There are several reasons why your Macbook may not be connecting to Wi-Fi, including the following:
Possible Causes of Macbook Wi-Fi Connectivity Problems
1. It could be an issue with your Internet service provider.
2. Router or Modem malfunction.
3. Wi-Fi network connectivity problems.
4. Overloaded DNS server.
If the issue is with your Internet service provider, the only solution is to contact them to identify and resolve the problem.
Fixing Macbook Wi-Fi Connection Issues
Here are some ways to fix Macbook Wi-Fi connection problems.
Check Network Connection
In many cases, network connection issues can cause Macbook to fail to connect. In this situation, ensure that the Ethernet connection between the Modem and Router is properly established.
Make sure both Router and Modem are powered on and functioning normally.
Reset Modem / Router
Reasons why Macbook can't connect to Wi-Fi may be related to issues with the Modem / Router. Follow the steps below to reset the Modem / Router to fix the Macbook Wi-Fi connection issue:
Step 1: Unplug the Modem / Router power cord, or you can use the power switch button to turn off the Modem / Router.
Step 2: Wait for about 60 seconds.
Step 3: Plug the power cord back in to turn on the Modem / Router.
Restart Macbook
In some cases, restarting Mac can fix the Macbook Wi-Fi connection issue.
To restart your Macbook, click on the Apple icon at the top menu bar and then select Restart from the menu.
If the issue persists after your Macbook has finished restarting, you can try some other troubleshooting methods below to fix the issue.
Toggle Wi-Fi On/Off
If restarting your Macbook isn't feasible, another option is to turn off Wi-Fi on your Macbook and wait a few seconds before turning it back on.
Step 1: Click on the Wifi icon located at the top right corner of the screen and then select the option Turn Wifi OFF.
Step 2: Wait for about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Click on the Wifi icon again and select the option Turn Wifi ON.
Disconnect Bluetooth
Sometimes Bluetooth interference can disrupt Wi-Fi signals, causing Macbook to be unable to connect to Wi-Fi. Some users have reported that after disabling Bluetooth, they were able to connect to Wi-Fi on their Macbook without any issues. So you can try this method to fix the Macbook Wi-Fi connection problem.
Click on the Bluetooth icon located at the top right corner of the screen and then select the option Turn Bluetooth OFF from the menu as shown below.
Forget Wi-Fi Connection
Setting up Macbook to forget that Wi-Fi connection and then reconnecting to Wi-Fi can also fix the Macbook Wi-Fi connection issue.
Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Click on the Apple logo icon at the top corner of your Macbook screen, then select the option System Preferences ... from the menu.
Step 2: In the System Preferences window, find and click on the option Network.
Step 3:: In the Network window, click on Wifi Network in the left menu and then select the option Advanced as shown below.
Step 4: On the next window, select the Wifi connection you want to forget, then click on the (-) icon.
Step 5: A popup window will appear on the screen, asking you to confirm to delete the Wifi network.
Step 6: Finally, click on OK to save the changes and close the Network window.
After deleting the Wifi network, the next step is now to reconnect to that Wifi network.
Step 1: Click on the Wifi icon at the top corner of the screen, then select the Wifi network you want to connect to.
Step 2: Enter the Wifi password when prompted.
Renew IP Address
If your Macbook is connected to Wifi but you cannot access the Internet, you may need to consider issues related to TCP/IP settings on your Macbook.
Step 1: Click on the Apple logo icon at the top corner of your Macbook screen, then select System Preferences ... from the menu.
Step 2: In the System Preferences window, click on Network.
Step 3: On the next window, click on Wifi from the left menu and then click on the Advanced button.
Step 4: On the next window, click on the TCP / IP tab and look for the IPv4 Address item. Click on the Renew DHCP Lease button, if there is no IPv4 address or if the IPv4 address starts with 169.254.xxx.xxx.
Step 5: Click on OK to save the changes.
Change SSID or Network Name
If your SSID (Service Set Identifier) or Wifi network name is the same or identical to another network name, your Macbook may encounter issues in identifying and connecting to Wifi.
If your Router uses the default SSID, you'll need to change the SSID to a different name that doesn't match with other networks shared by other Routers.
Unhide Wifi Network
For some reason, such as to protect the Wifi network, you choose the option Hide your Wifi network to conceal the Wifi.
Hidden networks do not broadcast SSID or network name over Wifi, and more importantly, it's very difficult to connect Macbook to a hidden Wifi network.
According to security experts, hidden networks are very difficult for devices to detect. So in case if Macbook cannot connect to Wifi, you may consider unhiding that Wifi network to fix the issue and allow Macbook to connect to Wifi without any problem.
Additionally, if you're concerned about Wifi network security, you may consider using VPN services.
Change DNS Server
If you're facing network connection issues on your Macbook such as poor network connectivity or constant network disconnections, you may consider changing DNS on mac to fix Macbook Wifi connection problems.
The reasons leading to these conditions may be due to overloaded DNS servers from the Internet service provider.
Although there are many DNS providers to choose from, Google and OpenDNS are the best free DNS providers. Both of these DNS providers offer reliable connections and faster web browsing compared to your Internet service provider's connection.
Additionally, the Wifi connection issue with your Macbook may not necessarily be due to your Macbook itself. You can explore more about common wifi issues and troubleshooting methods to find the most optimal solution.
If you're facing the Macbook Wifi connection issue, you can apply some of the methods Mytour introduced above to fix the issue. Wish you all success.
If your computer cannot connect to wifi, don't worry too much as it could be some basic and easily fixable issues. Refer to the troubleshooting methods for computer wifi connection issues to easily use your computer on the network.
