While Apple products are generally known for being reliable and user-friendly, MacBooks can still experience internet problems occasionally. There are a variety of potential causes if your Mac keeps disconnecting from WiFi, ranging from weak or intermittent WiFi signals to outdated software.
Even sending a small PNG file could be problematic if your internet connection struggles. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix internet problems on your MacBook.
Why Does My Mac Keeps Disconnecting From WiFi?
Software issues could sometimes prevent you from having stable Wi-Fi connections on your Mac. The network card in your Mac may malfunction, or you may have issues with your simple Wi-Fi router. There are several solutions below that can help you fix the problem of your Mac dropping Wi-Fi connections.
Before getting started, it’s recommended to unplug USB peripherals to avoid them interfering with the WiFi connection and sit your Mac near the router.
Fix 1: Turn it off and on again
1. Restart Your MacBook
If you’re having WiFi problems on your MacBook, one of the first things you can try is restarting your computer. To do this, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select “Restart.”
2. Restart the SMC
Rebooting SMC is another potential method to troubleshoot the issue. Your SMC controls many low-level functions on your MacBook, including wireless networking.
3. To reboot your SMC:
Step 1: Shut down your MacBook.
Step 2. Unplug the power cord from your MacBook.
Step 3. Wait at least 15 seconds.
Step 4. Plug the power cord back into your MacBook.
Step 5. Turn on your MacBook.
After you’ve rebooted your SMC, try connecting to WiFi again and see if the issue has been resolved.
Fix 2: Update MacBook’s Software
Verifying and updating MacBook software is essential to keep your computer running smoothly and ensure you have the latest security patches. Users often encounter macOS update problems, which can cause delays in receiving the necessary updates. The former point also applies to internet issues. Missing out on the latest MacBook software could be the reason behind a poor internet connection.
To update the MacBooks software:
- Open the App Store application on your MacBook.
- Click on the Updates tab at the top of the screen.
- You will see a list of available updates for your system. Make sure to install all critical updates.
- Once you have installed all updates, reboot your MacBook to complete the process.
Fix 3: Run Apple Diagnostics
Apple Diagnostics will help identify any hardware issues causing your WiFi not to work properly. To do this, hold down the D key while booting up your MacBook.
Once Apple Diagnostics has finished running, it will provide you with a report of any issues it found. If there are no hardware issues, you can try the other troubleshooting steps below.
Fix 4: Change the DNS setting
There may be a DNS server issue with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) causing WiFi connectivity problems frequently. In such cases, switching to Google DNS or DNS servers provided by Amazon or Open-DNS is often necessary.
How to change:
Step 1: To do this, open “System Preferences” and click on “Network.”
Step 2: Select your “WiFi connection” from the list of interfaces on the left, and then click the “Advanced” button in the main window.
Step 3: Under the “DNS” tab, you’ll see a list of currently active DNS servers. To add a new server, click the “+” button and enter the “IP address.”
If you’re having trouble connecting to a specific website, you can add that site’s IP address to your computer’s “hosts” file. This file overrides DNS lookups, so specifying the IP address of a website will ensure that you always connect to the correct server.
You’ll need a text editor like TextEdit or BBEdit to edit the hosts file. Open the file located at /private/etc/hosts, and add the website’s IP address followed by the domain name.
Fix 5: Restart the WiFi Network
To restart WiFi, go to the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of your screen and select “Restart.” Once your MacBook has restarted, try connecting to WiFi again.
If restarting your MacBook’s WiFi doesn’t work, you can also try resetting your computer’s network settings. This will erase your current network settings and allow you to start fresh.
To reset your network settings;
- Go to the “Apple Menu” and select “System Preferences.”
- Then, click on the “Network” icon and select the “Reset” button.
If you’re still having trouble connecting to WiFi after restarting your MacBook and resetting your network settings, you may need to contact your ISP or visit Apple Support for further assistance.
FAQs
What third-party tools can I use to fix Mac Wi-Fi problems?
It is often easier to diagnose Wi-Fi problems using Mac’s native tools, so we wouldn’t recommend going premium. If you wish to analyze your network, you can use programs such as NetSpot or WiFi Explorer. In most cases, third-party solutions can be implemented quickly, so we only recommend them when long-term issues are challenging to resolve.
Should I buy a new router to fix Mac Wi-Fi problems?
You may not need to buy a new router. Altering your settings will fix most problems.
It may, however, be beneficial to extend your connection through a mesh network or a Wi-Fi extender. In any case, if you live in a large house or have thick walls, you should consider this anyway. If you are still experiencing problems, try unplugging your router and replugging it after 30 seconds.
What should I do if I cannot find Wi-Fi settings in the Menu Bar?
During the customization process, you may have accidentally removed the Wi-Fi status indicator from the Mac Menu Bar. You can quickly access Wi-Fi settings with one click by dragging the Wi-Fi indicator out of Control Center and back into the Menu Bar.
