There is nothing more frustrating than an iPad that won’t connect to Wi-Fi. After all, it’s not like you can plug in an ethernet cable and get back to work. While Wi-Fi problems on your iPad are rare, they do happen. If you are having trouble with your Wi-Fi, follow the tips below on how to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
1. Check Your Range
If you are having issues on your iPad, you first need to make sure you haven’t gone too far away from your Wi-Fi router. I know it can be tempting to carry it with you everywhere, but the range of your Wi-Fi router is limited. If you notice your signal strength is weak, try moving closer to your router. You may have just reached the limit of its range.
2. Restart Your iPad
The first thing you should do is also the easiest. If you have no network connectivity but you are confident that your network is available and you are in range, then you may want to try restarting your iPad. While a simple restart may do the trick, you probably should completely shutdown your iPad, wait a minute or two, and then turn it on again. Give it time to come back up and then try to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network. Remember, iPads are just handheld computers, and sometimes they need a restart to clean things up. For good measure, you may want to consider restarting it once or twice a month depending on your usage.
3. Try Another Network
If a simple restart doesn’t do the trick, then you may want to try another network. This will tell if it is a problem with your network, or at least a problem with your iPad connecting to that network. This may require you to go somewhere that offers free Wi-Fi, or pay a visit to a friend. If there is another network in your area, you could give that a try. But passwords may be a problem. If your iPad sees the other networks and asks you for a password, there’s a good chance that your Wi-Fi is working on your iPad and it’s something going on with your network.
4. Reboot Your Router
Sometimes, the problem may not be your iPad at all, but instead it could be your Wi-Fi router. In my experience, you could encounter a problem with your iPad or smartphone while everything still works just find on your laptop or vice versa. These weird types of problems can make you think there is a problem with the Wi-Fi card on your device, but in reality the problem is actually your Wi-Fi router. Wi-Fi routers are just small computers, and every now and then they could use a good reboot. These reboots can clear out the memory and allow them to function normally. If you are having Wi-Fi trouble, turn off your router by flipping the power switch or unplugging it. Count to 20 and then turn it back on. Give it a minute or two to come back up and then give your iPad a try. You may want to delete the network and re-add it on your iPad afterwards just for good measure.
5. Delete and Re-Add Network
Sometimes, there is only something wrong with the settings for the particular network you are trying to connect to and use. Go to Settings – Wi-Fi and then select the network you are trying to connect to. From there, you can select to forget the network. Once forgotten, you then have to return to the main Wi-Fi menu and reconnect to the network just like it was a new network. That means you will need to know the name of the network and the Wi-Fi password before you can reconnect to the network.
6. Reset Your Network Settings
In some cases, the simple fixes just won’t quite do the trick. Thankfully, Apple has made even the more complicated fixes pretty simple and easy to do. If you are still having problems with the Wi-Fi on your iPad, you may need to reset your network settings. This will keep all your settings safe, including your files and apps, but it will wipe out all your network settings. This will clear out any saved networks from your device, so you will need passwords to reconnect them after you do it. Go to Settings – General – Reset and select Reset Network Settings. Wait for it to complete the reset and then try to reconnect to your Wi-Fi.
7. Reset All Settings
If the Network settings doesn’t do the trick, you could try getting rid of all settings. This will remove quite a bit from your iPad but keep all your data safe. Tap on Settings – General – Reset. Then choose Reset All Settings. This will wipe out all your settings, including the network settings. This should remove every type of setting on your device without removing your personal files and apps. If there was anything interfering with your Wi-Fi, this should take care of it. But if it doesn’t, you may have to reset more than your settings.
8. Erase All Content and Settings
If all else fails, you may need to completely reset your iPad. Before you begin this process, make sure all your data, including your contacts, files and more are backed up. Make a note of the apps you will need, as well. You can back all of this up using iCloud if you have enough space, but knowing what you need and what you don’t need will be helpful. Once you have backed everything up, tap on Settings – General – Reset and choose Erase All Content and Settings. This will essentially wipe your iPad and take it back to the way it was on the day you bought it. Once it comes back up, follow the prompts to reconnect it and sign in and then try to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
9. Contact Apple
If all else fails, you may need to repair the Wi-Fi card in your iPad. Before you contact Apple, make sure you have tried everything in this list. But, if you have, and you have tried multiple networks but are still having problems, you could be faced with a hardware problem on your device. When this happens, all you can do is call your local Apple support agent and make an appointment to have it examined and fixed.
Parting Thoughts
Wi-Fi problems on your iPad can be frustrating, but in most cases they can be easy to fix. By following this guide, you should be able to properly troubleshoot the problem yourself and, in most cases, fix the problem without calling in outside help. But if none of these options work, remember that Apple is available to help you fix the problem. That could mean a new Wi-Fi card or even a new iPad, but at least you will know what you need to do.
Have you ever had Wi-Fi problems on your iPad? If so, what did you do to fix it? Tell me about your experience in the comments below.