after several problems with wireguard servers not connecting at all I decided to try a soft reset of the router from the PiFi app. After that I had to connect and it kept telling me the password was wrong (which is weird as the password was saved). I then decided to wipe out the SD card, re-install PiFi, and it got worse : PiFi app won’t connect to the raspberry pi anymore, it keeps trying to find it (while I’m connected to it obviously).
What I tried :
Several reinstall
Check the IP
Nothing seems to work. Does anyone have a solution ? Having a router with a VPN is the only way for me to connect to the western internet.
Ok you mentioned “only way to connect to the western internet” - are you connecting via China?
I know that in some regions (China/UAE and others) internet service providers can sometimes block VPN so not sure if that’s the reason for the Wireguard servers not connecting. But that doesn’t explain being unable to connect on app so let’s take a closer look at that…
** Is there internet access?
Assuming PiFi is connected via cable to your router, are websites loading? Are you online? If not, see below…
1. Grant Permission
On some Android phones, if the router is not yet online you may need to grant permission for your device to ‘stay connected’ to the router until it’s online (if this permission is not granted the app won’t be able to reach the Pi). If no was selected or notification dismissed, forget the network and then re-join and ensure you select ‘Yes’
If no was selected here, or the notification was dismissed, then it may be worth forgetting the network / reconnecting and selecting ‘Yes’ when it re-appears
2. Check Gateway IP
If still having issues it is worth checking the gateway IP (like in screenshot below). If the ethernet port in the PiFi app has been set to LAN (rather than the default WAN) and then connected to a router — it can inherit the parent router IP rather than the PiFi IP which is 192.168.3.14. You can see below how to check this (it should be 192.168.3.14).
If you updated LAN IP in the app (changing it from the default 192.168.3.14) then factory reset which brought it back to 192.168.3.14 - then it’s possible your app is looking from the custom IP but your Pi is using the default.
In which case, either tap the LAN icon on the ‘Not Detected’ screen (top right) or go to App > Settings > More Settings > Reset > Clear App Cache
**
Please let me know which of these steps restore your access to the app?
I did everything listed here to no avail. I’m still stuck on the “Visit wifi settings on this device and connect to pifi to continue”. As I couldn’t clear the app cache (no option for that on iOS), I uninstalled and re-installed it.
Wifi is called “PiFi 4 Setup” but it seems the app is looking for a source named “PiFi”. Could it be the reason ?
Follow up: If that’s already on - is it showing 192.168.3.14 under Router when you tap info on PiFi in WiFi Settings? What happens if you visit 192.168.3.14 in Safari
Additional Question: Do you have iCloud Private Relay / another software VPN enabled on iPhone that could prevent you reaching the router?
When I go on 192.168.3.14 I’m promoted to enter a password but despite trying every password I know, nothing worked.
I disable the VPN before connecting to the raspberry pi.
Edit : I found a kind of workaround , which is install PiFi to my iPad, and there it worked.
It seems that on iOS some old data must be stored somewhere that just wrecks the app in case of a reset.
However after successfully installing and setting it up with the iPad, I tried to use the iPhone app and it asked me for the place I use internet at etc, I didn’t want to try my luck and making it not work again, so I have no idea if the iphone app now works or not.
Let me know if I can try something for you, love your app.
