Wired For Gadgets » Can’t Touch This: Fix the iTouch Wi-Fi

Can’t Touch This: Fix the iTouch Wi-Fi

Jake Bechtold | October 10, 2007

NOTE: THIS POST WAS WRITTEN IN OCTOBER 2007 ON THE ORIGINAL iPOD TOUCH. I NO LONGER HAVE THE ORIGINAL ONE, NOR DO I HAVE THE THIS PROBLEM ANYMORE.

After last week’s review of the iPod Touch, emails have been pouring in about Wi-Fi issues. I didn’t mention this in the review, but I did have an issue with the Wi-Fi. The issue at hand is when your connect to the internet at home or in the office. I would connect to the internet, and I would try to load a web page. I would get the following message:

After some searching around, I found that it might be a DNS (Domain Name Server) issue. Here’s why it’s important. You can only connect to a website if your computer knows its IP address. When you enter a website’s domain name (ie: wiredforgadgets.com), your computer or router uses a Domain Name System (DNS) server to search for the domain’s IP address. For example, when you enter google.com, the DNS server reports the IP address as 72.14.207.99. If there is no working DNS server, domain names become useless.

Why is this happening? The iPod Touch and the iPhone (for one reason or another) is trying to use the network router as a DNS, which in some cases may not work. Technically though, the iTouch/iPhone is connected to the internet. By entering 72.14.207.99 (the correct IP address for google.com) into Safari’s address bar, it bypass the domain and does not need a working DNS server . While this will verify that the Wi-Fi internet connection is working, it’s downright impossible to surf the internet without domain names. To correct this problem, the DNS settings must be changed.

You could fix this at your router, but this won’t help on other networks, so you may as well to this your iTouch/iPhone.

* Go to Settings.
* Select Wi-Fi.
* Chose a network.
* Select the blue arrow next to the network you are connected to.
* Select DNS.
* Change the IP Address to 208.67.222.222

The IP address 208.67.222.222 is a service called OpenDNS, which not only is safer, but is guaranteed to work with any network anywhere.

The Catch-22 is that you have to do this with every new Wi-Fi you pick up that doesn’t work. It’ll remember past ones, but it won’t do it to new ones. I recommend writing down the IP Address 208.67.222.222 and keeping it in your wallet for easy access.

Hopefully that solves everyones problems. Be sure to leave a comment if you have any more questions.

Change iPhone’s Wi-Fi DNS Settings to Connect to the Internet [AndrewEscobar.com]

2-2-2010 – Comments have been disabled.

Categories: Help Desk, Tips & Tricks, iPod + iTunes

Dan Hoffman

You are amazing. It worked like a charm. Thanks
helpman

heres help ppl.....do the dhc watever one, not static or boot...and put it in the dns thing..
tjarnqvist

the catch 22 is this loser dont know what the heck there talking about
Juliet

It wound up not even working!
Juliet

This slowed down my internet tremoundously. I recoment NOT using this if you seek hi-speed internet acsess.
Andrew Brown

You are the geatest my kids think i am cool after sending three hrs trying to get tere ipods to connect
andreshushani

where my it says wifi it is greyed out and wont let me press on it what do i do?
squeak16

okayy well it wont let me touch the ip address and it is a brand new ipod??? so what else can be wrong with it?? because it so wont let me even get in the ip to punch in the numbers
bonnie

still didnt work.any suggestions>?
This Stinks

this did not help me at all. i typed in everything correctly and it still doesn't work.
Mello

im getting 169 as the start of my ip and thats it >.< not getting dns or nothing server plz help me
John

i tried this it still doesnt work. i have full connection and when i try to load a page it say server has stopped resonding. I checked the ip adress on my itouch and it is different from the one on my computer but i dont know how to change it
candeee

what if when you go into settings it won't let you select the wifi? :(
lousy font

you should really have a look at your website in other browser besides the one you develop in.
Take a quick look at how terrible this site looks in ie... (and yes it still has market share)
stangelbr

