Mac WiFi Not Working

🔍 Identify Your Issue

• WiFi icon greyed out — WiFi hardware not detected
• No networks found — Can't see any WiFi networks
• Won't connect to network — Sees network but fails to join
• Connected but no internet — WiFi connected, no web access
• Keeps disconnecting — Drops connection randomly
• Slow WiFi speeds — Connected but very slow

🛠️ Fix 1: Toggle WiFi Off and On

1. Click the WiFi icon in menu bar
2. Click "Turn Wi-Fi Off"
3. Wait 10 seconds
4. Click "Turn Wi-Fi On"
5. Try connecting to your network

🛠️ Fix 2: Restart Your Mac

Simple but effective:

1. Apple menu → Restart
2. Wait for Mac to fully restart
3. Try WiFi connection again

🛠️ Fix 3: Restart Your Router

1. Unplug your router's power cable
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Plug it back in
4. Wait 2-3 minutes for it to fully boot
5. Try connecting from your Mac

🛠️ Fix 4: Forget and Rejoin Network

1. Go to System Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Click the (i) next to your network name
3. Click "Forget This Network"
4. Confirm
5. Reconnect by selecting network and entering password

🛠️ Fix 5: Check Date and Time

Incorrect date/time can cause WiFi auth issues:

1. System Settings → General → Date & Time
2. Enable "Set date and time automatically"
3. If already enabled, toggle off and on

🛠️ Fix 6: Renew DHCP Lease

1. System Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Click "Details" next to connected network
3. Click "TCP/IP" tab
4. Click "Renew DHCP Lease"

🛠️ Fix 7: Change DNS Servers

1. System Settings → Wi-Fi → Details → DNS
2. Remove existing DNS servers
3. Add Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
4. Or Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
5. Click OK

🛠️ Fix 8: Delete WiFi Preferences

Reset WiFi configuration files:

1. Turn off WiFi
2. Open Finder → Go → Go to Folder
3. Type: /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
4. Delete these files:
   • com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
   • NetworkInterfaces.plist
   • preferences.plist
5. Restart your Mac
6. Reconnect to WiFi

🛠️ Fix 9: Create New Network Location

1. System Settings → Network
2. Click "..." menu → Locations → Edit Locations
3. Click "+" to add new location
4. Name it "New" and click Done
5. Select the new location
6. Configure WiFi fresh

🛠️ Fix 10: Run Wireless Diagnostics

1. Hold Option key and click WiFi icon
2. Select "Open Wireless Diagnostics"
3. Follow the on-screen prompts
4. Review the summary for issues

🛠️ Fix 11: Reset SMC (Intel Macs)

For Intel-based Macs:

1. Shut down Mac
2. Press Shift + Control + Option + Power for 10 seconds
3. Release all keys
4. Turn on Mac

Apple Silicon: Just restart — SMC is managed automatically.

⚠️ Signs of Hardware Failure

• WiFi option completely missing from menu bar
• "No hardware installed" message
• WiFi works briefly then fails after restart
• Other devices connect fine to same network
• Antenna cable may be damaged (common after screen repair)