My iPhone 11 Won't Connect To The Internet! Here's The Fix.

David Lynch

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Your iPhone 11 is not connecting to the internet and you're not sure why. No matter what you do, you can't load web pages or your social media feed. In this article, I'll help you diagnose and fix the real reason why your iPhone 11 won't connect to the internet!

Is It My iPhone, My Cellular Data, Or My Router?

At this point, we don't know if there's an issue with your iPhone, it's connection to your wireless carrier's network, or a problem with your wireless router.

First, let's try a couple simple steps to rule out an issue with your iPhone's connection to cellular data. Go to Settings -> Cellular and turn off the switch next to Cellular Data. Wait a few seconds, then turn the switch back on again.

Next, try ejecting your SIM card and resetting it. This will give your iPhone 11 an opportunity to make a fresh connection to your carriers network.

Addressing Router Concerns

One quick way to fix a router connectivity problem is to unplug it from the wall and plug it back. Most of the time, this will fix a router problem.

Follow the steps below if this doesn't fix the problem on your iPhone. If your iPhone 11 won't connect to the internet after following the steps below, you may want to contact the manufacturer of your wireless router.

How To Fix An iPhone 11 That's Not Connecting To The Internet

9 Steps Total
1.

Restart Your iPhone 11

Restarting your iPhone 11 lets all of its programs shut down naturally and get a fresh start when you turn it on again. This can often fix minor software glitches.

  1. Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button.
  2. Swipe the red power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone 11.
  3. Press and hold the side button to turn your iPhone 11 on again.
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2.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again

Turning Wi-Fi off and back on again can sometimes fix minor technical issues that may causing your problem.

How Do I Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again?

There are two ways to turn Wi-Fi off and back on again:

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again In The Settings App

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap the switch next to Wi-Fi.
  4. You'll know Wi-Fi is off when the switch is gray.
  5. To turn Wi-Fi back on, tap the switch again.
  6. You'll know Wi-Fi is on when the switch is green.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On Again In Control Center

  1. Swipe up from below the bottom of the screen to open Control Center.
  2. Tap the Wi-Fi  icon.
  3. You'll know Wi-Fi is off when the  icon is black inside of a gray circle. wi-fi off in control center
  4. Tap the icon again to turn Wi-Fi back on.
  5. You'll know W-Fi is on when the icon is white inside of a blue circle. bluetooth is on control center
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3.

Try Connecting To A Different Wi-Fi Network

Attempting to connect to a different Wi-Fi network will help us determine whether your iPhone won't connect to Wi-Fi because of your wireless router or your iPhone itself. Many times, your iPhone may be completely fine, but your wireless will be experiencing connectivity issues.

How Do I Try Connecting To A Different Wi-Fi Network?

  1. Try connecting your iPhone to a different Wi-Fi network than the one in your home.
  2. If your iPhone connects to other Wi-Fi network, then you've identified that the issue is with the Wi-Fi setup in your home.
  3. If your iPhone doesn't connect to any Wi-Fi networks, then the problem is likely being caused by your iPhone.
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4.

Forget Your Wi-Fi Network And Reconnect

Every time your iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi network for the first time, it saves information about how to connect to that Wi-Fi network. However, things can change on your wireless router that your iPhone is unaware of. If your iPhone is unaware of the changes, it may not be able to make a clean connection to the Wi-Fi network.

Erasing the network entirely, we can compensate for any potential changes to the router and essentially "update" the Wi-Fi's network data on your iPhone. Before erasing the network, make sure you write down your Wi-Fi password because you'll have to reenter it when you reconnect!

How Do I Forget My Wi-Fi Network And Reconnect?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi.
  3. Tap on the blue "i" to the right of the Wi-Fi network you wish to forget.
  4. At the top of the screen, tap Forget This Network.
  5. Tap Forget when asked Forget Wi-Fi Network "(network name)"?
  6. To reconnect to the Wi-Fi network, tap on it.
  7. Enter the password if the Wi-Fi network is password protected.
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5.

Reset Network Settings

When your iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth device for the first time, it saves information about how to connect to that network or device. If something changes with that process, it may cause connectivity issues.

Deep software problems, especially with network settings, can be difficult to track down. Rather than trying to track an issue down, we're going to reset all network settings and give your iPhone a fresh start.

How Do I Reset Network Settings?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down and tap Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  6. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  7. Your iPhone will shut down, reset, and turn itself on again when the reset is complete.
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6.

Back Up Your iPhone

It's important to back up your iPhone before doing any major restores (such as a DFU restore). If something goes wrong while you're trying to fix your iPhone, having a back up means you won't lose any of your data (such as contacts, photos, apps, and more). Restoring from a back up is a lot more convenient than having to go and reenter all the information that was saved on your iPhone.

How Do I Back Up My iPhone?

