How to Fix Sequoia Internet Connection Issues

After installing Sequoia on a Mac, some users may experience issues with internet connectivity. Browsers and apps may report no internet connection, even though System Settings indicate a successful WiFi connection. Despite this, certain WiFi-dependent functions, like wireless printing, and virtual machines may work without issue.

Basic troubleshooting steps—such as restarting the Mac, toggling WiFi off and on, or even testing alternative connections like an iPhone hotspot or Ethernet—do not appear to resolve this issue in most cases. Even turning off the Apple Firewall might not yield results.

If you are encountering this problem, this guide outlines advanced solutions to help restore full internet connectivity in Sequoia.

You can also reset network settings on your Mac, if the steps below does not work.

Fix 1: Remove and Re-add the WiFi Service

If your Mac shows that it is connected to WiFi but apps and browsers still cannot access the internet, resetting the WiFi service can help resolve the issue. Follow these steps:

1. Open System Settings and navigate to Network.
2. Locate the WiFi section in the list of network services.
3. Right-click (or Control-click) on the WiFi block to open the context menu.
4. Select Delete Service from the menu. Confirm the deletion if prompted.
5. Click the … (More Options) button in the bottom corner and choose Add Service.
6. In the dialog box, select WiFi as the service to add.
7. Follow the prompts to re-add and configure the WiFi service.

This method resets the WiFi configuration and can address deeper connectivity issues that simpler fixes might miss.

Fix 2: Disable or Uninstall VPN

A VPN can sometimes interfere with your Mac’s ability to connect to the internet, even when the WiFi connection appears active. To rule out this possibility, follow these steps:

1. Open your VPN application and turn off the VPN.
   • Check if the internet connection is restored.
2. If turning off the VPN does not resolve the issue, consider uninstalling the VPN entirely:
   • Go to Applications and locate your VPN app.
   • Drag the VPN app to the Trash, or use the uninstaller provided by the app.
   • Delete any remaining VPN configuration files:
     • Open System Settings and go to Network.
     • Look for any VPN configurations in the list of VPN network services.
     • Select each VPN configuration and click the i (infor) button to remove it.
     • Click Remove Configuration.

Restart your Mac to ensure the VPN and its associated configurations are fully removed.

By completely disabling or uninstalling the VPN and its configurations, you can eliminate it as a potential cause of the internet connectivity issue.

If you have trouble about this step, we explained before how you can completely uninstall VPN.

Fix 3: Remove ESET Filters or Uninstall ESET

Some users have reported that ESET antivirus software causes internet connectivity issues on Macs running the latest version of macOS. This appears to be due to compatibility problems between ESET and the newest macOS update. Removing ESET filters or uninstalling the software entirely can help resolve the issue.

Step 1: Remove ESET Filters

1. Open System Settings and navigate to Network.
2. Select the Filters section in the sidebar.
3. Highlight an ESET filter in the list.
4. Click the – (minus) button to delete the filter.
5. Repeat the process to remove the second ESET filter, if present.

Once both filters are removed, restart your Mac to ensure the changes take effect.

Step 2: Uninstall ESET

If removing the filters does not resolve the issue, uninstall ESET entirely:

1. Open Applications on your Mac and locate the ESET Security application.
2. Use the uninstaller provided by ESET:
   • Open the ESET app and look for an Uninstall option under Help or Tools.
   • Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation.
3. After uninstalling ESET, restart your Mac.

If ESET is the source of the problem, you may need to wait for an update from ESET to resolve the compatibility issue before reinstalling the software.

Fix 5: Disable Little Snitch’s Network Filter

Little Snitch, a popular network monitoring and firewall tool, can sometimes interfere with your Mac’s internet connectivity. Disabling Little Snitch’s network filter ensures that all network connections are allowed without interference. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Little Snitch from your Applications folder.
2. In the Little Snitch menu, select Settings.
3. Under the General tab, locate the Network Filter section.
4. Click the Network Filter button to turn off the filter.

This action will allow all network connections as if Little Snitch were not installed.

If disabling the network filter resolves the issue, you can choose to leave it off or adjust your rules in Little Snitch to prevent similar conflicts in the future.

These fixes address common causes of internet connectivity issues in Sequoia. If these steps do not resolve the problem, further advanced troubleshooting may be required, such as checking for updates, running diagnostics, or contacting Apple Support.

Related articles:

• Mac Slows Down and Freezes When Connected to the Internet
• Mac Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet Access