To turn off Wi-Fi completely on your iPhone, open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and turn off the Wi-Fi switch. Apple says this disables Wi-Fi for all networks and devices. With Airplane Mode off, tapping the Wi-Fi button in Control Center only disconnects you from networks and leaves Wi-Fi available for other services.
The short version
- Complete shutoff: Open Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
- Temporary disconnection: The ordinary Control Center button leaves Wi-Fi available for other services.
- Airplane Mode: Previously enabled Wi-Fi can stay on, so check the switch afterward.
- Alternative controls: Settings search, Siri, and accessibility controls can help you reach the same switch.
| Option | Result | Requirement or catch |
|---|---|---|
| Settings > Wi-Fi | Disables Wi-Fi completely | Turn off the main switch |
| Search in Settings or Spotlight | Finds the same setting | Turn off the switch yourself |
| Siri opens Settings | Starts the route to the switch | Complete the change manually |
| Ordinary Control Center button | Disconnects temporarily | Wi-Fi remains available |
| Airplane Mode | Also affects cellular connectivity | Wi-Fi can remain enabled |
| Wi-Fi button during Airplane Mode | Switches Wi-Fi off | Enable Airplane Mode first |
| Paired Apple Watch | Can enable Airplane Mode on iPhone | Enable mirroring and check Wi-Fi afterward |
| Assistive Access | Offers Airplane Mode or access to ordinary settings after exiting | Requires the Assistive Access passcode |
| Voice Control | Operates the switch by voice | Initial setup downloads speech files |
| VoiceOver | Operates the switch with selection gestures | Select an item and double-tap |
| Full Keyboard Access | Operates the switch with a keyboard | Requires a compatible physical keyboard |
| AssistiveTouch | Operates the switch with a pointer | Requires a compatible pointer device |
| Switch Control | Operates the switch through scanning and selection | Configure an input source first |
| Eye Tracking | Operates the switch with eye movements | Requires a supported iPhone and calibration |
| Head Tracking | Operates the switch with head movements | Requires iOS 26 or later |
| Remove Force Wi-Fi on | Allows Wi-Fi to be switched off | Your device administrator must remove the restriction |
| Network joining preferences | Change connection behavior | Do not disable Wi-Fi |
| Local Network permission | Restricts an app's local-network access | Does not disable Wi-Fi |
| Power off your iPhone | Stops Wi-Fi operation while powered off | Does not establish a persistent Wi-Fi setting |
Turn off WiFi through Settings
Open Settings, select Wi-Fi, then turn off the Wi-Fi switch. This is the direct method for complete shutoff on current iPhone software, including iOS 27 and iOS 26. You do not need to forget your networks or change each network separately.
If you cannot find the setting, tap the search field in Settings, enter Wi-Fi, and tap the Wi-Fi setting. Turn off the Wi-Fi switch on that screen. You can also search for settings from the Home Screen or Lock Screen.
Siri can open the app before you make the change. Say “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” or hold the Side button on a Face ID iPhone or the Home button on a Home-button iPhone, then ask Siri to open Settings. Tap Wi-Fi and switch it off manually.
Fix WiFi that reconnects after you disconnect
With Airplane Mode off, tapping Wi-Fi in Control Center disconnects your iPhone from networks without fully disabling Wi-Fi. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on a Face ID model, or up from the bottom on a Home-button model. Use its Wi-Fi button when you want a temporary disconnection.
After that disconnection, automatic joining can resume at 5 a.m., after a location change, after a restart, or after you reconnect manually. To disable Wi-Fi completely, open Settings > Wi-Fi and switch off Wi-Fi. Check the main switch whenever you need to confirm the result, since disconnecting from a network does not establish that Wi-Fi is off.
Check WiFi when using Airplane Mode
Turn on Airplane Mode in Settings, or open Control Center and tap Airplane Mode. This also affects cellular connectivity, so use the separate Wi-Fi switch when Wi-Fi is the only connection you want to disable. Wi-Fi can remain enabled if you previously turned it on while using Airplane Mode.
For a definitive result, open Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi after enabling Airplane Mode. Apple also says you can tap the Wi-Fi button in Control Center to switch it off while Airplane Mode is active. This differs from the temporary disconnection you get when Airplane Mode is off.
To enable Airplane Mode from a paired Apple Watch, open Watch > My Watch > General > Airplane Mode on your iPhone and enable Mirror iPhone. With the devices within Bluetooth range, press the Apple Watch Side button to open Control Center, then tap Airplane Mode. Alternatively, ask Siri on Apple Watch to turn on Airplane Mode. Check the iPhone's Wi-Fi switch afterward.
