Your Mac is probably not seeing the network, can't remember the password, or has a software glitch blocking the connection

When your Mac stops connecting to WiFi, the problem usually falls into one of three categories: your Mac cannot see the network at all, it sees the network but refuses to connect, or it connects briefly then drops. The fix depends on which one you're experiencing. Start by checking whether other devices in your home can reach the same WiFi network — if they can, the problem is with your Mac. If nothing can connect, the issue is your router or internet service, not your computer.

Most connection problems come from a forgotten password, an outdated router password that your Mac still remembers, interference from nearby networks, or a software glitch that a restart will clear. A few take longer to solve, but you can work through them in order without needing technical knowledge.

Key Takeaways

  • Check whether other devices can connect to the same network — if they can, your Mac is the problem; if they cannot, your router or internet is the problem.
  • Restart your Mac and your router before trying anything else, because most connection issues clear on their own after a restart.
  • If your Mac sees the network but will not connect, forget the network in System Settings and reconnect with the password you know is correct.
  • If your Mac cannot see the network at all, move closer to the router, check that WiFi is turned on in System Settings, and restart both devices.
  • If your Mac connects but drops repeatedly, move away from other wireless devices, update macOS, or reset your network settings entirely.

Check that the problem is actually your Mac

Before you troubleshoot your Mac, confirm that the WiFi network itself is working. Pick up your phone, tablet, or another computer and try to connect to the same network your Mac cannot reach. If that device connects without trouble, your Mac is the problem. If that device also cannot connect, your router has lost internet or your network is down — call your internet provider or restart your router first.

To restart your router, unplug it from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait two to three minutes for it to fully restart. Then try connecting your Mac again. This solves roughly half of all WiFi problems because routers occasionally get stuck in a state where they stop responding correctly.

Restart your Mac and check WiFi is turned on

Restart your Mac completely — do not just put it to sleep. Click the Apple menu in the top left, select Shut Down, wait for the Mac to turn off, then press the power button to turn it back on. While your Mac is restarting, also unplug your router and leave it unplugged. Once your Mac has fully restarted and you see the login screen, plug your router back in and wait two minutes for it to boot up.

After both devices have restarted, check that WiFi is actually turned on. Click the WiFi icon in the top right of your screen — it looks like a fan or curved lines. If it says "WiFi: Off", click it and select "Turn WiFi On". If the icon is not there at all, go to System Settings, click Network on the left side, then WiFi, and make sure WiFi is enabled.

Forget the network and reconnect with the correct password

If your Mac can see the network but refuses to connect, or connects then when ready disconnects, the problem is usually a mismatched password. Your Mac may be trying to use an old password you changed, or you may have typed it wrong the first time. The fix is to forget the network entirely and reconnect from scratch.

Click the WiFi icon in the top right corner and hold down the Option key on your keyboard — the menu will change to show more options. Click "Manage Networks". Find your network in the list, click it, then click the minus sign at the bottom to remove it. Click Done. Now click the WiFi icon again, select your network from the list, and enter the password. Type slowly and carefully — passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword". If you are not sure what the password is, check the sticker on the back or bottom of your router, or log into your router's settings page on another device.

Move closer to the router and check for interference

If your Mac cannot see the network at all, even after restarting both devices, the problem may be distance or interference. WiFi has a limited range — typically 100 to 150 feet in open space, less through walls and floors. Move your Mac closer to the router and try again. If your Mac suddenly sees the network when you are near the router, the problem is distance or a physical obstruction like a metal filing cabinet or microwave oven between your Mac and the router.

Interference from other wireless devices can also block your Mac from seeing the network. Cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens all broadcast on the same frequencies as WiFi. If you have any of these devices running, turn them off temporarily and try connecting again. If your Mac connects when they are off, you may need to move your router away from these devices or change the WiFi channel in your router's settings — most routers have a settings page you can access through a web browser on another device.

Update macOS and reset network settings

If your Mac connects but drops the connection repeatedly, or connects very slowly, the problem may be outdated software or corrupted network settings. First, update macOS. Click the Apple menu, select System Settings, click General on the left, then click Software Update. If an update is available, click Update Now and let your Mac restart when prompted. Wait for the update to finish completely before testing your WiFi again.

If updating does not fix the problem, reset your network settings. This erases all saved WiFi networks and passwords from your Mac, so you will need to reconnect to your network afterward. Go to System Settings, click General, then click Transfer or Reset. Scroll down and click Reset, then select "Reset network settings". Your Mac will restart. After it restarts, reconnect to your WiFi network by clicking the WiFi icon and entering your password again.

Check your router's WiFi band and Mac's WiFi hardware

Some older Macs only support the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, while newer routers broadcast on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. If your router is set to 5 GHz only, an older Mac will not see it. Log into your router's settings page on another device — usually by typing the router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a web browser. Look for WiFi settings and check whether the 2.4 GHz band is turned on. If it is off, turn it on. Your Mac should then see the network.

If you have tried everything above and your Mac still will not connect, the WiFi hardware inside your Mac may be failing. This is rare but possible, especially on older machines. You can test this by creating a hotspot on your phone and seeing whether your Mac can connect to that. If your Mac connects to your phone's hotspot but not your home WiFi, the problem is your router or the distance between them, not your Mac's hardware. If your Mac cannot connect to your phone's hotspot either, the WiFi hardware in your Mac may need repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac connect to WiFi but then disconnect after a few minutes?

This usually means your Mac is losing signal or your router is dropping the connection. Move closer to the router, update macOS, and check whether other devices have the same problem. If only your Mac disconnects, try resetting network settings as described above. If all devices disconnect, restart your router.

My Mac shows the WiFi network but says the password is wrong, even though I know it is correct

Passwords are case-sensitive and spaces count. Type it very slowly and check the Caps Lock key. If you are still stuck, look at the sticker on your router to confirm the password, or reset your router to factory settings and set a new password. You can also forget the network on your Mac and reconnect with the password written down in front of you.

Can I fix WiFi problems without restarting my Mac?

You can try turning WiFi off and back on by clicking the WiFi icon and toggling it, or by forgetting and reconnecting to the network. But a full restart of both your Mac and router solves most problems and takes only a few minutes, so it is worth doing first.

What if my Mac is the only device that cannot connect?

The problem is definitely with your Mac. Restart it, check that WiFi is turned on, forget the network and reconnect, and move closer to the router. If none of that works, update macOS and reset network settings. If your Mac still cannot connect after all these steps, the WiFi hardware may need professional repair.

Should I reset my router to factory settings?

Only if you have tried restarting it and nothing else works. Resetting erases all your settings, so you will need to set up the network name and password again from scratch. Restart first — it solves the problem most of the time and takes 30 seconds.