Unable to Join Network on iPod Touch & iPhone

David Polanco
A previous resident of Del Rio Texas now living in the San Antonio. Web designer, SEO, and Graphic Artist.

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Unable to Join Network on iPod Touch & iPhone

Feb 7th, 2009 12:23:46 am - Subscribe
Mood: good
Music: Rick Rolled :)

This entry explains the Unable to Join Network for the iPod iTouch & iPhone. The process is simple as all my other tutorials are so here is my step by step walk through.

Ok so you have a Wireless Network and you would like your iPod iTouch or your iPhone to connect to it right? It was working but now its not right? RIGHT?! Ok no worries, I will show you how to get your device connected to your local area network in a jiff.

On your iPod Touch iPhone do the following

Go to Settings

General

Reset

Now select Reset Network Settings

This will now reboot and restore you network connections. Pretty simple right? Well it is. If you continue to have problems please post a comment along with your router model number. Happy browsing!

Tweet this entry | 116 Comments | Post a comment

anonymous - February 18th, 2009
Did not fix the problem.

david - February 18th, 2009
Check your network settings on your wireless routers.

anonymous - March 08th, 2009
It worked...I have been pulling my hair out..thanks

anonymous - March 22nd, 2009
Didn't work. My router model number is Linksys Model #: BEFW11S4 (version 4)

anonymous - March 22nd, 2009
This comment is attached to previous comment. I know the wireless router is working because my Imac is working and it is using the WIFI connection.

anonymous - March 23rd, 2009
hey i still have a problem to coonect.and my router is fine /my sister ipod wifi work great.

anonymous - April 01st, 2009
IT WORKED... thanks soo much

anonymous - April 11th, 2009
last time that worked. now it doesn't. WTF?! WHY?!

anonymous - April 25th, 2009
i have the same problem.. i did the reset twice already.. but its not letting me in.. everything else (laptop, iphone, other ipod etc etc are working fine.. its just one ipod touch i have that is not working.. any comments

anonymous - May 15th, 2009
I have BT home hub all other devices PC etc work fine but not the darn ipod

anonymous - May 17th, 2009
I fooled with my internet connection problem for 2 hours until I finally came across your instructions, which solved the problem in less than a minute. Thanks soooooooooooo much!

anonymous - May 25th, 2009
well mine isnt fucking working!! keeps sying unable to join network?!?!?!

anonymous - May 31st, 2009
dude it worked thanks dude

anonymous - June 10th, 2009
yeah the wifi works fine on my iMac but not any of our family's 3 iPod touches. They worked fine since we had gotten them but just one day they all magically stopped. Tried resetting on the iPod but that didn't work. What I ended up doing was unplugging the actual hub, counted to 10, plugged it back in. Worked like a charm.

anonymous - June 16th, 2009
mine didn't work. that was a massive fail

david - June 16th, 2009
keep failing, or check your router.

anonymous - June 20th, 2009
Thanks! It woked great!

anonymous - June 21st, 2009
So I did what you described and no joy. The iPhone worked fine on the network prior to upgrading to version 3.0

I have checked the router and it's fine. I can connect to it with my daughter's iPhone and my wife's iTouch. Just not my iPhone

david - June 21st, 2009
Try doing a hard reboot / shutdown on the iPhone / iTouch. HOld down the power button on the top left of the iPhone or iTouch then hit the home buttom at the bottom middle of the device. This will reset it.

anonymous - June 23rd, 2009
Thanx for the advice on joining my wi fi network your a diamond thankyou works great now.

anonymous - June 26th, 2009
Hi.
My 32gb ipod touch connects to other wireless networks but not my own. It connects if I turn off the WEP key but when it's turned on, it finds the network but with just 1 or 2 bars out of 3 for strength and it just says unable to connect.

Before I upgraded to OS 3.0 my wifi worked fine even with the WEP key activated which is obviously what I want for security.

