Mac Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi? Common Issues

Are you experiencing those super frustrating Wi-Fi problems with your MacBook? Is your system refusing to connect to the Wi-Fi or it is connected, but shows no Internet? Or is the network speed so slow that you can barely even complete a Google search? 

While the issues might make you want to yank your hair out, but you’re not alone. There are others like you going through the same problems. But, mindlessly refreshing or cursing under your breath is not going to solve the problem. Luckily, there are a few ways you can take matters into your hands instead of taking your Mac to the Apple store. 

But, before delving into the common Wi-Fi issues and their quick fixes, here are a few things that you should know – 

• Internet speed and bandwidth are not the same – While bandwidth determines the volume of information, the Internet speed determines how fast data can travel on your network. So, paying more for bandwidth is not going to make your connection faster. 
• The maximum Internet speed is determined by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), but how well your connection functions is determined by your usage – Whatever speed your ISP promises, you can always make adjustments on your end to make sure that everything runs smoothly. The actual speed of your Internet would depend on your usage. 

Now, take a look at the common connection problems and their fixes. 

Issue 1: Wi-Fi connection is very slow

Have things slowed down? If so, it is likely that you’re going to look for another person to blame. But, make sure to check your system first, especially if you are running several programs at once in the background. 

The easiest way to fix this is by making use of a Wi-Fi signal strength app that will show you the connection speed issues and also provide you with ways to fix them. Another way to fix it would be manually where you have to check the bandwidth which is the volume of data that is transferred over your Wi-Fi connection. There are certain applications that need a much larger bandwidth, and therefore, restrict data available to other apps. 

The most common offenders are video-intensive apps, multiplayer video games, or files that are downloading or uploading. If your system isn’t running anything strenuous, ask the other users of the Wi-Fi connection if they are. 

One way to speed it up is to pay more for more bandwidth or make a rule for running one strenuous application at a time. 

Issue 2: Wi-Fi connection is spotty

Your router transmits waves and if these are weak at your location, you are bound to face connection issues. In this case, you’ll find yourself connected to the network, but the service is extremely patchy. The cause for this is simple – you are too far away from the frequency that you are trying to use. 

You can fix this issue in two ways. First, you can move closer to the router if it’s possible or bring the router closer to you. This is one of the easiest ways to solve the problem and might be that this is all you need. 

Second, you can use a different frequency band than what you normally use. By default, you’ll see that your router uses a 2.4GHz band and this is weaker than 5GHz. So, if your router supports 5GHz, you can easily switch or you need to purchase a router that does. 

Issue 3: Physical router interference

As already mentioned, your Wi-Fi router sends out electronic waves, and the stronger the frequency, the better will be your connectivity. However, these waves can sometimes be impeded due to the presence of thick walls or other such large blockages like a row of metal filing cabinets and so on. 

There’s an easy fix for this. You need to bring out your router that is currently buried behind a thick wall or cabinet and place it in a more central and open location. If your router is already placed in a central location, you need to consider where you are sitting and minimize the distance between the router and you. If you cannot seem to move closer to the router and there’s too much interference, you can consider purchasing an extended.  

Wi-Fi issues on MacBook are among the most annoying issues that can happen to you. They’re bothersome, confusing, and can slow your productivity. Hopefully, the methods listed above will help you to resolve the issues and get back on track.