From the software on your computer to the hardware in your computer or home, there are several factors influencing why your Wi-Fi connection might drop out. You may encounter errors like Wi-Fi not configured on Mac or hardware not installed when connecting to the network. Typically, most problems related to Wi-Fi can be solved by a quick restart, but if it doesn’t, you need to narrow down the issues and then resolve them. Here’s a guide to quickly connecting your device to the Wi-Fi network.
Ensure you are Connecting to the Wi-Fi Network you Want
Sometimes, your Mac might skip the expected Wi-Fi network and try connecting to a different network. So, if open networks are available that do not provide an Internet connection, it might be the source of the issue.
It would be best if you watched out for networks with an exclamation point in the middle, which means you are connected to a network that doesn’t provide an Internet connection.
Before escalating the problem, you must forget this Wi-Fi network and try connecting to the network of your choice. That should clear things up.
Check the System Updates
If you see any pending system updates, you must upgrade to the latest operating system to see if that solves the problem. Also, sometimes, updating to a new software might be why you are facing network issues. In that case, roll back the update and wait a few days to try reinstalling the update again.
Run Wireless Diagnostics to Check the Problem
Wireless Diagnostics is the in-built Wi-Fi troubleshooting tool, and if you want to find out the problem behind failed network connections, you can run this tool. The tool can be accessed by searching for it in Spotlight, or you can hold down the Option key and select the wireless icon. Then, open Wireless Diagnostics and click on Continue for your system to run diagnostics and check the problem.
The tool will return detailed information about why your computer cannot connect to the Wi-Fi network. In addition, it will help you identify the problem so you can fix the issue immediately.
However, you can set up Wireless Monitoring if the tool turns up empty. When Wireless Diagnostics finishes, you can choose Monitor my Wi-Fi connection option in the pop-up window and click Continue. You will get a log, which can be forwarded to a technician to understand how to fix your issues.
Check the Physical Wi-Fi Hardware
Sometimes, all you need to do is turn off and on the router. Then, you can unplug the cable modem and the wireless router. Wait thirty seconds before plugging back the cable modem and then the router.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can update the wireless router’s firmware. Most devices get updated automatically, but if your router does not, you can update it using its accompanying application or by going to the admin panel in a browser.
If this solves the issue, you must keep the firmware updated at all times to prevent future problems.
However, if the router is old, you might not find any available updates, so you must consider upgrading your router model.
Check VPN & Other Security Software
The software might interfere with the Internet connection if you have a VPN installed to protect your network or hide your IP address. So, you need to check your VPN or any other security software installed on your device to deal with network problems. Then, you can disable them to see if the problem persists.
Go to DNS Settings and Change it
If the above solutions do not solve the problem, it is time to get technical. For example, it might be that your Wi-Fi network is functioning correctly, but you are not getting any access to the Internet because your ISP’s DNS or domain server name is not working correctly. In that case, you can use a public or free DNS instead.
Go to Network Preferences from the Wi-Fi icon to the System Preferences app. Click the Advanced button and select the DNS tab from the option. Then, hit the plus icon and add Google DNS addresses, such as 8.8.4.4 or 8.8.8.8.
Then, you can click OK and attempt to browse the Internet again.
If the Problem Persists, Restart your Mac
If everything else fails, you can restart your Mac and see if it works. If it does not work, it means you have exhausted all the options, which might indicate that the issue is related to the hardware or your computer.
You might have to reach out to a technician to solve the Wi-Fi problem if none of the solutions mentioned here works for you. You can also consider upgrading your router.
