chuckfresh

Q: Any fix for the iPhone 6 "incorrect password" WIFI error?

Began shortly after iOS 9 update. We have several customers experiencing the same issue with iPhones and iPads.

2016-04-18 09.02.18.jpg

Yes, we have been meticulously entering the correct password. We are aware it is case sensitive.

 

Apparently, this is a some sort of strange intermittent issue. My kid's MX5X2LL/A iPhone 6 will connect to WIFI for a week or two, then completely "forget" the passwords to every single wireless network it ever connected to with no notification or no warning. Then, a week or two later, miraculously connect to WIFI once again. This bizarre bug is driving us bananas - especially with all the data overages. It all seemed to begin upon upgrading to iOS 9. Here's what we've done since September:

 

• upgraded to iOS 9.1 and subsequent 9.1 updates

• re-upgraded to iOS 9.3.1

• erased and reset network settings at least 12 times

• erased and reset entire phone three times

• reset all wireless routers, changed SSIDs, changed passwords

 

A few things that did seem to give us at least some sort of progress, yet still unacceptable:

 

• disabled find my iphone - connected to WIFI immediately, then lost it again about a week later

• connected to Bright House public WIFI hotspot, although not through typical WIFI interface

• connected to two 5G wireless networks, even though it would not connect to the same network's 2G with same or different passwords

 

Signal strength is great everywhere. I've checked all the obvious and not so obvious stuff. Running a hotspot with no password is dangerous and not an option. It's not thermal, because this happens from a cold start. The only thing I can come up with is a firmware discrepancy in authentication in the WIFI chip used on MX5X2LL/A. Vendors are swapped mid-model in all cell phones, computers, and tablets, and it's usually transparent, so there may be a vendor-specific problem Apple is not aware of.

 

Apple support has been unhelpful and unfortunately pompous as usual, repeatedly declining there is a problem, and requesting that I send my phone in for a paid out-of-warranty service or replacement, which is NOT a solution, thanks. There are at least hundreds if not thousands of people posting here who have the SAME EXACT PROBLEM. My last post was deleted because some Apple genius somehow surmised there was funny business going on, but I can assure you and prove it has NOT EVER been hacked, cracked, unlocked, or jailbroken, whatever that means. Perhaps they have a mandate to delete posts that indicate their hardware may not "just work."

 

<Edited by Host>

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2.1, null

Posted on Apr 19, 2016 7:33 AM

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Q: Any fix for the iPhone 6 "incorrect password" WIFI error?

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  • by chuckfresh,

    chuckfresh chuckfresh Apr 22, 2016 3:09 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 22, 2016 3:09 PM in response to elcpu

    Thanks for the tips. iOS 8 was perfect for us, no DNS problems, even with a substitute DNS. In iOS 9, can't even connect to the dang wireless 2.4 GHz network to get to DNS, so unfortunately, that's a moot point. It's the password or encryption authentication that's got everything jacked up. What's weird is they worked for a week or two with iOS 9, then pooped out. I didn't know there was an issue until I saw my cell plan data usage spike. Kids don't use BT or find my iphone. We reset network, reset phone, reset router, reset earth's magnetic field, nothing worked on any of these phones. 5G WIFI is still working at home, so we've got a temporary fix until the kid heads back to Mom's jacked-up 2.4 GHz WIFI.

     

    We have three exact models bought the same day from the same Apple store. Level 2 probably can't fix this - it's most likely a hardware thing. I'd be really surprised if they replaced all 3 MG5X2LL/A phones. But again, thanks for the tip. You've been the most helpful yet.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Apr 22, 2016 3:26 PM in response to chuckfresh
    Level 6 (16,186 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 22, 2016 3:26 PM in response to chuckfresh

    You are welcome, good luck... 

  • by chuckfresh,

    chuckfresh chuckfresh Apr 27, 2016 6:11 AM in response to chuckfresh
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 27, 2016 6:11 AM in response to chuckfresh

    Apple support responded to my tweet, so I patiently tried them again. They verified that I had the correct version of iTunes (irrelevant) and told me I'd have to take it into an Apple store for diagnostics, which may result in a repair of up to $299 since it's out of warranty. (I have THREE of these that have the same problem). And again, there is no way to roll back to iOS 8, which would fix this.

     

    Anyone want to trade my iPhone 6 for an iPhone 5S or even a 5C?

  • by chuckfresh,

    chuckfresh chuckfresh May 19, 2016 4:33 AM in response to chuckfresh
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iPhone
    May 19, 2016 4:33 AM in response to chuckfresh

    Updated to iOS 9.3.2 last night, and still no connection to 2.4 GHz wireless networks.

     

    Still no tips, words, or a fix from Apple. Still no way to roll this phone back to iOS 8, because apparently that is a crime.

     

    And no, "pay $299 and trade your phone in" is NOT a solution.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu May 19, 2016 7:08 AM in response to chuckfresh
    Level 6 (16,186 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 19, 2016 7:08 AM in response to chuckfresh

    Sorry to hear. I was hoping that by now you had solved your problem. I would not expect a "fix" since I am not aware of other posts here with this issue. Any possibility of a hardware?

  • by chuckfresh,

    chuckfresh chuckfresh May 19, 2016 7:46 AM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iPhone
    May 19, 2016 7:46 AM in response to elcpu

    I have at least a dozen, maybe more, customers in my repair business who have experienced a similar issue. Some have resolved, others have given up and upgraded. My kids tried my Samsung Gear VR on my S7 Edge, and it looks like they'll be skipping the iPhone 7 and leaving the Apple ecosystem. I really hoped Apple would step up to resolve this hardware conflict, but they didn't. Oh well.

     

    Does anyone know why 5G wireless would work when 2G encryption fails? That's the really interesting thing.

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