So i have a connection on my itouch. But i dont have an internet button and i was wondering how i could get one?
Emma

when i try to enter the password for my router , it says incorrect password , how do i change that ??
dasiobu

This was bad. It did not work and I couldn't change my iPod Touch's IP address back. Please leave more comments to help this problem. (P.S. I still couldn't connect to the internet.)
mundie142

is this forum too old? cuz i need help. my wifi to my ps3 works fine with my linksys wireless router but when i go to enter the password on my itouch it will try to work but always say "unable to join the network "linksys" ". i have no clue what to do i even clicked on DNS and changed the number to 208.67.222.222 but it didnt help. so if theres still someone to help it would be much appreciated
ethan Macleod

you are a geniouse my man thnx for the help dude Peace
Sonya

omg that totally helped!!! thanks :)) i was spazzin out man..idk what was wrong with my itouch..it jus all of a sudden startd doin that a coupla weeks ago. but thank you, again...im so releived. :)
vivekredskin

no my problem is not fixed still i get a message saying
server stopped responding
Richard Buss

Outstanding. Tried a number of different things to try to fix this, and this was the one that worked. Thank you so much!
drmary

Thanks so much. You are a genius.
sheena

it still wont work
deandude

Doesnt Work!!!
Lyoko 2

Thanks a lot! It worked right away. :D
satindermudhar

i don t no what my password is for the wifi
and i can't connect because it can't find the server
nes21

i have a iphone fone,but my wi fi is not working..its just said's no wifi and you can't even press it..do you know what to do?
Dog

It isn't working for me i changed the address like you said and it still shows ''Safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding.'' Any ideas wat to do or whats wrong
Orko

I was getting this same message while using my Mac as a WiFi server.

This is what worked for me:
I went to System Preferences>Sharing and switched off the Internet Sharing and then switched it on again. My iPhone started connecting after that.

Hope this helps.
Dodow1234

Change the address? I'm kinda confuse here, just push the small blue button of the the wifi signal that you're connected with and entered the DNS number from your modem connection, or if you don't know the number, just enter the openDNS 208.67.222.222
Dodow1233

Omg it's work, you're my hero. Seriously I've been searching around for this problem but found no solution. Yours the only one that magically works. I already save the magical DNS number on my itouch notes. Thanks a billion mate
Fleggy

Hi,

I too HAD (yes HAD) exactly the same issues.

I finally bit the bullet and called Apply. After spending 52 minutes on the phone to "Victoria" in Apple Support about my iPOD Touch 8gb not connecting to the internet, I thought I would advise you what resolved the issue.

I have a LinkSys WRT54G router. Per Apple's instructions, I upgraded the Firmware (I was running V1.01.0 - the original 2.5 year old version). Upgrading made my Touch "spring" into life. EVERYTHING NOW WORKS!!!!! No messing with DNS settings and using Open DNS as some have posted as a solution. No reset or factory resets. Just upgrade your firmware!! Let's face it...the majority of us never do this if the computers work fine.

Reading all the bulletin boards and blogs, there seems to be an awful lot of people with the same issue. Those issues include:

• Safari - Cannot connect - Not connected to the internet
• Server not connected
• Server timed out
• Etc

This is the same flavor for You Tube, Stocks, Weather and Maps (anything online). You just can't connect.

Your Macs and PC's will all be fine, and even Apple Airport and the Remote App WILL still work, which makes you think you "are" actually connected to the internet. Other symptoms include low signal or inability to "connect" (intermittent) to the internet (I stood by my router to get a strong connection).

A give away for these issues is the ip address (when available) starting with 169.xxx.xxx.xxx or 168.xxx.xxx.xxx. Obviously, it should start 192.xxx.xxx.xxx if it is actually connected to YOUR own network.

So - make sure your router firmware is updated. If you are not sure how to do this, check the website for the manufacturer of your router.

