Wi-Fi roaming support in Apple devices (Apple Platform Deployment)

Summary

Apple's guidance for network designers on when and how iPhones, iPads and Macs move from one Wi-Fi access point to another.

Key findings

• Explains that the device, not the network, decides when to roam, mainly from the signal strength of the current and neighbouring access points.
• iPhones and iPads keep their current access point until its signal falls to about -70 dBm, then look for another on the same network, and move only to one that is at least 8 dB stronger when the device is transmitting data, or 12 dB stronger when idle. In a network designed with -67 dBm cell overlap, it notes, they stay on the weaker access point longer than expected.
• Says that with 802.1X authentication a roam can take several seconds, during which data cannot pass and users may see interrupted service, and that 802.11k, 802.11r, 802.11v and key caching, which current iPhones support, help devices find candidates and roam quickly.
• Advises keeping device behaviour in mind when designing cells and their overlap, and measuring overlap with the devices that will actually use the network, because antennas vary between models.

Limits

General guidance for enterprise networks, not about audio streaming or venues; it does not say how long a roam interrupts an audio stream on a network without 802.1X, and covers Apple devices only. The date is the published date shown on the page.

Read the original

support.apple.com/guide/deployment/wi-fi-roaming-support-dep98f116c0f/web

Link checked 9 October 2026. We link to the original and do not host copies.

Cited in

• What does Wi-Fi streaming need from the venue's network and from listeners' phones?Partly answered

Cite this source

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