I've tried resetting the ipod but it hasn't worked and I'm most definately sure its my router settings which don't like something on the new OS 3.0 update.

The router is a ZyXel Prestiege 660. Please help!

anonymous - June 28th, 2009
Couldn't connect on my new iphone -- thanks for the tip about rebooting -- it works!

anonymous - July 02nd, 2009
i am also having issues since upgrading to software version 3.0 - i think the router rejects connectivity or something - after gruelling with apple tech support they said they would exchange my device however i wonder whether i will perform the software update again

anonymous - July 05th, 2009
hi i bought my ipod touch 2 days ago i was thirlled...i put my password for wifi and everything like that but when i went to safari i typed in some thing and it will load for ages and then say server stoped responding so i reseted my i touch and then i put all the details and now it says that cannot conect to itunes-safari-you tube.....plzzzzz help..........and my modem is a MINITAR theres no more info

anonymous - July 16th, 2009
hey, I followed your instructions about the whole joining the network it didn't work for me every time I go to wi-fi it doesn't have any networks. It says 'other' on choose a network. Please help :[

anonymous - July 16th, 2009
My iPhone doesn't connect to my home network after I upgraded the software to version 3.0. Before the upgrade I didn't have any problems connecting at all. After the upgrade I always get the "Unable to join network" error message. Don't know what to do!!??

anonymous - July 17th, 2009
I have a "belkin54g". It absolutely refuses to connect. That'd be too convenient. I tried your steps and it still doesn't pick up the network.

anonymous - July 19th, 2009
I've been able to connect 3 different iPhones to my network this week with no problems. Now I have a 4th. It's a 3G. With a fresh restore and unlock it will not join my network no matter what I do.. I just keep getting the error. Even after following your directions....

anonymous - July 22nd, 2009
It didnt work with mee =[ Do you have another way?

anonymous - July 27th, 2009
i did ur reset thing and it didnt work, i know my wifi on my itouch works cause it works at my friend's house

david - July 27th, 2009
Try restarting your router guys. This can be done by disconnecting from the power supply.

anonymous - July 27th, 2009
Crazy! I have a new 3GS which suddenly wouldn't connect to my network. Turns out, the old 3G got turned on somehow and was connecting to my network just fine. Powered the 3G off and the 3GS connected right away. ????????????

anonymous - July 27th, 2009
Hi, I didn't work. I have the I pod touch 1st generation, model number MA627LL. I have also completely restored the i touch and still no luck. I can not get connected to any wi-fi at all. Thanks for the help.

anonymous - August 03rd, 2009
TOTALLY WORK MAN, thanx a lot i was getting fucking crazy the hole week i almost thought it was my router, nvm THANX

anonymous - August 06th, 2009
No luck!! I tried everything possible ....please help!!
I have a Dlink DIR-615
Thanks in advance!

anonymous - August 09th, 2009
ever since i held down the home button and sleep/wake button at the same time my sleep/wake button wont work and on my ipod it says no wi fi

anonymous - August 10th, 2009
thanks it work i love u man

anonymous - August 11th, 2009
I have 4 Iphones and 2 Itouch, everyone but one Itouch connects to my network. I have tried upgrading, still no luck, I can see my SSID and I can type the password, thinking there was a problem with the keyboard, still get the same message that can't connect; I have also tried resetting all settings,,,HELP!!!!

anonymous - August 11th, 2009
I had the same problem. Resetting the network settings did not work. But I switched off my DSL and router, waited 20 seconds and restarted them. The iPhone works just fine now!

anonymous - August 13th, 2009
este problema no es de router,,
it´s a Hardware problem., check warranty is better!!

