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
Maybe your new MacBook Pro is generating some amazing USB 3 interfrence from its peripherals:
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 an older Apple article, now retired.
I have MBP16 and recently change work location from Asus Wireless Point to Zyxel Access Point. And now I have wi-fi issue too. There wasn't any issues with Wi-Fi with Asus AP..
It connects and work some time (1-20 hours) and then lost internet with wi-fi connected. Workaround is just reconnect to wi-fi. But it's very annoying!
I was trying to investigate what's happened but had no luck with it.
Wi-Fi is connected, but no MAC for gateway IP. Therefore IP traffic cannot go outside notebook... Also I ran Wi-Fi Analyser tool to scan wi-fi ranges and change it to empty channels.
The same issue with 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz with WPA2 and WPA3.
What you describe here looks a lot like the problems I am experiencing (lately a bit less I have to admit):
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).
this is really getting annoying every 4 or 5 mins mine is loosing wifi every other device has no issue tried all the ideas here still same issue Apple has dropped the ball on this one and such an expensive machine too im having to use my new iPad Pro 4 12.9" and 15" 2015 mbp over the 16" mbp might be time for a refund if they can't fix this :( I love Apple products have spent around 50k over the years on Mac stuff
May i please ask if you have applied all the latest version of the patch and fixes?
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
Hi I am running 10.15.7 it’s the 16” i9 8core 2.4 ghz 64gig ram and the 5600 pro I have turned of Apple Watch again did smc reset it seems a little better but not perfect betting it’s a software issue I’m hoping it will be sorted soon seems it’s a lot of the 16” mbp,s that are doing this if not all of them just need as much info to get to the Apple techs so they can sort this out ASAP
I’m on 10.15.7 still drops wifi all the time I’m currently on my new iPad pro4 as it works flawlessly on the wifi also have noticed how much faster the wifi is on my iPad compared to my 16” I get 230Mbps on my iPad 130Mbps on the 16” same wifi same spot in house my max is 250 on the plan I’m going to get my 2015 15” mbp fixed as it was way better on the wifi never dropped out not happy as of now
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).
@ Grant Bennet-Alder for the record, I found problems with Apple hardware and/or software. I have 7 other devices working perfectly well, and spent hours on the phone with Apple technicians. I also have a long memory for Apple's extremely dishonest response regarding their other famous denial regarding keyboards.
Since "solving" this wifi problem by changing my router to use 5GHz (rather than 2.4), I can't facetime in any other room of the house - I have to stand right next to the router. And that affects ALL devices (since you can't have 5GHz for the one faulty MabBook Pro and 2.4Ghz for everything else, at least not with my router).
It's 2020, Apple have just come off the back of a protracted gas-lighting of its customers regarding APPLE's FAULTY keyboards (sorry for the caps there, but I want to make sure that's heard).
PS I am super appreciative of your and others' support/advice in this thread and elsewhere, but I just don't want the record to show things as though everything's okay - when basic functionality isn't working, that is *not* okay.
steve4321abcd wrote:
...
(since you can't have 5GHz for the one faulty MacBook Pro and 2.4Ghz for everything else, at least not with my router).
...
Your Router is a certifiable antique. Any reasonable router you can buy today can do BOTH 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously.
There are too many variables in play to tell you why there is such a difference. All the background processes on computer and iPad would have to be considered, and I do not know how to get the iPad to give up such information.
are you still having dropped connection issues on the computer?
Stoked here now did Big Sur update wifi is super fast now and not dropping at all was definately software driver issues B4 here is the difference compared to Catalina drivers :) thanks for everyones inputs a great community we have :)
So update I have not had one drop off the wifi has been perfect since the update to Big Sur thanks everyone for their help much appreciated hopefully everyone else gets the same outcome with moving to Big Sur :)
My two cents to the overall picture. I had resolved my connection issues. Below is what helped me (but it doesn't mean it will help you).
Almost the whole year I had problems with a connection. Here what I had with my 2 laptops in my house:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDZibUj_pUY
The left is MacBook Pro 16" 2019, the right is MacBook Pro 15" mid-2014 and the access point is Ubiquity UniFi FlexHD in a straight line 3m/10ft. I also have other devices (ipad mini, iphones, raspberrypi) and none of them ever had issues with a connection. Only MacBook 16" had connection issues 2-3 times a day. Triggering on/off for wifi on macbook was only a solution to get the connection back.
The whole year I've been trying a lot of things: dug down into deepest UniFi settings as well as tried to disable locations/airdrop/login with apple watch as it was suggested in numerous posts/articles around the internet. Nothing helped. BTW, the Ubiquity forum also filled with topics about connection problems between different Ubiquity products and different MacBooks for the couple of last years.
Two weeks ago I gave up and started looking for a new access point/router. After I've learned a bunch of things about wifi and routers during the last year I've decided I need a four antenna router with the most recent wave 2 wifi5 chip on the market supported by OpenWRT community. I stopped my eye on Netgear R7800 and bought it.
Now, two weeks later, I can say I'm pretty happy with my new router. I didn't have connection problems during the last two weeks while prior to that I had 2-3 per day.
im still having issues here with my 16" only all the other Macs are fine when I installed BigSur it worked great for around 2 weeks now its back to crap wifi my next move im thinking of getting one of these routers https://www.centrecom.com.au/netgear-nighthawk-rax200-ax12-12-stream-ax11000-12-stream-tri-band-wifi-6-router?gclid=CjwKCAiAq8f-BRBtEiwAGr3DgTtZTViRiw3hC1yQfgjQcSq_Orh1gaWjEiXC_0UJa-fdvV0SagxrwhoCSvUQAvD_BwE if this docent work im at a total loss ive spent well over $50,000 on Mac products for my home over the years never bought anything else but also have never had an issue like this ever before definitely not what you would expect from a $7000 laptop :( im not a business im a self funded retiree I just want my 16" mbp to work properly :( this is my current router https://www.centrecom.com.au/netgear-nighthawk-d7000-ac1900-adslvdsl-modem-router?gclid=CjwKCAiAq8f-BRBtEiwAGr3DgTpjo4VHhvHgpEb82Be05q-P9FhU8Um3TnLA6FFu38JY9vuw1jWExhoClcAQAvD_BwE
With 2019MPB, aside from all the pigtails and hubs etc... we need a super long and flexible ethernet cable. Let's make sure we have a power outlet every few yards too :))
MacBook Pro 16 2019 10.15.4 WiFi Issues / Dropping Connection -- Help!
