Several users have reported that the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max randomly and unexpectedly disconnects from Wi-Fi on its own while they are trying to make FaceTime video or audio calls. In other words, while using FaceTime over Wi-Fi, the device switches to cellular even when they have a fast Wi-Fi connection. Users have further said that their device rejoins the Wi-Fi network when the FaceTime call is ended.
It seems that this is an important problem, especially for some users. Because these users are complaining that this problem makes it easy to exceed the limits of the data plan without realizing it.
In this article, I explain what you can do if you are having this FaceTime Wi-Fi problem on your iPhone 18 Pro.
Please follow the steps below and after trying each step, use FaceTime again to see if you’ve fixed your issue.
Turn off Connectivity Assist
Connectivity Assist lets your iPhone use cellular data in addition to Wi-Fi. If you do not want your iPhone using cellular data during FaceTime calls, you can turn off Connectivity Assist:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Scroll down and turn off Connectivity Assist.
This, however, may not fix your problem. Connectivity Assist uses cellular data to improve your connection when Wi-Fi is slow or unusable, and with it turned on, you might use more cellular data. You can also turn off Connectivity Assist for a particular network.
Update
Ensure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS. You can go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates, and if there is an update, tap Download and Install.
Restart
Simply restart your device. Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, drag the power-off slider, then wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off. To turn it back on, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
Date & Time
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and ensure that your settings are correct. Please also turn on Set Time Automatically.
Troubleshoot your Wi-Fi
Are you struggling with poor Wi-Fi signal and range? There are a few things you can try:
- Update your router/modem firmware. Router manufacturers periodically release firmware updates to offer new features and security improvements. It is a good idea to install the latest available updates. If you do not know how to do this, you should check your router manufacturer’s support website or manual.
- Make sure that the router supports your Apple product. If you need help, contact the router’s manufacturer.
- Are you too far away from your router? You may want to move your router to a more centralized location.
- Restart your router and cable modem by unplugging the devices and then plugging them back in. This refreshes the network connection and can resolve minor connection issues.
- Contact your Internet service provider to check to see if there’s an internet outage.
Change your frequency
Some users have said that switching to the 5GHz frequency instead of using the 2.4GHz band fixes this problem for them. If your router supports separate frequencies, try joining another frequency. Please log in to your router’s settings page and look for the 5GHz network option. Some users have said that disabling the 2.4GHz band fixed this problem for them. Again you should check your manufacturer’s manual to learn how to do this.
Reset network settings
If you are still having this issue, you may want to consider resetting your iPhone 18 Pro’s network settings. This will not delete your data such as your photos or apps. However, your Wi-Fi passwords and your other Wi-Fi configurations will be erased. You can reset your network settings by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, then tapping Reset Network Settings.
If you are still having this issue, then you may:
- Disable Cellular Data on your device to force your device to use Wi-Fi only. Yes, this is not the perfect solution. Likewise, you can turn off cellular data for FaceTime. This will ensure that FaceTime will not use Cellular Data. If you want to do this, go to Settings, tap Cellular, scroll down to the list of apps and services, then turn off FaceTime.
- You can contact Apple support: You can call, chat, or visit a nearby Apple store to talk to a member of the Apple support team.
- You can give Apple feedback about this problem.
