We live in an age where the internet is not just an aid to our daily activities, but a necessity in itself. It is through the internet that we are able to access the world’s vast wealth of information from our various devices, be it a mobile phone, a tablet, or a computer.
Wi-Fi, as we all know, is a wireless networking technology through which mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, smartwatches, video cameras, and a host of other devices connect and interface with the internet. Internet connectivity takes place through a wireless router. So each time you connect to a Wi-Fi network, you are connecting to a wireless router that allows your device to interface with the internet.
In this blog, we shall take a look at the reasons your Wi-Fi could stop working, as well as some tips and techniques to fix your Wi-Fi connectivity problems. Typically, there are three main reasons your Wi-Fi could stop working. Either there’s a problem with your router, or your internet service provider’s network is down, or your own Wi-Fi network has an issue.
There is also a fourth possible reason, that being, an issue with the macOS software your MacBook is operating on. Connectivity issues are also a possible reason due to which you cannot connect to the App Store. Sometimes you may even get a message that says there was an error connecting to the Apple ID server. So, without further ado, let’s explore some solutions!
- Check your Wi-Fi connection and restart your MacBook and the router
This is arguably one of the most basic but often overlooked techniques that often resolve connectivity issues. Verify that your MacBook is connected to the network you want to use. Make sure all cables are properly plugged in. Restart your MacBook, as well as your router. A lot of times, just a restart is all it takes to have everything running smoothly again.
- Remove and re-add the Wi-Fi network
Sometimes when Wi-Fi connectivity issues happen, removing and re-adding the Wi-Fi network fixes the problem. Since Wi-Fi networks generally remember passwords after they’ve been entered the first time, you will need to delete the Wi-Fi network and re-add it by entering the password again. The steps for this are as follows:
- Go to Network settings under System Preferences
- On the panel on the left-hand side, click on the Wi-Fi icon and click on the ‘Delete’ option, which is a small “–”, and confirm the deletion when prompted.
- Once you have deleted the Wi-Fi network, add it again by clicking on ‘Add’, which is the small “+” symbol. Enter the name of the Wi-Fi network and type in the password.
- Have a look at Wireless Diagnostics
Wireless Diagnostics is the name given to Mac OS’s inbuilt Wi-Fi troubleshooting tool. You can access the Wireless Diagnostics tool by searching for it in the Spotlight search feature of your Mac, or through the following method:
- Go to the status menu at the top of your screen. Hold down the Option key and click on the icon that depicts the Wi-Fi symbol.
- Click on ‘Open Wireless Diagnostics from the menu that drops down.
- Select ‘Monitor my Wi-Fi connection’ when a pop-up message appears, and select ‘Continue’.
Once you’ve done this, you will be presented with a detailed layout of your network settings as well as all the options available. Your Mac will take you through a series of steps to try and identify and repair whatever connectivity issues you may be having.
- Check your MacBook’s software updates
Is your MacBook running on the latest version of macOS? Are there pending system updates from Apple which you haven’t installed yet? We advise you to take a look at the current version of the macOS you are using. If there is an update available, we recommend you install it. Software updates come with bug fixes that help to make sure your MacBook runs at peak performance. Also, check if Apple recommends any updates for router devices.
- Try connecting other devices to the same network
To fully rule out that it is a Wi-Fi issue and not one of your MacBook’s, Try connecting your mobile phone or getting someone else to connect their devices to the Wi-Fi network that is giving trouble. By doing this, you will be able to understand if it’s your Mac that’s the problem, or if it’s an issue with the internet service provider. If other devices successfully connect to the network, it indicates an issue with your Mac. You could also try connecting your MacBook to another Wi-Fi network, if available, to further crosscheck and pinpoint the issue.
- Check with your internet service provider
It may so happen that it is neither the problem of your MacBook nor of your router or of any of the accessories or cables you have connected to them. In such cases, call and complain to your internet service provider. It might just be a problem at their end, such as servers being down or cable disconnection.
Whatever Wi-Fi connectivity issue you experience with your MacBook, they are more often than not easily resolved. We hope these tips are of use to you the next time you have problems connecting your MacBook to a Wi-Fi network.
