Rocky Rakoon

Q: MacBook loses wifi connection after sleep

Hey, this is driving my wife crazy.  She has the 12-inch retina MacBook and when it comes out of sleep mode it loses the wifi connection.  The MacBook wifi is still on but it's not connected, and she has to turn the wifi off and then back on and when she does that it connects immediately.  We have a MacBook Pro, a Mac Mini and an iMac in the house and none of these have this issue.  Any suggestions?


Rocketman

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Oct 3, 2015 8:17 AM

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Q: MacBook loses wifi connection after sleep

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  • by cfnissen,

    cfnissen cfnissen Oct 3, 2015 10:52 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 10:52 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    I have a 12 inch MacBook (2015) as well - and I am seeing the exact same problem.

     

    I haven't tried turning wifi off/on - mine works after a restart of the computer. I have iPads, iPhones and another MacBook Pro on the same network without problems.

     

    My MacBook is running El Capitan and my network is on a Verizon wireless router. Running wifi diagnostics tells me to review Wifi best practices, that I am using a crowded wifi channel and that I have LAN connectivity failure.

     

    Would love to hear whether this is a know problem with the MacBook.

     

    My next step: I can certainly believe the crowded wifi stuff as I am seeing my AppleTV have intermittent problems streaming movies once in a while. Will try to find a way to move to a less crowded channel in my 200+ apartment building.

     

    Claus

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 3, 2015 11:52 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Oct 3, 2015 11:52 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    Please test after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved. Back up all data before making any changes.

    1. If possible, test on at least one other network, such as a public hotspot or the hotspot created by a mobile phone. Some Wi-Fi routers are not fully compatible with some Apple devices.

    2. Make sure the network is on the preferred list by following these instructions. It's important to read the article carefully, as it's the starting point for any further efforts to solve the problem. If you skip any of the steps, the problem may not be solved. Make sure the box marked

              Remember networks this computer has joined

    is checked.

    3. Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading

              Symptom: After restarting or waking from sleep, my computer might not connect to the Internet

    4. Reset the PRAM.

    5. Make a note of all your settings for Wi-Fi in the Network preference pane, then delete the connection from the connection list and recreate it with the same settings. You do this by clicking the plus-sign icon below the connection list, and selecting Wi-Fi as the interface in the sheet that opens. Select Join other network from the Network Name menu, then select your network. Enter the password when prompted and save it in the keychain.

    6. From the Location menu at the top of the Network preference pane, select Edit Locations. A sheet will drop down. Click the plus-sign button to create a new location. Give it any name you want. In the new location, set up the Wi-Fi service with the same settings you used before. Click Apply and test.

    7. Launch the Keychain Access application. Search for and delete all AirPort network password items that refer to the network. Make a note of the password first.

    8. Repair permissions on the startup volume.

    9. Turn off Bluetooth and test.

    10. Reset the System Management Controller.

    11. This step shouldn't be necessary, but has been advised by Apple Support in some cases, apparently as a workaround for a bug. Open the Energy Saver pane in System Preferences. If applicable, click the padlock icon in the lower left corner to unlock the settings. Enter your administrator login password when prompted.

    Select the Power Adapter tab and uncheck the boxes marked

              Wake for Wi-Fi network access

    and

              Enable Power Nap...

    if present. Then, if the computer is a MacBook, select the Battery tab and uncheck

              Enable Power Nap...

    12. Reinstall OS X.

  • by cfnissen,

    cfnissen cfnissen Oct 4, 2015 6:03 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 6:03 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Thank you, Linc. I am working my way through the list now.

     

    Claus

  • by Rocky Rakoon,

    Rocky Rakoon Rocky Rakoon Oct 4, 2015 6:14 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 6:14 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks for the comprehensive help as always, Linc.  I'm working my way through this now and am up to having reset PRAM.  I'll see if that fixes things.


    Rock

  • by kal0,

    kal0 kal0 Oct 4, 2015 6:03 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 6:03 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    I have the exact issue .. Macbook with el Capitan OSX.

    Let me go thru the PRAM reset thing.

  • by kal0,

    kal0 kal0 Oct 4, 2015 6:14 PM in response to kal0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 6:14 PM in response to kal0

    Ok after resetting the NVRAM it looks like the WIFI is coming back normal after sleep.

    I will try several times but I think I'm good now.

     

    Thanks all!

  • by cfnissen,

    cfnissen cfnissen Oct 5, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi Linc,

     

    I did steps 1-4 (the PRAM reset).

     

    However, I have a small suspicion that MS Outlook 2016 may be involved. Outlook was open and looking for mail everytime I woke my MacBook from sleep. There seems to be a lot of complaints about that particular piece of software. Right after the PRAM reset, I also updated Outlook to 15.14.2.

     

    So far no recurrences - I did not test in detail whether things worked after the PRAM reset alone or whether it was the combination including the Outlook update that did the job. Sorry.

     

    Claus

  • by davec11b,

    davec11b davec11b Oct 26, 2015 9:32 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 26, 2015 9:32 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    Same issue. The problem is, APPLE, that my new computer literally did this right out of the box (2015 13" MBP Retina). I have a 5 year old samsung phone that doesn't have this problem. My last macbook pro (2010 model) had wifi issues too. What is the deal apple? Why should we have to look for a fix for a brand new computer? Why was this issue not fixed in El Capitan? Its obviously a widespread problem. It's the first thing that comes up on google search when you type in "Macbook wifi"

  • by estaub,

    estaub estaub Nov 29, 2015 8:18 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 29, 2015 8:18 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    For those like me who are a little risk-averse... an easy workaround (on my machine, anyway), is to just open the Network panel on System Preferences after waking up.  That's it - just wait a few seconds for it to get connected.  Definitely a nuisance, but maybe Apple will fix this sometime, so we don't have to enter a 12-step recovery program.

  • by davec11b,

    davec11b davec11b Dec 15, 2015 5:17 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2015 5:17 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    Saw today the newest update of el capitan "fixed some wifi issues". NOPE not this one, one of the most widespread problems...smh

  • by ballsofsteel,

    ballsofsteel ballsofsteel Feb 13, 2016 8:22 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 13, 2016 8:22 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    My machine is a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) running

    Screen Shot 2016-02-13 at 8.10.59 PM.png

    I've had exactly the same problem described in previous comments since Day ONE!  I've tried most of the proposed fixes to no avail.

  • by 0gopogo,

    0gopogo 0gopogo Feb 23, 2016 7:22 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 7:22 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    My wife and I both bought 12" Retina MacBooks and we are both having issues.  I have the 1.3 and my wife the 1.1...her problem happens less often, mine more.

     

    It can last weeks.  I love my computer but this is getting annoying.  A few things on the list above yet that I can try.

     

    Mostly just venting.

  • by RetoZH,

    RetoZH RetoZH Mar 18, 2016 1:56 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2016 1:56 AM in response to Rocky Rakoon

    Same Problem here. Brand new MacBook 12". Did try anything what Apple support told me, including a total reset. Nothing works.

  • by buz,

    buz buz Apr 23, 2016 12:51 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 4 (1,206 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 23, 2016 12:51 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I ran down the list, including the OS reinstall.

     

    I'm still suffering the momentary disconnected wifi coming from sleep. The delay is long enough to be really aggravating.

     

    MacBookPro3,1 / Mac OSX El Capitan 10.11.4 / Airport Time Capsule

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