Why is my Wi-Fi so slow on my iPhone

iPhones are arguably one of the best phones in the world since their launch in 2007 with the latest iPhone model being the iPhone 12 Pro launched in October 2020.

Slow internet especially on these high-end models is super annoying. Slow internet means that you’re receiving less browsing speeds than what you are supposed to get. Most iPhone users in online forums reported slow Wi-Fi speeds on their phones after upgrading their phone’s iOS version.

Your Wi-Fi is slow on your iPhone probably due to several factors such as the iPhone model, the iOS version, the type of activity on your phone, the connection strength, and whether you have any VPNs, firewalls, or proxies. Besides, it could be an issue with your router.  

Causes of slow Wi-Fi on iPhone

iPhones come in different models and each latest model comes with the latest technology. If you own an older version, you might be experiencing the issue because of an outdated iOS version. Not all phones support the latest iOS version. If you are unable to upgrade the iOS version on your phone, then consider buying a new one.

Based on what activity you’re using your phone to do, it may consume or may require more bandwidth and internet speeds. For example, your phone speeds might be OK when you open an email but slow when you play a YouTube video.

Some of us use firewalls and VPNs on our phones to mask our IP addresses. These features might be what is ailing your iPhone when it connects to your Wi-Fi. The other thing to check is your router since it sits at the center of the connection.

Troubleshooting your Wi-Fi connection

Before jumping to a hurried conclusion, it’s best to troubleshoot your internet connection first to determine where the problem lies. This is because troubleshooting your iPhone’s internet can take time. The first thing to do is to ensure your internet speeds are OK. Run an internet speed test online and compare those speeds with your ISP’s plan. Next, test the other devices on the network. Are their speeds OK? If not, then perform the following solutions.

First solution: Reboot your router

Most slow internet connections are directly linked with the router. Though not always, it’s good to check your router speeds first before proceeding. The router may be experiencing random firmware crashes that make it to have slower internet speeds. Rebooting clears this as it removes the file segments with errors that cause flaws on the router/modem. To reboot your router, press, and hold down the router’s power button to turn it off. Next, unplug the router from the power outlet then wait for about a minute or two before powering it on again. Finally, plug the cable back and switch on the router then wait until it’s fully powered on. Once fully powered on, wait for the router light to be stable and then establish the connection between the router and your iPhone. Check if the problem has been resolved. If not, then move to the next solution.

Second solution: Restart your iPhone

Apple releases frequent iOS updates that sometimes come with bugs that may end up interfering with its internet connection. By simply rebooting the iPhone, you can clear this issue. Press and hold the Power button together with one of the volume buttons at the same time for a few seconds. Once the ‘Slide to Power Off’ icon prompts on your screen release these buttons and drag the slider to turn your off phone. Wait for about 30 seconds and then power it on by pressing and holding the Power button until the Apple logo shows on the screen. Give the phone some time to completely boot and then connect to the Wi-Fi network. Once a connection has been established, try using your phone for any internet activity to check the internet speeds. If they’re still dismal then go to the next solution.

Third solution: Disable and enable Wi-Fi

SImply by disabling and then enabling your phone’s Wi-Fi functionality can sort the issue. To successfully perform a disable and enable, go to Settings on your iPhone and then select the ‘Wi-Fi’ menu and then tap on its switch to turn off the Wi-Fi. Restart your phone while the Wi-Fi functionality is still turn off. Once the phone is back on, Click on Settings again and then go to the Wi-Fi menu and switch the Wi-Fi feature on. Check and see if the problem has been solved.

Another way to do this is by turning on Airplane mode on your iPhone. This refreshes your iPhone’s data transmission by turning off the Wireless connections. You can consider giving it a shot by going to Settings and selecting the Airplane Mode menu. Tap on the Airplane mode switch to enable Airplane mode and then resort your phone. After the restart is complete, click on Settings again and disable the airplane mode. Check and see if the issue has been resolved.

Fourth solution: Forget Wi-Fi and reconnect  

If your router has just had an update, it might be corrupted. To resolve this, forget the Wi-Fi and then connect again. On your iPhone main menu, launch the Settings app and then select the Wi-Fi menu. If Wi-Fi is disabled, enable it by switching on the toggle tab. You will see a list of available networks on your phone. Select your Wi-Fi network and then tap the information icon denoted by i found next to the Wi-Fi name. Select ‘Forget This Network’ and then confirm by tapping on ‘Forget’ when prompted. You can even go further by removing all the saved Wi-Fi networks on your phone and then restart the phone. Once the phone is powered on, go to the Wi-Fi menu on Settings, and scan all available networks in range. From the list, select your Wi-Fi and connect.

Fifth solution: Clear cache & cookies

An iPhone accumulates browsing data including cookies, data, web storage, and others on both the browser and apps. This cache and temporary data are important for the functionality of these apps since it stores some information that apps need to save on loading time and can slow down your internet when you connect to your Wi-Fi. Clearing these files can do the trick. Since Safari is the default Apple browser, to clear cache and browsing data, go to Settings and select Safari from the list of apps. Tap on ‘Advanced’ and then click on ‘Website Data’. You can then check how much space the website consumes and then clear it by tapping on ‘Remove All Website Data’. Once the cache has been successfully cleared, restart the phone again and then check if the speeds have improved on Safari. If yes, then repeat the above steps for the rest of the apps like Instagram, Facebook, and others.

Final Thoughts

Try the above solutions on your iPhone and router. If none of them work, try using a different iPhone and see if the issue persists. Contact your ISP or Apple for further assistance.

Issue	Causes	How to Fix
Wi-Fi slow on iPhone	Problems with the router	Reboot the router
	The iPhone model and iOS version	Buy a new iPhone
	Signal strength	Restart your phone, or forget the Wi-Fi and reconnect again, or disable & enable Wi-Fi, clear cache & cookies.

FAQs

Can removing the iPhone case boost my phone’s internet speeds?

Yes since a thick case can interfere with the phone’s Wi-Fi signal and antenna.

What is iPhone 11’s maximum Wi-Fi speed?

iPhone 11 supports routers with the 802.11ax Wi-Fi standards and is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 877 Mbps.