Safari and Chrome can’t connect to the server after Catalina update

There is a detailed discussion from PowerUser.blog on the situation and he provides a solution that has worked for me and another colleague. https://poweruser.blog/macos-catalina-wifi-issue-captive-portal-broken-45610cc016b5

I also noted that a number of suggestions talk about removing entries from /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LauchDaemons - in both instances where I looked at this, I found (and removed) remnants from old applications sitting in there. I don't know if that fixed anything or not, but it can't hurt to get rid of old junk.

Creating a new network location worked the first time I did it. But now, I have the same problem again: I am connected to the WiFi but have no internet. I deinstalled Cisco any connect to no avail. I started in safe mode and even then, I hadn’t any internet. It does this with all kinds of networks. At home, at the coffee shop etc. After the third restart and the third time creating a new network location, it might or might not work. No idea why. This is extremely frustrating.

I took my machine in to the apple shop. After half an hour of trying various fixes, all to no avail, I had to wipe my data and my hard drive and reinstall. So, get into safe mode and use erase. I didn't have too much vital data, and of course even though I HADN"T BACKED UP, my Appleid retrieved my photos and calendar. I don't know why I'm grateful, I lost stuff, and it was their IOS that caused it.

I agree. I fortunately didn’t have much I really wanted in terms of data. I understand that most people do. I just couldn’t wait for Apple to get it resolved, it’s been quite some time already. Have resolved to use google docs. Good luck all.

I had the same problem and ... Hasan-x had the fix to my problem.

This was his answer...... System Preferences > Network > and create a new Network Location (normally its says Automatic) and to re-join a known working wi-fi network.

Very easy.

I've been having this problem for a while and none of the suggestions here or on Reddit helped. I finally got tired of using hotspot, so I got help by chatting with Apple online. The lady helping me had me download https://www.malwarebytes.com/ and do the scan for free. It found 6 "threats" on my macbook and deleted them. No idea what they were so clearly they weren't important. It told me restart my macbook, so I did, and now my internet works again. Try it! This is the only thing that worked for me.

Uh, no I'm not in the wrong thread. I had the same exact issue that OP described. Just because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for other people. Someone else already said it worked for them.

Maybe YOU have a different issue and YOU'RE in the wrong thread.

Have you tried booting in safe mode and then rebooting again normal mode? Works for me all

the time now. Location does not work for me. I am in a different hotel almost every night so this has to work for me

I am noticing that many people are experiencing various problems with Catalina macOS 10.15.1 (19B88). I can connect to internet but it is disturbingly slow as is my whole computer. I saw a post having to do with malware and tried that, malware was found but removing it did not solve my problem. Restarting in Safe Mode and then restarting in normal mode helped with the computer speed and internet speed, but still not as quick and reliable as before this latest update.

When Catalina 10.15 came out, I did not have any problems. It was only when I upgraded to 10.15.1 that this problem occurred. Based upon the number of people who are on this discussion string I am totally surprised and disgusted that Apple released this latest update with this latest software glitch. My MacBook Pro using Catalina 10.15 works fine, thank goodness. I am totally disappointed with Apple for allowing something like this to be distributed to the general public. Their Beta test base must have been very small

After I booted in safe mode and then rebooted normally, my IMac worked much better, but still not like it did before the upgrade to 10.15.1 from 10.15. I uninstalled my antivirus program (Trend Micro) and rebooted. My computer is now running like new. No lags in application functions and fast response to internet activities.

Unfortunately I still do not get the 'Captive' sign-in boxes appear - so have to restart in Safe Mode; join then restart in Normal. If you lose connection during the day you have to do the same thing - and is a waste of time an VERY annoying. This has now been going on for about a month - you would have thought it would be quite easy to resolve - but apparently Apple are quite happy to let their customers suffer

Thank you! This solved my problem. When in safe-mode, I have to open Safari and connect into the public WiFi, Chrome [Version 78.0.3904.87 (Official Build) (64-bit)] would not work. But once in normal mode, WiFi was still connected and could resume using Chrome.

I have the same issue. The only thing that has worked so far is booting in safe mode. But when I restart the issue returns.

I have created a new wifi location. I have deleted all the old system configuration plists, I have renewed the lease, I have configured the MAC address manually, I have changed the DNS to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. I have done everything and it is still not working. So frustrating.

There are other solutions out there that I have tried but the only thing that has worked for me so far is booting in safe mode. Still, here are the other "solutions" i found that I tried for this issue.

Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration - In here there are several plist files to backup on the desktop nad then move the originial to the trash. Reboot.

In the Netwrok screen, click advanced on the wifi section. in here delete the prefered wifi networks and re add.

Click TCP/IP and renew lease.

Click DNS tab. Delete the listed and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

Click on hardware. Click on configure manually. Then custom and enter the value 1453.

Again, none of this helped me but these are solutions I have seen on the internet.

I upgraded to Catalina three weeks ago, and have been without reliable internet ever since. I have tried clearing out the LaunchAgents and LaunchDameons, creating new Locations, playing with the DNS settings, and everything posted here. The one thing that works sometimes is switching Wi-Fi networks; that said, doing so works only for a minute or two. Some process seems to lock up the internet after that. I have sent the Apple engineers two 300+mbyte logfiles, but they have offered only the suggestion of removing a couple plist files.

Apple has done a terrible job with the Catalina rollout, and I am stunned that they cannot resolve the issue. Mine is a pretty vanilla setup, so I imagine that thousands of others are having the same problem.