iPhone XS Max Xs Max - Subpar Wi-Fi Performance (Solved!!)

[GDMcG]

Mine happens on a 3 node eero network. XS stays locked to 2.4 GHz.

Reset iOS network settings on XS. It then connects to the 5 GHz network for a bit and I get full throughput.
So after a bit it reverts back to 2.4 GHz and stays there. No matter how close I am to a node on my mesh WiFi network. So the resetting of network settings appears to be a temporary fix only. I have multiple iOS devices in house on iOS 12. Only XS has issue.

 

[HEK]

Reset iOS network settings on XS. It then connects to the 5 GHz network for a bit and I get full throughput.
So after a bit it reverts back to 2.4 GHz and stays there. No matter how close I am to a node on my mesh WiFi network. So the resetting of network settings appears to be a temporary fix only. I have multiple iOS devices in house on iOS 12. Only XS has issue.

If you have Apple AirPort Extreme just give unique name to 5GHz band and log phone into that. Will stay 5GHz at least at home.

Super easy partial solution till Apple fixes software.

 

[GDMcG]

If you have Apple AirPort Extreme just give unique name to 5GHz band and log phone into that. Will stay 5GHz at least at home.

Super easy partial solution till Apple fixes software.

Unfortunately gave up my AirPort Extreme years ago. Now have a mesh network that uses a single SSID.

 

[HEK]

Noticed side benefit of naming 5GHz network with separate name. The dozen or so neighbor networks are all 2.4GHz. Can cause interference slowdowns for all my devices.

Switched everything to my 5GHz only network name and every device picked up speed. Thanks Apple, your XS Max Wi-Fi band issue helped me detect this issue.

Now, Apple, please fix the issue for when away from my network.

 

[TroyBoy30]

most new mesh systems have band steering that should fix the issue

 

[yozh]

Anything new on this ? I did some setting manipulation on my UniFi setup, but kind of seen same issue, starting to see articles pop up and people complaining.

Interestingly my cell service is better ...

 

[HEK]

Unfortunately gave up my AirPort Extreme years ago. Now have a mesh network that uses a single SSID.

was thinking of going mesh. However since the Wi-Fi on extreme is running 3 to six times faster than my cable internet rate, didn’t see need to change just yet.
[doublepost=1537875435][/doublepost]

Anything new on this ? I did some setting manipulation on my UniFi setup, but kind of seen same issue, starting to see articles pop up and people complaining.

Interestingly my cell service is better ...

Like most news today the articles so far are just a feedback loop. No new information, just repeating what’s coming from this forum.

Apple appears to be investigating. I’m fairly confident we will have a software fix that will make the new phones less sensitive to favoring 2.4GHz band.

 

[GDMcG]

was thinking of going mesh. However since the Wi-Fi on extreme is running 3 to six times faster than my cable internet rate, didn’t see need to change just yet.
[doublepost=1537875435][/doublepost]
Like most news today the articles so far are just a feedback loop. No new information, just repeating what’s coming from this forum.

Apple appears to be investigating. I’m fairly confident we will have a software fix that will make the new phones less sensitive to favoring 2.4GHz band.

I contacted Apple Support regarding this issue. They simply suggested setting the iPhone up as new rather than restoring from backup. I have not yet tried that as I have already spent hours restoring two XS devices and repairing watches and re-adding Apple Pay cards etc. I had the XS swapped at the store due to an unrelated issue with a deep nick on the screen (out of box) of the first one I received last Friday. New hardware has the same WiFi issues. Connects slowly to 2.4 GHz even right next to WiFi node while every other Apple device in house, save for Apple Watches which only have 2.4 GHz radios, connects and stays connected at 5 GHz. Only the XS can’t stay connected to 5 GHz.

 

[jtrue28]

Apple support has truly sucked *** this year. They can't fix anything.

