Macbook pro (M1, 2020) is disconnecting from wifi

Hi ,

I had the same issue with my MacBook Pro M2, wifi disconnecting and would not reconnect even when placed next to the wifi router so exclamation mark on wifi signal at top of screen would display and only way to fix would be to cycle power. This would happen once a week but went to once a day. I did all the router resetting and cycling power but it would reoccur. Wifi diagnostics would be fine. When failing it had also cleared the ip address of the MAC or self assign with a number not on the network, router address was lost , or both at the same time.

I fixed this by backing up the device via time-machine, and resetting the MacBook Pro under the system settings General/Settings/Reset.

I used it for a week like this and the problem had gone away, so I Reset the MacBook Pro again, and on restart you have the option of transferring from Time Machine backup. Once this is accepted and you inform it where the Time Machine back up is it gives you three options -data-applications-settings. I picked all but the settings and transferred data from back up. Computer is now wifi glitch free and has been for the last 3 weeks.

Originally when I set this MacBook Pro up from new , I transferred from a Time Machine back up of my previous MacBook Pro. The WIFI fault was there from new, something like once a month it would occur. Not sure if an error occurred during original time-machine transfer, or maybe some incompatibility to introduce this fault.

Anyway wifi issue free now.

Dave J

kimfromfairfax Said:

"Macbook pro (M1, 2020) is disconnecting from wifi: My macbook has suddenly started disconnecting from wifi then reconnecting. It happens a few times a minute. It is not a problem with the wifi because my phone is fine. Thanks for your help. I'm running Sonoma."

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Troubleshooting Mac Wi-Fi:

Just because you have a network connected does not mean your are connected to the Internet. You may be using intenal LAN services.

A few thoughts to try...

I. Clear the Temporary Internet Files:

• Cookies perform remembrance of certain site-entered data.
• Cache keeps a snapshot of the last time you visited a site.
• Go Here: Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

II. Restart your Router:

1. Power: off the router
2. Wait: 30 seconds
3. Power: It back on

III. Boot in Safe Mode:

In Safe Mode, Login Items do not run at login, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files are then reset. So, once booted in to Safe Mode, wait 30 seconds, and then boot up normally, attempting another update install. For instructions, go here: How to Use safe Mode on your Mac - Apple Support

IV. Try a New Admin User:

What happens when you create a new administrator user, and log into it? Do you still get this error? If not, then it is likely an error with the current user. If so, then it is likely an error with your Mac.

Wireless diagnostics

Hold down the Option key while you click on the Wi-Fi icon on the menubar to open up the tools for investigating and fixing Wi-Fi issues

First is "Open Wireless diagnostics", which opens the wireless diagnostics Assistant, but does not proceed.

There are about eight different things you can do from here, but the top-level is to choose Diagnostics off the Window menu, or simply click continue, to do a quick check for Gross misconfiguration or operating problems. Your Admin password will be required. If any recommendations are shown, you should consider then seriously.

Next is to hold down the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon as before. The screen that opens shows operating parameters of your network. Screenshot, transcribe, or photograph the results and post back in a reply on the forums. Looks like this older one.

...

Try running a wireless diagnostic. I had the same issue on an M1 MacBook air and running the wireless diagnostic fixed it.

Hold Option key + click Wifi symbol on toolbar > open wireless diagnostic > continue.

Wireless diagnostics

Hold down the Option key while you click on the Wi-Fi icon on the menubar to open up the tools for investigating and fixing Wi-Fi issues

First is "Open Wireless diagnostics", which opens the wireless diagnostics Assistant, but does not proceed.

There are about eight different things you can do from here, but the top-level is to choose Diagnostics off the Window menu, or simply click continue, to do a quick check for Gross misconfiguration or operating problems. Your Admin password will be required. If any recommendations are shown, you should consider then seriously.

Next is to hold down the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon as before. The screen that opens shows operating parameters of your network. Screenshot, transcribe, or photograph the results and post back in a reply on the forums. Looks like this older one.

...

