If you’re looking for answers to why my iPad doesn’t connect to the Wifi, then you’re at the right place. This article will explain why your iPad is not connecting to WiFi and various solutions to fix this issue.
How To Fix The Issue “iPad Not Connecting To The Wi-Fi Network”?
It is common to encounter problems connecting to WiFi from your smart devices. Every user will come face to face with this connection issue, and most users can solve the issue quickly.
Before going deeper into this issue, try following some common troubleshooting tips. These tips can be as simple as moving closer to your Wifi router to check for any loose cables and connections. Below is a list of simple troubleshooting tips that you can try.
- Common troubleshooting tips.
- #1 iPad not connecting to WiFi due to router/modem error
- Restart your router.
- Update the router’s Firmware.
- #2 iPad not connecting to WiFi due to an error with the iPad
- Turn iPad’s Wi-Fi connection Off and back On.
- Toggle Airplane Mode On & Off
- Forget your WiFi network and reconnect.
- Turn Off your VPN.
- Restart your iPad.
- Reset your iPad’s Wi-Fi connection.
- Check for iOS updates.
- DFU Restore
Common Troubleshooting Tips:
- Ensure that the WiFi router is On and your iPad is within range. If your iPad exceeds the favorable coverage of the WiFi signal range, then you may face the not connecting issue. Try moving closer to your Router and try reconnecting to the network.
- Ensure that your iPad’s WiFi is On and the WiFi network’s name is displayed on the screen. It may be the WiFi router that is responsible for the issue. So before moving on to troubleshooting your iPad, it is recommended to check the status of your WiFi router/network. Navigate to your iPad’s WiFi section, turn on the WiFi service, and check if the network name is displayed on the available network list. A blue checkmark will flash beside the Wi-Fi network’s name if your iPad is connected to this network. Also, try to connect to the network with other devices (laptops, desktops, or smartphones).
- Check the password. In situations where you enter the network access password and keep getting denied, you may check the authenticity of the password. Or the network administrator has changed the access password. Verify the password and ensure that you are typing the correct password.
- Check for any loose cables and connections. It may be the loose network cables that cause fluctuations in the WiFi signals. Try re-plugging the wires and other links.
Solutions For iPad Not Connecting To WiFi Due To Router/Modem Error
- Restart Your Router
- Update The Router’s Firmware
1. Restart Your Router
Restarting a device is the simplest and most effective solution to fixing a machine. Restarting the Router will fix the minor errors that your Router is facing.
Restarting a router is very simple. Just turn the Router Off, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back On. If a simple restart doesn’t fix the issue, you may try Power Cycling your WiFi Router.
- Power Off the WiFi router.
- Unplug the cables(power cable, ethernet cable).
- Press & hold the Router’s power button for 30 seconds.
- Re-plug all wires & cables back to their original ports.
- Power On the WiFi router.
2. Update The Router’s Firmware
A Firmware works like an Operating System managing a router’s inner workings, and it is imperative to keep your Router’s Firmware up-to-date. Each update contains fixes to minor bugs and improves the Router’s overall performance.
Every router manufacturer has its custom Firmware. So there is no universal way to update the Firmware. You can generally access the Router’s web management page, navigate to Advanced settings-> Firmware, and check the Firmware’s current version.
Click the download link if it’s available, and the Router will automatically download the latest Firmware version and install it. However, if the automatic download link isn’t available on your Router, download the update package from the manufacturer’s website. Re-navigate to the Firmware section, click on Browse and select the location where the update package is stored.
Solutions For iPad Not Connecting To WiFi Due To An Error With The iPad
- Turn iPad’s Wi-Fi Connection Off And Back On
- Toggle Airplane Mode On & Off
- Forget Your WiFi Network And Reconnect
- Turn Off Your VPN
- Restart Your iPad
- Reset Your iPad’s Wi-Fi Connection
- Check For iOS Updates
- DFU Restore
1. Turn iPad’s Wi-Fi Connection Off And Back On
Your iPad’s WiFi may not work correctly due to minor software glitches. Switching the Wi-Fi On & Off can solve most of the temporary bugs & glitches.
First, launch the Settings app from your iPad’s app drawer and tap WiFi. The button’s color will turn gray when you switch Off the WiFi. Re-tap the button to turn On the WiFi.
2. Toggle Airplane Mode On & Off
Enabling the Airplane Mode disconnects all sorts of external communication of your iPad. So toggling the Airplane Mode On & Off will effectively restart your WiFi functions, erasing the bugs & minor glitches that keep your iPad unable to connect to the WiFi network.
How to toggle Airplane Mode on iPad? Let’s look at the step-by-step process written below.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Tap on the Airplane Mode (Airplane icon) option.
- When disabled, the button beside the Airplane Mode option will be gray. Tap the button to Toggle On the Airplane Mode.\
- Please wait for a few seconds, or you can also reboot your iPad while it is in Airplane Mode.
- Navigate to the Airplane Mode screen and re-tap the button. It will switch Off the Airplane Mode.
- Now navigate to the WiFi section in your iPad’s Settings app. Turn On the WiFi button and try reconnecting to the WiFi network.
3. Forget Your WiFi Network And Reconnect
Due to software glitches, the stored network data may be corrupt, leading to failure when you try to connect to the Wifi network with your iPad. In such situations, you can delete (Forget Network) the network and set it up again. Let’s look at the process of forgetting the network and reconnecting with it.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Tap on the WiFi option. Turn On the WiFi service if it’s switched Off.
- From the list of available networks, select & tap the WiFi network you want to deal with.
- Tap the Info (i) icon beside the SSID (name of the WiFi network).
- Now tap on the option ‘Forget This Network.’
- Tap Forget Network and confirm that you want to forget (delete) the selected WiFi network.
