How To Reset Network Settings On Mac

This article teaches you how to reset your network settings in macOS. You may find this article very helpful, as resetting your network settings can be the first step you may try if you continually have trouble with your network connectivity.

Do you have Wi-Fi Internet connection problems on your Mac? For example, websites will not load? Facetime will not connect? Mails will not go? This may be because you’re not connected to your network. Then you may want to reset your network settings to fix these problems.

See also: macOS: “WiFi: No Hardware Installed Error”, Fix

Fortunately, you can reset your network settings easily on iOS devices. For example, if you own an iPad or iPhone, you can go to Settings > General > Reset and then Reset Network Settings. Unfortunately, however, unlike iOS, for Macs we don’t have an equivalent feature to do the reset but there are workarounds, you can delete the WiFi interface, which in return remove all previous networks connected and its settings.

Method 1: Remove and add the Wi-Fi interface

Erase the Wi-Fi interface, please make sure that Wi-Fi is selected on the sidebar. Once done, click the minus (-) sign just below the left corner of network preferences to remove it. Once you remove the interface, you can then create a new one to add your WiFi network. After you remove it, click + then on the Interface dropdown, select Wi-Fi then click Create. Once done, click Apply. Here is how:

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Follow the steps below to remove and re-add and the Wi-Fi connection:

1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Network
2. Select Wi-Fi and click minus (-) button to remove. And click Apply.
3. No add the Wi-Fi interface by clicking the plus (+) sign. Select Wi-Fi as Interface and click Create.Then Click Apply and exit Settings.

Method 2: Wipe all Wi-Fi Settings

You can also remove all your Wi-Fi settings. So that you can start fresh. This involves deleting all preference plist files associated with wireless settings in macOS.  Here is how:

1. Turn off Wifi by clicking the Turn Wi-Fi Off in the menu bar.
2. Go to Finder and click Go and Go To Folder… (or press Command+Shift+G)
3. Enter the following and click Go
4. /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
5. This will open a window and select the following files:
   • com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
   • com.apple.network.identification.plist
   • com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
   • NetworkInterfaces.plist
   • preferences.plist
6. Copy these files to the desktop for a backup (you can restore them later by placing these folder back here again) and then delete (move them to the Trash) them from this folder. Make sure that they are no longer in the SystemConfiguration folder.
7. Empty the Trash. Do not worry. Your Mac will recreate all new preference files for wireless networking.
8. Reboot your Mac by going to Apple menu > Restart
9. Turn on Wi-Fi

See also:

• How To Disable Wi-Fi Auto-Join in macOS
• Instant Hotspot Not Working? Fix