There are a few different ways to back up your iPhone:

Backup Your iPhone Using iCloud

  1. If you have a WiFi connection, you can back up your iPhone using iCloud.
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Tap on Your Name at the top of the screen.
  4. Tap iCloud.
  5. Scroll down and tap on iCloud Backup.
  6. Make sure the switch next to iCloud Backup is on. You'll know the switch is on when the switch is green.
  7. Tap Back Up Now.
  8. A status bar will appear to tell you how much time is remaining.

Backup Your iPhone Using iTunes

  1. Plug the Lightning connector on your Lightning cable (charging cable) into the Lightning port on your iPhone.
  2. Plug the other end of your Lightning cable into a USB port on your computer.
  3. Open iTunes on your computer.
  4. Click on the iPhone icon in the upper left hand corner of iTunes.
  5. Click the circle next to "iCloud" or "This computer" to select whether you want to backup your iPhone to iCloud or your computer.
  6. Click Back Up Now to backup your iPhone.
  7. When the backup is complete, you'll see the time and date updated under Latest Backup.

Backup Your iPhone Using Finder (Macs Running Catalina 10.15 or newer)

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a charging cable.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. Click on your iPhone under Locations.
  4. Click the circle next to Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
  5. Click Back Up Now.
  6. When the backup is complete, you'll see the time and date updated under Latest Backup.
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7.

Put Your iPhone In DFU Mode

A DFU restore is the last troubleshooting step you can take to rule out a software problem on your iPhone.

Watch our step-by-step DFU restore guide on YouTube, or follow the steps below:

  1. Plug your iPhone in a computer.
  2. Open iTunes (on PCs or Macs running macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier) or Finder (Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15 or newer).
  3. Press and release the volume up button.
  4. Press and release the volume down button.
  5. Press and hold the side button until your iPhone's display goes black.
  6. When the screen turns black, press and hold the volume down button while continuing to hold the side button.
  7. Hold both buttons for five seconds.
  8. After five seconds, release the side button, but continue to hold the volume down button.
  9. Release the volume down button when your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder.
  10. Your iPhone appears in iTunes or Finder, it's in DFU mode!
  11. Click Restore and follow the on-screen prompts to DFU restore your iPhone.
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8.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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9.

Contact Your Wireless Carrier

Sometimes when your iPhone experiences issues related to your cellular network (no or poor service, calls going straight to voicemail), the problem is stemming from the cellular network, not the iPhone itself.

Below are the support numbers of major wireless carriers to contact if you're experiencing problems.

  1. Verizon: 1-(800)-922-0204
  2. Sprint: 1-(888)-211-4727
  3. AT&T: 1-(800)-331-0500
  4. T-Mobile: 1-(877)-746-0909
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Back To Browsing!

You've fixed the problem and you can continue browsing the web on your iPhone. Now you'll know exactly what to do the next time your iPhone 11 won't connect to the internet! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave us a comment below.

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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Scott Briggs
Scott Briggs
3 years ago

My one year old iPhone 11 is out of warranty and stopped connecting to the internet with Siri, in the car, and with every where else without connecting to Wi-Fi. It will connect to my Wi-Fi at home. I can make calls & send texts without Wi-Fi, but I cannot use email without Wi-Fi. I spent 3 1/2 hours at the Apple Genius bar. Supposedly, I ran every test they had, including a full hard reset as a last resort. It would still not connect with Wi-Fi turned off in the Apple Store. The final statement from the Genius was… Read more »

chethan
chethan
3 years ago

Hi.
I’m not able to use internet after resetting my iPhone 11.

Glenda
Glenda
3 years ago

Can I go online without being detected?

Colin Boyd
Editor
Colin Boyd
3 years ago
Reply to  Glenda

Hi Glenda, there are lots of ways to protect your personal privacy while browsing the internet on your iPhone. Here’s a link to a video we made with some great iPhone settings you can use to maximize privacy and save battery life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va_o2JQVbAk

PATSY B ROGERS
PATSY B ROGERS
3 years ago

Have identical problem as outlined below. Can’t connect iPhone 11 to internet. Have new modem and connects to surface pro but not the phone`. Have tried every ‘cure’ listed.

Tonya Harrison
Tonya Harrison
4 years ago

I have an iPhone 11 pro max have WiFi through my cable company. I noticed that my phone is connected to WiFi but no internet access. cable provider came out and gave me a new modem and still have the same problem. Called my phone carrier gave me a new IP address a new subnet mask but I don’t know the router number I can get wifi from other places but not in my home help

Mandy
Mandy
4 years ago

Ive tried everything and still not “internet” for facebook, Instagram, whats app and pandora on my new iPhone 11. I did all your steps. I am getting mail though. and I can also get into my bank account. So weird. Help!!

PATSY B ROGERS
PATSY B ROGERS
3 years ago
Reply to  Mandy

That is my exact problem

Chantal
Chantal
2 years ago
Reply to  Mandy

I have spent 7 hours with 3 agents trying to sort out the same problem…..