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ShareMac WiFi Problems are one of the common issues for Mac users. Many of them complained their Mac won’t to WiFi while their friend’s Mac doesn’t have that problem. WiFi issues can be caused by many factors, such as a WiFi network scheme, the router settings, and so on. If you are facing this issue, we have some solutions that may help you to solve it easily all by yourself.
See also: How To Backup iPhone Photos on Mac
Solutions For Mac WiFi Problems
Solution No. 1: Restart your Mac
Restart your Mac. This is the fastest and easiest step before you try the other solutions. Restarting Mac will make sure the issue isn’t associated with the Software. It is suggested to uncheck the option “Reopen Windows when logging back”. By doing so, Mac won’t open the last app that was used before the restart.
Solution No. 2: Remove Login Apps
If the WiFi problems are still appearing after you restarted your Mac, try to remove login items and restart again. Login items is an application that will be opened automatically after login. By removing it, the Login Items will not open by itself and it may solve your Mac WiFi problems.
- Open system preferences >> Users & Groups
- Click tab Login Items
- Check all applications
- Click the (-) sign
Solution No. 3: Update OS X
Bugs on OS X can cause Mac WiFi Problems. To avoid that, make sure you update the OS X to the latest one. We suggest you to back-up your data first, before upgrading it.
- Click the Apple logo on the top left corner
- Click App Store
- Choose the Update tab and click the Update or Update All buttons
Solution No 4: Remove the registered WiFi
If you try to connect to the locked WiFi but it doesn’t work, try to remove it first. After that, you can try to reconnect again by entering the WiFi password.
- Go to System Preferences >> Network
- On the left column, choose WiFi
- Choose Advanced
- Choose the WiFi name, then click the (-) sign
- Try to reconnect
Solution No. 5: Change Location to Automatic and Renew DHCD
If you are often changing the WiFi network and make a special location, ensure to reset it to the automatic settings. It will allow your Mac connect to the new WiFi network.
- Go to System preferences >> Network
- Choose Location
- Click Automatic
- Then, go to Advanced >> TCP/IP tab
- Click on Renew DHCP Lease
Solution No. 6: Make sure DNS Server address is correct
The DNS Server address has to be filled with the correct address, at least the one that you find on the router. You can add the other address given by the other ISP or DNS, such as openDNS or Google DNS. To ensure you fill the correct DNS Server address:
- Go to System Preferences >> Network
- On the left column, choose WiFi
- Choose Advanced >> TCP/IP tab
- Write the router address on a paper
- Go to DNS tab
- Make sure the DNS Server is filled by the correct address, including the router address
- You can add the DNS server address by clicking the (-) sign
Solution No. 7: Check the Proxies Settings
Make sure you have unchecked all the Proxies Settings by opening the System Preferences >> Network. On the left column, choose WiFi. Then, click the option Advanced >> Proxies tab. You also need to ensure that there’s no protocol chosen.
Solution No. 8: Delete System Configuration
By deleting the System Configuration, all the configuration will be gone. But, it can solve the Mac WiFi problems faster.
- Open Finder App
- Click Go >> Go to Folder
- Copy and paste this address: /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
- Copy all content to a new folder, for back-up
- If everything has been copied, you can delete all
- Insert your admin password
- Restart your Mac
- Try to re-connect to WiFi
Solution No.9: WiFi is not detected (WiFi No hardware installed)
Usually, it’s associated with hardware and you need to contact Applecare or the nearest Apple Service Provider.
Source: howtogeek.com
Solution No.10: Create a new network location with custom DNS
This solution is for those who have Mac WiFi problems on OS X El Capitan. Some of Mac users reported this issue after they installed the OS X update. Creating a new network with custom DNS settings can help you to get rid of the issue:
- First of all, quit all the apps on your Mac that are running on WiFi, such as Safari, Mail, Chrome, etc
- Click on the Apple menu on the top-right corner of your Mac
- Hit System Preferences.
- Find and click “Network”
- On the left side list, choose WiFi
- Click on “Location” column >> choose “Edit Location” >> click the (+) sign to create the new location >> type a name for the new network, then click “Done”.
- It’s time to join the WiFi network that you can find beside the “Network Name”
- You need to insert the password of your router
- Click on “Advanced” button >> Click on TCP/IP tab >> find and click Renew DHCP Lease button. Choose Apply on a pop-up message
- Click “DNS” tab.
- Click the (+) sign under the “DNS Servers” tab to add a new DNS Server.
- Now, type 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 – – it’s DNS for Google.
- Click on the “Hardware” tab >> hit the tab next to “Configure” menu and you will find a drop-down menu
- Choose Manually
- Select Custom on the drop-down menu next to “MTU”. Then type 1453 on the tab under the “MTU” and click “OK”
- The last to end up the process hit the “Apply” button.
Solution No.11: Delete Preferences .plist
You can also try to delete one of the preferences (.plist), which is related to connectivity issues. This file exists at the Library folder in your Home folder. Follow the instruction below:
- Open Finder app
- On the bar menu, choose “Go” >> “Go to Folder” or you can also use a shortcut by pressing Command + Shift + G
- On the drop-down dialogue box, type: ~/Library/Preferences
- Find the preferences files:
com.apple.internetconfig.plist
com.apple.internetconfigpriv.plist
- Copy/paste that preferences file in a folder or Desktop as a precaution, then delete them from the Library folder.
- Restart Computer.
These problems / solutions are found and effective on all Mac models: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro with Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, Maverick, Yosemite, El Capitan.
If you have tried all of the solutions above, but you are still facing Mac WiFi problems, it’s time for you to contact Genius Bar or visit the nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Appreciate this post. It helped me with my problem! Thank you.
La solución 8 me salvó de llevarlo a servicio técnico y por tanto, me ahorró dinero! Gracias!!
I’ve wiped my mac & need to reinstall OS X Yosemite, however my wifi won’t turn on at all. When I click the icon in the top corner & click turn WiFi on , it just doesn’t do anything it continues to stay off, therefore I can’t reinstall Yosemite & use my Mac. How can I fix this?
Great info !
Mine started working again after step # 8
Restarting in Safe Mode solved the issue for me. It could work too!
My MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) recently lost all contact with my wifi – it was in my Preferred Networks, but never in my available network list. I could still connect to the network on my iphone, however. I couldn’t understand why it had disappeared. I tried everything in the list above and nothing worked. I used the Wifi Analyzer app on Android (it is not available on iOS) to see where the wifi network was on the 5GHz spectrum. It was way up the far end, at Channel 165. I connected to my router and deselected 165 from the list of channels that it would automatically connect to. Immediately, my network returned to the available list. It all worked fine. I can only guess that the wifi card in the MBA isn’t seeing the full spectrum of 5GHz frequencies. Hope this helps anyone who has this problem.
Solution No. 7 helped me, thank you sooo much! I wish there was a possible reason for why my SOCKS Proxy was checked though.
Thank you. Helped a lot
Very helpful. Thanks a lot
thaks
good salution
Hi
thanks you for nice articles. keep up good work.
Solution number 8 in the above task list did the job for me.
Cheers.
Bless you!