You’re trying to use Safari on your iPhone, but it isn’t connecting to the internet. No matter what you do, you can’t browse the web. In this article, we’ll explain how to diagnose and fix the problem when your iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max won’t connect to the internet!
Why is my iPhone 16 not connecting to internet?
The reasons your iPhone 16 is not connecting to internet can include anything from an app issue or software problem to a Wi-Fi network misconfiguration, router issue, or internet service provider problem. Read through the troubleshooting steps below, in order, to establish why your iPhone 16 won’t connect to internet and learn how to fix the problem.
How iPhone 16 connects to the internet
iPhone 16 does the following, in order, until a connection is made:
- Tries to connect to the most recently used available Wi-Fi network
- Shows a list of Wi-Fi networks in range and connects to the one you choose
- Connects to your carrier’s cellular data network
- Since the iPhone 16 supports 5G, iPhone may use your 5G cellular data instead of Wi-Fi. If so, you see Using 5G Cellular For Internet below the Wi-Fi network’s name. To switch back to Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to the network name, then tap Use Wi-Fi for Internet.
View available networks and connect your iPhone 16 to Wi-Fi
- Head over to Settings > Wi-Fi, then turn on Wi-Fi.
- To join a new network, do one of the following:
- Join an available network: Tap the name of the network. If asked, enter the password.
- Join a hidden network: Tap Other, then enter the name of the network, security type, and password.
When the iPhone 16 is connected to Wi-Fi, a blue checkmark appears next to the network name, and !the Wi-Fi icon appears at the top of the screen.
Connect your iPhone 16 to a cellular network if Wi-Fi isn’t available
Your iPhone 16 should automatically connects to your carrierʼs cellular data network if a Wi-Fi network isnʼt available. If iPhone doesn’t connect, check the following:
- Verify that your SIM is activated and unlocked.
- Head over to Settings > Cellular.
- Verify that Cellular Data is turned on. If you’re using Dual SIM, tap Cellular Data, then verify the selected line. (You can choose only one line for cellular data.)
How to Fix iPhone 16 Not Connecting to Internet Problem
Test the internet connection
On your iPhone, open a web browser such as Safari or Chrome and visit a website such as apple.com or geekschalk.com.
If the page displays in the browser, accessing the internet isn’t the problem. It may be an isolated issue and related to the specific app you’re using. The only thing you can do is wait for the developer to fix it.
If you can’t connect to the website, continue to troubleshoot the problem.
Reboot the iPhone
A reboot is a common fix for many pieces of technology and is always an important step in basic iPhone troubleshooting. A quick restart might power cycle whatever the issue is and get you back online.
To restart an iPhone 16, hold the side button and either the volume buttons, then slide the slider to power off. When the screen is completely black, press and hold the power button once more to power it on.
Forget the Wi-Fi network, then reconnect
If you’re trying to connect to our Wi-Fi network, deleting the iPhone’s memory of the network and then re-establishing it can be helpful.
Go to Settings > WiFi. Tap the small (i) next to the network you’re connected to, choose Forget This Network, then repeat Step 3 above to connect the iPhone to Wi-Fi.
Check the Wi-Fi strength and move closer to the router
When you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you’ll see the three-lined Wi-Fi symbol at the top of the display. The Wi-Fi symbol looks like a dot with two circular waves above it and appears on the far right side of the status bar.
If you have a poor connection, one or more of the waves above the dot are gray rather than black. If there is only a dot, the Wi-Fi connection might be so degraded that you can’t connect to the internet.
Disconnect other devices from the network
As more and more devices connect to the same network, bandwidth has to be divided equally, which can lead to each device having only a tiny slice of the network bandwidth.
To improve WiFi performance on your iPhone 16, shut off devices or remove devices from the network.
Check the internet connection speed if your iPhone 16 is connected to Wi-Fi but no Internet access
A speed test shows even a really slow connection speed, which can make it clear whether you’re completely disconnected or just connected with such a slow speed that the internet doesn’t work.
Restart the router
The router handles all the network connections, so a restart can be helpful whether it’s just the iPhone 16 Pro that’s having internet issues or other devices, too.
To reboot your router, unplug all the cords from the device and then wait a few minutes. After you plug it back in, wait a minute or two for the device to set up.
Contact your Internet provider
Check with your ISP to ensure that there isn’t a system-wide problem. If there is a system-wide problem, you’ll need to wait until your ISP fixes the issue.
Disable VPN
Using a VPN can be extremely useful, especially if you are trying to keep your online information protected. However, VPNs can act up from time-to-time and can cause your internet connection to not work properly.
Go to Settings and if VPN is on, turn it off, then try to connect to your Wi-Fi network again.
Toggle cellular data
Go to Settings > Cellular. If data is on, turn off the Cellular Data toggle switch, then re-enable it after a minute. If data is off, tap the Celluar Data toggle switch to turn it on.
Check for carrier updates
If refreshing the mobile data option didn’t make the iPhone work properly, go to Settings > General > About and check for a carrier settings update.
Contact your carrier
Call your cellular provider if your iPhone 16 still won’t connect to the internet.
Update iOS
When it comes to diving into more troubleshooting, one step is to double-check and make sure that your iPhone 16 is running the latest version of iOS software. This is especially true as of late, as Apple has been releasing some “point” updates at a more frequent pace. Here’s how to check your software:
- Start the Settings app.
- Go to General.
- Tap Software Update.
- If an update is available, download it and then once prompted, install the update. Another reason for this is if you happen to be on the iOS beta cycle, as releases are coming even more frequently than the stable releases. So it’s important to make sure that your iPhone is up to date, as there could be some bugs wreaking havoc.
Reset the network settings on the iPhone
There may be a glitch or misconfiguration that stops your iPhone 16 from connecting to the internet.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Backup and restore your iPhone
So you’ve exhausted all of the other options and are just at your wit’s end. The next step you’ll want to try before resorting to something more extreme is to wipe your iPhone completely clean and start anew.
Backup first
Before just erasing your iPhone, make sure that you have an iCloud backup saved, so that you can restore pertinent pieces of information. Here’s how to backup your iPhone to iCloud:
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your profile at the top of the page.
- Select iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now.
The backup process could take some time if you are connected to your cellular network. However, it’s still important to back everything up before you perform a Factory Reset, so patience is key here.
Now Restore
After the backup has been completed, you can rest easy and proceed with the Factory Reset of your iPhone.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Erase All Content and Settings.
- Type in your passcode or Apple Account password, when prompted.
After your iPhone has wiped itself clean, you will need to go through the setup process again. If you want, you will have the option to restore the recently-created iCloud backup.
Contact Apple
Did you try out all the fixes listed in this post but your iPhone 16 is still not connecting to Internet? If so, there’s a chance you’re going to have to contact Apple. But before you do, try to figure out if the problem is with your device, carrier or router. Try connecting as many devices as possible to your Wi-Fi network. If none of them can get online, the problem is with the router or the network. But if only one of them can’t connect, it’s likely there’s something wrong with that specific device.
iPhone 16 not connecting to Internet: Fixed
These are some of the most basic and common solutions when You’re iPhone 16 won’t connect to Internet, although they aren’t the only ones. Did any of them solve your connection issues? Let us know which one in the comments!