This mostly happens when your Wi-Fi network is fluctuating or the device is failing to recognize it. There’s also a setting called Wi-Fi Assist that transfers the network to cellular data if the Wi-Fi isn’t stable. However, this very well could be the cause of the disconnection. So what you can do straight off the bat is disable Wi-Fi Assist in settings. Then, connect to your Wi-Fi again and see if you’re still linked to the network after locking the phone. We’ll be highlighting our tried and tested methods to resolve this issue. All of them are pretty straightforward, so go through them one by one.
1. Reconnect to your Wi-Fi Network
There can be a timeout in the connection sometimes, and reconnecting to the network again will solve the problem. All you need to do is simply disconnect from your Wi-Fi, forget the network, and then reconnect again. Here are the steps to do it: Now lock your mobile device and see if the issue persists or not.
2. Restart your iPhone
If there’s any glitch or bug due to which Wi-Fi disconnects while the screen is locked, then restarting the iPhone can be a quick fix to rectify this problem. It will reboot all the files, and restore the connection. Now different iPhones have different ways of restarting. Learn below how to restart your variant. For iPhone SE (1st Gen) or 5 and earlier: For iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Gen) and 6, 7, 8: For iPhone X, 11, 12, or above:
3. Disable Wi-Fi Assist
Wi-Fi Assist is a great option to enable if you’re in a place where a Wi-Fi connection is unstable. What it does is switch over the connection to mobile data as soon as the Wi-Fi signals drop. Be that as it may, this very option can be the reason why your Wi-Fi is disconnecting. If the Wi-Fi network in your home or workplace is stable, then there’s no need to turn on Wi-Fi Assist. Here’s how to disable this option:
4. Turn Off VPN from Settings
If the VPN is enabled on the iPhone, the Wi-Fi connection will sometimes be inconsistent. This is also one of the reasons why WI-Fi disconnects when the iPhone is locked. Therefore, disabling VPN and reconnecting to the network should be your way forward.
5. Turn Off the Networking & Wireless Service
Wi-Fi networking helps find nearby Wi-Fi networks and lists all of them on your iPhone. It’ll also locate your location in case there’s no cell service. Even though this service has a couple of benefits, it can be the reason for Wi-Fi disconnection. Disabling it in the settings will fix the hassle.
6. Renew DHCP Lease
A lease is basically an IP address temporarily provided by the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) while you’re connected to any wireless network. A new connection modifies the lease every time. Note: The Renew Lease option will not be available if your iOS version is 15 or above. Now, in this method, we’ll be renewing the DHCP lease for our Wi-Fi network manually. It’ll get rid of the disconnection issue we’re dealing with here.
7. Reset Network Settings
More often than not, most of your network problems will be fixed by resetting the network settings, including the Wi-Fi disconnection while locked. This reset won’t delete any data on your iPhone. However, the saved Wi-Fi passwords will be deleted, so you’ll have to join them again. Here’s how to reset the network settings on your iPhone.
8. Update iOS Version
If the Wi-Fi still disconnects when the iPhone is locked, then check for any iOS software updates. Running an older iOS version wouldn’t be ideal, as there isn’t only a lack of features but also some potential software problems. Therefore, make sure to always keep your iPhone up-to-date. Follow the steps below to look for iOS updates.
9. Restart and Update your Router
The problem can also be with your router and not with the iPhone itself. If the software solutions aren’t working, then this hardware troubleshooting will do the job. Furthermore, visit the manufacturer’s website for your router and check if any updates are available. If there are, then do update the firmware.