anonymous - August 21st, 2009
i have verizon and it does not work i tried reseting and that made it worse the router is a actoiontec m1424 help

anonymous - August 25th, 2009
hi i have just replaced my GSM iphone with the 3GS. the gsm was connecting to the network fine under WPA security. i backed up my GSM phone and restored the back-up to the 3GS. when i tried to connect the 3GS to the wifi at home using the same password it says "unable to connect". if i turn security off it connects fine. when i turn it back on it does not work again. i have typed the password in carefully 10 times at least. i have re-set the router (power off/on). i have put the phone into sleep and done a hard re-boot. same result. "unable to join the network". useless. this is incredibly frustrating given it did work before and the system gives no clues as to why not working now. any help gratefully received.

anonymous - August 29th, 2009
Got the same issue. Was able to surf the web then cannot connect anymore (although settings report WIFI active and running).
SOLUTION: <<I had to reset (power off then on) my WIFI router Netgear WGR614>>
Anything else listed above didn't solve the problem => it is indeed Router related.
--FYI-- I'm using iPod Touch 2.2.1 (5H11a) + Netgear WGR614 WPA-PSK [TKIP] with password // channel 07 // "g and b" active. Strong signal at home, and my lappy doesn't have connection issue when the iPod Touch stops being connected.
However, I still have to figure out why Youtube Application cannot connect (never succeeded since I bought the iPod yesterday)

anonymous - August 29th, 2009
and the SOLUTION to "connect connect to YOUTUBE" with the factory settings: forums.cnet.com/5208-7595_102-0.html?threadID=275565
go to date/time settings and change the year to e.g. 2030, then go to Youtube then change the year to 2009 and you can connect to Youtube

anonymous - August 29th, 2009
another issue related to Youtube: censorship of internet in your country (like mine in Northern Asia... you guess!)

anonymous - August 29th, 2009
i tried re-setting the router as per my previous comment including a hard reset by removing the power for 20secs and a soft re-set by pressing "restart" on the router homepage. my theory is that it will work if i restore the iphone and just sync it, rather than restoring a back-up. if that doesn't work then i am lost. i will report progress later...

anonymous - August 29th, 2009
didn't work, not initially at least. lost patience with it. so much for apple's fabled 'usability'. "unable to connect" - what kind of useless information is that. even my two year old asks "WHY?", so why not give a bit more useful information. dumb machine.

anonymous - September 08th, 2009
i have just tried resetting factory settings on the router. again, no joy. interestingly, i went to the in-laws this past weekend and connected the 3GS to two of their home networks with no issues at all. this suggests it is something to do with my router, but what?! seems like my only next options are queue-up in the apple store and hope for some help (seems unlikely) or buy a new router and see if that works. talk about extreme solutions.

anonymous - September 09th, 2009
finally i made it work. belkin support were useless, but apple's second level support suggested upgrading the firmware on the router. i had tried this myself but i couldn't quickly find the upgrade file. belkin support did help with this. after upgrading the firmware, i then changed the SSID on the router and connected on the iphone through the 'other network' option where you can enter name, encryption type and password all at once. what a relief.

anonymous - September 12th, 2009
didn't work

anonymous - September 13th, 2009
i hvae the same problem that it keeps coming up with "unable to join network"...it worked fine before i uprgdaed to 3.0

someone please help!!!!!

anonymous - September 21st, 2009
it worked thanks!! =]

anonymous - September 23rd, 2009
you are a champion sir

jouy - September 26th, 2009
i need help with my iphone. it doasn't detect any wifi network only my ipod touch 2g does. I'm running the 3.0 software and its jalbroken ,, ireset my networ setting,and my router livebox but nothing

anonymous - September 28th, 2009
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

anonymous - October 03rd, 2009
oh my god thank you - i have spent weeks trying to fix this!

anonymous - October 03rd, 2009
Hi.
I have a new 32gb ipod touch which does not connect to my wireless router (its a ZyXel Prestiege 660). Now here's the weird bit, my friends connects to my router, so does my wifes Iphone 3G and my daughters IPOD. I went to my friends house and MY iphone connected immediately to his wireless. Please help!

