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My Macbook keeps disconnecting itself from the internet

Recently, I bought a Macbook Pro in September and ever since I got it, the connection with the internet have been weird. It keeps disconnecting itself from the internet. I know it's not my router or home internet because my Touch and other laptops have a consistent connection. The Airport icon has a full bar. I can reconnect, but I have to go to Network Diagnostics constantly to connect back to the internet, only to be disconnected 10 seconds later.

Out of desperation, I figured I do a clean install of Snow Leopard (why not since my Macbook is new anyways)! The problem is still there, the Macbook is updated to Version 10.6.1. Can someone help please? Is it my network settings? Is anyone else having this problem? Ahhhh

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Oct 12, 2009 5:24 PM

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286 replies

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to suzyz

I have a three-week old 17" MacBook Pro with the same problem. It seems to go off line only when it is inactive. I have also had my Airport card changed, and I spent almost an hour on the phone with Apple technical support adjusting the Network System preferences, the PRAM, and everything else one might think of, to no avail.

One thing I don't see mentioned on this thread. Has anyone taken their computer to a Mac Genius Bar with this problem?

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to Jacarry

Your problem as stated here is closest to the situation I am having. I have a three-week old 17" MacBook Pro running OS 10.6.2. My router is the latest version of AirPort Extreme. My computer does not disconnect when I am actually on the Internet but somehow becomes disconnected after long periods of disuse or after I have used a peripheral, such as a printer. Neither the technician from the authorized Apple dealer I have been using for years or long telephone exercises with Apple technical support has resolved the problem, but I accidentally stumbled on a temporary fix. If I restart the computer, I can get back on line. This happens once or twice a day.

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to suzyz

I downloaded the patch, and it seems to have worked for my new 15" MacBook Pro running OS 10.6.2. It hasn't gone off line in three days. My new 17" MacBook Pro is in New York, and I won't get back there for five months. Everyone's problems seem to be somewhat different. Both my computers went off line only after periods of sleep or after I had used a peripheral. Also, I couldn't get back on line unless I did a Restart.

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to Community User

Well, wadayaknow, I spoke too soon. This evening my MacBook Pro went off line again after a period of sleep, and I had to Restart to get back on line, just as before.

My question is whether this is a sufficient cause, since both my 17" and 15" MacBook Pros are only a few weeks old, to demand that Apple resolve this problem or give me new computers or to just regard it as a nuisance.

Many people on this forum are reporting the disconnect problem, but it doesn't seem to be an issue on MacRumors. Curious!

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to krondor

What do you do when the computer loses Internet connection? Some people can apparently just toggle Airport Off/Airport On. This doesn't work for me, either on my 17" MacBook Pro or my 15" MacBook Pro. I have to Restart, and this will eventually harm the computer, won't it?

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to RmblnJoe

It wouldn't even bother me much if I simply had to turn Airport off and back on to re-establish connection. I have to restart the computer every time.
The poster (rmbinjoe) who thought that this might be a combination of hardware and software factors is probably right. I bought two MacBook Pros, a 15" and a 17," from the same dealer within three weeks. They both have the disconnect problem, and both need a restart to establish connection again.

May 11, 2018 10:55 PM in response to N-Yo

Everyone is apparently assuming that this is is a wireless (and consequently a software) problem. I have a 17" and a 15" MacBook Pro, purchased in October and November 2009. They both disconnect randomly from the Internet. My router is a new AirPort Extreme. When these computers disconnect, I need to Restart to re-establish connection. I have tried all the "fixes" suggested on this thread—zapping the P-ram, etc.

I tried connecting the computers to the router with an ethernet cable. Nothing at all changed. The disconnects on both are just as frequent, and I still need to Restart to re-establish connection.

This is a hardware problem in some MacBook Pros. The only solution, if you are under warranty, is to demand an exchange or refund.

Jan 23, 2017 8:55 PM in response to KatyaVT

This is the exact same as me!!!!!!!
I loose internet even though it says I'm connected, I turn off the port and then it doesn't turn back on. So I have to then restart my computer, and sometimes it comes back, but only for like 10secs and sometimes it still says its off. I usually have to restart my computer 6x before it connects for a full 2-5mins.!!!

I used a ethernet cable to reset my laptop to factory settings (as this is the only way I can maintain 100% internet connection) and then updated all the software and it still happens. It has been happening for about 3months now and I'm very sick of it.!!!!

Oct 16, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Tin T12AN

This is similar to a problem I am having and I'd like to here the experiences of others on this.

At a relative's home, I connected wirelessly through two interior walls to the wireless router. My relative connected with a 4 yr old Toshiba Satellite (celeron). My new MBP could not keep a connection whereas the Toshiba's connection was solid throughout from the same location. When the MBP connection dropped, I had to walk the MBP into the room with the router, reconnect and then walk back to my seat and hoped that it maintained it tenuous grip.

It appears to me that the MBP wireless circuitry has a lesser capability than a 4 yr old laptop that cost 1/3 as much.

Any similar experiences or has my MBP faulty wireless circuitry?

Oct 31, 2009 4:23 AM in response to masterofcomputer

My MacBook also keeps disconnecting from my O2 WiFi since Snow Leopard. My iPhone and Windows PC keep the connection when the MacBook disconnects as it does frequently, every 30 mins or so, but sometimes shorter sometimes longer. I've changed frequency channels and phoned AppleCare who talked me through System Reconfiguration.

I'll try it on another WiFi when I am near one.

It's still disconnecting. Any help please.

Nov 7, 2009 4:03 PM in response to aphernandez

Same problem, however my internet tends only to disconnect upon awakening after an extended period of sleep or after several hours of use. The problem does not occur when I connect to my schools network. I'm not sure whether the problem lies with my airport extreme - it works fine with other computers and registers with a green light even when faulty on my MBP. Also, simply turning the airport on and off does not always work for me - at some stages I have had to reset it - still to no avail. Connecting the base station to my computer by the ethernet connection does however re-establish the wireless connection on occasion. Also, I find after long periods of use my usually full airport connection drops a few bars and the internet slows down. Restarting the computer fixes this! Anyone got any idea where the problem lies??

My Macbook keeps disconnecting itself from the internet

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