Some iPad 2 Models Reporting Wi-Fi Connection Issues [Reports Emerging That Claim Some iPad 2 Models Are Having A Tough Time Hooking Up To Wi-Fi]

Posted on TFTS by Steve Anderson on Friday, 25. March 2011 under: Computers & Computing, PCs, Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets

Strange news coming out of Apple today…seems that reports are coming in about iPad 2 models that are having a tough time getting a connection up to wi-fi. The odd part is that the original iPads had a comparable problem, according to reports, so that makes this instance especially unusual.

Way back in the long long ago of about a year and a half ago, when the first iPad started hitting store shelves, people were noticing that there were troubles keeping their wireless connection up and running. In fact, things got so bad that Apple stepped in and promised fixes that would take care of the whole mess. And indeed, patches did arrive, and most iPad users who favored the wi-fi discovered that they were back in action. But that patch put a bit of a hitch in the development of iOS 4.2, which was already having some troubles with, of all things, wi-fi connectivity.

It’s strange that the same product (just two different versions, really) should have troubles in the same point–you’d think they would have been keeping an especially close watch for that sort of thing. Now, there’s nothing yet that says this problem is especially widespread–many iPad 2 users are wondering what I’m talking about right now because they’ve never had any issues with their iPad 2–but there’s a steadily growing thread over at the Apple forums that says this problem is showing up in more than one or two iPad 2 models.

This doesn’t bode particularly well for Apple. Sure, issues happen all the time, and a ten page thread probably only represents maybe one in a thousand iPad 2 models sold, but then, there may be a whole lot more people having trouble than are represented on the thread, to boot.

And that, of course, is where you come in. Is anybody else having these problems with the iPad 2? We’ve got a comment section just waiting for you to step in and sound off.

DaveN
Yes. Intermittent connectivity with WiFi on my unit and my wife’s. No clear rhyme or reason, and no clear solution yet.
Ricardo Domingos
Very strange report. How can you say “Way back in the long long ago of about a year and a half ago” if the original iPad hit the stores in april of 2010? Wake up man.

Steve Andersen
And it’s currently March of 2011. But we started talking about it before its release. So the numbers do add up from a certain point of view, Ricardo.

Adriane
Just bought my first iPad (2) and I have only been able to connect to my wifi once & it didn’t maintain the connection. Better luck w my laptop!!! This stinks!

Steve Andersen
Thanks for the word, Adriane–and you too, Dave!–as bad as it is that you’re having problems it’s good to see the problem isn’t isolated. This will likely improve the chances of Apple getting a fix together.

Sha la man
Just Bought my iPad 2 in Australia last friday (25th March) and been having the same problem. I’ll have wifi connection as per normal but as soon as I turn my iPad back on from a break, (coffee, lunch, pick up kids) my wireless connection is gone. Just the forever spinning status circle. Turning off the iPad as opposed to just putting back the smart cover solves the problem, but as soon as it goes to sleep and is turn back on via home button or openening smart cover, connection’s lost again!!
I thought the ios 4.3.1 update would solve it, but it didn’t. All my other desktop wireless connection as well as my 3g iphone is fine.
What gives?

niek
Yes, bought my ipad2 (16gbwifi) last friday, and the wifi connections drops out once in a while. For some reason the connection drops, and than i have to renew the lease ( configuration–> wifi)
Pita.O
My Wifi works ok at home but this problem shows up at my corporate Wifi. The problem manifests exactly as it did not he first iPad. You get Wifi and you are happy; then your iPad goes to sleep and on waking up, you don’t have wifi. You have to go in and select it again and it picks up (most of the time).
Greg P
Yes, I’ve got this problem, I am on holidays now and have tried logging in to wireless in the apartments I am staying in. My MacBook sees about 10 options and my iPad sees only 2. When I try to join the wireless network the iPad will not let me type in the name and password, tried copy and paste but no luck so could not log in – very strange – could join using my phone but not the iPad 2 – apple definitely need a fix for this issue
Joao611
Just found the solution! :D
Just put to forgot the network u’re trying to connect, and then connect to it :)
Steve Andersen
Wow. Well, guys, I think you’ve overwhelmingly shown that there’s something hinky going on with the wi-fi capability on the iPad 2. Have to keep an eye out and see if they go with a patch of some kind or it’s a hardware issue.
Jim
Having same issues. 64gb Wifi ipad2. iPad says it is connected to my wifi network and shows 3 bars signal, but no emails, Internet, anything. If I go into settings, turn wifi off then on again, it’s fine. Until I pick up my ipad a few hours later and have to do it all again!
Come on Apple!
Liyang
Yeah, had the problem suddenly. Had to reboot to solve it.
Sandy
Have had ipad2 for one week now and wifi connectivity issues every day. 64 GB 3G. Lots of money to have this happen!
Amy
Just got my 64GB iPad2 and can’t get it to connect to home wifi at all. It isn’t picking up the correct IP Address, subnet mask, router – at least when compared with those settings on my iPhone, which maintains connectivity with no problem. Tried static IP and manually entered correct settings – device still tells me it’s not connected, though the wireless symbol is displayed and strong. Tried reboots, forget the network, no go: frustrating! Maybe this is pilot error rather than device error, though I have handled prior setups w/o issues. Anyone out there dealt with a similar problem?

roger
identical problem to Amy. It loads an incorrect IP address 169.254 etc. All other devices are OK on my router. 2 older ipads, iphone & my mac computer.

