Highlights
- iPhone 17 and iPhone Air users report frequent Wi-Fi disconnections, laggy CarPlay, and sporadic Bluetooth drops.
- The issue appears tied to Apple’s new N1 wireless chip but is believed to be software-related, not a hardware defect.
- Improvements are already seen in iOS 26.1 beta and Apple is expected to release iOS 26.0.1 soon to address these bugs.
The rollout of Apple’s iPhone 17 series hasn’t been entirely smooth. It all started with the scratchgate headlines and then reports of cellular connectivity issues. Now, some users are complaining about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth bugs that are also impacting CarPlay performance. Here’s our full report on the latest trouble of new iPhone 17 users.
iPhone 17 – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and CarPlay Bugs Surface
Caption – One of the Reddit posts on the issue.
On Reddit and Apple support forums, several iPhone 17 and iPhone Air owners have reported that their devices briefly disconnect and reconnect to Wi-Fi whenever the phone is unlocked or the Lock Screen is viewed. Since CarPlay depends heavily on Wi-Fi, users are also noticing laggy performance, skipped audio, and unstable connections while driving.
The complaints don’t stop at Wi-Fi. Some iPhone 17 users say they are also experiencing Bluetooth interruptions when using AirPods and other wireless accessories, with connections dropping sporadically.
One user posted, “This is the entire WiFi crashing.. doesn’t matter what network, or even if you’re connected to a network, it still drops. It’s just that if you’re not connected to a network you won’t notice the drop. But if you go into settings and reproduce the issue, you’ll see the WiFi goes to “off” for a second, then turns back on.”
Interestingly, a number of affected users point out that the issue seems to occur only when wearing an Apple Watch. It raises speculation that the bug might be tied to how devices interact within Apple’s ecosystem.
One Reddit user specifies, “I am experiencing the exact same issue when the watch is on my wrist and unlocked. It also affects wireless CarPlay. When the watch is on, and I unlock my iPhone, CarPlay will disconnect and reconnect. Makes sense because wireless CarPlay is also Wi-Fi based. I also have a Vision Pro and interestingly when I unlock that with my iPhone nearby it will also disconnect the Wi-Fi.”
The good news is that this appears to be a software-related issue rather than a hardware flaw in the new iPhones. All four iPhone 17 models ship with Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, but early indications suggest the problems can be fixed with software updates.
Some users testing iOS 26.1 beta have already reported better performance and fewer connectivity drops. Apple is also expected to push out iOS 26.0.1 soon, which should include bug fixes aimed at addressing these Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues.
One comment reads, “I updated only my iPhone to the 26.1 B1. It’s only been 20 minutes, but under the same circumstances that my WiFi and Bluetooth would turn off and on, it has not. This means that Apple, either intentionally or unintentionally, fixed the issue. This also means this is very likely a software issue that can be patched. I now also updated my watch to 26.1 B1. Still cannot reproduce the issue. Additionally, I use the “unlock with iPhone” feature. Everything held fine! Additionally, my AirPods are not dropping and Bluetooth has been fine.”
Until then, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air users facing these problems may need to wait for Apple’s official update to restore full stability.
FAQs
Q1. What connectivity problems are iPhone 17 and iPhone Air users facing?
Answer. Users are reporting frequent Wi-Fi disconnections, laggy CarPlay performance, and sporadic Bluetooth drops, especially when unlocking the phone or wearing an Apple Watch.
Q2. Are the connectivity issues in iPhone 17 caused by hardware or software?
Answer. The problem appears to be software-related. All iPhone 17 models use Apple’s new N1 wireless chip, but early signs suggest the bugs can be resolved through software updates.
Q3. When will Apple fix these connectivity bugs?
Answer. Apple is expected to release iOS 26.0.1 soon to address these issues. Some users testing iOS 26.1 beta have already noticed improved performance and fewer drops.