wifi networks.

While I am in my home, my phone has always had a tendency to jump over to the public hotspot wifi from my provider (Optimum) instead of staying on my home wifi. I don't always notice unless the connection is a little slow or I'm trying to use my Chromecast (which is only connected with the home wifi), then I switch it back.

Anyway, yesterday I watched a lot of TV so I did notice the phone jumping frequently to the wrong network--anytime I had to press "continue play" for Netflix--but whenever I switched it back to my home network it would be fine for a while. Today, it won't stay connected for more than a second, literally. I tried turning off data and "forgetting" the public hotspot to force the phone to only "see" my home wifi, but that didn't help. I also reset the phone, but no difference.

Any idea what's going on? It really doesn't seem there's anything wrong with the network since both the Macbook and tablet are connected.

Thank you!

iPhone 5, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Mar 10, 2016 9:19 PM

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Answer 1

NChuang Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2016 9:22 PM in response to NChuang

By the way, no idea if it matters but I only updated to iOS 9 about a week ago.

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Answer 2

ManSinha

Level 6

12,183 points

Mar 10, 2016 10:42 PM in response to NChuang

Settings - General - Reset - reset network settings - you will have to reenter all your WiFi passwords

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Answer 3

NChuang Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 13, 2016 3:56 PM in response to ManSinha

So, I haven't done this yet (am hoping to avoid re-entering all passwords) but I did at least "forget" my home network and re-enter that password. Nothing happened at first. Then the day after I started this topic, my home network was fine for the whole day! The phone still occasionally jumped to the public hotspot but could always be manually re-set to my home network.

THEN the next day...back to the problem of this topic. I was kind of exaggerating when I said it will only stay on my home network for a second...it's not even that long. I select the home network, and then as soon as it connects and the blue check mark appears, it cuts out and hops onto the public network.

What's going on?! Why would it still sometimes work?

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Answer 4

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Mar 13, 2016 4:33 PM in response to NChuang

Try forgetting your public network just for a test to see if the phone will stay on your own network. The phone will jump to the strongest network so if the public is much stronger than your own (which would be odd) then it will favor it. Also try a forced restart, nothing to lose. Hold down the Home and Wake/Sleep buttons at the same time for about 15-20 seconds until the Apple logo appears.

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Answer 5

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Mar 13, 2016 4:34 PM in response to NChuang

General suggestions for Wi-Fi issues, maybe one of them will help....

1) Perform a Forced Restart: Hold down the Home and Wake/Sleep buttons at the same time for about 15-20 seconds until the Apple logo appears. Allow device to restart.

2) Reset Network Settings: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Rejoin the Network again.

3) Change to Google's DNS: Settings > Wi-Fi > Click on the Network, Delete all numbers under DNS and enter 8.8.8.8 or alternatively 8.8.4.4

4) Disable the QoS service on the router if available.

5) Reboot Router/Modem: Unplug from power for 2 minutes and plug again. Update Router Firmware (check manufacturer’s support website). Verify your router is Wi-Fi certified.

6) Determine if other Wi-Fi devices on network are working well (other iOS devices, Macs, PCs).

7) Try device at another Network, i.e., neighbors’, public coffee house, etc.

8) Restore the Device (ask for additional for details if desired).

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252

9) Go to an Apple Store for hardware evaluation.

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Answer 6

NChuang Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 14, 2016 9:51 AM in response to elcpu

Thanks. So as I wrote in my original post, my other devices are still working on my home wifi and my phone works on other public networks (I haven't checked a friend's wifi network since this started happening a few days ago). So I wonder if #3 & #5 are necessary for me? (I don't fully know what #4 is).

I've definitely done #1 (twice, I also had a random freeze that wasn't wifi-related so I had to force re-start again). I guess the only thing left to do is reset network settings, which I was hoping to avoid (and REALLY hope I don't have to restore...I backup regularly yet never feel that confident in what info is actually saved).

And yes, as I said in my original post, I already tried forgetting the public network to force it to see my home network. I also forgot my home network so I would have to re-enter the password.

It's just so strange that it temporarily worked again the day after writing the original post. Anyway, I do appreciate your reply!

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Answer 7

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Mar 14, 2016 10:12 AM in response to NChuang

#3 and 5 are not necessary but rebooting the router and updating the router firmware (if there is a new one) could help. Wi-Fi / Router issues are quite common and often reported on this forum. #4, Quality of Service, a feature of some routers to prioritize traffic on your network. If you don't have it or never set it up then ignore.

The fact that all other devices are working ok points to an issue with the phone but there is no assurance that resetting the network settings or doing a restore would solve the issue. Those are steps that are generally recommended to isolate the cause. Resetting the network settings would mean that you would have to reenter all your Wi-Fi passwords in the future. Restoring takes time. Restoring from backup returns your data (I have never had an issue but backup all your photos and data first). However, restoring could also return corruption if that is the issue. Restoring as New takes a lot of time to reconfigure all (last resort). I am afraid that there are no easy answers. It could be software or hardware, no way to know for sure until you try all the software related steps.

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Answer 8

NChuang Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 14, 2016 8:55 PM in response to elcpu

restoring could also return corruption

Wow that's...terrible! Haha.

Is there any chance it's related to updating to iOS 9.2.1? I was on 8.xsomething for a loooong time. But the sudden drop in getting the home wifi signal was several days after the iOS update.

I guess I'll see what happens with restore settings...thanks again!

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