iPad drops network, 2 unrelated networks, 2 iPads!

In My Humble Opinion
1

So my iPad Air 4th gen starts dropping internet connection a couple months ago. Just suddenly, as I’m trying to use some thing, it tells me “you don’t have an Internet connection”. Go to my network set up and sure enough under the Wi-Fi name it says “no internet connection” in orange. Fortunately, I have access to two completely unrelated networks, so I switched to the other one. A few moments after switching the words “no internet connection” come up.

So begins the troubleshooting boogie. Eventually I realized I could just reset the network settings anywhere from one to 10 times and eventually it would work again on one or both of the two unrelated networks.

(Also, I have an iPhone. The iPhone has never experienced any of this on either network. It is exclusive to the iPad.)

It was happening more and more frequently and it was a big pain in the butt. So along with the fact that it was bent and it has a cracked screen I reported it to my insurer and they sent me a replacement, exactly the same type of iPad, no doubt refurbished.

I managed to install 18.0.1 on the new iPad before it started acting up. By acting up I mean exactly what the other iPad was doing. Still have 17 something on my original iPad.

This tells me the issue is somewhere in my software. It has to be, to be happening on both iPads.

So I tried installing just the basics without doing any apps or settings or anything and it seem to be OK… But then I couldn’t download apps or anything else without erasing it and starting from zero. Which is really frustrating because I think the cootie, whatever it is is, being carried in the whole shebang but not if I could split it up…

Does anybody have any recommendations or thoughts aside from “pretend you’ve never had an iPad and start from scratch” because that’ll just make me cry for a week.

2

Very odd behaviour. As a data point, I’m typing this on my iPad Air 4 w/ 18.0.1 and no issues at all.

3

Congratulations. I feel joy for you.

4

No solution from me, but I have an iPad Pro 3rd Gen running iOS 17.7, and it has been having internet connectivity issues for a while now. I can usually fix it by turning airplane mode on or off if I’m using cellular data, or turning the Wi-Fi on and off if I’m using Wi-Fi, and this generally fixes the problem for a little while. I find myself doing this every few hours,

Not sure how you fix something like this. I was hoping the next software update would help.

5

Is there an Apple Store nearby? Perhaps schedule an appointment to talk to someone at the Genius Bar. Also try using the iPad away from home, such as in a Starbucks using their guest WiFi or in the Apple Store using their guest WiFi. Does the problem happen then?

6

You could reset your network settings and add your preferred networks in again.

Before you do, though - tell us about your WiFi setup(s).

7

Does it only happen on this one wifi network? Do test on any other one, if you haven’t already.

8

I will when I get a chance, but as I said, I have access to two networks that are completely unrelated. I don’t hold out much hope for the third will be the magic touch.

9

Is there a wired network you could connect to? If so does that work?

10

Have you installed a VPN or some security software on your computer that is connected to the wifi if you have one (i.e., not necessarily installed on the iPhone or iPads)?

11

I don’t believe there is any way to connect an iPad to a wired network.

12

It’s doable, but appears to be a Rube Goldberg setup and a damn nuisance. Also requires bits of hardware most users won’t have laying around.

13

You actually can plug in a USB-C to Ethernet adapter into an iPhone/iPad. I have a dock next to me, and when I plug in my iPad to charge the Ethernet works.

14

The main limitation seems to be that the iPad’s port can’t safely power an Ethernet dongle, hence the need for an intermediate hub (which may be a dock-type device with its own Ethernet port, or just a dumb hub to power a dongle).

Which I suspect most iPad users don’t have laying around.

15

Any modern (USB-C) iPad can safely do this. You can even buy the adapter from Apple for under $40, but any adapter works.

The Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter - Apple (CA).

You can even charge your Apple Watch or iPhone from another iPad or iPhone or hook up other accessories:

Charge and connect with the USB-C port on your iPad - Apple Support

16

So, more doable with a modern iPad. (At least, with somewhat less extra hardware frippery.)

But I’m not sure if that’s applicable in @Stoid’s case, since I don’t know if their iPad is modern enough for this to be viable and worth the trouble.

And at the end of the day, you’ve rendered a mobile device less mobile.

17

How is this more of Rube Goldberg setup than attaching a dongle to use a wired headphone?

18

I guess I posted a different article than what I read and was thinking about, which described a USB hub, a Lightning-to-USB adapter, a length of USB-A to USB-B cabling, a USB-to-Ethernet dongle, and a length of Ethernet cable.

The extra bits were apparently to compensate for the iPad being unable to power the dongle correctly.

A more recent Ethernet dongle which can be powered directly by the iPad in host mode obviously cuts out most of the extra extraneous complexity, assuming it’s viable for the specific iPad in @Stoid’s case.

19

@Stoid and I are running the same hardware and firmware, not that I would rush out to buy a dongle. I expect his problem is related to the router.

@Stoid have you tried tethering to your cell phone?

20

Two different WiFi networks, though, unless you think they’re just two different SSIDs being broadcast from the same device.

I generally think “two distinct access point devices” if I hear “two different WiFi networks”.

By “tethering”, can I assume you mean using a WiFi hotspot from the cell phone?