 

[netnothing]

I contacted Apple Support regarding this issue. They simply suggested setting the iPhone up as new rather than restoring from backup. I have not yet tried that as I have already spent hours restoring two XS devices and repairing watches and re-adding Apple Pay cards etc. I had the XS swapped at the store due to an unrelated issue with a deep nick on the screen (out of box) of the first one I received last Friday. New hardware has the same WiFi issues. Connects slowly to 2.4 GHz even right next to WiFi node while every other Apple device in house, save for Apple Watches which only have 2.4 GHz radios, connects and stays connected at 5 GHz. Only the XS can’t stay connected to 5 GHz.

You don't really want to talk to customer support.....they will be clueless. You have to get to talk to the support techs that simply troubleshoot and gather info to pass along to engineering. I got to them via tweeting to @Applesupport and they eventually called me directly.

 

[jtrue28]

Any new updates from your calls with them @netnothing ?

 

[netnothing]

Any new updates from your calls with them @netnothing ?

Nope, but the tech did mention he probably wouldn't be calling me back unless they really needed me to send more info or test something. I'm hoping that they got what they needed between the 2 calls, extensive notes and 4GB of logs. I basically took that night to try every combo I could to have the phone switch/not connect/etc and get logs on it so they would have everything they need.

The tech was actually getting his Max that night, so he was hoping to do some of his own testing.

 

[jtrue28]

Great. Thanks for all the work you have put in. Hopefully they will get this sorted out, soon.

 

[netnothing]

Great. Thanks for all the work you have put in. Hopefully they will get this sorted out, soon.

Me too! I was so relieved when he called and said first thing that he wasn't "customer support" and wouldn't be there to help me with questions about the phone. He was dedicated to gathering info for engineering, and based on his questions and our conversation, he was knowledgable in this stuff. I was afraid posting on Twitter that I'd get the typical....did you try a reboot

 

[Tusk]

Nope, but the tech did mention he probably wouldn't be calling me back unless they really needed me to send more info or test something. I'm hoping that they got what they needed between the 2 calls, extensive notes and 4GB of logs. I basically took that night to try every combo I could to have the phone switch/not connect/etc and get logs on it so they would have everything they need.

The tech was actually getting his Max that night, so he was hoping to do some of his own testing.

I’m having the exact same problem as you with my XS Max. Have a call with senior tech advisor tomorrow so they can collect more data on the problem.

 

[dan9700]

xs max keeps cutting off calls and saying call failure

 

[patrickbarnes]

most new mesh systems have band steering that should fix the issue

eero has band steering in beta. You have to enable it under labs.
[doublepost=1538006938][/doublepost]

I contacted Apple Support regarding this issue. They simply suggested setting the iPhone up as new rather than restoring from backup. I have not yet tried that as I have already spent hours restoring two XS devices and repairing watches and re-adding Apple Pay cards etc. I had the XS swapped at the store due to an unrelated issue with a deep nick on the screen (out of box) of the first one I received last Friday. New hardware has the same WiFi issues. Connects slowly to 2.4 GHz even right next to WiFi node while every other Apple device in house, save for Apple Watches which only have 2.4 GHz radios, connects and stays connected at 5 GHz. Only the XS can’t stay connected to 5 GHz.

There is zero difference between setting up as new and restoring apart from losing all your data.

You can achieve the same thing by doing a restore and then doing a *Reset Settings* (not data).

Or just reset network settings...

 

[Dizle]

If anyone can change their channel width try VHT40 (40MHz). I went from an Airport Extreme (80MHz and terrible wifi range) back to my Ubiquti setup on 40MHz and it's made the world of difference. Went from getting about 10 down if I was lucky with with Extreme to around 100 down (which is what I'm paying for) on Ubiquti.

My old iPhone 8 did fine on the Extreme, something is still up with the XS but I found a workaround for now.

XS has been solid on wifi now, I disabled Auto Join on my other SSIDs so I know my phone isn't switching back to them. I have separate 2.4 and 5G networks on both the Airport Extreme and Ubiquti. Now if only cellular speeds would improve! Mine is so slow on t-mobile. I'm lucky if I see more than 10 down even with full bars

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Same issue. Multiple Apple devices on my home network and the XS is by far the slowest. Ridiculous that this wasn’t caught during development. Don’t know whether to return the XS while still in return period or whether to keep and just hope this gets fixed via a software update.

