Another incomprehensible problem with Wi-Fi on the iPhone. After connecting to a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi icon does not appear in the status bar, but the 3G, or 4G icon (maybe EDGE, or LTE) is displayed and the applications use the connection via the mobile Internet (if enabled), and not via the wireless network ... And if the cellular network is disabled, then the Internet does not work at all. Although there is a network connection.
In my experience, this happens most often when the iPhone is connected to public, open Wi-Fi networks. In subways, shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. These public networks are not password protected and the iPhone identifies them as "Insecure Network". But at the same time, the Internet must work from a Wi-Fi network, and not through a 3G network.
When "Cellular Data" is enabled on the iPhone, then after connecting to Wi-Fi, the connection must be used over Wi-Fi. It is logical, why use a slower (though not always) connection and still, perhaps, pay for it if we are connected to a wireless network.
But if our iPhone does not like the Wi-Fi network to which we are connected, then despite the active connection it continues to transmit data via the cellular network (we can see this by the 3G or 4G icon). And all would be fine, but here he is very picky. Refuses to work with those networks to which other mobile devices connect without problems and use access to the Internet.
As I already wrote, this happens most often when connecting to unsecured networks. I saw several comments on the site, in which they wrote exactly that the iPhone does not want to connect to unsecured networks. Which are without a password. Or connects to them, but the Internet does not work. It seems like the problem appeared after updating to iOS 11.3.
In the screenshot below you can see that the phone is connected to the MT_FREE network, there is a message "Insecure network" (since the network is unsecured), but there is no "Wi-Fi" icon.
The fact is that even in spite of the "Insecure network", there must be access to the Internet. This is not a bug, just a warning.
I've tried experimenting too. It's hard to understand the logic behind the iPhone that manages the internet connection. Either he connects to the network and immediately disconnects, then he does not connect at all and uses the mobile Internet. Or there is a network connection, but when I try to open the site in the browser, it switches to EDGE (I just can't catch 3G here).
Yes, all these open Wi-Fi networks are loaded and, as a rule, keep clients several times more than they are calculated. For this reason, Wi-Fi may work poorly, or not work at all. But judging by the reviews, everything is fine on other devices, only the iPhone is "naughty". Let's try to figure it out. At the moment, I know few solutions, but I hope for feedback in the comments. Share your observations!
Disable "Wi-Fi Help" on iPhone
I haven't even heard of such a function before. With some iOS update, it is automatically enabled in the settings. The essence of this function is that the iPhone automatically starts using the mobile Internet (3G or 4G) even when connected to Wi-Fi. If the network we are connected to is poor, slow, or bad signal.
Therefore, "Wi-Fi Assist" is best off.
We go into the settings, in the "Cellular" section. There is a "Wi-Fi Help" item. Disable it.
After that, it will not be superfluous to reboot the phone.
Change DNS servers for Wi-Fi problems
You can change the DNS in the properties of this Wi-Fi network, with which the iPhone does not want to work normally. This can only be done if the phone is connected to the network. The internet just doesn't work.
In the settings, click on the required network. Go to "DNS Settings". Next, put a tick next to "Manual", click on "Add server" and enter 8.8.8.8. This is a DNS server from Google.
Perhaps after that the Internet will work and the smartphone will not use the mobile Internet when it is not necessary.
Reset network settings on iPhone
One-stop solution. I advise you to use it for any problems with the Internet on iPhones and iPads.
Go to the settings, in the "General" section. Further "Reset" and select "Reset network settings".
After rebooting the device, we try again to connect our phone to the wireless network, which we had problems with before.
Update: trying to delete the VPN profile
Go to settings and go to "General" - "VPN".
If there is a profile (or several), then delete them. You need to click on the button (i), then on "Remove VPN".
If all else fails, then I advise you to check how another device will work with this network. Maybe the reason is on the side of the access point.
I also recommend looking at the article iPhone or iPad does not connect to Wi-Fi, the Internet does not work.
I look forward to your messages in the comments.
