Why your Mac won't connect to Wi-Fi and how to fix it

A practical guide to solving Mac Wi-Fi connectivity problems

Wi-Fi is so convenient that we usually only notice it when it is interrupted. However, your day can quickly get bad when your Mac can't connect to Wi-Fi. Follow these simple steps to quickly resolve Wi-Fi connectivity issues and get back online immediately.

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What are the reasons why Macs cannot connect to Wi-Fi?

If the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar turns grayed out or shows an exclamation mark, it means your network is disconnected. However, sometimes the icon appears bright blue, and it looks like the MacBook is connected to Wi-Fi, but the network is not available.

Three main reasons why Wi-Fi doesn't work:

• Mac software issues. From macOS to settings to conflicting applications, software can be the root cause of Mac Wi-Fi not working.
• Router problem. If your router has not been updated for a long time, it may be the problem.
• Internet Service Provider (ISP) Problem. Your ISP may experience an outage or other temporary network problems. Also, make sure you have paid your internet bill!

If you have problems with your internet, it is likely that one of these three reasons (or more) is not working properly. For example, you might see your Wi-Fi icon appearing bright blue, but it cannot connect because you need to authenticate inside the network (just like at an airport).

How to force my Mac to connect to Wi-Fi

Let me give you a quick overview of the solution first. If you need a more detailed description of each solution, scroll down.

How to solve Wi-Fi problems?	illustrate
Check your Wi-Fi signal	Use the WiFi Signal application to get detailed information, or use the Activity Monitor to get a general overview.
Restart your Mac	Apple icon > Restart.
Restart your Wi-Fi router	Press the button on the router, wait for 10 seconds, and press the button again.
Forgot and reconnect to the network	Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi. Click "Details" > "Forgot this network" next to your network. Then reconnect.
Renew DHCP lease	Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi. Click "Details" > "TCP/IP" > "Renew DHCP Lease" next to your network.
Update macOS	Go to System Settings > General > Software Updates.
Update Wi-Fi drivers	Use tools like CleanMyMac X to make sure all drivers on your Mac are up to date.

If you follow the steps below, in 99% of the cases, you should be able to resolve network issues in a few minutes. Most of the problems are simple failures or software update errors.

1. Check your Wi-Fi signal

When your Wi-Fi is not working properly, it is best to check the Wi-Fi signal strength. The best way is to use the WiFi Signal app for your Mac.

WiFi Signal is a lightweight utility that runs in the menu bar and monitors your network for real-time updates. You can click on the WiFi Signal icon at any time, which will display the current Wi-Fi speed, frequency band, signal quality, noise level, and more. The app allows you to set up notifications and tag networks, which is very useful for troubleshooting.

Or, there is no good way to measure your precise Wi-Fi signal using the default Mac utility. The best thing you can do without installing extra apps is to check out the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar to see the signal strength based on the full number of bars. In addition, try starting Activity Monitor from the Utilities folder and navigating to the Network tab. If you see packets being transferred in and out in real time, your connection is working.

Finally, you can start the Wi-Fi diagnostic test from your Mac's wireless diagnostic tool (found in the Utilities folder). If you eventually need to contact a technician to fix your Wi-Fi, this tool can generate technical reports that may be useful.

2. Restart Wi-Fi router and Mac

If you have identified a network problem, the first step to fixing it is always to restart your device.

To restart your Mac:

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Click "Restart".
3. Click "Restart" again.

If your Mac still cannot connect to Wi-Fi after restarting, you need to restart the router. Find the router in your space and press the Restart button twice (usually located on the back). Wait for a few minutes.

3. Forgot Wi-Fi and reconnect your Mac to the network

Another common failure is the way your Mac connects to the network at the software level. In these cases, forgetting the network and reconnecting from scratch may help.

To forget about Wi-Fi network:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Network > Wi-Fi.
3. Click "Details" next to your network.
4. Click "Forgot this network".
5. Click "Remove".

Once done, reconnect to your Wi-Fi network via the menu bar (you have to enter your router/network password again).

4. Check Wi-Fi network configuration

The physical configuration of your Wi-Fi network has a big impact on performance. The further you are from the router, or the more walls in the middle, the weaker your Wi-Fi signal will be. This is why Wi-Fi router extensions are often used.

In fact, it's hard to know how many Wi-Fi extensions you need without looking at some kind of map. But there is NetSpot.

