How to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac?

How to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac? If your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air won’t connect to Wi-Fi, you’re probably scratching your head, wondering what’s wrong. It’s possibly one of the most vexing problems that necessitates some patience and troubleshooting. You’ll be relieved to know that MacBook not connecting to Wi-Fi is a fairly common problem, so there are a number of solutions we can try to get your internet back up and running.

How to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac?

Here is the list of methods to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac:

Method #1. Reboot your router

Restarting the router is one of the first steps you should take to resolve Wi-Fi issues. To do so, unplug the router for a few seconds and then plug it back in. It can frequently get the job done.

Method #2. Reboot your Mac to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac

Believe it or not, this little trick has worked for me several times. As a result, I recommend that you give it a shot as well. Turn off Wi-Fi by selecting it from the menu. Now, select restart from the Apple menu.

Turn on Wi-Fi after your computer has rebooted. It should start working right away. If it has, congratulations! If this is not the case, proceed to the next solution.

Method #3. Forget the Network

1. Navigate to System Preferences and select Network.
2. Select Wi-Fi from the list on the left and then click Advanced.
3. Next, select the network you want to forget and then press (-) to remove it.
4. Try reconnecting to the network now.

Method #4. Update Software on your Mac

“Software Update” has always been one of the most trusted solutions for resolving common or ad hoc problems. Furthermore, Apple continues to release updates with numerous bug fixes and performance enhancements. So give it a shot as well.

To download and install the most recent version of macOS, go to System Settings, then General, and finally Software Update Now.

Method #5. Try using the 5GHz band to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac

If you’re still having trouble, try switching to the 5GHz band, if it’s available. The reason I recommend you give it a try is that it has more bandwidth than the 2.4GHz band. Furthermore, it is more efficient.

To begin using the 5GHz band on your dual-band router, separate the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks on the router. It would be preferable if they were given different names. You can configure your Mac to join 5GHz. Go to the System Preferences Network pane to do so. Then, under Wi-Fi, click the Advanced button. Finally, you must drag the 5GHz network to the top of the list.

Method #6. Run Apple Diagnostics

“Apple Diagnostics” can assist you in determining the source of the problem. So, run them on your notebook to determine the problem.

1. First and foremost, disconnect all external devices. I mean, if you have earphones connected to your Mac, remove them.
2. Now, turn off the Mac.
3. Next, turn on the computer while holding down the D key.
4. You would then be asked to select a WiFi network and a language.

Method #7. Use Apple’s Wireless Diagnostics

1. On your Mac, launch Wireless Diagnostics. Spotlight can assist you in quickly opening it.
2. Now, select Performance from the Windows menu.
3. Following that, three graphs should appear, displaying the transmission rate, signal quality, and signal and noise levels.

It displays your network’s data rate in Mbps. The data rate is usually consistent. If it is below par, it indicates that something is wrong. Examine the middle graph, Quality, which displays the signal-to-noise ratio. If it has a bit of a straight line with tiny spikes, it is acceptable. If this is not the case, something is interfering with the signal.

Method #8. Check out the DNS Settings to fix Wi-Fi not working on Mac

After you’ve exhausted all of the preceding options, it’s time to take a closer look at DNS Settings. Are you wondering what it’s for? So, let me make it clear. It is an abbreviation for Domain Name System, and it assists your Mac in converting domain names such as apple.com into IP addresses. Furthermore, if the DNS server that the computer is using is down, you will be unable to connect to any site with that name.

So, how do you determine whether or not the DNS is operational? It’s very simple. Open your web browser and type in the following address:
https://17.172.224.47

You should now be able to access the Apple website. If this is the case, the Internet connection is functioning normally, and the issue may be with the domain names.

1. To resolve this problem, open the System Preferences Network pane and select your network connection from the list on the left.
2. Next, select DNS by clicking Advanced. IP addresses will appear in the DNS Servers field.
3. Now, press the plus-sign (+) button and enter 208.67.222.220. You must repeat the process with 208.67.222.222.
4. Next, select OK Apply.

Method #9. Change the DNS Setting for Your Network

1. Go To Folder in the Finder.
2. Then enter the following code and click Go: /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
3. Locate the files listed below and drag them to a backup folder on your Desktop:
   • com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
   • com.apple.network.identification.plist
   • com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
   • NetworkInterfaces.plist
   • preferences.plist

Method #10. Reset your SMC, PRAM or NVRAM

On a few occasions, I was able to resolve the Wi-Fi issue by resetting the PRAM/NVRAM and the SMC. If you are unfamiliar with them, they are known as System Management Controllers and can assist you in resolving this issue.

1. Navigate to System Preferences and select Network.
2. Now, select Wi-Fi. Then, click the drop-down menu next to Location and choose Edit Locations.
3. Then, click the “+” sign to add a new location and name it. Click the Done button.
4. Then, select Advanced.
5. Select Renew DHCP Lease from the TCP/IP tab.
6. You will now receive a warning that “Renewing DHCP lease will result in the loss of any unsaved changes.” Would you like your changes to take effect before renewing the DHCP lease?” Click the Apply button.
7. Go to the DNS tab and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the list of DNS servers.
8. Next, select Hardware and Manually Configure.
9. Then, change MTU to Custom and enter 1453 before clicking OK.
10. Finally, press the Apply button.