anonymous - October 14th, 2009
that did not work for me. Still can't join. =(

anonymous - October 17th, 2009
Ugh it's not working it keeps on saying "Unable to join network" this is driving me crazy I already reset it and everthingg.. D:

anonymous - October 20th, 2009
I cant connect to any wifi regardless of wep or just opemed ones. My wife's iphone is connecting. I am in public library now with my wife. She is connected to unsecured wifi. I unable to. And same goes for home router. I noticed this happened afterxtube hung up on me. I uninstalled mxtube then wifi work for one session. I tried again after few hours and then back to the same issue.

anonymous - October 28th, 2009
i restarted my router and i have rest my ipod but it still not working.... plz help

anonymous - November 02nd, 2009
My network is locked, but i know the password, so when i put the password in, its waits for a while and says, Unable to Connect, WTF, plz help me, email me at kealingdude92@yahoo.com

anonymous - November 02nd, 2009
oh and my router # is Dir-628, from kealingdude92@yahoo.com

anonymous - November 03rd, 2009
after many restarts which did not work I upgraded the firmware on my router and now it works again !!!! about the time as well

anonymous - November 18th, 2009
Same issue... My network is locked, but i know the password, so when i put the password in, its waits for a while and says, Unable to Connect, plz help, email: jsapnais@gmail.com
I got this to gift someone...

anonymous - November 20th, 2009

i have the same issue .. it shows me my network, n when i key in my password , it waits(circle turning), n then says unable to join to the network, ... what do i do? ramyasamp@gmail.com.. i tried the rest n i also have a wifi adress in settings>general>about..

anonymous - November 22nd, 2009
linksys model wrt160nv2.
New ipod - unable to connect to router.
Verified pw and it works for laptops.
plz help.

anonymous - November 27th, 2009
i was having the same problem i reset my network setting, then re-entered my wep password into my ipod touch...Then i had to hard reset my ipod touch by pressing the top amf bottom button together and got the connection back

anonymous - December 19th, 2009
restting the network worked - great job - thanks

anonymous - December 22nd, 2009
Well I have a prob that the ipod touch is not sensing the network i have...which is the belkin n wireless router. I had like 7calls to apple and my router who keeps blaming eachother which pisses me off...I tried changing the settings of the router and ipod many times but no effect...suggestions plz?

anonymous - December 23rd, 2009
it worked... but idk. it might fail in a minute. i hope it doesn't.

anonymous - December 25th, 2009
I've been pulling my hair out trying to help my son connect to the internet....after a lot of searching on the internet - BINGO! Thanks so much, it worked!

anonymous - December 26th, 2009
I have linksys model WRT160N and these steps did not help for this issue. I still get the 'Unable to join the network...' message.

anonymous - December 27th, 2009
I connected to my wi fi before now it says unable to join " my network". It cant be the router because my sisters mac works. whats wrong???

anonymous - December 27th, 2009
RESTART YOUR ROUTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

anonymous - December 27th, 2009
Same problem but FIGURED IT OUT! I'm a neophite but played with settings. The iphone asks for a password but really wants the WPA Shared Key (assuming you chose WPA for encryption). To find it on the Linksys WRT54GS interface, put in "192.168.1.1" (without the quotes) in the address box of your browser. Here is where you type in the username if any and password (default is "admin" for both, no quotes). Once you see the router's interface on your screen, find the key by clicking Wireless then Wireless Security and write it down. Type this character string when the iphone asks for the password. Worked for me.

anonymous - December 28th, 2009
its not working its doing the same thing. >

anonymous - December 28th, 2009
wow thanx that really helped!!!

anonymous - December 30th, 2009
see, my wireless, there's something wrong with it. and it still won't work. and i know i have the right password. what should i do?

david - December 30th, 2009
Restart the router. If that does not work, manually remove the device from the DHCP Clients Table.

anonymous - December 30th, 2009
Here is a really basic question: how do I find the settings of my router? I am using a versalink 327W modem, Verizon Wi-Fi, and a Sony Vaio (and an Ipod Touch. I have tried the disconnecting and the reset of network connections to no avail. My Wi-Fi password is not accepted. I've also tried admin as a password.

