Apple reveals how to tweak the settings around to get your Wi-Fi working again

Mar 26, 2014 14:44 GMT  ·  By

It’s no mystery that a lot of people have been having Wi-Fi problems with their iDevices as of late, particularly since iOS 7 rolled out in 2013. While for some the solution seems to be replacing the iPhone altogether, Apple believes a lot of devices can be saved with a bit of tinkering.

Enter KB article TS1559, which details “iOS: Wi-Fi settings grayed out or dim,” a situation that many iOS 7 upgraders have found themselves in. Apparently, for some the fix is dead easy. They just don’t know it yet.

The company explains that “In rare instances, the setting to turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch may appear grayed out or dim. You may see the following when you tap Settings > Wi-Fi.”

“If this occurs, you can't turn Wi-Fi on, and when you try to turn Wi-Fi on, your device won't respond. If you're using iOS 7, Wi-Fi may appear to turn on and off in Control Center, but Wi-Fi won't respond,” the document reads.

If that’s you, Apple says there’s a potential fix to your troubles. Instead of making a trip to your local retail store to ask for a refund / replacement, see if these steps do the trick.

Basically all you need to do is reboot the iDevice and reset your network settings. It also helps to have your firmware up to date, according to the Cupertino giant. Without further ado, the official resolution for the Wi-Fi-grayed-out bug is broken down into these four steps.

1. Restart your iOS device. 2. Make sure that airplane mode is off by tapping Settings > Airplane Mode. 3. Reset the network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will reset all network settings, including Bluetooth pairing records, Wi-Fi passwords, VPN, and APN settings. 4. Make sure that your device is using the latest software. To do so, connect your device to your computer and check for updates in iTunes.

Apple says if these steps don’t help, you’re left with two more options: either contact the company for support, or try these more advanced Wi-Fi connectivity tips hosted at KB article ts1398.

The second document is chock-full of troubleshooting steps for all kinds of Wi-Fi problems on all device models, so be sure to give that one a look too before you head out the door to barge into your Apple store.