8 Best Ways to Fix iPhone Wi-Fi Unable to Join the Network

Your smartphone is as powerful as a multifunction phone or a clipboard without Wi-Fi or mobile data. On iPhone, we saw the phone not joining the Wi-Fi network. In some cases, it connects to Wi-Fi but works without the Internet. If you are facing the same issue, let’s fix iPhone Wi-Fi network unable to join error.

Before you go ahead and visit your nearest Apple Store for a fix, follow the steps mentioned in the article and try to fix the problem at home.

1. Restart the iPhone

Restarting your iPhone helps you fix small issues with the device. Before going ahead with advanced methods to troubleshoot iPhone Wi-Fi unable to join network error, you should try this and see the results.

Those with an iPhone X or higher models can long press the volume up / down and power button simultaneously. Use Slide to turn off and restart iPhone.

Those using older iPhone models with a home button can hold down the volume down button on the left side of the device and the power button on the right side at the same time.

Hold them for 10 seconds until the screen darkens and an Apple logo appears on the screen.

An alternate method to restart iPhone is from Settings> General> Shut Down.

2. Check the router

Sometimes the problem may not be on your side. If the firmware of the router is out of date, it may cause you problems. You can restart the router and, even better, update the firmware on it.

This how-to guide will help you upgrade your router’s firmware.

3. Reconnect the Wi-Fi network

This trick has worked for many people. You can forget about the Wi-Fi connection and try to reconnect it from the Settings menu. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

2nd step: Go to Wi-Fi and press the little “i” button.

Step 3: Select Forget This Network from the next menu.

Connect to the same Wi-Fi network with the password.

4. Connect to another Wi-Fi frequency

Most iPhone models and modern Wi-Fi routers support dual band frequency. If you are having trouble connecting to the 2.4 GHz frequency, try connecting to the 5.0 GHz frequency.

It will also improve the internet speed on your phone.

5. Enable automatic connection for a specific Wi-Fi network

IPhone automatically connects to Wi-Fi networks saved on the phone. If you have turned off the auto-connect option, iPhone may display an Unable to Join Network error. Let’s enable automatic connection for a Wi-Fi network.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone and go to the Wi-Fi menu.

2nd step: Select your preferred network and press the small “i” button next to it.

Step 3: Enable automatic join in the following menu.

6. Disable low data mode

Low Data mode helps reduce your iPhone’s data usage on your mobile network or on specific Wi-Fi networks you select. If you try to connect to a Wi-Fi network with Low Data mode enabled, the network error may be returned. Let’s turn it off.

Step 1: Go to iPhone Settings> Wi-Fi and tap the Info button.

2nd step: Turn off low data mode in the Wi-Fi information menu.

7. Disable iCloud Private Relay

iCloud Private Relay prevents networks from monitoring your internet activity and hides your IP address from known trackers and websites.

By default, Apple enables iCloud Private Relay for each Wi-Fi connection and redirects Internet traffic through an Apple-branded server.

Sometimes, when iCloud Private Relay is down, it may interfere with your iPhone’s Wi-Fi functions and you end up seeing unable to join network error.

You need to turn off iCloud Private Relay for the specific Wi-Fi connection.

Step 1: Go to iPhone Settings> Wi-Fi and open the Wi-Fi information menu.

2nd step: Turn off iCloud Private Relay in the Wi-Fi menu.

Note that iCloud Private Relay is only available for iCloud + subscribers.

8. Reset network settings

Apple offers a handy network settings reset tool that helps you troubleshoot network related issues on iPhone. Here is how to use it.

Step 1: Open Settings and go to General.

2nd step: Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone> Reset.

Step 3: Tap Reset network settings.

Enter your device password for confirmation and the operating system will reset the network settings on the iPhone.

Start using Wi-Fi on iPhone

Considering the share of the operating system’s functionality that relies on the iPhone’s Wi-Fi network, it can be difficult to work on the phone without it. You can bookmark this message and review it whenever your iPhone doesn’t connect to your Wi-Fi network.