Apple’s latest batch of phones, iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and Air, have only been in stores since Friday, but they have already been hit by complaints that Wi-Fi on the devices is not always working as it should. Users across a series of forums have claimed that Wi-Fi connections “briefly connect and then switch on again when they have unlocked the iPhone,” which can also cause CarPlay to disconnect.
A thread on the Apple Community (which has 42 answers, by the way, even though these numbers are bloated by people who suggest solutions and repeated comments) writes: “I have noticed that my Wi-Fi consistently fell in and out on the setup and that my wireless Apple CarPlay seems to be disconnecting.”
A response to this thread confirms the problem. “CarPlay not reliable with iOS 26 and iPhone Air,” they say. “Wireless connection is constantly falling. Invention.” And another complainant: “Having the same Wi-Fi problems on my 17 Pro Max, Wi-Fi [drops] randomly and repeatedly without any service at all while my 16 pro max [works] flawless. “
A Redditor meanwhile summarizes the situation as the “iPhone 17 Wi-Fi turns off, and on every time I unlock the iPhone or ironing down and bringing the lock screen up (Notification Center). In addition, Bluetooth also has a great chance of falling when this happens.”
At this point, we only have anecdotal evidence rather than proper data. Based on the number of reports first spotted by macumors, the question seems at least reasonably widespread, but the true frequency and the cause are both unknown. For example, some complainants say “Bug” comes into force when they wear a couple of Apple Watch, but with so many people who own both an Apple Watch and a new iPhone, it’s impossible to see if this is actually a factor.
In fact, it is possible (albeit unlikely, considering the complaints’ volume and specificity) that the problem is not limited to the new phones, but to iOS 26 that many people with older phones have not yet installed. Those with brand new hardware also tend to be more sensitive to bugs and problems that stand out more on a device that otherwise delivers advanced performance.
Whether it can affect older phones, Apple will investigate the reports and decide if it needs a solution. In fact, it may have already done that: Some complainants report that installing the first beta of iOS 26.1 solves the problem. It is not an option for everyone, but we will advise them with affected phones to keep an eye on the full version of iOS 26.1.