david - December 30th, 2009
You need to go to your local IP: http://192.168.1.1 yours may be different. Read more here: http://bit.ly/6QtryJ

anonymous - January 01st, 2010
Is this a problem with the IPod wifi firmware where the device is not able to find the network? I'm leaning towards the problem being the IPod's registered DHCP issued IP Address being taken by another device and the IPod wifi software not being smart enough to realize that it's previous held address is now being used by another device on the network. Seems like the IPod requires a reset to dump it's previous IP Address in order to seek an new DHCP address.

anonymous - January 06th, 2010
Nailed my problem of a year in two minutes - big thanks

anonymous - January 07th, 2010
i keep entering right password but keep saying "unable to join..." tried many ways of reset including network, setting, and even restoring and why do we have to take the plug out of wireless router for at least 10 sec??

anonymous - January 08th, 2010
Have the same problem. My iphone 3g will not connect to my BT Homehub2. I have tried changing the security to wep and wpa2 but still not working on either. Keep getting the cannot connect message. However, if i take the security code out of the router and run it unsecured it works perfectly. This has to be a setting on the router somewhere. anyone have any ideas, this is driving me crazy!

anonymous - January 10th, 2010
thank you so much!!
it worked perfectly =D

anonymous - January 12th, 2010
ok...so what the user above said about needing the WPA key AKA security key is the ticket!!! Oh my god..I salute you. I just bought this router specifically for connecting my pod....and finnnnally got it going with the security key NOT your actual password.

anonymous - January 13th, 2010
WOW, thanks alot

anonymous - January 17th, 2010
please help i cannot reset my router cause it is a public network..... any other ideas

anonymous - January 17th, 2010
OMG THAT WORKED THANKS A MILLLION!!!!!!!!!

anonymous - January 24th, 2010
Hi, I did reset network setting and then its still not work. Its keeping saying Enter passwor for " "
and I dont know what password or how do I get them from? to reset password? Wont able to join network, WHY???/ PLEASE HELP ME. THANKS

anonymous - January 24th, 2010
Just bought an ipod itouch and I can connect to wifi at my house but no matter where I go I cannot connect to any wifi locally. It always says unable to join network or need password. Should I exchange this itouch for something better? I am a senior and I am confused as to why I cannot use the email other than at home.
Help...........

anonymous - January 29th, 2010
Thanks for all the advice here - it took a few different suggestions to get it going but wifi is finally working!

One more suggestion for the list in case it helps someone else, one of the problems I had was that I'd changed router setting for wifi but hadn't rebooted it. *doi*

anonymous - January 31st, 2010
Ok I been having this problem for a while my iPhone sees all the network available open ones and close ones but everything I try to connect is tells me "unable to connect" I've try everything from resetting my network to jailbreaking it and even put it the frezer to cool down like someone suggest on you tube and nothing everything else works fine edge on t mobile and 3g on AT&T but the wireless won't connect anywhere any help will be greatly appriciated. Thanks! Pedro

anonymous - January 31st, 2010
I've tried all of the above help solutions and still pulling my hair out. After a long extensive search on all the boards of reseting network setting , rebooting itouch and my router/modem, I was still getting "unable to join the network". My solution was as follows: Check through your home for other devices that are running 2.4 ghz frequency. Go unplug them and see what happens. I had a wireless camera network for our baby nursery and backyard running and must have been hogging up the same band that was necessary to connect my itouch to my network. Solution: I unplugged the wireless camera and I am up and running. Also couldn't connect via my Wii to home network and now I can after unplugging the wireless camera system.. VICTORY !!!!!!!!!

anonymous - February 03rd, 2010
WOW, Could not not connect to my router, played with it for 2 1/2 hours then found this site, reset my network settings as advised and voila i have my WIFI back on my 3G I-Phone, Thanks David.....

