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eero / iOS Random Disconnects Still Occurring

Starting a new thread to re-summarize the situation:

3 eero Pros (not Eero Pro 6), all on eeroOS 6.3.1, in a 1450 sq ft condo
6 Apple devices all on iOS/iPadOS 14.5.1
Private Address off or on does not seem to matter
4 of the devices are mounted on arms and do not move (so they are presumably not moving between APs)
DNS on eero set to 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1

Problem: Devices are randomly disconnected from eero WiFi. When this happens, the device does not automatically reconnect and must be manually reconnected. Other side effects are that the Private Address option may toggle from off to on and that the WiFi password may be forgotten on the device. One older device (iPad 2 running iOS 9.3.5) has NO issues. Other devices (not using iOS/iPadOS) have NO issues as far as I am aware.

At this point I think there are issues in both eeroOS and iOS/iPadOS -- and that means that we really need eero and Apple to talk to each other and work out the source of the problem and get it fixed. I've done all of the troubleshooting I plan to do at this point -- now I am just reconnecting devices as they disconnect and grumbling as I do so.

Please, eero -- get with Apple and figure out what the hell is going on. Surely between the two of you, you can reproduce this issue and figure out the actual cause. If a device knows the SSID and password for the WiFi network, there really is NO excuse for it to become disconnected.

125 replies

    • clayj
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Sure enough, it just happened again -- my iPhone 12 Pro running iOS 15.1 dropped off of WiFi while I was sitting at home watching a movie. Had to reconnect manually.

    Eero, YOU NEED TO TALK TO APPLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. This is unacceptable. If having the Private Address feature turned off, as I do on all of my iPhones and iPads, is the reason for the issue, then YOU AND APPLE need to figure out how to get it fixed.

    • makho
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Same issue here. Bought Eero 6 Pro April 2021, two months ago it started dropping connections. Everywhere. All devices. Infuriating. 

    • clayj
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    FYI: Just now (1:40 PM EST) updated my iPhone 12 Pro to iOS 15.1.1 (new update from Apple today). WiFi looks good after the phone restarted. I will keep an eye on this today and advise if I see a WiFi disconnect.

      • clayj
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      clayj And less than 10 minutes later, the phone switched from Private Address = OFF to Private Address = ON. I am going to start chasing Apple on this some more as well, but I still wonder if something in the Eero is causing this to happen.

      • clayj
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      clayj And now another device (an iPad Pro which was just sitting there minding its own business, no updates or anything else today) has flipped from Private Address = OFF to Private Address = ON.

      Eero, have you contacted Apple yet about this?

      • stevesrt
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      clayj The eero can’t change the private address setting. Normally that’s remembered per SSID. I didn’t reread the thread but have you tried forgetting your network and reconnecting? Almost seems like the device has both settings (two saved networks?) and is switching when roaming, except that settings change triggers the MAC change. I seem to recall there is a network setting reset procedure for iOS but IIRC that forgets all SSIDs.

      • clayj
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      stevesrt Every time I have a disconnect of any sort, I tell the disconnected device to forget the network and then re-join it.

    • clayj
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    In case anyone is wondering: I know when this happens because the Eero app on my iPhone pops up and says that a "new device" has connected to my network. It's not actually a new device -- it does this because the MAC address of the device has "changed" due to the Private Address option on the phone changing from OFF (where the true MAC address is shown to the Eero network) to ON (where a randomized MAC address is shown to Eero). In other cases, the device drops completely off the network and I only notice when I check the Eero app and see that the device was "Recently Online".

    • smphillips
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I'll be honest...  In reading this thread, I'm super discourage about my purchase.  To make my situation more complicated, I purchase the new Ring Alarm Pro that includes the wifi 6 router (not pro).  I purchased 2 extenders and ordered a 3rd (on backorder) for 4,200 sq ft home.  The Ring alarm pro works great. (backup internet, hardwired the doors, etc)  But, the embedded Eero is functioning similar to what I'm seeing in this thread.  We have the newest iPhones, they seem to drop all the time.  I can literally be on safari (speeds great), open another app (ie. Lowes, FaceBook, etc) and it won't load...  toggle off/on wifi and it connects and works ok for a few more minutes.  This doesn't happen on my company wifi with over 30 waps.  I've turned off private ip, icloud private relay, etc.  I do think that causes some issues.

    I still have time to return my extenders.   I don't know what to do.  I thought about keeping the Ring Alarm Pro, don't use the eero embedded...  Count my loss, and order a new Orbi?  I really wanted to give them a chance.  But, something is off with Eero and Apple.  I have had to reset my connection with wifi on Smart TV a few times too.  So, I'm not 100% sure it's just Apple.  I really thought I was purchasing the best wifi here...  Ring doesn't embed a Wifi 6 Pro lol.   Or, I would've gotten that :)

      • JBake130
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      smphillips return it while you still can…..

