How to Fix iPhone WiFi Greyed out [iOS 17/16 Supported]

I have an iPhone 14 Pro which I recently updated to IOS 16.3. My Wifi button has been greyed out for 3 days now and I have not been able to get it back. —Apple Community

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Jun. 14, 2024

You may be worried about not being able to connect to the Internet when you find that the Wi-Fi button on your iPhone turns gray. This “iPhone WiFi grayed out” problem often leaves users confused and helpless, especially when they need to connect to the Internet urgently.

In fact, as of early April 2024, a total of 5.44 billion people in the world use the Internet, equivalent to 67.1% of the world’s total population. This means that not being able to connect to Wi-Fi is not only a minor annoyance, but it may also affect your daily life and work. In this article, we will learn about the common reasons why iPhone WiFi grayed out and provide effective solutions to help you restore a normal WiFi connection as soon as possible.

Part 1. Why Is the WiFi Greyed Out on My iPhone?

Encountering the “iPhone WiFi Greyed Out” issue can be very frustrating. Here are some common reasons why you see WiFi Greyed Out on your iPhone:

  • Hardware issues: Damaged or disconnected WiFi antenna due to physical drops or liquid damage.
  • Software glitches and iOS errors: Conflicts or errors that may be caused by iOS updates or new app installations.
  • Overheating issues: When the device overheats, the iPhone disables WiFi to prevent further heat generation.
  • Corrupted network settings: This can also affect WiFi functionality.
  • Interference from third-party apps: Conflicts caused by apps that require deep access to system settings, such as VPN or firewall apps.

These are the main reasons why WiFi Greyed Out on iPhone. Fixing these issues can help restore WiFi functionality. Below are general methods on how to fix “WiFi Greyed Out on iPhone”.

Part 2. How to Fix Greyed Out WiFi on iPhone in iOS 17/16 [Basic]

Now that you know why your iPhone’s wifi button is greyed out, here are some basic fixes you can follow.

1. Restart your iPhone

A simple restart can fix many minor software glitches. If you encounter a situation like iphone wifi greyed out, try restarting first. Here are the steps to restart your iPhone to fix grayed out wifi on iphone:

  • Step 1: Press and hold the power button until the slider appears.
  • Step 2: Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
  • Step 3: Once the device is off, press and hold the power button again to turn it back on.
Restart Your iPhone When Your iPhone Not Updating Location

Restart Your iPhone

2. Check for iOS updates

Sometimes, outdated iOS systems can conflict with your phone. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, download and install it.

Update the iOS version

Update the iOS

3. Reset network settings

If none of the above methods fix the iphone wifi greyed out problem, consider resetting your network settings. Resetting network settings can fix corrupted settings that affect Wi-Fi.

Here are the steps to reset network settings to fix iphone wifi greyed out:

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. If prompted, enter your password and confirm the reset.

Resetting network settings

Resetting network settings

4. Turn off Airplane Mode

When you turn on Airplane Mode, your iPhone automatically turns off all wireless network connections, so when your iPhone’s Wi-Fi button turns gray, check if you forgot to turn off Airplane Mode. You need to swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the Control Center. Make sure the Airplane Mode icon is not highlighted.

Fix Safari Cannot Open the Page on iPhone – Turn on and off Airplane Mode

Turn on and off Airplane Mode

5. Disable VPN

When you turn on certain VPN apps, it can cause your iPhone’s Wi-Fi button to turn gray, making it impossible to connect to any Wi-Fi network. This usually happens because the VPN app needs to access your device settings deeply, which may conflict with iOS’s network management system, causing the Wi-Fi function to not work properly.

Go to Settings > VPN and turn it off. Alternatively, open your VPN app and disconnect.

Disable VPN on Your Device

6. Forget WiFi Network

If the VPN is not the reason for the grayed-out Wi-Fi on your iPhone, you can try to forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network. This method can sometimes solve connection problems.

Forget WiFi Password

Forget WiFi Network

7. Reset All Settings

If other methods fail, resetting all settings may help. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will reset all system settings but will not delete your data.

Fix: iPhone/iPad Screen Not Responding to Touch – Reset All Settings

Reset All Settings

8. Cool down your iPhone

If your iPhone is overheating, it may disable Wi-Fi to prevent further heat generation. Turn off your iPhone and place it in a cool environment for a few minutes to let it cool down.

If none of the above methods fix the iPhone’s wifi turns gray problem, then you should consider an iOS system repair.

Part 3. How to Fix Greyed Out WiFi on iPhone [Verified]

In some cases, system errors can cause your iPhone’s wifi to turn gray. The easiest solution is AnyFix. This professional iOS repair tool offers three modes to fix more than 150 iOS issues and fully supports iOS 17.

AnyFix is ​​a professional iOS system repair tool that can fix problems such as truedepth camera not working, liquid detected in lightning connector, iphone calendar search not working, etc.

Key Features:

  • Repair your iPhone’s operating system to fix iPhone Wi-Fi grayed out
  • Downgrade from the latest iOS version if needed.
  • No data is lost during the standard repair process.
  • iOS 17/16 Supported

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

The steps to fix iPhone wifi grayed out using ANyFIx are as follows:

Step 1. Free download AnyFix on your computer. From the home page window, select System Repair.

AnyFix System Repair Option

AnyFix System Repair Option

Step 2. Connect the iPhone to your computer and select the App Issues from the program window. Then click on the Start Now button to proceed.

AnyFix System Repair App Issues

AnyFix System Repair App Issues

Step 3. Choose the Standard Repair option from the program window.

Choose Standard Repair Mode

Choose Standard Repair Mode

Step 4. Confirm the device information and click on the Download button to download the device firmware package.

AnyFix System Repair Firmware Finish Downloading

AnyFix System Repair Firmware Finish Downloading

Step 5. Click on the Start Standard Repair button to start the repair process. Wait till the process finishes and make sure that the device stays connected to your computer.

Repair Is Completed

Repair Is Completed

Faq about iPhone WiFi Greyed out

1.Why can’t I turn off Wi-Fi assist on my iPhone?

Wi-Fi Assist is a feature designed to automatically switch to cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is poor. It cannot be turned off in some older iOS versions due to software limitations.

2.Why is my iPhones Wi-Fi disabled?

Your iPhone’s Wi-Fi might be disabled due to Airplane Mode being turned on, software glitches, or hardware issues.

3.How do I stop my iPhone from enabling Wi-Fi?

To prevent your iPhone from automatically joining Wi-Fi networks:

  • Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
  • Disable Ask to Join Networks.
  • Forget unwanted networks by tapping the (i) next to their names and selecting Forget This Network. This prevents automatic connections and prompts before joining new networks.

Final Thought

Solving the problem of grey WiFi on your iPhone is crucial. By following the solutions above, such as resetting network settings, updating iOS, etc., you can usually resolve the problem.

For a more comprehensive and user-friendly solution, consider using AnyFix. AnyFix is ​​a professional iOS system repair tool that can fix persistent WiFi issues. Its intuitive interface and powerful features make it an invaluable tool for effectively resolving iPhone Wi-Fi issues.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Senior writer of the iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android-related issues.

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