Start with the simplest fixes first

Most Macs that won't connect to WiFi are actually connected to the network but can't reach the internet, or they're turned off WiFi by accident. Before you restart your Mac or reset your router, check three things: whether WiFi is actually on, whether you're connected to the right network, and whether other devices can use that same network.

Open the WiFi menu in the top-right corner of your screen (the fan-shaped icon). If it shows "WiFi: Off", click it and select "Turn WiFi On". If WiFi is on but you see "No networks available", your Mac's WiFi hardware may not be working — skip to the section on hardware problems. If you see a list of networks, make sure you're connected to the one you intended. A checkmark next to the network name means you're connected to it.

Next, test whether the problem is your Mac or your network. Open a web browser and try to load a website. If the page won't load, ask someone else in your home to open a website on their phone or laptop using the same WiFi. If their device works and yours doesn't, the problem is your Mac. If nobody's devices work, the problem is your router or internet connection — go back to your WiFi setup guide for router troubleshooting.

Key Takeaways

  • Check whether WiFi is turned on in the menu at the top-right of your screen, and verify you're connected to the correct network name.
  • Test whether other devices can reach the internet on the same WiFi to tell whether the problem is your Mac or your network.
  • "Connected but no internet" usually means your Mac needs to forget and rejoin the network, which takes about two minutes.
  • If your Mac shows "No networks available", the WiFi hardware may be damaged and will need service.
  • Restarting your Mac solves most connection problems that aren't caused by forgotten networks or hardware failure.

Forget the network and reconnect

When your Mac is connected to the WiFi network but can't reach the internet, the problem is usually that your Mac has outdated or corrupted information about that network. The fix is to forget the network entirely and reconnect from scratch.

Click the WiFi icon in the top-right corner and select "WiFi Settings". In the window that opens, find your network name in the list on the left. Click it once to select it, then click the gear icon at the bottom of the list and choose "Forget". Your Mac will disconnect when ready.

Now click the WiFi icon again and select your network from the list. When prompted, enter your WiFi password (the one you use to connect other devices). Your Mac will reconnect and should now reach the internet. This process usually takes less than a minute.

Restart your Mac

If forgetting the network didn't work, restart your Mac. Many WiFi problems — including ones where your Mac won't see any networks at all, or where it connects and disconnects repeatedly — clear up after a restart.

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "Restart". Let your Mac shut down completely and turn back on. Once it's fully booted, try connecting to WiFi again. If you still can't connect after restarting, move to the next section.

Check your WiFi password and network name

If your Mac shows the network but won't connect, or if it connects and then when ready disconnects, the problem is often an incorrect password. Passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword".

The easiest way to verify your password is to connect a different device — a phone or tablet — to the same network. If that device connects successfully, you know the password is correct and the problem is specific to your Mac. If the other device also can't connect, the password may have been changed, or there may be a problem with your router.

If you need to change your WiFi password, you'll have to access your router's settings through a web browser or app. That process varies by router model, so check your router's manual or the manufacturer's website. Once you've changed the password, go back to your Mac, forget the network, and reconnect using the new password.

Update macOS

Outdated software sometimes causes WiFi problems that newer versions have already fixed. Check whether your Mac is running the latest version of macOS.

Click the Apple menu and select "System Settings". Click "General" on the left, then "Software Update". If an update is available, click "Update Now" and let your Mac install it. Your Mac may need to restart. After the update is complete, try connecting to WiFi again.

Reset your Mac's network settings

If you've tried forgetting the network, restarting, and updating macOS, you can reset all of your Mac's network settings at once. This erases saved WiFi networks and passwords, so you'll need to reconnect to WiFi from scratch, but it often solves stubborn connection problems.

Click the Apple menu and select "System Settings". Click "General" on the left, then scroll down and click "Reset". Click "Reset network settings" and enter your Mac's password when prompted. Your Mac will restart and forget all saved WiFi networks.

After your Mac restarts, click the WiFi icon and select your network from the list. Enter your WiFi password. Your Mac should now connect and stay connected. If it still won't connect after this step, the problem is likely hardware-related.

When the problem is hardware damage

If your Mac shows "No networks available" even after restarting, or if it won't connect to any network no matter which one you try, the WiFi hardware inside your Mac may be damaged. This can happen after physical damage, water damage, or straightforward from hardware failure over time.

You can confirm this by trying to connect to a network you know works — ask a friend to create a mobile hotspot on their phone, and try to connect your Mac to that. If your Mac still shows no networks available, the WiFi card or antenna is likely not working.

At this point, your Mac will need service. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to have the hardware inspected. Repair costs vary depending on your Mac model and whether it's still under warranty. If your Mac is very old, it may be more cost-effective to replace it than to repair the WiFi hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Mac connects to WiFi but the internet is really slow. Is that a Mac problem?

Usually not. Slow internet is almost always a router or internet service problem, not a Mac problem. Test by connecting another device to the same WiFi — if it's also slow, the problem is your network. If the other device is fast, your Mac may need to forget and rejoin the network, or you may need to move closer to your router.

Why does my Mac keep disconnecting from WiFi?

Repeated disconnections usually mean your Mac is too far from your router, or there's interference from other devices. Try moving closer to the router. If that doesn't help, forget the network and reconnect. If disconnections continue, restart your Mac or reset your network settings.

Can I fix WiFi problems without restarting my Mac?

Yes — forgetting the network and reconnecting solves many problems without a restart. If that doesn't work, restarting usually does. You only need to reset network settings or check for updates if the simpler fixes don't work.

My Mac won't connect to the guest network, only the main one. What's wrong?

Some guest networks use different security settings that older Macs don't support. Try forgetting both networks and reconnecting to the guest network. If it still won't work, check your router's settings to see what security type the guest network uses, then contact Apple Support with that information.

Do I need to restart my router to fix my Mac's WiFi?

Not usually. Restarting your router helps if other devices can't connect either, but if only your Mac has a problem, restarting your Mac is more likely to help. Try restarting your Mac first, and only restart your router if that doesn't work and other devices also can't connect.