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MacBook Pro 16 2019 10.15.4 WiFi Issues / Dropping Connection -- Help!

When I purchased this MacBook Pro, right out of the box I was experiencing dropped WiFi connections. Now I thought this was a simple bug and could be fixed by restarting/resetting SMC or PRAM reset, however, that wasn't the case. I'm still experiencing dropped WiFi connections even after doing those resets AND updating to 10.15.4.


Not sure why this keeps happening. Am I the only one?

MacBook Pro 16", macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 28, 2020 1:57 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on May 21, 2020 3:11 PM

After talking with Apple Support we actually came to a fix!


First and foremost, DO MAKE A BACKUP!


After that, plug your mac to the charging cable, then turn off your MacBook Pro. After shuting down, press: Shift-Option-⌘-R, connect to your wifi or use an ethernet port. It will bring macOS Recovery mode.


Make sure that your disk is mounted correctly by clicking on disk utilities and making sure that Macintosh HD is mounted.


Then, close the disk utility by clicking on the close window button and proceed to "reinstall macOS". DON'T format, no need. just reinstall macOS on the Macintosh HD.


Yes I also found it weird but the Apple Support explained. When you reinstall macOS on an HD that already has macOS, it reinstalls macOS without losing any of your data. So it basically reinstalls all your macOS while keeping all your data and files! :D


It has been a day after doing this and FINALLY, after months, NO MORE WIFI Random Drops!


Hope it works for you guys too!



143 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 21, 2020 3:11 PM in response to iTimC21

After talking with Apple Support we actually came to a fix!


First and foremost, DO MAKE A BACKUP!


After that, plug your mac to the charging cable, then turn off your MacBook Pro. After shuting down, press: Shift-Option-⌘-R, connect to your wifi or use an ethernet port. It will bring macOS Recovery mode.


Make sure that your disk is mounted correctly by clicking on disk utilities and making sure that Macintosh HD is mounted.


Then, close the disk utility by clicking on the close window button and proceed to "reinstall macOS". DON'T format, no need. just reinstall macOS on the Macintosh HD.


Yes I also found it weird but the Apple Support explained. When you reinstall macOS on an HD that already has macOS, it reinstalls macOS without losing any of your data. So it basically reinstalls all your macOS while keeping all your data and files! :D


It has been a day after doing this and FINALLY, after months, NO MORE WIFI Random Drops!


Hope it works for you guys too!



Mar 30, 2020 2:08 PM in response to iTimC21

Hi there, iTimC21!


Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities! It sounds like you are having an issue with maintaining a connection to your Wi-Fi and I’m happy to help out! First, since you are able to connect, I would take a look at this article to Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference to be sure there is nothing interfering with the connection.


If there is no interference, I recommend taking a look at this article with steps to follow to Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac. This will perform checks and stop certain software from starting up automatically. Once you are in safe mode, test to see if you have the same issue.


Also, check out this article with steps for How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac to create a new user and test the issue in the new account to see if the issue is user specific or system wide. 


Let me know the results and have a great day!

Jul 13, 2020 6:59 AM in response to JeeHoo

JeeHoo wrote:
...
It could be a starting point for Apple to "backtrace" to the root-cause (I am over-simplifying things of course, it is never that easy).


The Apple Community Forums are a wonderful way of brainstorming and kicking ideas around, but have a tragic flaw regarding getting things fixed. There is no follow-up for anything posted here.


Unless/Until enough people report the problem through AppleCare and walk away with a Bug Report, Service visit, or resolution, Apple Inc does not "know" that there is a problem, and is not looking into it.


If you can, you should try contacting AppleCare. In my opinion, most First Responders do not have a good understanding of Wi-Fi neighborhoods and their issues, and may try to arm-wave the issues. Try to get to a second-level technician and/or get them to file a Bug Report.


Another possibility is to file a [terse] product support feedback:


https://www.apple.com/feedback/


.

Aug 8, 2020 7:44 AM in response to steve4321abcd

Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.

• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.

• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

About USB on Mac computers - Apple Support

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201542


NB> Bluetooth use the same frequency band as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, it just does frequency hopping to try to improve performance.

Intel discovered and reported that poorly-shielded USB-3 devices interfere with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi in 2012.

Nov 6, 2020 2:42 PM in response to ppro182

Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.

• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.

• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

About USB on Mac computers - Apple Support

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201542


also, any of these items may be involved:


• LG-display recall -- to address Wi-Fi interference so severe, it knocks the Router off the air if too near the Router.

https://9to5mac.com/2017/02/03/lg-fixes-wifi-interference-problems-with-ultrafin e-usb-c-5k-display-new-units-unaffected/


Dec 9, 2020 4:15 PM in response to iTimC21

Dear apple folks. From what I have gathered here in this thread, clearly this is an issue. I have been debugging this for sometime. I've tried:

  • Resetting SMC
  • Resetting NVRAM PRAM
  • Reinstalling OS
  • Resetting my wifi network
  • Trying different APs (Aruba networks on 802.11ac, Ubiquiti 802.11ac and Dlink)


Perhaps here is the nail in the coffin:

  • Head2Head test; Macbook pro 13in 2017 vs Macbook pro 16in 2019
  • Both macbooks are running Big Sur 11.0.1
  • Both macbooks are the same distance to the router, not too close not too far (only about 12 feet LOS away)
  • The wifi routers in this case were reset and their channels tuned to have interference minimized for these two laptops in these locations


Yet again the Macbook 16 is incurring attenuated signal with low Tx Rate.


Please advise.


Sep 15, 2020 4:01 AM in response to sterid

What you describe here looks a lot like the problems I am experiencing (lately a bit less I have to admit):

  • even though you seem to still be connected to WiFi (according to the wifi-icon) you're effectively disconnected (no internet access) - you need to reconnect again to restore access
  • The problem does not get noticed by the analyser tool


As all our other devices (iPhones and MacBooks) connect perfectly to our (Airport Time Capsule) access point without any drops it must be a problem this MacBook has with wifi-connections.

Just curious: Did you try enabling/disabling the "Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac" option (in "Settings --> Security & Privacy --> General") to see whether this solves the problem (at least for a while)? It did for me for a week or two, then it started dropping again (toggling that setting "solves" if again). Seems that toggling this setting somehow resets something related to the wifi module and makes it functioning properly again (for a while).

Sep 30, 2020 4:39 AM in response to Outback1966

May i please ask if you have applied all the latest version of the patch and fixes?


  1. Press apple logo
  2. About this mac
  3. Under macOS Catalina you should see version 10.15.7


This could fix your problem? I am afraid you are not saying what OS you are running etc.


OS Catalina‌ 10.15.7 provides important security updates and bug fixes for your Mac.

- Resolves an issue where macOS would not automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks

- Fixes an issue that could prevent files syncing through ‌iCloud Drive‌

- Addresses a graphic issue that may occur on ‌iMac‌ (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) with Radeon Pro 5700 XT


Oct 26, 2020 10:18 PM in response to iTimC21

I actually having the exact same problem! I compared the mac 16in with my old mac pro 15in made 2014 and the old mac was a lot faster at uploading and download videos on youtube and so, I tried to search for answer but couldn't fined anything.


so we got 2 problems


  1. internet keeps dropping
  2. internet is really slow and keeps interrupting the videos

May 19, 2020 12:00 PM in response to iTimC21

To analyze what is happening at the moment, hold down the option key and click on the Wi-fi icon on the menubar. you get a snapshot like this older one:


transcribe or screenshot the parameters you see there ...

and also report: ¿How many networks do you see?

Readers will respond with an analysis of your local Network Neighborhood.

Jun 12, 2020 11:27 AM in response to jean-louis256

To analyze what is happening at the moment, hold down the option key and click on the Wi-fi icon on the menubar. you get a snapshot like this older one:


WHAT TO DO: transcribe or screenshot the parameters you see there ...

and also report: ¿How many networks do you see?

Readers will respond with an analysis of your local Network Neighborhood.


Nov 6, 2020 6:26 PM in response to Outback1966

Some users have been willing to post their wi-Fi snapshots here, and I and others have helped analyze them. In the vast majority of cases, their "network neighborhood" was overwhelmed with other traffic. In some cases they had a Router that was too old or too feeble to support the connections they desired.


There were a very, very small number of users whose computers had disconnected or broken antenna leads (only in much older MacBook Pro models with antennas in the screen-surround).


Users typically found NOTHING wrong with Apple Hardware or Software.


Hold down the Option key and click on the Wi-Fi Icon on the MenuBar. post the snapshot. looks like this older one:


Also, how many Networks do you see?

Nov 6, 2020 7:23 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

There are tools inside MacOS in Wireless Diagnostics (off that same Option-Wi-Fi menu) that can show you channel assignments. This is sample of the SCAN function:


(drag and drop on Preview to see larger)


But this does not present the whole picture, because far more spectrum is used than the nominal center channel. an inexpensive Utility named WiFi Explorer (has a three day trail as well) includes SCAN and also has a "Spectrum" display:

(drag and drop of Preview to see larger)


this shows how far each channel of each Router spreads out.


Note that both networks showing in the 5Ghz band engulf the entire range from 36 to 50, and each of those is "only" a 40 MHz channel. (not 80 as you have set up).


MacBook Pro 16 2019 10.15.4 WiFi Issues / Dropping Connection -- Help!

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