Wi-Fi Instead of Wi-Fi on iPhone: How to Change the Network Display and Why It Happens

If you notice that on your iPhone in the top panel or settings instead of the usual Wi-Fi the inscription is displayed WLAN, this is not a system error or a device malfunction. This behavior is due to regional wireless network designation standards—in some countries (for example, Germany, the Netherlands, or China), the term WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is used more often than Wi-FiHowever, for many users this creates confusion, especially if they previously had it on the same device. Wi-Fi.

In this article we will look at why iPhone shows WLAN instead of Wi-Fi, how to fix this without jailbreaking, and what to do if changing the system language doesn't help. You'll also learn whether this affects network performance and whether you can permanently restore the default name.

Spoiler: in 90% of cases, the problem is solved by changing the device's region or interface language. But there are also hidden nuances that few people know about, such as version dependency. iOS or models iPhone.

Why does my iPhone say WLAN instead of Wi-Fi?

Reason for appearance WLAN instead of Wi-Fi lies in regional settings yours iPhoneThe thing is that Apple adapts terminology to local standards:

• 🌍 Wi-Fi — used in the USA, UK, Russia and most countries.
• 🇩🇪 WLAN — standard for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some Asian countries.
• 🇫🇷 Réseau Wi-Fi — in France the full form may be displayed.

If you bought iPhone If you're abroad (for example, in Germany or China), there's a good chance your device is initially set to the local region. Even after changing the interface language to Russian WLAN may remain - because the terminology is tied not to the language, but to Region in the settings.

In addition, in some firmware iOS (Especially in beta versions) bugs can occur when the system accidentally substitutes terms. This isn't critical to network operation, but it can be annoying.

⚠️ Attention: If you have recently updated iOS and noticed the replacement Wi-Fi on WLAN, check if your regional settings have been reset. Sometimes updates reset them to factory defaults.

How to check your iPhone's current region

Before changing settings, make sure the problem is specific to your region. To do this:

1. Open Settings → General → Language and Region.
2. Look at the line Region - if Germany is indicated there (Deutschland), China () or another country where it is used WLAN, this is the reason.
3. Also check iPhone language — sometimes it may differ by region (for example, Russian language + German region).

If the region doesn't match your country, you'll need to change it. But be careful: changing the region may affect:

• 📅 Date and time format (e.g. DD.MM.YYYY will be replaced by MM/DD/YYYY).
• 💳 Currency in the App Store.
• 📱 Availability of some applications (geo-restrictions).

Method 1: Change iPhone Region

The most reliable method to return Wi-Fi instead of WLAN — change the region to a country that uses the familiar term. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to Settings → General → Language and Region.
2. Click on Region.
3. In the search bar, enter Russia, USA or United Kingdom (depending on your location).
4. Select the desired country and confirm the change.
5. Reboot iPhone (This is mandatory for the changes to take effect).

After rebooting, check the top panel or section Settings → Wi-Fi — the inscription should change to Wi-FiIf this does not happen, try the second method.

⚠️ Attention: On some models iPhone (especially those purchased in China) changing the region may block access to certain features, such as FaceTime or Apple PayBefore changing, check if your device is locked to a specific region.

Method 2: Reset network settings

If changing the region doesn't help, the problem may be in the network settings cache. In this case, reset:

1. Open Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone.
2. Select Reset → Reset network settings.
3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm the action.

After reset iPhone reboot, and all saved networks Wi-Fi (or WLAN) will be deleted. You'll have to reconnect to them, but this often solves the name display issue.

If this doesn't work, move on to the next method.

Method 3: Change the system language

Sometimes WLAN This persists even after changing the region because the interface language doesn't match the selected country. To fix this:

1. Go to Settings → General → Language and Region.
2. Click iPhone language.
3. Select Russian (or English, if you are using the English interface).
4. Confirm the change - iPhone will prompt you to reboot.

After rebooting, check if it has returned Wi-FiIf not, try a combination: Region = Russia + Language = English (US)Sometimes this works better than Russian.

Why doesn't changing the language help?

In some versions of iOS, terminology is strictly tied to region rather than language. For example, if the region is Germany, even if the language is English, it will be "WLAN."

Table: Region and Wi-Fi Designation Correspondence

To avoid guessing in which country it is used Wi-Fi, and where WLAN, use this table:

If your region is not listed in the table, try selecting USA - this is a universal option that almost always returns Wi-Fi.

What to do if nothing helps?

If you have tried all the methods, but WLAN still displayed instead Wi-Fi, the problem may lie in one of the following factors:

• 📱 Modified firmware (jailbreak) - some tweaks change system inscriptions.
• 🔄 iOS beta — test builds often contain localization bugs.
• 🏭 Firmware for another region (for example, the Chinese model for the domestic market).
• 🔧 Hardware defect (extremely rare, but it happens when memory is damaged).

In such cases:

1. Check if you have jailbreak - If any, remove network related tweaks.
2. Update iOS to the latest stable version (beta versions are often buggy).
3. If iPhone bought in China, try changing the region Hong Kong - Sometimes it works.
4. As a last resort, do the following full reset through Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone → Erase all contents and settings.

⚠️ Attention: On Chinese iPhone models (e.g. A2284, A2296), changing the region to the US or Russia may block the SIM card. Before experimenting, check the model in Settings → General → About.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi on iPhone

Does WLAN affect internet speed or connection stability?

No, WLAN And Wi-Fi These are simply different names for the same technology. Changing the label doesn't affect speed, range, or connection reliability. It's purely a matter of display.

Is it possible to get Wi-Fi back permanently, or will WLAN reappear after updating iOS?

If you have changed the region and language correctly, then Wi-Fi will remain even after updates. However, in rare cases (for example, when resetting to factory settings) it may return WLANIn this case, repeat the instructions from the article.

Why does one iPhone have Wi-Fi and the other has WLAN, even though both were bought in Russia?

It depends on the initial region settings when you first turn it on. For example, if one iPhone One was activated with a Russian SIM card, and the other with a foreign one, their regional settings could be different. The version also has an impact. iOS and model (for example, “gray” devices from Europe).

Will Apple Pay work if I change my region from Germany to Russia?

It depends on the bank that issued your card. Some banks link it Apple Pay The device's region. If the option disappears after changing the region, restore the previous settings or contact your bank's support.

Is it possible to change WLAN to Wi-Fi without changing region?

There are no official ways, but there is a workaround: install custom font through apps like iFont (Jailbreak required). However, this won't change the actual settings text, only its display. Risks: system instability and loss of warranty.