iPhone 17 has Wi-Fi and CarPlay errors after iOS 26 update

Soon after iPhone 17 users updated to iOS 26, there were many reports of problems related to Wi-Fi and CarPlay — affecting the user experience, especially when it comes to network or car connectivity.

Unstable Wi-Fi and sudden disconnection issues

One of the common errors reported by many iPhone 17 users is that Wi-Fi suddenly disconnects or Wi-Fi works intermittently. Specifically:

During use, some iPhone 17s automatically dropped out of the Wi-Fi network, even though the signal was strong and the location did not change.

Users tried turning Wi-Fi on and off, forgetting the network and reconnecting, restarting the device many times but it was still unstable.

This error is not common on other devices, so it may be related to compatibility between iPhone 17 and iOS version 26.

Unstable Wi-Fi greatly affects users when surfing the web, watching videos , downloading applications or using online services.

CarPlay also “hit” — lost connection or no signal

Along with the Wi-Fi error, many users also complained that CarPlay on iPhone 17 is not working properly after upgrading to iOS 26:

When connecting the iPhone 17 to the CarPlay system in a car — via USB-C cable or Bluetooth — CarPlay sometimes fails to launch or becomes “unresponsive.”

There are cases where CarPlay works for a while and then suddenly stops, or the car screen flashes between the CarPlay interface and the default interface of the car entertainment system.

In some cases, users are forced to unplug the cable, restart the iPhone, and reconnect CarPlay to get it working again.

CarPlay errors cause great inconvenience for users who often drive long distances or use CarPlay for navigation, listening to music, and making hands-free calls.

Potential causes & temporary solutions

Possible causes

Due to software compatibility between iOS 26 and iPhone 17's Wi-Fi hardware / network chip / system processing logic.

As Apple adds new security features (like Stolen Device Protection) or expands software access, some network/communication related modules may be affected.

Software bug in iOS 26 — possibly lost in beta testing but still made it into the final version.

Temporary solution

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi: forget the network that failed and reconnect.

Restart iPhone 17.

Go to Settings → General → Software Update to see if there is a new patch, if there is, update it soon.

When using CarPlay, try unplugging the cable and reconnecting it, try using Bluetooth if supported.

If the bug is serious, temporarily avoid updating to iOS 26 until Apple releases a more stable fix.

Advice for those considering updating to iOS 26

If your iPhone 17 is working fine, consider waiting a few days to observe feedback from other users before updating.

Back up your data before updating — if needed, you can restore to the previous version.

Keep an eye out for Apple minor updates (e.g. iOS 26.0.1, 26.1) to get the Wi-Fi / CarPlay Fix patch.

According to 9to5mac