Several users said that wireless internet is not working properly after updating to macOS Catalina. More specifically, users stated that their browsers (Safari, Chrome etc) stopped loading websites even though the Wi-Fi seems to be connected.
If you are having this problem, then this article is for you. Please after trying each step test to see if your Wi-Fi problem is fixed:
See also: How To Disable Wi-Fi Auto-Join in macOS
1. Update your Mac if there is an update available. You can check that by going to Apple menu > About This Mac > Software Update.
2. Disable Wi-Fi (you can do so by clicking the Wi-Fi icon and selecting ‘Turn Wi-Fi Off’ in the menu bar) and wait a few seconds and then re-enable it.
3. Restart everything:
- Restart your Mac by goign to the Apple menu and Restart
- Restart your modem and router
4. Create a new network location:
- On your Mac, click the Apple menu
- Click System Preferences
- Click Network
- Click the Location drop down menu (This says Automatic, unless you changed it before)
- Click Edit Locations
- Click the plus (+) sign to add a new location
- Rename the new location if you want
- Click Done
- And click Apply (Network pane).
- Now try to test if your Internent problem is resolved.
See also: Your Mac or iPhone Can’t Connect to a Public Wi-Fi Hotspot (Captive)? Fix
5. If you are still having this problem, restart your Mac in safe mode. Here is how:
- Turn off your Mac
- Turn on your Mac and immdediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login screen.
- When you see the login screen, you may release the Shift key.
- Login
- Your Mac will start in safe mode. In safe mode, do you have Wi-Fi problems?
- Restart your Mac. This time restart normally.
6. Remove Wi-Fi and readd again. Here is how:
- On your Mac go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Network
- Select Wi-Fi (left menu)
- Then click the minus (-) sign to remove it
- Then Click Apply
- After that now click the plus (+) sign. You will see a window saying “select the interface and enter a name for the new service.” Select Wi-Fi and click Create then Apply.
After trying the steps above, are you having issues with getting connected to a Wi-Fi network with your Mac? Then it is time to contact Apple Support.
See also: How to reset network settings on Mac
Step 4 worked for me. New location
I had to work all the way through – but it did work.
Step 4 worked in an instant. Thanks.
Step 4 worked for me also
If I try to do a restart or shutdown nothing happens. I do a manual shutdown/restart I get an internet connection which may last an hour or so but eventually loses it again. This is happening on 3 macs
None of these worked for me. The problem seemed to only exist on public wi-fi networks where a screen has to pop up, usually with some terms you have to accept, before you’re actually connected. After digging around online, I found a way to manually get this screen to open: Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices > Captive Network Assistant. Hopefully there will be a software update soon that keeps me from having to go through this step.
Step 4 is the saviour!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I have been through HOURS of chats and calls with Apple and even had a senior manager call me to try and fix. I have re-installed IOS and pretty much everything you can imagine. When I was travelling I couldn’t get online for 3 days on my laptop as NOTHING would work and the only network it would recognise was my home WIFI – not even my phone hotspot. You’re an angel thanks again!
I had go through all the process. Step 6 (re-add the wifi service to the location) worked.
Thanks,
I went through all of these steps. Step four work for about an hour and the problem reemerged. Now I can’t connect to wifi even repeating these steps. OS Catalina has completely rendered this expensive piece of machinery useless. Are there any other suggestions, please help!
I have also have experienced similar problems with Catalina – the weird thing is my email works but not the browser. I am VERY surprised that Apple have not released a fix to this problem and that my Apple Case manager obviously doesn’t read Mac user blogs on the internet
Creating the new location (step 4.) works fine, the problem is that I must do this pretty much every time I open my computer from sleep. Waiting for a permanent fix.