Why My iPad Won't Connect to WiFi? Here Is The Top 10 Fixes! (2024)

The new iOS update can cause a bit of problems maintaining a stable Wi-Fi connection. You can connect to a Wi-Fi network that previously worked perfectly only to break suddenly in the middle of downloading an app or updating one. If this is happening to your iPad, we have a few solutions that will help you own a stable Wi-Fi network and remain connected to it.

Begin with the first solution and work your way through them until you find the one that works.

1. Restart Your Router and Make Sure You Are Within Range

Before you start thinking that the problem is about the device, you need make sure the router is working correctly. One of the ways you can do that is to restart the router. It is possible that the router is unable to transmit over the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency block. To restart it, look for the red button on the router and press it. Wait about 2 minutes after restarting the router, then you can try to connect again.

Another reason your iPad could be failing to connect to Wi-Fi is that your device may be out of range. If the device is far from the router, change your location to see if the connection can improve.

2. Reset Your iPad Network Settings

If you are certain that the problem is not due to the router, you may need to reset the iPad’s network settings. To do that, follow these very simple steps:

1. Open the settings on your iPad and then tap on “General”.
2. Tap on “Reset” and then click on “Reset Network Settings”.
3. Now rejoin the network and then try connecting to it again.

3. Update The Router’s Firmware

If you have verified that your router is working correctly and you have reset the network setting on your iPad but still can’t connect, you may need to ensure that the router has the latest firmware installed on it.

To update the firmware on your router, you need to check the device manually since different manufacturers will have different methods to do it. You should also check the manufacturer’s website for the instructions.

4. Reset Your iPad’s Wi-Fi Connection

Resetting your iPad’s Wi-Fi connection may also help to fix the problem if you are still unable to connect to it. The following simple steps will help you reset your iPad WiFi connection:

1. Go to Settings and then tap on Wi-Fi.
2. Slide the button to OFF to turn off Wi-Fi.
3. Wait a few seconds and then switch it on again.
4. Now check to see if you can connect to Wi-Fi.

5. Check & Reenter Your Wi-Fi Password

If you are unable to connect to Wi-Fi after joining a network, it is possible that you may enter the wrong password. Passwords can be difficult to remember especially when they have a combination of numbers and letters. Check to ensure that you are entering the correct password.

6. Forget The Network and Rejoin

It is also possible that sometimes a software bug can interfere with the connection between your iPad and the router. In this case, you need to forget a network and then rejoin. If you suspect that this connection may have been tampered with in some way, follow these simple steps to forget and rejoin a network:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap on “Wi-Fi”.
3. Next to the Network you’d like to forget, tap on the information button.
4. Tap “Forget this Network” at the top of the screen.
5. After a while, the network will reappear in the main Wi-Fi list. Select it and log in if you need to.

You can then open a web page in Safari to check if the network is working correctly.

7. Turn Airplane Mode on/off

Toggling Airplane mode on and off has also been known to work for network related problems. Try it to fix this Wi-Fi problem.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Turn on Airplane Mode.
3. Wait a few seconds and then turn off Airplane Mode again.

8. Force Restart Your iPad

If all the above troubleshooting options have not worked to fix your troublesome Wi-Fi connection, you can force restart the iPad to see if refreshing the entire device can help. Follow these simple steps to force restart your iPad:

1. Press and hold the top or side button on your device until you see the slider on the screen.
2. Drag the slider to turn off the device completely.
3. Then simply press and hold the top or side button until the device turns on again and you see the Apple Logo.

9. Update iPad to The Latest iOS Version

A device that is running a version of iOS that is not up to date may fail to work as expected including being unable to connect to a Wi-Fi network. This is why it is a good idea to update the iPad to the latest version. To do that, plug in the device into a power source and then follow these simple steps:

1. Tap on Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If an update is available, tap “Download and Install”. If you see a message saying you need to temporarily remove some apps since iOS needs more space, tap “Continue” or Cancel”. Any removed apps will be reinstalled once the update is complete.
3. Tap “Install” and wait for the update to be installed on your device.

10. Custom DNS on Your iPad

You can also try to change the Custom DNS setting if the problem persists. Here’s how to do that:

1. Go to settings on your iPad and then tap on Wi-Fi.
2. Click information button next to the network you’re trying to connect to and change the DNS to 8.8.8.8 or another secure DNS.

Tip: Take Care of iPad Data When It Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi

Before attempting to fix any problem with your device including the Wi-Fi connection problem, you’d better back up the data on your iPad. This is to guard against data loss while fixing the device. The best way to back up all the data on your device is to use a backup tool like iMyFone D-Port Pro. This program can be used to easily backup and restore data on your device and even export data from the iPad to the computer.

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The following is how you can use D-Port Pro to take care of the data on your device:

Export Important Data from Your iPad

• Install D-Port Pro to your computer and then launch the program. Choose the “Back up & Export from Device” option in the main window and then click “Export Data”. You may need to connect your iPad to the computer at this point.

• Choose the types of data you want to export and then click “Next”.

• The program will scan your iPad. Once scanning is complete, select the files you want and then click “Export”.

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Make A Full Backup of Your iPad

You can also choose to make a full backup of all the data on the device. Here’s how to do that:

• In the main window, select “Back Up and Export from Device” and then click on “Make a Full Back up”.

• Click “Backup” and it will begin backing up your iPad data. You will get a notification when the process is complete.

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Only Back up Messages/WhatsApp/WeChat from Your iPad

The program also allows you to back up only messages, WhatsApp and WeChat on your iPad. Please follow these simple steps:

• In the main window, click on “Back up & Export from Device” and then either click on “Back up Messages”, “Backup WeChat” or “Back up WhatsApp”.

• Click “Back Up” and the program will begin the process.

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The above solutions will help you fix an iPad that won't connect to Wi-Fi. Remember to back up your iPad data before attempting any solutions. Do not hesitate to try these useful methods. Feel free to leave comments below if you have other great ideas.