Fix: macOS Monterey Not Connecting to WiFi

macOS update always comes in with a sense of excitement. But if there are bugs, the experience can be equally appalling. Apple has a reputation for providing one of the best software experiences on their devices, but the recent Monterey update on macOS has been troublesome for some people. Some users have reported problems with USB port connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi connectivity, and more.

So here in this article, we will discuss all the steps you can take to fix the WiFi connectivity issue. A laptop without internet connectivity can be trouble for a majority of users. So we will guide you through the steps for each fix, and hopefully, this article will help. Now, without any further ado, let’s get into it.

Fix: macOS Monterey Not Connecting to WiFi

How to fix macOS Monterey WiFi issues?

The WiFi issues reported by the users were of different variants. Some users had trouble connecting to a wireless network, while others faced network drop issues. Well, whatever the case for you, this article will help you. You need to try all the solutions mentioned here, one after the other, until you find the one that works for you.

Turn WiFi On/Off:

The most common fix you should try right when you encounter a problem with WiFi is restarting the WiFi. Let’s see how you can do that on your macOS.

  • Click on the WiFi icon on the menu bar present at the top right side of the screen.
  • Turn off the toggle next to WiFi to turn it off.
  • Wait for a few minutes.
  • Click on the icon again, and turn on the WiFi toggle.

If this does not work, move on to the next solution.

Forget WiFi network and reconnect:

Another simple fix we try with all our devices when trying to fix a WiFi issue is reconnecting to the network. When you connect to a WiFi network, it is added to the list of available networks. And sometimes, you need to forget these connections and reconnect to the network to fix typical network inconsistencies. Let’s see how we can do that on a Monterey macOS.

  • Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose System Preferences from the list of available options.
  • Click on Network.
  • Now, click on the WiFi option on the window’s left pane.
  • On the right pane, you will see the Advanced button. Click on it.
  • Select the WiFi network you are having troubles with under Preferred Networks and click on the – icon.
  • A confirmation pop-up will show up. Here, click on Ok.okayinally, and click on Apply to save the changes.

Now you need to reconnect to the WiFi network.

  • Click on the WiFi icon on the menu bar.
  • Choose the network you want to connect to from the list of networks that dropdown.
  • Click on that network, enter the password, and then click on Join.

If this does not work, move on to the next solution.

Restart the System:

As simple as it may sound, sometimes a complete system restart can also iron out most bugs. So if you have not yet tried restarting the system, do it immediately. Perform a full system restart and then try using the WiFi again. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Remove all connected accessories:

If you have multiple accessories like Mouse, Keyboard, External Drive, and more connected to your Mac, you need to disconnect them immediately. These peripherals can sometimes affect the functionality of your Mac, and even with the WiFi issue, it could be an accessory at fault.

So remove all of them and try reconnecting the WiFi. If it is still not resolved, try the next solution.

Reboot the Router/ Modem:

Sometimes the problem could be with the network equipment as well. The WiFi or modem you are trying to connect to from your Mac might be having trouble connecting to the network. So a router reboot can fix this problem.

  • Go to your router and modem.
  • Unplug all the wires and connections from the devices.
  • Wait for a few minutes.
  • Plug in the wires again and let your modem connect to the ISP again.
  • Once the connection is established, check if your problem with Monterey is resolved or not.

Try the next solution if you are still stuck with the WiFi issue.

Run Apple Diagnostics:

Apple Diagnostics is a built-in utility tool provided by Apple to discover and fix issues related to the system. Even with the WiFi issue, it could solve the problem for you.

  • Click on the Apple Menu and then click on Restart.
  • Press and hold the D key until you see the language screen appear.
  • Here, you need to choose a Language and WiFi network.
  • After that, follow the on-screen instructions and let the diagnostic tool fix the issue for you.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Run Wireless Diagnose On MacOS:

  • Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose System Preferences from the list of available options.
  • Click on Network.
  • Now, click on the WiFi option on the window’s left pane.
  • Select “Show WiFi Status in the menu bar.”
  • Click on the WiFi icon at the top bar and choose the option “Open Wireless Diagnostics.”
  • Follow the on-screen instructions and let the diagnostic tool fix the issue for you.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Update Date & Time On Your Apple MAC:

Yes, if the date and time on your Mac are not the actual current time, your computer will have trouble accessing the internet via WiFi. So you need to set it correctly. Let’s see how one can do that.

  • Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose System Preferences from the list of available options.
  • Go to Date & Time.
  • Select Time Zone.
  • Set the time zone to automatic using the current location.

Besides this, you also need to enable Location Services to improve location accuracy. Let’s see how to do that.

  • Now go back to System Preferences.
  • Click on Security & Privacy.
  • Go to Privacy.
  • Select Location Services from the sidebar.
  • Select Enable Location services.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Select 5GHz Band:

If you are using the 2.5 GHz Band for WiFi, we recommend changing it to 5 GHz. This will allow a greater bandwidth which will only result in better connectivity.

  • Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose System Preferences from the list of available options.
  • Click on Network.
  • Now, click on the WiFi option on the window’s left pane.
  • On the right pane, you will see the Advanced button. Click on it.
  • Drag the 5 GHz network to the top and click on Apply.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Reset NVRAM, PRAM, And SMC:

NVRAM and PRAM are memory units that store specific settings for quick access. It is similar to what we have on Android smartphones as cache memory. And sometimes, a MacOS issue can be resolved simply by resetting the NVRAM and PRAM. So it would be best if you also gave it a try for the WiFi issue fix.

  • Click the Apple menu.
  • Choose the Shut Down option.
  • Turn on your Mac, and immediately after pressing the power button, press and hold the Option + Command + P + R keys for about 20 seconds.

This will clear the NVRAM and PRAM for you.

Another component that you can try resetting is the System Management Controller or SMC.

  • Click the Apple menu.
  • Choose the Shut Down option.
  • Turn on your Mac, and immediately after pressing the power button, press and hold the Shift + Control + Option keys.
  • With the keys still pressed, press and hold the Power button.
  • Don’t let go of the keys for almost 10 seconds.
  • Now turn on your Mac and check whether the WiFi issue is resolved or not.

If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Check DNS Settings:

Some connectivity issues are sometimes related to incorrect DNS settings. It could be a possibility for you as well.

  • Launch Safari or any other similar browser and enter https://17.172.224.47 in the URL field.
  • If you are taken to Apple’s official website, your internet works fine. Now we can get to the domain names.
  • Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose System Preferences from the list of available options.
  • Click on Network.
  • Now, click on the WiFi option on the window’s left pane.
  • On the right pane, you will see the Advanced button. Click on it.
  • Go to the DNS tab.
  • Click on the + icon and enter 208.67.222.220.
  • Again, click on the + icon, and this time, enter 208.67.222.222.
  • Click on Ok, then click Apply to save the changes.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Renew DHCP Lease:

When you renew the DHCP Lease of your network, it creates a new connection with a new IPV4 address, Subnet Mask and Router. This could fix your WiFi-related issue as well.

  • Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose System Preferences from the list of available options.
  • Click on Network.
  • Now, click on the WiFi option on the window’s left pane.
  • On the right pane, you will see the Advanced button. Click on it.
  • Go to the TCP/IP section from the above multiple tabs.
  • Click on Renew DHCP Lease.
  • Disconnect the WiFi and try reconnecting.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Delete Network Preferences From MacOS:

Before trying out this process, backup your MacOS, in case something goes wrong, you can use this backup to reload the OS.

  • Open Finder.
  • Go to the top menu bar and enter “/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration”.
  • Find the files mentioned below and delete all of them.

com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
com.apple.network.identification.plist
NetworkInterfaces.plist
preferences.plist
Settings.plist

  • If you cannot find one of these files in the directory, that is okay. Delete the ones you do see.

Now try reusing the WiFi. If it still does not work, try the next solution.

Update the MacOS:

Sometimes even Apple releases buggy updates, but they are quick to fix the bugs from their end. So you need to check your Mac for any pending updates, and if you see a stable update pending, install it on your Mac immediately.

After updating the Mac, try reusing the WiFi. If it is still not resolved, try the next solution.

Contact Support:

If none of the solutions mentioned above worked for you, it could also be a hardware problem. Take your Mac to the nearest Apple Care centre, and then the technicians will be able to help you out with your problem. You do not need to worry if there is a hardware issue and your Mac is under warranty. Apple will fix your Mac for you for free. But if the warranty period is done, a hardware repair will be costly.

So these are all the solutions to fix macOS Monterey WiFi issues. If you have any questions or queries about this article, comment below, and we will get back to you. Also, check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more helpful information.

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