Hopefully this will help avoid the frustrations I have had over the past few days. If it does not work, then perhaps some of the "other" solutions will work for you, but as ever with technology...make sure you have the "latest" version of "everything"...and don't forgot the router!!

Cheers

Mark

ps - why the 168.xxx.xxx.xxx or 169 blah blah IP address? If the iPOD Touch cannot connect via your router, it goes directly to your ISP (as if it were a separate network). This allows "certain" wireless priviledges, but INTERNAL only. No external websites are allowed, as it is not authenticated correctly.
Amanee

My Ip Address Keeps Changing. How Can I Fix This. Itouch 2nd Gen. updated 100%.
broken wifi itouch

nevermind. i had input in the wrong password. i had put two wrong letters in there where it was suppose to be two numbers. now it works!

*important: even if you missed input a number, it will still show you that you are connected, but really you're not that's why you get the "safari can't open the page, because it can't find server"

so double check your password and you can do that by putting in your ip address in the internet browser. it will take you to your internet account service provider which whoever you signed up with, in this case, i'm signed up with qwest.
broken wifi itouch

Ever since I tried to jailbreak my itouch first gen. my wifi has stopped working. I've tried to follow the steps and advice given on this page but it still doesn't work. i am connected to my wifi. it's connected, but it just says safari can't open the page, because it can't find the server.... does jailbreaking it cause problems? I've even restore from factory setting as well and reset my wireless router.

please any advice or information on jailbroken itouch that can't connect wifi.
islandzboy

Thank you SO MUCH!!!
simon

Thank You *Thank You* Thank You* very much
after spending money on routers and time with customer services... WHERE WERE YOU?
Geo

hey i really need help with this itouch.thing
well if anyone can help i would mean alot.Thanks
chuck lee

you took out a lot of misery and toubles from many itouch owners WORLDWIDE !!
Morgan

WOW ive been googling this issue for about a month. I've tried messing around with my router and about every possible thing with my ipod.

This works perfectly!!! thank you so much!
Geo

hey how you do it??
im still havin trouble =(
david

i cant select on wifi it just shows it but i cant click on it.
parlot

Use the encryption code instead of a password. This will work with wrt54g,
You can use other codes if your having a problem with other routers'
Morgan

Thank-You So much, my internet kept dying on me, i'd get a signal and when i'd open up internet, it would end up dying a few seconds later. Now it works fine, i've been looking for a fix to my problem for a few weeks now! Thank-You Again
heyley

Thank youu...
like idontknow if it works completelyy.
but now my itouch is trying to load a page. which it hasnt done in a while/ thanks for the help
Justin M.

it wont work.. well i guess its because of my problem.
my itouch wont connect to any wifi! i have no idea why. it happened on friday april 3rd 2009
then ive been trying to restore it. and it stil lwont work!! now i dont know what to do cuz i lost my warranty already.
Jae

Even though I put in 208.67.222.222 in the IP Address it still does not work. I tried putting the same numbers in all of them but it still does not work. What went wrong?
drew

I have not problem with connections because my youtube works as well as the apps but safari will not load it is just a grey screen any help on that one?
Spencer

I got my ipod and things were fine but i didnt need the wi-fi soi am trying to find out howto get it off.
sam

You guys, you guys are questioning some things that were answered in the text above. READ!! Then if you still have questions then ask. Next some people are saying that they have put in the 208.67.222.222 in the DNS space, NO! You do not put it in the DNS space you put it instead of your ip address! Btw this has helped me connect to the interent and i am thankful=))
Gabbi

everytime i try it says its not connected to the internet.
i dont know what to do.
Tracey

OH you MAY need to try "forget this network"

Sorry forgot to add
Tracey

Here is what I did with my Linksys. I went into my security settings and retrieved my Encryption code. Entered it EXACTLY the same as my password (and not the password I had setup on my router). At first it said I was connected, but no bars, then I went into the info (IP, Subnet mask, ETC) and changed it to static and *~POOF~* Wi-Fi connected.

