Catalina Network problem

I finally have figured out a solution that works for me. I hope this helps others.

Solution:

Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi (or which ever network you have issues with) > Click the dropdown menu (on top) to select Location > Edit Locations... > Click + to add a location > Give any name > Click Done > Click Apply (bottom right)

All the websites were loading perfecting now.

If above solution doesn't work they try following steps before adding new location under network.

Go to terminal and execute following command

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Open finder and click on Go in the right top menu while holding the OPTION key > Click on Library > Delete the following folder contents Caches, Logs, Cookies.

After deleting the folder contents, try the solution provided initially i.e to add a new location under network preferences.

I hope this helps someone!

Hi....this is a frustrating problem. I initially solved the problem by going to my Systems Preference App and clicking on the Network Icon. I then clicked on my WIFI signal on the left side of the panel. You will see a LOCATION drop down at the top. It might say Automatic. I would click edit location and add a new location (call it say MyWifi - or any name you like). Then go to the Network Name drop down and select your wifi you want to associate / use with this name and then click the "Apply" button on the bottom. Make sure your new name is associated with the wifi you just selected. This should clear it up.

Another thing to check out is if you are using a VPN. After a while I was still losing my wifi signal when my iMac went to sleep. The additional problem I found was how my VPN interacted with Catalina upon waking up from sleep mode. I am using IPVanish VPN and had left it running all the time (never shutting down) under prior mac OS releases. Apparently, under Catalina, there is a timing issue when the iMac wakes from sleep and the VPN tried to reconnect to the network causing it to hang and not allow any internet access / connections to work. The solution was to a) disconnect my VPN when I was done using my iMac and b) to change the VPN protocol to IKEv2. The IKEv2 is faster and does not appear to hang on sleep like my other protocol OpenVPN UDP.

I hope this helps clear up your problem.

i have this problem too, and fix it is easy,

preference->network, delete wifi, then add it back.

everything will be ok.

delete your cache files and reboot. If it still does it reset your PRAM.

Try to run Wireless Diagnostics - it will work like magic

But you have to run it every time when you cannot connect to any Wi-Fi, long term need to wait system updates to fix.

This doesn't work.

I upgraded to Catalina on Oct 8. Everything worked fine. But on Oct 9, most of the websites were unreachable.

Google, YouTube, Facebook, BitBucket loaded just fine.

Safari said it can't find the server "www.forbes.com" and chrome said https://www.forbes.com is unreachable. ERR_ADDRESS_UNREACHABLE. This has been the case for almost all websites. Neither does fortinet VPN connects. My work has been halted.

Appreciate any help.

Hi

Running wireless diagnostics didn't resolve the issue.

I see the issue when I connect to my Comcast internet. When I use the LTE through hotspot, I don't see the issue.

My Comcast internet works just fine on my mobile and other devices.

Dear Philip,

Thank you for posting.

Avoid using CleanmyMac because the latter can mess with the System Library - Not in MacOS Catalina since the Software is now locked and Read Only.

You can use other 3rd Party Apps like Malwarebytes, which as Apple we suggest as well.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,

Andrew

iOS/Mac Specialist

Hi. I have the same problem with my Mac. Post Catalina I see WiFi but can not connect to the internet. I was hoping someone would be kind enough to tell me the exact steps to do this. I’m not great with Mac issues. I would really appreciate please. Thank you

Hi. Thank you for reaching back to me with the great instructions! However it did not correct my issue. I can see the WiFi connected but it will not connect to the internet any way still. Again. Thank you for trying! Argh

but should we all have to do this NOW after years of not having to. Ridiculous that we have to do all this work every day just to get a $1400 MacBook to work properly. Isnt this Apple's responsibility. Every day i have to change my network HOME to connect.

None of this has helped me. I have installed Catalina on a Mac Mini (Late 2014). I can connect to my Wi Fi, and I can do a ping that will do a proper DNS and see responses on terminal. But no web browser works (The site can't be reached ...), Software Update cannot reach the internet, etc etc. I have tried adding a new location, safe mode, zapping PRAM, flushing cache. Still no useable network connections. Help!

I cant understand why there is no fix for this. I have almost same problem but mine is now down to me not being able to use my VPN, IP Vanish unless i want to do the location change each time i go back online. Troubleshot w IP VANISH and it's down to Catalina coz that's when this happened to me. We're NOT the only ones so hey @apple fix this and announce it, please.