Fixing Wi-Fi Problems on Mac – a brief Guide

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Fixing Wi-Fi Problems

Is Wi-Fi not working on your Mac? There might be three plausible reasons for this: your ISP’s server is down, a faulty Wi-Fi router, or an issue with your Wi-Fi router. 

Sometimes, you may encounter the no Wi-Fi hardware installed error flashing across your screen, making you wonder what’s wrong with your system. But this problem is quite common and typically occurs when your system has returned from sleep. You can restart your system, and the problem should be alleviated. If it persists, you can reset your network settings by clicking on the Apple menu > choosing System Preferences > and choosing Network. Then, select your Wi-Fi network and click the circle with three dots. Choose the Make Service Inactive option and click Apply. Then, reboot your Mac. After that, follow the same steps but choose the Make Service Active option and allow your system to scan for networks. The problem should be resolved by now. 

That’s one of the problems encountered by Mac users. You may face a slightly different Wi-Fi problem. Hopefully, one of these troubleshooting tips mentioned below should solve your connectivity issue, no matter what it is. 

Check if macOS is updated 

The easiest solution to Wi-Fi problems is updating the macOS software. Software updates come with bug fixes and security improvements. So, updating your device may solve your Wi-Fi problems. 

However, if updating the macOS software has caused this problem, you can roll back the update and see if it gets resolved. Sometimes, running a beta version of macOS might cause Wi-Fi problems. In that case, you must uninstall the beta version and wait for Apple to release the official version of the software update. 

Contact your broadband provider 

If the issue is at your broadband provider’s end, you cannot do much about it other than make a complaint. Besides the network being down, the problem might be the cabling around your house. If you are frequently facing this issue, it might be because the cables are faulty. 

So, contact your broadband provider and find out if the problem is at their end. If it is, you have to complain and let them handle the rest. 

Restart your Mac

It is a good idea to switch off your Mac and restart it. Rebooting your device should solve the Wi-Fi problem. But if the problem persists, you can turn off Wi-Fi and wait for a few seconds. Then, turn it back on again, so your system scans the available networks and tries to connect again. 

If you want to switch on Wi-Fi, click on the Wi-Fi logo and choose Turn Wi-Fi Off. Then, after a few seconds, click on Turn Wi-Fi On. 

Restart your router 

It is essential to determine whether the issue lies with the router. For this, you must turn the router off and on again. For example, for power cycling your Wi-Fi router, you must disconnect it from power and wait for thirty seconds. After that, plug in your router and switch it back on. 

Forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect again 

Sometimes, forcing your Mac to forget the Wi-Fi network can help:

  1. Switch off Airport and go to System Preferences > click Network > select Wi-Fi in the list and click Advanced.
  2. Choose the network you want to forget and press the minus icon.
  3. Agree to Remove the network. 

After you have done this, your Mac and other Apple devices using the same iCloud Keychain will not join that Wi-Fi network. It would be best if you waited for some time before trying to reconnect to the same network again. You will have to add the password when prompted. 

Disable Bluetooth 

You can disable Bluetooth, and that might fix the problem. You will find the Bluetooth options in the Control Center if you are running the latest macOS version. You can access this by selecting the switch icon. Then, select the Bluetooth icon and click the turn off option. 

Identify if the signal is being blocked by something

There are several reasons why the signal strength might be weaker in specific locations and not others. For instance, if you live in an old house with thick walls, getting a signal in one corner of the house might be challenging. Also, if your building has a lot of metal, it may cause problems with your Wi-Fi. Therefore, you need to check if any interferences or interruptions are blocking your Wi-Fi signal. 

The bottom line 

Your Mac might be useless if you cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network. Without an Internet connection, you cannot stream the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows, communicate with your colleagues working remotely, or enjoy scrolling through your social media feed. Therefore, fixing the issue is paramount, and the above-mentioned tricks should come to your rescue.