Hope this helps!
wireless router

is the ssid broadcast is enabled?
kumar

tnx so much
Jesse

please help me it is still not working can u email me at jesse-wright@hotmail.com and type the steps of how to do it from scratch.

THANKS :)
gjg

its still not working, what ip address thing should i use?
haleigh

i am connected to the NETGEAR WI-FI Networks and it still isnt letting me go on the internet on my itouch...i added the ip adress and everything else..why wont it let me go on
josue

the internet is a little slow no really slow
FloridaHealthInsuranceQuotes

It seems to me that it would be much more logical for the browse “eye” button to be grouped with the 3 “view” buttons, since using the browse and coverflow views are mutually exclusive, and using the browse with album cover view feels a bit redundant.
James

It still dosent work.
patricia

I can connect to the Internet but I can't connect to youtube or iTunes. This has really been a problem for me. Do u have a solution?
Maestrotic

THANK YOU !!!!! IT Works
Norgene

I just installed a wifi router into our house. When Im trying to connect to wifi via my iPod Touch, it won't connect. I bought a LinkSys router. I do not know if my router or my iTouch has the problem. I'm really confused. I tried to input all the IP address and stuff to my iTouch in the Static tab (no IP address, etc. appear when I tap the right arrow next to the name of my network) and put it back to the DHCP tab before I connecting to wifi but it isn't working. Please help me. Please. Thank you so much.
Jaime

holy crap! this worked!
spencer

well I tried what you said out and it still does not work.
some people said I should change from wep to wpa?
and i have no idea what that is.
if you can help it would be greatly appricieated.

thanks.
Layla

i tried this and it still didnt work!

when i try to connect to my network at home it say unable to join the network "linksys".

i dont get it because my laptop works on my wifi.

can you please help!
John Smith

thanks, it works great.
i wonder how the DNS changed?
von

I have the 2nd generation 8g iPod touch version 2.2. This is very frustrating. My 1st gen iPod touch is connected to my WPA-PSK router, no problem. The 2nd generation WILL NOT connect to WPA-PSK. I've tried entering the password many times and it's not working. I can get the 2nd gen to connect only if I turn WPA off. I don't want to do this. This might be a deal breaker. Why would the new iPod have more limitations with connectivity?? Argh.
zach

me too. If you figure it out email me at zchryfrk123@yahoo.com
Joel Venezuela

i will try tonight,let's see if it works in my itouch 2gen
simon

i done all that u said but it says enter password for
crystal

I can connect everyone else to the internet but not at home. I dont understand what i am doing wrong. someone pls help me ? i have a d-link router di-724u the open dns ip address didnt work for me. Oh i am getting an ip address but when i go back to safari it says that the page cannot open because i dont have a connection. someone pls help
Janae

what if you dont currently have a wifi connection
John

thank you lots.
alisha

what about a search domains and client id?
Hailey qwesters

My itouch still doesnt work and i have tryed it my stuff is entered
it used to work then it stoopped
Purple-Chan

This may very well save my sanity. Thanks much! I'll try it ASAP.
Purple-Chan

Oh, and email me at purplez.chan@gmail.com I don't really care if people know this email. :P

If it doesn't work, I can tell you a lot easier than finding this again.
andrew

Hey i have and iPod Touch version 2.2 and it still doesnt work please help me
e-mail me at polish-andrew@hotmail.com

please help
yayaya

okay you say select DNS but then you say change the ip adress so do you change the ip adress or the dns?
Dan

when i had this entered and went to safari on my itouch, there was a message that said " safari cannot open the page because the server cannot be found". what do i do? im not a tech freack so walk me through it easily please.
Drea

it still doesnt work... i was excited that it was browsing for a longer time, but it said that it couldnt connect again. can you help me out??
Pedro

