When you find yourself in a situation where your Mac is not detecting WiFi networks, this problem can be very frustrating, especially if you need to stay connected for work or study.
But if you find yourself in this situation, don't despair, because fortunately, there are several solutions you can try before going to a professional. Here at iPhoneA2, we will present you with a detailed guide to help you solve this problem and what you can do to avoid this big problem.
Check the Status of the WiFi and Router
The first step is make sure WiFi is turned on on your Mac, because it is not the first time that in a hurry someone has turned off their computer's wireless networks and does not remember that they were turned off. Although it may seem basic, believe me, it happens to all of us at some point in our lives and is completely understandable.
To check this, you can easily do so from the menu bar at the top right of the screen. If the WiFi symbol is off, simply click on it and select "Activate WiFi."
Another thing that doesn't hurt is that check if your router is working correctly, and the easiest test you can do is to check if other devices can connect to the network, such as your phone or tablet. If none of your devices detect the network, the problem could be with the router.
In this case, try restarting it by unplugging it from the power for a few seconds and then plugging it back in and wait a moment for the router to fully reboot. If this already fails, you will have to call the Customer Service of your Internet operator.
Check Network Preferences
Sometimes the problem may be in your Mac's network settings, which They may have some “strange” thing out there that is causing incompatibilities.. To access network preferences, follow these steps:
- Opens "System preferences" from the Apple menu.
- Choose "Net".
- From the list on the left, select "Wireless".
- Make sure it is set to "Activated".
If WiFi is on but still not detecting networks, try removing the problematic WiFi network from the list of known networks and then manually add it again. To do this, select the network in the list and click the “-” button to delete it. Then, click the “+” button to add it again and check if you are still offline.
Update your Mac Software
I know that we are sometimes a bit heavy on the subject, but having outdated software can be a source of connectivity problems.
So before you blame the hardware, make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS by checking “System Preferences / Software Update". If updates are available, install them and restart your Mac.
Keeping your operating system up to date not only improves security, but can also fix compatibility issues with your network hardware, so keep your computer up to date whenever you can.
Use Network Utility to see why your Mac isn't detecting WiFi networks
macOS includes a tool called “Network Utility” that can help you diagnose connection problems. To access this tool, you first have to open the “Applications” section, and then click on “Utilities”.
Within that option, select the one called “Network Utility”, where you will have different options available to perform connection tests and obtain detailed information about your network.
Among the tests that we will have, there are
- Those linked to the own WiFi interface, to see how the device itself is doing.
- Product Ping (helps measure response time and connection quality)
- traceroute (Very useful for identifying routing problems and locating where network delays occur)
- Lookup (Helps verify DNS settings and troubleshoot name resolution issues.)
- Whois (Useful for obtaining information about domains and verifying registration data)
- Finger (Shows information about the users of a system)
- Port Scan (Helps identify running services and potential security vulnerabilities)
- netstat (Shows detailed network statistics and current connections)
- Lsof (Shows open files and network connections associated with running processes)
Check for interference
Did you know that interference can affect the WiFi signal, to the point of neutralizing it if they are very strong?
To avoid this, make sure your router is placed in a central and elevated location, away from appliances and electronic devices that may cause interference, such as microwaves and cordless phones.
Check the router's security settings
Some routers have advanced security settings which can block certain devices. Access your router's settings through a web browser and enter the router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
Once inside, you'll need to check your security settings and make sure your Mac isn't locked, although if you have doubts about this, it is better to call the Technical Support of your telephone company, who will be able to review it remotely without further difficulty.
Contact Apple Technical Support
If you have tried all of the above solutions and your Mac is not detecting WiFi networks, it could be a more complex problem that requires professional assistance that has to do with a component on your Mac being broken.
And in these cases, yes We advise you to contact the Apple technical support Or, if you're in a city that has an Apple Store, take your Mac to the Genius Bar or an official authorized service center for a more detailed inspection.
We especially qualify the “official authorized service”, and even more so if you have your Mac under warranty, because If someone outside of Apple who does not have authorization manipulates it, you could cancel it and it could not be guaranteed that the spare part they give you is official and of quality. And for equipment that costs what Apple's costs, personally I wouldn't take a chance on a neighborhood store.