    • KGenkov
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I assume eero has not posted a resolution to this issue. iPad 8th Gen started dropping 1 month ago. I’ve attempted all of the above troubleshooting with no fix. I haven’t multiple Apple devices (iPad pro, iPhone 12 Pro, etc…) along with a myriad of other devices that connect and remain connected without issue. Connectivity appears only to be occurring on the iPad 8th Gen. 
     

    Issue is isolated to only 1 room in the house. Mesh device located in this room. When viewing eero app, I can see that the iPad toggles rapidly between two separate mesh devices (hallway to bedroom) before ultimately dropping the iPad. There are other devices in the bedroom that connect without issue. In order to re-establish connection I have to walk into another room, it will connect automatically in the other room(s). When walking back into bedroom, connectivity remains for approx. 1 minute before dropping on this device. 
     

    any new suggestions on how to remedy? 
     

    thanks. 
    KG
     

    • jubrand
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Similar problem here, but with a Mac desktop and a Mac laptop.  Both constantly drop Wi-Fi and then reconnect. 

    • jbluef941
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi all. I have 3 x eero 6s and various iOS devices. I’ve been fighting with this for the last month and wanted to share what’s worked for me:

    eero: Disable WPA3 beta 

    eero: Disable Optimize beta

    iOS: Disable private address

    I also relocated one eero. Before relocation I tested just powering it off. 3 is likely overkill for my place. 

    The other setting I’ve been toggling with: eero: Network settings > Client Steering. 
     

      • JBake130
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      jbluef I’d recommend returning if you still can.  No resolution and it appears Eero doesn’t care

      • jbluef941
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      JBake130 have you tried adjusting Client Steering or location of eeros? My suspicion is something is up with iOS and the roaming between APs.

      • JBake130
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      jbluef I tried everything spent months working with Eero support last year.  Haven’t had eeros connected since July.  So now I advocate it’s easier to not use them.

    • Colonel_Travis
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    This isn't just an Apple problem. My wife has an iPhone 12, I have an LG Android and we have a brand new Sony smart TV. Everything drops, the TV won't even connect any more. This is after 1 day of switching to Frontier internet, they supplied 2 eero 6s. The TV worked last night, will not connect today at all. I've gone through every possible solution on this page, nothing works. Very frustrating. 

    • Colonel_Travis
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Tried two other eero 6s with a 2nd Frontier technician. They work until they don't, which is soon after they are turned on. I bought a Deco set from TP Link mesh system, which works flawlessly.

     

    Agree with JBake130 above, find something else.

    • gregfletcher
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Im having the same issue. It just randomly stops working and I have to restart one of the zeros to get the internet to flow.

     I just bought the 3 Eero solution.  I plugged one unit directly into my cable modem which resides in the basement.  Then I plug a gigabit switch into that same Eero.  Then I have ethernet runs to the main floor of the house.  I hook up a 2nd Eero unit via ethernet for the main floor.  There  is at least 40 feet and a whole floor between the units.  

      • jbluef941
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      gregfletcher I would try disabling Client Steering and possible removing the 3rd eero if not required. What worked for me was:

      eero: Disable WPA3 beta  

      eero: Disable Optimize beta 

      eero: Disable client steering

      eero: From 3 units to 2

      iOS: Disable private address


      IMO their Client Steering feature should be labeled beta, it’s trash just like WPA3.

      • clayj
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      jbluef941 Apple's Private Address feature is ubiquitous at this point. The feature and the ability to turn it off have been around long enough now that it is not excusable for Eero not to be able to deal with it correctly. Eero needs to get in touch with Apple and work out the issue between them, regardless of whose fault it is. I am sick to death of my numerous Apple iOS and iPadOS devices flip-flopping from reserved IP addresses to private IP addresses.

      • jbluef941
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      clayj I totally agree - they need to fix thier 💩. I’m just stating what has worked for me, as it may for others. I am no longer having issues but it was very painful to get to this point. If I could have returned them I would have gone that route. 

      • jbluef941
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      clayj I do have a suggestion for you. Mac and iOS wireless settings sync to iCloud. So a change on one device can affect multiple devices. If you’re frequently using Forget Network and rejoining it could explain your private address issue, as that’s the default when you join a new network. When I was having the random drop issues I found toggling airplane mode (as long as it included Wi-Fi off) was way better than using Forget Network to reconnect. 

    • Ashok
    • 1 yr ago
    • Reported - view

    This is also happening to me exactly as it is with others. Any fixes or updates?

      • clayj
      • 1 yr ago
      • Reported - view

      Ashok There are a few actions that will DEFINITELY cause my iPhones and iPads to connect incorrectly -- the big one is performing an iOS or iPadOS update. Beyond that, I have still recently had an incident where I came home and my iPhone had to be manually reconnected to the network. So it seems to occur less frequently than it used to, but it still does happen. Turning off iCloud password syncing seems to have helped a bit, but I cannot prove it.

Content aside

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