MacBook Pro M1 WiFi issue

same issue with my macbook air M1,

issue description: when doing multiple tasks and putting stress on internet connection (for example, while on zoom meeting and opening multiple chrome tabs), internet become very slow and even disappear (although wifi sign shows full strength) and only return to normal after disconnecting/reconnecting wifi. two visits to apple genius bar with system reinstall but no effect (saying it is a software not hardware issue according to their diagnostics), also three calls to apple support without any diagnosis.

I used to have issue with internet failing to start after waking laptop up from sleep (only solved with restart), but I think it disappeared after 12.1 update

I have a still working mac mini 2011 on same network without any issues

My experience has taken a turn for the worse. I now have other people in the house with me using the same wifi with M1 Macs as well, and now my wifi is dropping often and routinely.

The system periodically decides it doesn't like the network it's on and picks another one from the list of 4 signals all on the same SSID. I have two 2.4 Ghz and two 5.0 Ghz, and it clearly picks the wrong one (sometimes) and other times it's just not on any and my wifi indicator in the menu bar is "searching":

I am getting > 300 mbits/second on the current selected channel even though it's not the strongest. The other one is much slower.

wait, how do you have TWO with same SSID on channel 48? and two on channel 9?

That is NOT OK If they have any opportunity to overlap (as they clearly do from where you are sitting).

You should have different access points on DIFFERENT channels, to reduce interference between your own access points. Contrary to what you may have read, two on same channel does NOT improve switching time in the slightest -- it merely produces self-inflicted interference at all times.

Yes there are lots of well meaning but ultimately unreliable comments.

Personally, having paid a few grand for an M1 I really don't expect to have to be resorting to tech support for something as basic as wifi connectivity, especially with older standard gear.

I have been looking for a solution to my M1 (and wife & sons iPhones) dropping video for a while during calls, and nothing I have found anywhere has solved the problem. (I mess about a bit in IT so not a complete noob here)

I can buy a product for a quarter of the price and it works perfectly.................... that really is a kick in the teeth.

From testing I am pretty certain it is related to my routers that it does not like - if I connect to say my Android mobile via hotspot it seems OK. My wifes iPhones are really not happy either, particularly with Facetime, but equally Jitsi, Whatsapp etc. She has to turn off wifi to make a call.

I have a Gigabit fibre connection through the ISP modem with PPPoE on a Mikrotik router. Data speed tests on the 5Ghz wifi run around 2-300 Mps which is fine for me. I'm after reliability on this, not outright speed here.

I have a bunch of older Netgear PoE APs running 2.4Ghz 'g' fixed 20Mhz and 5Ghz 'an' running 20/40Mhz dynamic as recommended (along with all the other recommended settings I can find eg WMM etc) They all have the same SSID so you can roam easily. It isn't like they are new and flakey. All my non cheaper Apple kit works fine with them with no issues.

Under normal surfing/browsing it seems to be fine with plenty of speed, but video calls are a fail - I can see it sit at around 4Mbs and it then literally just drops, and then after a bit of a pause it picks up again. My even *older* 2.4Ghz 'g' only APs were actually *more* reliable for video (but slow)!! Same results with browsers or apps. I have tested til my eyes bled and I am fed up with reconfiguring things 99 times.

Under Wifi diagnostics RSSI and NSR seem fine. I've removed all other AP settings, renamed an AP SSID to simulate a different network for good measure so it doesn't try and channel hop, and it still does pauses/drops. I can see that sometimes it seems the drops are associated with a drop in speed, but other times it can show a steady 300Mbs and pause/hang the call. The application just sits there and waits for a reconnection. I can only presume that it is the internal hardware or software having a hissy fit and trying to renegotiate something it doesn't need too.

Interestingly, while on a video call on the M1 even pinging my local server or gateway through a terminal times out. That really makes zero sense. Seems like the network is overloaded, even when it is using less than 1Mbs. WHAT???????

Clearly there is an issue with certain access points that no one has got to the bottom of. I have learned a lot about the diagnostic capabilities of a Macbook, some of which is pretty arcane and obscure, and can see certain things in the logs, but depressingly no information on them anywhere. But ultimately if it says it supports some or other protocol, be it b/g/n it has to work.

All in all a frustrating experience for the money, and I won't be doing it again in a hurry. I'll be sticking to my linux based kit in future.

Now off to blow my brains out for a load of new (non Apple) access points because it is easier than fighting this thing. Joy.

"Disappointed"

I have had extremely unreliable wifi of late.

My wifi system is Orbi with 1 satellite.

I noticed my iPhone was also having issues. Then I broke out 2015 laptop which is 802.11/ac at best and it, too, was having problems with a simple 'ping the router' test.

I seem to have fixed the problem by changing my Orbi router to do WPA3 Personal instead of WPA2 Personal.

The reason I made this change is (1) my printer broke and it was the only one that might not have handled it, and (2) my Orbi router said "Note: 6Ghz WiFi supports only WPA3 encryption".

I think 6Ghz is part of the back channel ... but I really don't know.

Anyway - I have not dropped a single packet while pinging my router for several hours. Prior to this I was dropping loads.

No idea if this is related or not but I thought someone here might benefit from this.

I believe this is a larger networking-related issue. Even if I switch from WiFi to iPhone Hotspot, connection drops and packets get lost intermittently.

Apart from that, I am unable to connect access Router Gateway's setting page via web browser unless I turn on "Internet Sharing".

I still have my old MacBook Pro (Intel) and it's working quite well in terms of network connectivity.

I spent three days and multiple hours on the phone with Apple support trying to diagnose and fix a similar issue. Brand new MacBook Pro and initially would not connect to the internet at all. After a format and OS install, I could connect to the Internet but not through my hotspot. Every other computer in my house could connect to the Internet through my hotspot. Finally just returned the computer very frustrated

If Wi-Fi troubles on these Macs were being caused by one simple issue, this thread would not be 13 pages long.

If you want help, post your Option-Wi-Fi snapshot, or better yet, post it on a new discussion.

On that topic:

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support

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Hi, i have some issue, my speed 400 Mbp/sec average. But last 2 weeks have problems with  interruptions, every 3-5 sec my connection repeat twitching.Please help me. Macbook Pro m1 16gb ram, 512 ssd

maybe this:

If this is available in yours you could try selecting the 20/40 option rather than the 20/40/80 option.

I embarrass myself. Please ignore previous comment.

This is my reality:

ping-time and success/failure is too coarse a measure to suggest what the problem might be.

Option-Wi-Fi snapshot or at least your observed RSSI can be helpful:

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You can be irate if you wish. You were not providing enough signal for a computer you wish to use at fairly high speeds. There may be enough signal for other uses that are far less demanding.

Same issue for me. M1 is two months old and won’t connect at all on some days. Reboot 3 times then it works.

Disgusted.

Do something Apple.