- Also, if you want this process to be successful, you can try the ‘Forget Network’ operation for all available networks. Doing so will ensure that they will not interfere with the selected network.
- Reboot your iPad.
- Navigate to Settings-> WiFi.
- Tap on the Wi-Fi network name you want to connect to. Enter the correct password and tap Connect.
4. Turn Off Your VPN
VPN (Virtual Private Network) masks the traces when you surf the online world making it difficult for others to track and record your history. But sometimes, a VPN connection or configuration glitches can interfere with your iPad’s WiFi connection.
It is imperative to switch Off or disable the VPN service and check whether VPN is solely responsible for the issue ‘iPad not connecting to WiFi.’
- Launch the Settings app.
- Tap on the VPN option.
- Tap the switch/button in the top right corner. The switch will turn gray when the VPN is disabled.
- Reboot your iPad. This step will remove minor bugs and network glitches from your device.
- Open the WiFi section in the Settings app and try connecting to the WiFi network.
5. Restart Your iPad
It may be your iPadOS encountered unknown bugs that make your device unable to connect to the WiFi network. In this case, restarting your iPad can solve the issue (only for minor bugs & glitches).
For iPads with the Home button available, press and hold it until the Slide to Power Off icon appears on the screen. Drag the slider, and your iPad will initiate the shutdown process.
And for iPads without the Home button, you can simultaneously press and hold the Top button & the Volume button (either the Volume Up or Down key). Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off icon appears on the screen.
6. Reset Your iPad’s Wi-Fi Connection
You can only apply this solution if the previous solutions don’t work on your iPad. Reset is a broad term and function in Apple devices. This article will only discuss the ‘Reset Network Settings’ feature because, in a sense, the WiFi-related issue belongs to Network errors.
Resetting the network settings will restore your iPad network-related services to factory default settings. The services include Bluetooth, Cellular settings, WiFi, and VPN settings. This Reset process will eliminate all sorts of software bugs or glitches.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Tap General. Then navigate to Transfer or Reset iPhone-> Reset-> Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your iPad passcode for authentification and tap Reset Network Settings.
- Wait for the Reset process to complete. Navigate to Settings-> WiFi.
- Select the WiFi network name you want to connect to and enter the correct password.
7. Check For iOS Updates
You can try updating your iOS version to fix the ‘iPad not connecting to Wi-Fi’ issue. The update contains fixes to various bugs and minor glitches. And the Wi-Fi network issue may also get fixed with this software update.
- Launch the Settings App.
- Tap on the General option.
- Select Software Update.
- Check for the latest updates. If it is available, then click on the Download & Install option.
- Ensure that your iPad is connected to the charger and has a stable Wi-Fi internet connection.
8. DFU Restore
A DFU (Device Firmware Update) Restore performs an in-depth restore of your iPad (any Apple device). This solution may be the final and ultimate solution that users can try to solve the WiFi issue.
Note that DFU Restore will erase the data of your iPad. Hence it is imperative to back up your iPad data before proceeding with the restoration process.
- Connect your iPad to your computer (Mac or Windows PC) with the data/charging cable.
- Launch the iTunes app on your computer. Or Launch Finder on your Mac.
- Now follow the given process to make your iPad appear on the iTunes screen.
- iPads with a Home button.
- Press & hold the Power & Home buttons.
- Release the Power button while holding the Home button 3 seconds after the iPad screen goes blank or the Apple Logo appears on the screen.
- Hold the Home button until your iPad appears on your computer’s iTunes screen.
- iPads without a Home button.
- iPads with a Home button.
- Press & hold the Top button.
- After 3 seconds, press & hold the Volume Down button.
- Hold both buttons for 10 seconds, then release the Top button.
- Release the Volume Down button after your iPad appears on the Itunes screen.
- Now click on the Restore iPad option.
Conclusion
No one is immune to WiFi problems. Each one of us has encountered or will encounter WiFi issues. And the most common WiFi issue is that your iPad (or any device) cannot connect to the usual WiFi network.
The crux of these issues may sometimes be found on the network router, or it may also be your iPad inflicted with bugs and minor glitches. Fortunately, there are solutions to these errors that you can apply and reconnect your iPad to the network.
And if you cannot fix the issue with the above solutions, you can try to contact Apple Support for technical assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Is My WiFi Saying ‘Wrong Password’ When It’s Correct?
You may face this ‘Wrong Password’ prompt if you enter the incorrect password (literally). Passwords are case-sensitive, so recheck the password for case-sensitive errors. In other cases, mixing the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandwidth may also cause the above prompt.
Separate the two networks and check if the issue has been solved or not. And lastly, try Forgetting the network and setting it up again.
Why Is My IPad Not Connecting To The WiFi?
Both routers and your iPad may be the cause of this issue. On the Router’s side, it may be due to loose network cables affecting signal strength. Or it may be because of bugs and minor glitches. Other causes include corrupt iPad network configurations, VPN & APN settings glitches, bugs in iPadOS, etc.
Why Is The Wifi Not Working On My iPhone But Working On Other Devices?
Since other devices can connect to the WiFi network, the crux of the issue is your iPhone. Several possible causes are that your iPhone won’t connect to the WiFi, such as corrupt Network configurations (settings) and VPN settings interfering with the WiFi service.
How Do You Fix An IPad That Won’t Stay Connected To Wifi?
Signal strength is an overly looked situation where your iPad repeatedly drops the WiFi network connection. Try moving closer to the router, which will solve most users’ issues. If Signal strength isn’t the issue, you may find the underlying cause on the iPad’s WiFi service.
Switching WiFi service On and Off or toggling the Airplane Mode On & Off can fix minor bugs and help you reconnect with the WiFi. You can try resetting the network settings if all solutions fail to solve the issue.
