NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
RAX120 Nighthawk suddenly blocked all Apple Services
First post so I apologize if I'm missing needed info.
Two days ago, my roommates and I noticed none of our Apple devices that have been wirelessly connected to the same router/setup for five years now could stream Apple Music, Apple TV+ shows, download updates or apps from the Apple App Store. We have tried three iPhones, two MacBook pros, a Mac Mini, and one iPad. Every other streaming service works fine. All other aspects of connecting to the internet works fine. Web browsers work as usual, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. all stream perfectly fine. The second we turn wifi off on a device (iPhone) and use cellular, all Apple Services work instantly.
I have talked to Apple Support and our local service provider. The Provider says no updates or patches have been implemented in the past few weeks. Apple support confirmed by using their access to our devices that they could not get an app to download, stream a song or even play a sample through iTunes. All devices up to date and have been for a while but this only started randomly in the middle of the day two days ago.
Here is where things get really weird (in my mind). If our ISP restarts the modem on their end, we can use the Apple Services for about 1-2 minutes just fine and then it abruptly stops again. Restarting or rebooting the Nighthawk does not have the same effect. Running an Apple TV through the Nighthawk with a wired connection does not allow us to stream either. However, if we run a singled ethernet cord from the modem to the Apple TV, everything works as expected.
Can anyone give me advice on what to do next? No updates were run on the Nighthawk, nothing has changed as far as hardware is concerned...it all just seemingly randomly stopped working two days ago.
6 Replies
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended.Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-App/NETGEAR-Mobile-Applications-and-Apple-Devices-FAQ/td-p/2220016/jump-to/first-unread-message
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-App/NETGEAR-Mobile-Applications-and-Apple-Devices-FAQ/td-p/2220015/jump-to/first-unread-messageAny other wifi devices experiencing problems?
What iOS version is on the Apple devices?
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
https://kb.netgear.com/23783/How-do-I-change-the-wireless-channel-on-my-NETGEAR-routerHas a power off for 1 minute then back ON with the ISP modem and router been performed?
Be sure to restart your network in this sequence:
Turn off and unplug modem.
Turn off router and computers.
Plug in and turn on modem. Wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on computers and rest of network.I just had this exact same issue pop up a few days ago with my RAX120. Restarting my modem works for about 1-2 minutes then block everything again. Directly hardwiring to my modem works with an Apple TV but I have many Apple devices that essentially aren't usable with wifi. I spent three hours on the phone with Apple Support last night and got nowhere. Going to try to have them keep escalating the call to engineers and above until I get a straight answer.
I'll check all of that when I get home tonight. I must state that absolutely nothing was changed on any devices within the last few weeks. No MacBooks, Mac Minis, iPhones, or AppleTVs were updated. The RAX120 was not updated. The Modem has worked perfectly fine for years and has not been touched other than the restarts that give a 1-2 minute temporary fix. I did put a brand new LAN cable on it and no difference. No other non-Apple wifi devices are experiencing any issues at all. The only issues are Apple Devices trying to use Apple Services. Running iOS 17.6.1 on my iPhone as I type this but had no issues before or after the update until randomly two days ago. We don't use VPNs. No Firewalls.
Please give feedback when you can.
FYI, been other users posting having odd problems with newer iOS version.
