MacBook Pro constantly losing wireless connectivity

I was waiting to post this to see if my resolution of this problem was a fluke or not. So far my issue appears to be resolved.

Spent THREE hours at the Apple Store last Friday on a rare day off. (They were giving me a new computer and transferring all my programs and data.) Got there, we turn on the new computer and it takes several (yes, several) minutes to boot up. Try again. Still takes several minutes to boot up. They determine that whatever problem my original computer had (probably software) got transferred to computer #2.

So, onto computer #3 and a different way of installing and transferring the data. This time everything worked okay, so I happily took my new computer home.

I sign on, do my stuff, walk away, and the computer goes to sleep. I tried to get back onto the internet and I have the absolute SAME problem--I was showing full WIFI strength and that I was connected to the internet, but Safari was telling me I was not connected. I about had a stroke. (BTW, I had the problem even when computer had not gone to sleep.)

Was so upset I could barely sleep. I figured there was absolutely no way to get assistance from the Apple store anymore; they did everything possible. My husband never had any issues with his (fairly old) PC dropping WIFI, so it could not be our home WIFI set-up. Figured it was something I was just going to have to live with after spending so much money on the best Mac available!!!

Must have been divine intervention because it occured to me to try a a different internet browser. I downloaded Firefox on the Mac side (I use it on the Parallels/Windows side) and have been using it ever since instead of Safari. Have yet to have a problem since Saturday morning!

One of the things the Apple Care person had me do was reset Safari. My issue was so intermittent, that it never occurred to me to see if I had the problem while using Firefox on the "other side" of my computer. Fingers crossed, but it looks like Safari was the problem!!

"Fingers crossed, but it looks like Safari was the problem!!"

Interesting. I seem to recall Safari hanging whenever the Wi-Fi connection dropped (and even if I wasn't using Safari, I always have it running). I just imported my Safari browser data into Firefox, and will let you know how it works for me.

I ruled out my wireless router (AirPort Extreme) and network when I experienced the same behavior in my office.

Thanks for the info!

I get the problem using any browers..

such a pain!

Few weeks after installing OSX 10.9.2 upgrade on a MBP13 retinga I started having same problems ..

wifi is not reconnecting after waking MBP from the sleep...

open terminal

type:

#sudo su

#tail -c 9999 /var/log/wifi.log

and i got:

Mon Mar 24 19:05:32.942 <airportd[86]> _handleLinkEvent: WiFi is not powered. Resetting state variables.

I think that this is not hardware related problem (everything was ok before software update)

short term remedy... click turn OFF wifi and turn on, than select manually your network... mostly it will reconnect.

Apple please update auto wifi reconnection!

Correct, cycling WiFI OFF then ON, fixes the issue until it happens again... Anyway, as the owner of 3 past Apple computers, 3 iphones, about a 10 ipods over the years in terms of a laptop, this is my LAST Apple. I will just buy some cheap PC and run Linux....

APPLE, DON'T DO LIke MSFT DID...

TIM IS ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH...

1 1/2 weeks on Firefox without issue. YAY!!! Did the above about 15,000 times....click WIFI off, then back on. Was ready to stick a butter knife in my eye.

Yes, someone is asleep at the switch at Apple. I recall hearing stories of Steve Jobs firing entire rooms of people when things were not working PERFECTLY.

Those were the days my friends......

So glad to have found this thread! Thought I was nuts with the wifi signal cycling on and off on my MacBook Pro. Blamed Firefox. Nope, does it in Chrome and Safari, too. Blamed the new Comcast router. Nope, it's not the router - does it at coffee shops and at the office, too. Maybe it's malware? Ran the "takes forever" virus scan and computer is clean. Oh, heck - it's my computer. Wifi doesn't crap out on my iphone or my friend's tablet.

Spent some hours cursing, then tried hardwiring into router which worked pretty well. Not at all convenient as the router is in the corner of the bedroom and results in me using a nightstand for a desk.

After reading the first couple and last couple of pages of this thread, I've ordered a USB wireless adapter and have high hopes that it will solve the problem. Not up for hours at the Mac Store explaining the problem and going through their inevitable round of basic suggestions " Yes, I tried resetting the router. Yup, I tried it in different browsers. Yes, it still happens in safe mode" etc... Fingers crossed!

Please, Apple, fix this problem! It's a huge hit to productivity when wifi keeps shutting off. Not to mention very annoying when playing minecraft with my nephew - I got booted off the server every 2-3 minutes.

Thanks to all who went through hours at the Genius Bar and hours implementing every suggestion (from the relevant to the absurd) to find out it's a hardware problem with the MacBook Pro.

Please, Apple, fix this problem! It's a huge hit to productivity when wifi keeps shutting off.

Apple has included a "Diagnostic & Monitor" to find the "WiFi chip powers off" and similar difficult-to-isolate problems.

When you hold down Option and click on the WiFi Icon, the last item on the menu that appears is "Open Wireless Diagnostics". Choose that.

Enter your Admin Username and password, if asked, and click ( Continue ) to run the first phase.

It will often report things are operating normally.

Now click ( Continue ) again to turn on the Monitoring.

"You will be notified when a failure has been detected."

Leave the Monitoring window open in the background, and go about your business.

.

^^ that last one

.

Diagnostics has opened itself on my MBP many times. And it will create a report when all done, but what do you do with it? Really no help, unless there is some place to send the report that it will do some good.

In your case, as in mine several times, since it's saying it is and is not "on", all that Wireless Diagnostics told me was to "turn the WiFi 'on'". Which it would not do.

I did not suggest you run the extended diagnostics, although you may want to do that ONCE. I did that and I also found the report was complicated and very boring.

I suggested you use the Monitoring function, running in the backgroud while you go about your normal routine.

When it produces an error message, you take a printout of the error message and your MacBook for a FREE appointment at the Genius bar.

Grant,

Your assistance is greatly appreciated!!

However, how about purchasers of what is supposed to be the best laptop on earth NOT have to stand on their heads, try trick after trick, use a brower that is significantly slower than Safari and spend hours at an Apple store?

I'm by no stretch a genius, but seems to me a laptop hanging onto WIFI connectivity should not be that big a deal in this day and age.

I'm just sayin!

Same here Harry.

I've dedicated a Finder window/tab to AirDrop since installing Mavericks, however, I closed that tab a few days ago and have not had the Wi-Fi connection drop since (on either of my MBP's). There's most likely some other cause, but's that's the only change I've made that I can think of.

Hello,

This is not just a MACBOOK pro issue. I have an Imac 27". OS 10.9.2 and 24GB of memory.

I have the same dropping wireless connection issue. I went thru 3 routers ( all top of the line) and a new Motorola SB6141 modem.

I had a Linksys, then bought the Asus Rt-AC66U and still had the problem. Just bought Netgear Highhawk AC1900 and still have the same issue.

Called Linksys, Asus, Netgear and Comcast - and even Apple, Nothing is fixing this issue What a nighmare and a lot of time and money spent.

I have 2 work laptops sitting next to me ( HP and Thinkpad) and we are all sitting within 5' to my router and they never loose a connection.

my download speed is 120.23 MBPS and I am on 5G.

I wish Apple can fix this 😟

I was told that using a docsis 3.0 modem should fix this problem. Can anyone verify that they have a docsis 3.0 modem and still experiences this problem?

I am in contact with a high level support rep from Apple and am constantly investigating this issue. If I am unable to fix it, I will sell my Mac and never look back. Their lack of addressing this awfule bug publicly (especially, on these forums) is enough to make me lose complete confidence in Apple.