anonymous - February 03rd, 2010
Hot damn it worked

anonymous - February 03rd, 2010
Not only did it restore for my iPhone bit also now my laptop works too! Ur the man!!!

anonymous - February 06th, 2010
worked a treat, thanks

anonymous - February 09th, 2010
Name's Barry.. okay I've been through everything... hard reset, erase all content(pain in the ass by the way!!!) reset network... all of that stuff... I use my schools wifi usually, and it has a username and password type thing on the wifi... used it for like 3 weeks, worked great and then all of a sudden I had no connection in either my schools or my home wifi connection

Please help me out

anonymous - February 09th, 2010
It worked! Thank you!

anonymous - February 10th, 2010
none of this works ive tried everyythinggg

Its been like this for 4 or 5 monthss. !!!!!!!
everything else gets wifi except mines.!!!!
Uuugghbb HELP

david - February 10th, 2010
Have you tried to reseting your router to it's factory state?

anonymous - February 10th, 2010
ive rebooted router network settings on iphone and still doesn't work.
it always saying unable to join my wireless internet.
worked a couple of days ago and now all of a sudden doesn't work
help please asap

anonymous - February 15th, 2010
Ok, what u have to do is go to settings in your itouch/iphone , then go Wi-Fi and TURN OFF wifi. wait a little and turn it back on. If it didn't work then try reseting network settings , or rebooting your router. Worked for me

anonymous - February 15th, 2010
i have had a ipod touch sense chiristmas and i have all way got on the internet from my house but yesterday it just stop working i have try everything i reset my route ireset my ipod and nothings working t strill says unable to join the network
please helpppp!!!

anonymous - February 17th, 2010
My modem router works fine with many different PC's but my Ipod T just could not see the router???
I toggled many of the setting on the router to try and solve, but no joy.

I noted my SSID had a space in it "Belkin KB"
I renamed the SSID without and space "Belkin" and the Ipod immediately saw the router and connection was made.

anonymous - February 22nd, 2010
I had the same problem with my ipod touch, my iphone, and my 27" iMac. Was getting the 'Unable to join....' message on all three. 1)Read the posts here, 2)reset my router by disconnecting from the power supply, 3)reset both ipod touch and iphone by holding down power button till the red slider came up,4)restarted the router,5)started both devices,6) followed Reset Network Settings as described above, and had to put in password in all devices, then they all connected. Thanks.

anonymous - February 25th, 2010
i have a ipod touch it was ok when we had a belkin router but we have changed to talk talk and now it wont connect could someone help please

anonymous - February 28th, 2010
The router Netgear WGT624 v2. Dodn't work for it. Any other suggestions?

anonymous - March 07th, 2010
UNBELIEVABLE!! I have 2 iphone jailbroken with ramjan style, then both got no wifi. Have tried resetting all network, restore and rejailbroken 3 times, no luck. Try your suggestion, hold power and home button, works for one of the iphone, it got wifi, but the other iphone with same trick is still not working. Any suggestion? thx

anonymous - March 11th, 2010
my iphone will not connect to ANY wi fi network. It is 3G. It worked fine, but somewhere after upgrade to 3.0, did not work with wi fi. I did these things:

1. reset network settings
2. hard reset
3. wiped out the phone and reinstalled all software
4. replace the wi fi antenna
Nothing worked. It is not just one wi fi network, "Unable to Join" all networks. So, reset of router,etc. won't work. Any ideas??

anonymous - March 12th, 2010
how do i find out whats router number?

david - March 12th, 2010
Do a search for your model on Google, along with the keywords default ip. Eg: Linksys WRT54G

anonymous - March 12th, 2010
EUREKA!
Folks, the solution is very simple!
When you configure the router, you define:
- The network name
- The router password
- The security key
When the iDevice (iPhone or iPod) finds the network, it shows you the Network Name it has located, and prompts you to enter the password. You then must enter the SECURITY KEY, not the ROUTER PASSWORD!!!

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