I'm a dumbass I was changing the Ip section to 208...whatever. not the DNS section.
fee

thank I was just trying to figure it out ...........now is it possible to sync files from my pc to the itouch?
ben

it doesn't connet my wifi, it just loads really slow and says server stopped responding
Rochelle

When it tells me to pick a network, no network name is given, so i have to write on down, & than when i do write for example safari, or such. [i dont know what they mean by network, help me pick something to write for it] They ask me to pick a security which says WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA enterprise & WPA2 Enterprise. So which should i pick ? & Then they ask for Username & password, help me. D;
I don't get this whole network mumbo jumbo. /: & i just got my iTouch so it's pretty confusing. Help me connect !
Matt

I have tried to enter that DNS number into my 8GB Itouch, yet It still does not connect to the internet. I will connect to a wi fi connection perfectly, but when i open safari, the message "safari cannot open the page because it is not connect to the internet" opens. After entering the DNS, a new message comes up saying safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding. How do I resolve the problem?
kate

I will follow the directions and when i do this there are so many other choices such as DHCP,BootP, and Static. and there are also manual and auto. I am confused..please explain!
rosagarcia95

thats my problem..i dont know which one to put the number in..it only lets me type in the long number in the one called Static...but not the other ones! this is very frustrating cause i could use the internet perfectly at my friend's house but not at mine!!
Anyone please help!!
Jhon

wait u put that 208 67 222 222 code for the ip adress than what do u put next to the dns spot
Matthew

it does not work it will not connect at my house but it will in my friends house?
what do i do
ps. it is the new ipod touch
thanks
chris

dont work.anything else
Appreciative

THANK YOU SO MUCH !
THIS WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL !
ana espinasa

Hi how r u??? i´m from venezuela and have itouch which i bought in london, every time i tried to connect from a wireless connection in spain or london it connected succesfully, the problem is now back home(venezzuela) trying to connect in MY wireless and cannot do it... so, can u plz tell me exactly all the things i have to do in order to get access???
Johnnan

It is still not working
amy

is their any way you can join the networks with passwords?>
jakeb

That's still an issue- with me included at NDSU. Not sure if Apple is aware of it, but if there is a fix that I know of, you'll be sure to hear it here.
apauli

I can get it to run on the Lynksys router with the WEP switched off ok, but as soon as I switch the WEP back on again, the link goes down, why? If I then try to add the password in, it says not recognised!! This is most agravating!!!!
Darrin

Hi Did you ever figure this out. We are having the same problems?
zach

I am having the same problem. Did you ever figure it out?
John

After attempting many suggestions I came across on this and various other forums my problem was resolved by simply upgrading from version 1.1.5 to v 2.1 (which also consisted of restoring the device to factory defaults). Once I upgraded I went back into the Wi-Fi settings, entered the SSID and WEP key and I immediately connected and obtained IP address information. Prior to that I tried no encryption, WEP and WPA. I tried entering a static IP which was never accepted. Nothing worked until I upgraded the device.
david

hi i have the same problem with my ipod touch with version 1.5 software.
if i upgrade will i be able to connect to the inernet?
David

Is there a way to upgrade to 2.1 from 1.1.5 like you did and do it for free? I am having lots of wifi problems with my new itouch. Also do i jailbreak it after I upgrade or before?

please someone help me. write to me directly to my yahoo inbox as I may not be back in here to see any replies!
I need imed help it is Sunday and the time in Cali right now is 10:30am
thanks
David dtroyan@yahoo.com
joseph

thank you very much i'll try these and let you know if it works. thanks again
Dave

you are the best, I'm sitting here in Qatar and could not get my itouch to connect to the new wifi at the base. Thanks for the answer. Just passing through from Afghanistan on my way to the states. Thanks again
lou mattia

please help. it still does not work.
joel velasco

Thank you so much. Going to the Open DNS IP address worked for me. I have tried everything else.

Can’t Touch This: Fix the iTouch Wi-Fi

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