Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch
Apple proposes iPhone/iPod touch Wi-Fi and Bluetooth fixes
Apple has just released a Knowledge Base document detailing a number of potential fixes for one of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth problems that have plagued iPod touch and iPhone handhelds. The article specifically addresses the inability to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth due to not seeing the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi address on the device. This includes getting a Wi-Fi signal but not being able to access the Internet, not being able to pair a Bluetooth device, and having the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth icon grayed out.
Four solutions are proposed in a step-by-step manner. The solutions range from resetting the network settings to restoring the device back to a bare 3.0 install, which erases all data. No worries there, since you can always re-sync your device with the information on its host computer, assuming you have a current backup.
The fourth solution is a bit darker. Call Apple for service. If this doesn't do it, you are directed to a second article which talks about re-doing your network settings and turning the network settings off and then on again.
Neither article deals with the basic problems of speed and sporadic signal strength. Please let us know if these solutions do the trick for you.
[via iLounge]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nicholas Ptacek said 4:11PM on 7-10-2009
My new iPhone 3G decided to give up the wifi ghost last week -- the wifi option was greyed out. I tried everything from rebooting the iPhone to restoring it with factory settings, and everything in between. By the time I called Apple it turned out I had managed to do all the troubleshooting steps they would have recommended. They sent me a new iPhone 3G and I sent my old one back to Apple (closest Apple store is two hours away), it turned out the physical wifi hardware was broken, most likely a snapped (or loose) connector. All-in-all Apple made it a very painless experience to get the phone fixed in a timely manner.
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Todd said 4:44PM on 7-10-2009
My 2G phone had this issue after the 3.0 upgrade. I had to restore the phone AND reset network settings (AND restart twice) before it was able to see Edge and Wireless again. PITA, but it did eventually work.
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Rod said 5:00PM on 7-10-2009
My iPhone 3G was having wifi issues after 3.0... it would indicate that it joined a full strength network and then couldn't reach the internet.
Going into Settings, General, Reset, and doing a Reset Network Settings fixed it. I had to re-join my wireless networks, but it's been 100% fine ever since.
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Zachary Waldowski said 5:42PM on 7-10-2009
The OS often artificially inflates the WiFi signal, especially considering it only has 3 bars to detail with.
raleedy said 5:24PM on 7-10-2009
They left out the freezer fix.
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Jim said 5:44PM on 7-10-2009
the article says "resetting the network settings to restoring the device back to a bare 3.0 install, which erases all data" but this isn't correct. Resetting the network settings just erases, as the name implies, network settings. This does NOT erase ALL data.
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Arsalan said 6:08PM on 7-10-2009
Jim - I think you misread the sentence in the article. It said the solutions "RANGE from resetting the network settings TO restoring the device back to a bare 3.0 install, which erases all data", not that resetting the network settings will erase your Iphone.
Amerist said 9:56PM on 7-10-2009
my 1st gen iPhone has seriously lost GSM/EDGE signal strength since upgrading to 3.0. I now lose signal entirely in my cubicle at work where I used to have 3 bars. Also now my battery life sucks compared to pre-3.0.
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tony said 11:37PM on 7-10-2009
I haven't had issues with wi-fi just yet (and I'm crossing my fingers every day) but I have recently had issues with backup/restore... so I just wanted to throw that out there before people go restoring their devices, and maybe see if anyone has had the same issues. About two weeks ago I specifically told iTunes 8.2 (windows) to back up my phone... it finished without any obvious issues, then I told iTunes to do a factory restore back to 3.0 and went to sleep during the process. 1 of 2 things happened: the backup never worked in the first place and iTunes never told me, or iTunes backed up the phone after the restore and oh-so-freaking-helpfully deleted the backup from about an hour beforehand. I lost everything on my phone until the last backup iTunes decided to keep, which was from April (yeah, ouch, especially considering I "backed up" at the 3.0 upgrade late June). I was livid at iTunes, but what could I do? My data was gone. So, a word of caution to those about to restore their phones... make absolutely sure before you hit that restore button that your backup works (and maybe even make your own backup of iTunes' backup!). Hope this helps...
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Vince said 1:44AM on 7-11-2009
I had that problem with my iPhone 3g in march. I simply walked into the apple store told them wifi wasn't working and that I'd tried restoring it. They told me that if I had made a full restore and it didn't work there was nothing they could do but give me a new one. They checked for water damage and in 10 mins I had a replacement unit. I asked what the problem was and if it happened often, they told me that they didn't know but they had had a few cases like that.
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Joebnsd said 2:02AM on 7-11-2009
My 1st Gen iPhone runs so damn sloooow now I almost cant take it! Plus throw in constant crashing of apps, hang time, and now wifi connection problems and I am almost wishing I would have waited to upgrade!! Apple, Please keep in mind that not everyone is running out to get the new 3gs as bad ass as it is. Remember the majority of us are not rocking the new clock speed and fix the damn OS so everyone can enjoy. Thanks
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NoAndThen said 12:50PM on 7-11-2009
I have a first gen iPhone as well, and have had 0 problems since upgrading to 3.0.
Granted, I did a full stock restore with 3.0 and didn't use a backup, I just reinstalled all my apps. PITA, but way easier than days of trouble shooting should something go fishy. Just food for thought.
Doug Hogg said 2:16AM on 7-12-2009
We have developed iSamurai Bluetooth which is a two-player sword fighting game played over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. We ran into problems connecting over Bluetooth when Wi-Fi is turned on. Turning off Wi-Fi while playing over Bluetooth resolves the problem. And turning off Bluetooth when playing over Wi-Fi also handles it.
We have been working with Apple on this, and they are working on a permanent resolution. So people who are having Wi-Fi problems may want to turn off their Bluetooth connection to see if that helps. It definitely does when playing our game.
Additional info is available on our blog at http://toykite.com/content/bluetoothwifi-issues-and-status-30
Doug Hogg
Toy Kite Software
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Liam said 7:22AM on 7-13-2009
I had this problem too on my 3gs. As far as I can tell it only started happening after I turned bluetooth on. I would get full bars on wifi and but no Internet traffic. I seem to have fixed it, but not sure specifiially what I did since I tried everything from change the whole wireless network to resetting every option I could on the iPhone. I thought it was just me having the problem. It's nice to know I wasn't going mad.
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