Atlanta GA
I have the iPad2 64GB AT&T with WI-FI ……. This is absolutely the worst product I have ever purchased.
The iPad2 will not stay connected for longer than 20-30min
I am constantly having to switch WI-FI on and off again to reconnect.
YouTube barley works at all, and Safari works just as poorly.
Every single one of my devices work perfectly fine on the WI-FI (Playstation3, HTC Aria, Sony Vaio)
Apple needs to correct this, and from reading previous threads it appears it’s a known issue.
iPad2 sucks, and I use it as a very nice high tech paper weight.
~Atlanta GA
val
Ipad2 keeps asking for wifi password only works for short while then disconnects driving me mad want to get money back but have bought books and music that I dont want to lose
Jen
Sitting here at a campsite on my husband’s ipad because my ipad2 will not connect to thw wifi! Happens at home too. Will be calling apple MONDAY? I AM NOT HAPPY!
Michael
I just got a ipad 2 from Best Buy. I also set up new router new linksys e2500 at home. Everything at home laptops cellphones connect fine. The ipad 2 however does not connect and gives me error. Not sure what to do. There is a guest mode on the router. That works fine. It involves entering a password on the browser. I now have some doubts about the unit

http://nexus404.com/Blog Chris Smith
You can always take it back to Apple and have it either fixed or replaced. They would be in the best position to explain why the iPad 2 can’t connect to your home network.

Michael
Never mind.. Please ignore my comment. I was using the wrong password..off by 1 digit.
D Jones
Just picked up my 64GBWiFi from Best Buy last Thursday. I’ve only had 3 incidents in which it appears to have successfully connected to WiFi (at home and at work), but there were no ‘bars’ displayed at all even though WiFi is on and there was a value next to WiFi in ‘Settings’. Turning WiFi on and off has solved the problem each time, but I can see how this can get real old real quick.
So far, my iPad2 experience is slightly different from my iPad1 experience in that iPad1 would drop the connection and randomly ask for my WEP. iPad1 never gave conflicting information that it -according to Settings- recognized a WiFi signal and thought it was connected to it, while at the same time -in email and Safari, etc.- issued a message that there was no internet connection. That is unique to iPad2.
As the author points out, a patch seemed to eliminate the problem for my iPad1. Let’s hope something similar is coming for iPad2.
P. Harrington
Yup. Just bought iPad2 from a friend (who just wasn’t using it all that much). It’s very fussy about the wi-fi connection. My iPhone is much better at staying in the network.
L garrod
Yes -can’t connect to wifi on ipad2 while abroad – iPad (1) beside me having no problem!!!
Alister
My iPad 2 is not keeping up wifi in wifi hot spot.
I was at a mall when I tried reading some news via my ipad2 when I notice that there was no wifi signals but my girl friend was surfing the net via wifi in the mall. I tried my iPhone 3s and it connected to the wifi so I taken back by this. I thought to myself may be the wifi signals are low but my iPhone is showing a reasonable signal strength.
Is there a fix for this issue?
Andrew
I have just brought 64g Ipad 2 from costco and it will not stay loged into my Netgear DG834PN routers Wi-Fi, it works somtimes then just won’t let you log in, or it will let you log in, but not work. This is driving me nuts, I have done all the surgested resets but the problem continues. There seems no answer to the problem in the forums and apple have stayed very quiet. Have I just spent £700 on a dud. we have 3 iphones and a ipod touch that all work ok on this router.
kevin
Same issues as above… constantly have to turn off and on to get a wifi connection. Pretty annoying for a device that is pretty expensive and gets so much good pub. i’d appreciate a repost if anyone finds a fix.
Don
Same problem with intermittent connectivity. Worked great for first 2 weeks.
Camo
Wow. Had my ipad2 for 5 months with constant wifi issues. Have tried numerous fixes, router firmware upgrades, different connection mods, hardware, software changes. But the apple fails to keep a connection. Refreshing the lease or switching to 3g seems to work for a while but the device just keeps on failing when trying to keep a connection to wifi.
Come on APPLE GET IT RIGHT! Enough stalling. Fast becoming an $900.00 waist of money!