iPhone Wi-Fi Has No IP Address? How to Fix It
Short answer: turn Wi-Fi off and on, then go to Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) > Renew Lease. If that fails, restart the router, then Forget This Network and rejoin. These three steps fix most cases.
What this problem looks like
Your iPhone shows the Wi-Fi bars but nothing loads. You may see messages such as Unable to Join the Network or No Internet Connection, or open Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) and find the IP Address blank or starting with 169.254.
That 169.254 address is a placeholder the iPhone gives itself when it asked the router for a real address and got no answer. The fix is almost always to get the router and iPhone talking again. If your iPhone cannot join the network at all, see how to fix “Unable to Join the Network”.
Fixes to try, in order
1. Toggle Wi-Fi and Airplane Mode
Open Control Center, turn Wi-Fi off and on, then turn Airplane Mode on for ten seconds and off again.
2. Renew the lease
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) next to the network and tap Renew Lease. Your iPhone asks the router for an address again.
3. Check that IP settings are on Automatic
In the same screen, tap Configure IP. If it says Manual with wrong numbers, switch it to Automatic. A static address that does not match the network is a common cause.
4. Restart your iPhone
Restart it as you normally would. This clears temporary network glitches.
5. Test with another device
Connect a different phone or laptop to the same Wi-Fi. If it also has no internet, the problem is the router or your ISP, not your iPhone. Skip to step 7.
6. Forget the network and rejoin
In Settings > Wi-Fi > (i), tap Forget This Network, then pick it from the list and enter the password again. Have the password ready first.
7. Restart the router and modem
Unplug both for about 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, wait for its lights to settle, then plug in the router. Many "no IP address" problems end here.
8. Turn off Private Wi-Fi Address for that network
In Settings > Wi-Fi > (i), switch off Private Wi-Fi Address and rejoin. A few routers, schools and workplaces only allow known device addresses, and a private address can be rejected.
9. Turn off VPN and iCloud Private Relay briefly
Disconnect any VPN and pause Private Relay in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay to see whether they are interfering. Turn them back on once Wi-Fi works.
10. Update iOS
Open Settings > General > Software Update. If there is an update and you cannot download it on this Wi-Fi, use cellular or another network.
11. Reset Network Settings (last resort)
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This erases saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings and cellular settings, so only do it after the steps above.
If it is your router
- DHCP is switched off. Your router must have DHCP enabled to hand out addresses. See how to open the router's admin page.
- Too many devices. Some routers give out a limited number of addresses. Disconnect devices you do not use or enlarge the address pool.
- Filters or parental controls may be blocking your iPhone. Check the device list.
- Outdated firmware. Check the manufacturer's site for an update.
Public Wi-Fi (hotels, cafes, airports)
Many public networks need you to accept terms on a sign-in page before they work. If it does not appear automatically, open Safari and go to http://captive.apple.com. Public networks may also limit how many devices you can connect.
When to contact your ISP
If every device on your network has no internet, the router has restarted, and the modem lights show a problem, the issue is outside your home. Check your provider's outage page or call them.
After it works
Open our home page to confirm you have a public IP address, and run an iPhone speed test to check the connection is healthy. Not sure what the numbers on the Wi-Fi screen mean? See how to find your IP address and public vs private IP addresses.