NetSpot is one of the best applications to analyze, manage, and fix network connectivity issues. In addition to detailed statistics for all Wi-Fi networks around you, NetSpot allows you to upload or draw a map of your space and test signals throughout the space so that you can identify weak links and expand Wi-Fi coverage accordingly.

Another quick tip is to make sure your Wi-Fi allows for 5 GHz band frequency, which is usually faster and less susceptible to interference. If two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) are not enabled by default, you can change it by logging into the router settings. Check the back of the router for more information. However, if you only have one Wi-Fi router and it's a long distance, switching to the 2.4 GHz band may improve your signal because that band has better range.

My experience personally, I use 5GHz as much as possible. The 2.4GHz frequency band has a larger coverage area and better ability to penetrate walls, but it has poor resistance to interference. The 5GHz band covers a shorter distance, but faster. So if I get close to the router, I'd choose 5GHz. You can read more about how to find the best Wi-Fi channels in our guide.

5. Renew DHCP lease

One of the more technical solutions to the "Why my MacBook can't connect to Wi-Fi" issue is to renew the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Agreement) lease. DHCP is a network management protocol used to assign IP addresses to your device.

When you renew your DHCP lease, your Mac will be forced to acquire a new IP address, which can solve a large number of network-level failures.

Renewing a DHCP lease is easy:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Select Network > Wi-Fi.
3. Click "Details" next to your Wi-Fi network.
4. Go to TCP/IP.
5. Click “Renew DHCP Lease”.

6. Update Mac software

Most of the errors and security issues with Macs stem from not running the latest stable version of macOS. That's why it's very important to keep your Mac updated.

Here is how to update your macOS:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Go to General > Software Updates.
3. Turn on automatic update.
4. If a new macOS version is available, click "Update".

7. Update Wi-Fi Driver

Anyone with experience using Windows will remember that drivers need to be installed for everything. But this is not usually the case on Macs. By keeping your application updated, you should get everything you need to run your application.

Check if your router or modem has its own software and learn how to update it regularly. Also, if possible, look for software on how to upgrade the router itself.

The easiest way to update software is to use Mac optimization applications like CleanMyMac X.

CleanMyMac X improves every aspect of your Mac, from removing junk to removing malware to protecting your privacy, uninstalling apps, updating them – all in just a few clicks.

Here is how to update all software using CleanMyMac X:

1. Open CleanMyMac X.
2. Click "Update Programs" in the sidebar.
3. Select the application you want to update.
4. Click "Update".

Summary: The best solution when Mac Wi-Fi doesn't work

Following the above steps should quickly resolve your "My Wi-Fi is not working" issue. As you can see, you just need to have a few applications in the toolkit, such as WiFi Signal for real-time connection details, NetSpot for visualizing network signal representations, and CleanMyMac X for updating and solving software problems.

When you find that your MacBook cannot connect to Wi-Fi, try WiFi Signal, NetSpot, and CleanMyMac X for free during the seven-day trial of Setapp. Setapp is a platform with over 240 Mac and iOS apps covering all categories you can think of, from writing prose to editing photos. Download any app in Setapp for free now and find the practical tools you've been missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to force my Mac to connect to Wi-Fi?

Go to the WiFi icon in the menu bar and select the network you want to join. If the system prompts, please enter the network password and your Mac should be available online.

Why does my Mac Wi-Fi have exclamation marks?

A Wi-Fi icon with an exclamation mark indicates that the router and IP address cannot be assigned to the Wi-Fi interface, so your Mac cannot connect to the Internet.

How to fix exclamation marks on Wi-Fi?

An exclamation mark on the Mac Wi-Fi icon indicates an issue with the internet connection. To fix it, try the following:

• Troubleshooting with WiFi Signal.
• Restart your Wi-Fi router and your Mac.
• Forgot Wi-Fi network and reconnect your Mac to it.
• Check the Wi-Fi network configuration.
• Renew the DHCP lease.
• Update Wi-Fi drivers with CleanMyMac X.

What does it mean to dim the Mac Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar?

Often, there are two reasons: your Wi-Fi is turned off, or it doesn't work properly.

Why is my Mac constantly disconnecting from Wi-Fi?

The most common reasons why your Mac keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi are:

• Weak signal.
• Router problem.
• Network configuration issues.
• macOS or driver has expired.
• Interference from other networks.
• Wi-Fi hardware failure.

To start troubleshooting, try using WiFi Signal.

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