While Assistive Access is active, triple-click the Side button on a Face ID iPhone or the Home button on other models. Tap Settings, enter the Assistive Access passcode, and enable Airplane Mode, remembering that Wi-Fi may remain on. To reach the full-off switch instead, choose Exit Assistive Access from the triple-click menu and enter the passcode. Then open Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
Use voice and screen reader controls
To set up screen control by voice, open Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control > Set Up Voice Control; the initial setup downloads speech files. With Voice Control running, use commands to tap named items and reach Settings > Wi-Fi. Say “Show numbers,” then say “Tap” followed by the number beside the Wi-Fi switch to turn it off.
With VoiceOver enabled, select Settings and double-tap to open it. Select Wi-Fi and double-tap, then select the Wi-Fi switch and double-tap to change it to off. You can enable VoiceOver through Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver, or ask Siri to turn it on.
Use a keyboard or assistive pointer
Connect a compatible physical keyboard, then open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards & Typing > Full Keyboard Access and turn it on. Use Tab or Shift + Tab to select items and Space to activate them. Navigate through Settings, Wi-Fi, and its switch, then press Space on the switch to turn Wi-Fi off.
For a mouse, trackpad, or assistive pointer, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn on AssistiveTouch. Under Pointer Devices, use Devices to configure a compatible Bluetooth or USB pointer. Click Settings > Wi-Fi, then click the Wi-Fi switch to turn it off. With Dwell Control, you can perform the click by holding the pointer still.
For an adaptive switch or another supported input, open Settings > Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches > Add New Switch. Choose an available source, such as External, Screen, Camera, Back Tap, Sound, or AirPod Gestures, and assign Select Item. Turn on Switch Control, then use scanning and selection to operate Settings > Wi-Fi and switch Wi-Fi off. The available input sources depend on your hardware and software.
Use eye or head movements
On a supported iPhone, open Settings > Accessibility > Eye Tracking and turn on Eye Tracking. Follow the calibration dots. Dwell on Settings, then Wi-Fi, then the Wi-Fi switch to turn it off.
For head movement control on iOS 26 or later, open Settings > Accessibility > Head Tracking and turn it on. Move the pointer to Settings, then Wi-Fi, then its switch. Dwell on each item to perform the tap and turn Wi-Fi off.
Fix a restriction that keeps WiFi on
If your supervised work or school iPhone has Force Wi-Fi on enforced, Apple says the restriction prevents you from switching Wi-Fi off through Settings, Control Center, and Airplane Mode. Your administrator must remove that restriction through your organization's device-management service. The administrator's steps depend on that service.
Contact your device administrator if this restriction is preventing the change. After the restriction is removed, open Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
Keep network preferences separate from full shutoff
Forgetting a network removes that saved network without disabling Wi-Fi itself. To remove one, open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the network's Info button, then tap Forget This Network. Use the main Wi-Fi switch when your goal is complete shutoff.
Other joining preferences also leave Wi-Fi enabled. Setting Settings > Wi-Fi > Ask to Join Networks to Off suppresses joining prompts. Setting Auto-Join Hotspot on the same screen to Never prevents automatic hotspot joining. Neither option replaces the main switch.
Turning off an app's Local Network permission also leaves Wi-Fi enabled. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and turn off an app's access only when you want to restrict that app's local-network access. Apple says the app can still use the internet or certain system networking services.
Power off your iPhone
Wi-Fi operation stops while your iPhone is powered off, but shutdown does not establish a persistent Wi-Fi-off setting after startup. To shut down through Settings, open Settings > General > Shut Down and drag the Power Off slider. Use Settings > Wi-Fi when you want to change the Wi-Fi setting itself.
To shut down with hardware buttons on a Face ID model, hold the Side button and either Volume button, then drag the Power Off slider. On supported Home-button models, hold the Side button and drag the slider. On iOS 18 and later, you can also open Control Center, touch and hold the Power button at the top-right, then drag the slider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Voice Control keep working after Wi-Fi is off?
Yes, screen control can work offline after the initial speech-file download. Voice Control is built into iOS, so you do not need a separate app. Supported languages and availability vary.
How close does my Apple Watch need to be for Airplane Mode mirroring?
Keep your paired Apple Watch and iPhone within Bluetooth range, approximately 33 feet or 10 meters.
Which iPhones support Eye Tracking?
Apple lists the iPhone 12 families and later, plus iPhone SE (3rd generation), as supported models. Your iPhone also needs software that supports Eye Tracking.
Can I use VoiceOver with a braille device instead of touch gestures?
Yes, VoiceOver supports alternative navigation through compatible braille devices. You can also use a compatible keyboard to navigate with VoiceOver.