I accedentally deleted my wifi preferences. Can I restore them from icloud or another mac?

Question

I accedentally deleted my wifi preferences. Can I restore them from icloud or another mac?

While troubleshooting my Wifi problems, I deleted my wifi prefernces from /Library/Preferences/ SystemConfiguration/. I thought that I had made a backup first (dragging them on the desktop), but it turns out that I didn't.

Inevitably, all my "Preferred Networks" from my Wifi settings have disappeared. I have two questions:

I know that my wifi passwords are accessible through icloud. Is there any chance I can restore my preferred networks and the passwords from there?
Alternatively, can I take my other macbook (which has more or less the same "preferred networks" saved on it), grab my wifi preferences from there, and drag them into my /Library/Preferences/ SystemConfiguration/ folder? If this is the case, which file will contain the info about my preferred networks?

Thank you so much everybody!!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 15, 2021 5:06 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 16, 2021 6:54 AM in response to Paco el Alpaco

Network Connections use at least a dozen other files, so you'd have to Restore from backup to a whole date of your Home folder.

Or set it in Sys Prefs>Network>Wifi>Advanced & drag them into the order you want once you've joined them.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 15, 2021 5:49 PM in response to Paco el Alpaco

Or do this...

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

Sys Prefs>Network>highlight the Interface you're using>Advanced>TCP/IP>Configure IPv4: Using DHCP.

If using Wifi, instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

System Preferences>Network>choose interface>Advanced>Proxies Tab, make sure none are set, like for HTTP & HTTPS.

System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

1.1.1.1

9.9.9.9

Apply.

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Answer 3

Apr 16, 2021 3:01 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you, this is helpful, but my concern is recovering my "preferred networks" list, as displayed in the setting (Network>Wifi>Advanced), so as to make sure that my macbook connects automatically to the ones I use more frequently.

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I accedentally deleted my wifi preferences. Can I restore them from icloud or another mac?

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