Top 9 Ways to Fix iPhone WiFi Greyed out (iOS 18 Supported)

User Concern

“Hello, I've been having an issue with the WiFi connection on my iPhone 16 for 2 days. It's starting to scare me off, and I am seriously hoping you'd have an answer。”

After upgrading to iOS 18, some iPhone users reported that the slider could not be moved to turn on WiFi when the WiFi greyed out unexpectedly.

Actually, a great number of users have encountered the same problem recently, and an official answer has not been given to fix the issue.

We have tried our best to provide all the potential solutions to fix the iPhone WiFi greyed out problem that you are facing. Keep reading!

Why Is WiFi Grayed Out on iPhone?

WiFi problems are common issues on iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, and any older iOS devices. Being unable to turn on WiFi on an iPhone or iPad as the feature is disabled will drive you crazy.

We have conducted extensive surveys and investigations and summarized why the iPhone WiFi greyed out. You can check the list below:

• Your antenna might be broken. The antenna is working down to the headphone jack, which is easily damaged by the water or dust inside the headphone jack.
• Your iPhone may have a hardware or software problem.
• Any old or new bugs will arise after upgrading to the latest iOS 18, including the WiFi settings greyed out.

What Do I Do If My iPhone WiFi Button Is Greyed Out?

There are many effective ways to fix these WiFi problems and restore the iPhone to factory reset quickly. Following are these methods in detail:

1. Turn On and Turn Off Airplane Mode

It sounds very simple and meaningless, but it is still the most immediate way to get rid of WiFi problems. Try the ways below to turn Airplane Mode on and off to fix the problem.

• The easiest way to disable Airplane Mode is via Control Center. Swiping up from the bottom of the home screen on the iPhone, tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on for 10 seconds, then turn it off.
• Also, you can click "Settings" on your iPhone, select "Airplane Mode," and click the toggle to turn it on for a while, then turn it off.

2. Reset Network Settings and Restart iPhone

Alternatively, the WiFi greyed out problem could also be caused by internal network errors on the iPhone. Thus, you can try to reset network settings to check if it is an available approach.

You should know that everything saved in the current settings will be erased after resetting network settings, including VPN settings, WiFi passwords, Bluetooth connections, etc.

• On the Settings app, tap on "General" > "Transfer or Reset iPhone."
• Click on "Reset" and select "Reset Network Settings".
• You will be asked to enter the passcode that you set before.
• A message will pop up that requires you to confirm the action; just tap "Reset Network Settings."
• Then, turn off your iPhone for 8 seconds and turn it back on to verify if the WiFi problem has been fixed.

3. Reset All Settings on iPhone

If the problem still exists after resetting network settings, you can take a further step: reset all settings.

• Go to "Settings" app and click on "General" > "Transfer or Reset iPhone."
• On the bottom of the interface, click on "Reset."
• Click "Reset All Settings" to proceed.

Note

This method removes passwords, preferences, and any connections you’ve added to your iPhone. But it will not delete music, apps or photos.

4. Restore iPhone to Factory Settings

Restoring the iPhone to factory settings is another nuclear approach to fix iPhone WiFi grayed out problem. This is not the last approach, but restoring everything to factory settings is always a feasible way to solve serious issues.

• First of all, sync your device with iTunes/iCloud to fully back up the device data.
• Open the Settings app on your iPhone and click on "General."
• Scroll down to click "Transfer or Reset iPhone," and then tap "Erase All Content and Settings."

5. Restore iPhone with iTunes

Almost any bugs that occur on the iPhone will be removed by restoring the device to factory settings with iTunes. Considering that the factory reset will delete all data and settings on your iPhone, it's crucial to back up your data.

• Launch the latest version of iTunes on your PC, connect the iPhone to the computer as well, and wait until the device is detected by iTunes.
• When the iPhone icon appears on iTunes, just tap the icon and select "Summary."
• Click "Restore iPhone" and tap "Restore" to restore the iPhone to its factory settings.

6. Update iOS to the Latest Version

Usually, the inaccessible or grayed-out WiFi problem may occur due to the operating system issue. In such a situation, you can upgrade your iPhone system version using iTunes or from the device settings and check whether the WiFi works.

7. Fix iPhone WiFi Greyed Out in One Click

It is recommended to try a professional and reliable 3rd-party program to have this type of issue fixed if the solutions above did nothing. FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is rated as one of the best programs to resolve this problem for you. Below are the reasons why it is recommended:

Reasons for Choosing FoneGeek iOS System Recovery (iOS 18 supported):

• Able to fix most serious or slight problems such as iPhone not sharing WiFi password, stuck in boot loop/black screen, frozen issues, etc.
• It will not erase the data on the iPhone. The data will not be lost when using the Standard Mode.
• It offers much security. Your private information will not be disclosed.
• Mobile Mall, GetDroidTips, Inspirationfeed, Techjury, Pakainfo and many other media sites highly recomend this program.

Steps on how to use the program to fix the iPhone WiFi greyed out problem:

Step 1. First of all, the program should be downloaded to your computer. After downloading and installing it, open it and select "Standard Mode."

Step 2. Now use an original lightning cord to connect the iPhone to the program. The software will identify your device automatically and let you "Download" the correct firmware package that matches your iPhone model.

Step 3. After the downloading, you just need to click the "Fix Now" button to wait until the fixing process has finished. Then restart your iPhone after the process.

8. Try Less Common Methods (Not That Recommended)

Here are some less well-known approaches that are reported to be able to solve WiFi greyed out on iPhone.

• Put iPhone in the freezer for 15 minutes: It sounds almost irrational, but many users have said that the WiFi will really return to normal after freezing the iPhone for 15 minutes, so you can try this method if you have no other useful methods to fix the issue.
• Keep the flashlight on: Turning on the flashlight for a while until the iPhone gets hot is also said to solve this problem.

Note

The 2 methods are not highly recommended as the cold or hot temperatures may damage your iPhone. Do not use them till the last extremity.

9. Contact Apple for Assistance

Your iPhone may have hardware problems if the above steps don't work. You'd better take the iPhone to the Apple Store for technical support if your iPhone is still under warranty. At least, it won't be expensive to fix the hardware issue if the device is under warranty.

Conclusion

The content above is all the information you may want to know to resolve the iPhone WiFi greyed out issue. If the WiFi fails to work in the future, don't hesitate to use the solutions above. Almost all methods are free, and if none of them work, you can use one of the powerful software: FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. Download it and have a free try.