After updating an iPhone to the latest iOS 26 Beta, a lot of folks have reported that their Wi-Fi kinda just stops working — no internet, dropped connections, sometimes it even refuses to show available networks. Not super surprising, given how beta stuff can be flaky, but frustrating anyway. The main goal here is to get that Wi-Fi back up and running without losing your mind. These steps are based on real-world experiences where some things help, some don’t, but at least it’s worth trying before giving up and resetting the whole device.

How to Fix Wi-Fi Issues After iOS 26 Beta

Check your device restart — sometimes, a simple reboot clears out the weirdness

Before diving into heavy troubleshooting, restart your iPhone. The whole “turn it off and on” thing can fix minor glitches from the beta update. Why it works? Well, sometimes minor software hiccups work their way into temporary glitches, and rebooting clears the cache or resets processes that might be messing with Wi-Fi.

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Scroll down and tap on General.
  • Tap Shut Down and slide to power off.
  • Wait about 15 seconds, then power it back on.
  • Check your Wi-Fi — does it connect now?

Toggle Wi-Fi off and on — a classic move

If restart didn’t cut it, sometimes toggling Wi-Fi helps. It’s kinda like forcing it to refresh or reconnect properly. In beta, network stacking can get wonky, so this tweak might jolt it back to life.

  • Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
  • Turn Wi-Fi off, wait a few seconds, then back on.
  • See if your network shows up and the internet starts working.

Forget the network and reconnect — when the network cache gets wonky

This one has been hit or miss, but on some setups, your device’s saved network info might be corrupted during the beta update. Forgetting and rejoining the network forces it to renegotiate settings, which can fix certain connection issues.

  • In Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info icon (i) next to your network.
  • Copy or note down the Wi-Fi password — you’ll need it later.
  • Select Forget This Network and confirm.
  • Turn Wi-Fi off, then on again.
  • Reconnect by selecting your network and entering the password you noted.

Check Screen Time restrictions — weird things can happen if restrictions interfere

Because beta updates sometimes change or reset settings, Screen Time restrictions might be blocking Wi-Fi in the background. Not sure why it works, but on some setups, this sneaky setting messes with internet access.

  • Go to Settings > Screen Time.
  • Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  • Make sure this toggle is off, or check that Wi-Fi-specific restrictions aren’t enabled.
  • Disable restrictions temporarily and try connecting Wi-Fi again.

Reset network settings — last resort, but can clear a lot of issues

If nothing else worked, resetting network settings sometimes does the trick. It clears out all saved Wi-Fi info, VPN configs, Bluetooth pairings, and so on — kinda annoying but effective if the update caused deep config issues.

  • Open Settings, go to General.
  • Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  • Tap Reset, then select Reset Network Settings.
  • Confirm and wait. Your device will reboot and all network-related data will be wiped, so don’t forget to have your Wi-Fi passwords handy.

Extra tips & pitfalls to watch out for

Sometimes, the issue isn’t your device — check your router. Make sure it’s not blocking new connections or having firmware issues. Also, if you’re using a VPN, turn it off for a bit. Beta updates sometimes conflict with VPNs and cause more connectivity headaches.

  • Keep your iPhone updated to the latest beta build or consider rolling back if it’s too unstable.
  • Check for router firmware updates or reset the router if it’s acting weird.
  • Disable any VPNs or firewall restrictions that might interfere with Wi-Fi access.

Wrap-up

Having a stable Wi-Fi after a beta update is no guarantee, but these steps cover the common culprits. Sometimes it’s just a matter of patience and fiddling around a bit. Beta software can be quirky, so don’t be surprised if a few attempts are needed. Often, a restart or resetting network settings does the trick, especially when the update messes with network configs. If all else fails, reaching out to Apple Support or waiting for a new beta build might be the only options left.

Summary

  • Try restarting your iPhone — sometimes that’s enough.
  • Toggle Wi-Fi off and on with real patience.
  • Forget and rejoin your Wi-Fi network, making sure to save passwords.
  • Check Screen Time restrictions, disable if needed.
  • If everything else fails, reset network settings (just remember this wipes saved passwords).
  • Check your router and VPNs — they can cause conflicts.

Fingers crossed this helps

Wi-Fi problems after a beta update are annoying, but usually fixable with these tricks. Not sure why, but beta firmware seems to get confused with network configs sometimes. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck and hope your connection is back soon!