Mac Won't Connect to Wi‑Fi

Category: macOS · Audience: Customers & Technicians · Est. time: 10–20 min

Summary

A Mac that won't join Wi‑Fi, or connects with no internet, is usually fixed by rejoining the network or renewing its address.

Symptoms

• Wi‑Fi network won't connect or keeps dropping
• Connected but web pages won't load

Solution

1. Check it's not network‑wide. Try another device on the same Wi‑Fi. If nothing works, restart the router and retry.
2. Toggle Wi‑Fi. Click the Wi‑Fi icon in the menu bar → turn Wi‑Fi Off, wait 10 seconds, On again, and reconnect.
3. Forget and rejoin. System Settings → Wi‑Fi → click the ⓘ next to the network → Forget This Network, then reconnect and re‑enter the password.
4. Renew the DHCP lease. System Settings → Wi‑Fi → Details… → TCP/IP → Renew DHCP Lease.
5. Check the date/time. A wrong clock breaks secure connections. System Settings → General → Date & Time → enable Set automatically.
6. Change DNS (if pages won't load but you're connected). Wi‑Fi → Details → DNS → add 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.
7. Remove Wi‑Fi config files (Technician). In Finder → Go → Go to Folder, open /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/, move these to the Desktop, then reboot: com.apple.airport.preferences.plist, com.apple.network.identification.plist, preferences.plist. macOS rebuilds them.

If that doesn't work

• Test with a different network (e.g. phone hotspot) to see if it's this Wi‑Fi or the Mac.
• Update macOS (System Settings → General → Software Update) — Wi‑Fi fixes ship in updates.
• Escalate to BBN Support with the Mac model, macOS version, and whether other devices connect fine.

Prevention

• Keep the clock on Set automatically and macOS up to date.