I’ll add that I’m a aware there are things I can do to force the iPhone onto the preferred band/frequency on my home network, but this really isn’t a long-term solution. The problem will pop up anytime you connect to a new network at a friends house, at work, in public, etc.

 

[Fratorga100]

I'm not having speed related problems (probably because I can't even get to 20mbps) but sometimes the phone stops loading but still says that it's connected to wifi. Disconnecting and connecting it back seems to be solving that.

 

[TroyBoy30]

eero has band steering in beta. You have to enable it under labs.

yea sadly my google wifi hasn't added it yet

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Two speed tests - faster one is from the iPhone 7 Plus, and the slower of the two is from the iPhone Xs Max. Internet is running through an enterprise-class firewall and the AP is a Ubiquiti AP-AC-Pro.
...

Edit: Solved - Reset network settings. Settings - General - Reset - Reset Network Settings

This issue is not solved, at least not for most people. It seems to default back to 2.4 when given the opportunity regardless of resetting network settings.

@netnothing if you could keep us updated on anything you learn from Apple that would be great. This is a huge issue and I’m guessing it hasn’t blown up because a lot of people just haven’t noticed yet.

 

[raab]

Looks like my Xs Max is doing the same thing.

Resetting network was only temporary, after awhile it just defaulted back to the 2.4ghz band

Hopefully a software fix comes out, given intel make some of the better wifi adapters for laptops/pc's..

 

[GDMcG]

For more empirical Wifi Data you can download the Airport Utility app (no need to actually have an Apple Airport), and follow the following instructions from https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT203068 to run the scanner utility from your XS and other iOS devices at the same location to get comparative data.

The Wi-Fi scanner in AirPort Utility
Apple’s AirPort Utility includes a Wi-Fi scanner that logs the client’s view of the network. Administrators can use it to validate the client’s view of the network at a specific location.

For accurate results, use the Wi-Fi scanner on a dedicated device that’s the same model as the iOS client.

On your iOS device, go to Settings > AirPort Utility to turn on the Wi-Fi scanner.

Next, open Airport Utility and tap Wi-Fi Scan.

By default, Wi-Fi Scanner runs continuously. Use the slider to set a scan duration of up to 60 seconds.

To start the scan, tap Scan. AirPort Utility lists all the SSIDs that it finds. This includes hidden networks, which appear as "Network name unavailable."

The AirPort Utility scans all available bands at four-second intervals. Enterprise networks that have multiple access points are grouped by BSSID. The scanner shows information about:

• SSID
• BSSID
• Last RSSI
• Channel
• Last Time Found

To view a trace log of the scan results for an SSID and BSSID, tap the SSID:

The trace log shows the date and time of the scan, along with the channel and RSSI.

After the scan completes, you can share the results. Just tap the share icon (

), then choose one of these options:

• AirDrop
• Message
• Mail
• Copy

AirPort Utility sends the results as a comma-separated list:

SSID, BSS, RSSI, Channel, time

"ACES", "18:64:723:E9:40", "-57", "11", "12:02:03 PM"

"Cuba", "F8:1EF:F9:56:BC", "-53", "149", "12:02:03 PM"

"ACES", "18:64:723:E9:50", "-63", "149", "12:02:03 PM"

"Cuba", "F8:1EF:F9:56:BB", "-69", "11", "12:02:03 PM"

"ACES", "18:64:723:E9:40", "-67", "11", "12:02:07 PM"

The first line is a column header that shows the SSID, BSS, RSSI, Channel, and date fields. To analyze or chart the results, import the list into a spreadsheet or other tool.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I’ve reset my network settings and I’m now getting 200mbps like I was getting on my X. LTE has always fluctuated and been crap where I live.