Iphone wifi connectivity issues!!!

Do all three of these

·      Reset the router to factory settings (menu or paper clip) – yes even if all other devices connect OK!

·      On iphone Settings, General, Transfer iphone or reset, reset, reset network settings

·      If you have a VPN you are strongly recommended to uninstall it and its profile in Settings, General, VPN and device management 

Here's some more steps you can try for Wi-Fi connection issues that may be helpful if your phone will not connect to WiFi

If your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch won't connect to a Wi-Fi network – Apple Support (UK)

PS you cannot go back to 15 without using one of the unofficial websites which contain jailbreak versions with heaven knows what malware.

Bear in mind there is no 16 bug and your problem is rogue app usually security or adblocker, bad router, or bad setting, or hardware fail on the phone.

First try other wi-fi location.

then

Settings, Privacy & security, location services, system services, turn off networking & wireless.

after that

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

and/or

Apple Support

A phone which may have a failed wifi chip is a poor reason to ditch the Apple ecosystem for someone like me who is 100% Apple and never had a problem since I changed years ago, but you need to make that decision

Apple are not here and there is no bug that affects everyone.

The extra information about your wife's phone would have helped earlier, forget hardware and concentrate on the Router and any software you installed on both phones like adblockers that can use VPN, and howlers like antivirus "security" apps.

The 4 items I posted in my posts 1 and 3 usually fix wifi problems.

I also need to know that you have tried the above advice without effect...

Settings, Privacy & security, location services, system services, turn OFF networking & wireless.

because more and more people are reporting this is a "fix".

It is only turning off location services for the networking - If you search some youtube battery conservation links (I will not put them up here) they turn off every systems services location service except for Find My on the grounds that everythimg else is for Apple's benefit.

If this is a steady state fix then either there is a selective bug or something changed that some routers do not like. Time will tell but Apple need to know (they don't read these posts)

Ufakomo: I have the same issue. Completely fine iPhone pro 13, working on all kinds of wireless systems pre 16.1, then I upgrade to 16.1 and all of a sudden (the same night the update completed) every 2-5 seconds my Wi-Fi stops and starts. Usually coincides with location services attempting to look up where I am, so it’s worse in certain apps that use location extensively.

while I appreciate the suggestions by LD150 on various things in this thread, I really hope that most people don’t immediately go to “reset your router and Wi-Fi and phone and (X) to factory defaults and reinstall everything” route any time something happens like this. I am a power user… I had a functional device, cohabitating with lots of others. One single change occurred - an update to 16.1 - and now Wi-Fi is garbage. It’s not the router, it’s not some app on my phone, etc… it’s the UPDATE. Apple busted something.

FWIW, I’ve tried since this issue presented with Wi-Fi from TP link, Ubiquiti, Cisco, Asus, and Starlink and all of them have the same issue. Only turning off network location sync, or location functionality entirely, fixes the issue.

since I do have this workaround, I’m not bothering with contacting Apple, but it would be nice if they fixed it. If it bothers me more I can always switch back to Android.

If you are a power user what is your expert advice?