Forcing 2.4 Ghz via the router for my laptop instead of allowing both 5 and 2.4 to pick automatically fixes the issue for me

Two very common issues are 'too far from Router' or 'neighbor(s) talking on the same channel',

...and there are many more.

This and other problems in your 'network neighborhood' can be seen from analysis of the Option-Wi-FI snapshot, which is why I asked the original Author to post that information.

Also, the Option-Wi-Fi snapshot can suggest whether Hardware issues may be responsible for your woes.

in the 2.4 GHz band, there are only really THREE main channels, 1, 6, and 11. Each spills up and down the spectrum to engulf the two adjacent channel numbers up and down as well. You can see from the "spectrum" view I posted above that there may be far too many Routers already using these three channels.

Depending on your network neighborhood, and EXACTLY what nearby devices are using which channels, you may see high interference values, indicating others Routers are on or adjacent to your chosen channel.

In addition to the very inexpensive App WiFi Explorer, there is built-in SCAN function inside "Wi-Fi diagnostics", already on your Mac, that can be used to look to Routers using your channel or channels adjacent to yours. It's output looks like this:

(drag and drop on Ppreview to see larger.)

In my example, from the Mac I was using to collect this report, I can see a Router using channel 9, which actually spans from 7,8,9,10,11. The only reason that works is that the other Routers using 6 and 11 are physically distant from the router using 9, so their signals are low enough that this is not a collision in most areas.

When you get Your report, click on the channel number column to sort by channel number.

Unfortunately, SCAN does not have the smarts to tell you what channels overlap. There is a wikipedia article about wi-fi channel assignments that can be used to look that up, or you can ask readers here for help.

Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.

• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.

• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

About USB on Mac computers - Apple Support

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

Another way to "walk away" from all previous Wi-Fi settings is by creating a NEW named network 'Location'.

The trick is no create a NEW one, not based on current settings or default name.

Use network locations on Mac - Apple Support

I've been having the same issues but tonight I went into the network settings and "forgot the network" and reconnected with network password. Seems to have solved the problems so far.

Talha_Khan11 Said:

“I have performed a wireless diagnostics a multiple times. The issue persists. Also, after disconnecting the wifi symbol has an exclamation in it. Previously it was rare and irregular but recently it has started to bother me and happens every minute.[…]”

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This is intermittent, as it is not occurrent to everyone.

Disable a VPN:

Do you have VPNs enabled? If so, disable it. Trash them, if not required cord work and/or school. Security Software just gets in the way, and this is a put example of how and why.

You could check for any software updates, signing out and then back in on your iCloud account, moving all information onto a hard drive and then doing a factory reset and if all else fails take it to an Apple Store so it can be looked at by a specialists.

Hope this helps

your option Wi-Fi parameters suggest you have connected on the very congested and interference-prone 2.4 GHz band. it is likely that is the best available where you are sitting, but that connection is horrible.

your raw signal is only at -67, where numbers around -40 is right next to the router, and -75 is unusably bad.

Your noise level of -83 suggests there are others transmitting on this or adjacent channels, interfering with your data

if you have modern wifi access points, inability to connect on the 5 GHZ band is baffling -- unless the signal level there are WORSE.

In your case, I suggest you download and test (or buy, its really cheap) the Mac utility named WiFi Explorer. it can read ALL the channels in use around you, and show whether signal are adequate on all bands at once.

is "spectrum" graphs look like this:

note that no one is this graph has a usable connection

not sure if this is relevant for everyone, but I have an M4 MacBook Pro and have been dealing with wifi dropping, which was driving me mad. In the room where I am, my Windows work laptop and iPhone work fine with no wifi issues but my MacBook randomly has problems. The weird thing is it doesn’t happen all the time, suddenly, for no clear reason, the wifi starts dropping.

Today I noticed something: my battery was low so I plugged in my MacBook and the internet started dropping. When I unplugged it, the connection came back.

So in my case, it seems like some weird interference when the laptop is charging. It also seems to depend on how far I am from the wifi router so it might only happen under certain conditions when the laptop is charging

I hope it helps other people