Help/Support Can't turn on Wi-Fi | Grayed out, won't work. Please Help!

OgreSnot · November 15, 2014

My sister has a problem with her iPhone 4S that when she want's to turn on the Wi-Fi, it is all grayed out and you can't click to turn it on. It's been like that since she got it. She didn't buy it, it was given to her as a gift. What could be the problem? Does anyone know?

-Thanks!

Rook · November 15, 2014

Your topic title. That's how every title in the Support section should be!

Have you tried Resetting Network Settings?

Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

I also found this (not sure if troll or...?):

castix · November 15, 2014

The WiFi MAC address was changed manualy. Does she have internet access with her mobile data. Restoring will also not help and there is no way around..

Basically to reset the MAC address you need to jailbreak the iphone.

If you decide to do so anser below and i'll give you further instructions

Updated November 15, 2014 by castix

Rook · November 15, 2014

The WiFi MAC address was changed manualy. Does she have internet access with her mobile data. Restoring will also not help and there is no way around..

Basically to reset the MAC address you need to jailbreak the iphone.

If you decide to do so anser below and i'll give you further instructions

You can't change your MAC address without Jailbreak, right? I don't think she Jailbroke her 4s.

I actually think the video above is legit. Even this well-known website says to heat up the Wi-Fi module: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Fix+iPhone+4S+Wi-Fi+Grayed+Out/22167

OgreSnot · November 15, 2014

@@castix Yes, she can use mobile data on her phone but not the wifi. And I know how to jailbreak an iphone thanks.. But Idk if she'd want that, I will see and ask her

@@DiDA I don't believe him, I won't be doing that LOL . Btw, why do you think every post should start with a title like mine?

Rook · November 15, 2014

@@castix Yes, she can use mobile data on her phone but not the wifi. And I know how to jailbreak an iphone thanks.. But Idk if she'd want that, I will see and ask her

@@DiDA I don't believe him, I won't be doing that LOL . Btw, why do you think every post should start with a title like mine?

Awesome title! Every title should be like that. Explains your problem and is very eye catching which will make people click it!

Look at my post above btw.

OgreSnot · November 15, 2014

@@DiDA Yeah I saw it but I won't go sparta all over my sister's iPhone, I'm not an engineer

And yes, everyone wants their title to be short but actually the longer the better (what she said)

Rook · November 15, 2014

@@DiDA Yeah I saw it but I won't go sparta all over my sister's iPhone, I'm not an engineer

And yes, everyone wants their title to be short but actually the longer the better (what she said)

Try the hairdryer method first.

castix · November 15, 2014

@@castix Yes, she can use mobile data on her phone but not the wifi. And I know how to jailbreak an iphone thanks.. But Idk if she'd want that, I will see and ask her

@@DiDA I don't believe him, I won't be doing that LOL . Btw, why do you think every post should start with a title like mine?

The guy in the video above had a completely different problem (no WiFi networks were popping up for him). Talking about your Problem you have to ask her about jailbreaking the device shortly and as DiDa guesses right you can only change the MAC address with a jailbreak. Well the former user could have messed up the iDevice and change is by mistake. To undo the issues of this problem you need to have Mobile Terminal (or WinSCP if you prefer openSSH)

The first time the command

nvram wifiaddr=ma:ca:dd:re:as

this is basically the command to change it to whatever you replace the letters.

Solution :

To undo this there is also a specific command which resets your UDID (meaning=MAC and WiFi address) to default state when it was bought.

Enter Mobile Terminal and first enter superuser by typing

su
alpine (default password if it's not changed)

heading over to the final step type

nvram -d wifiaddr

Well done so far. To apply all changes restore the iPhone with iTunes and you should be good !

OgreSnot · November 15, 2014

@@castix Even though I didn't understood a single thing you said, I will try and see what I can do.. I'll ask DiDA about this, he should know what to do Thank tho!