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How can I stop this occurring. I don't need to find any new networks - I already have all the networks I need set up. I have searched Apple support and the Communities and tried several "solutions", but none of them worked for me. Turning off "Show network status in menu bar" and turning it back on is just pointless! It is very frustrating.
iMac 27″, macOS 10.15
It only looks when you are clicking on the menu bar WiFi icon. It does not know you do not want to look for a different network, so it updates the drop down menu. For all it knows, you have rebooted your WiFi routers, and are waiting for it to reappear.
It only looks when you are clicking on the menu bar WiFi icon. It does not know you do not want to look for a different network, so it updates the drop down menu. For all it knows, you have rebooted your WiFi routers, and are waiting for it to reappear.
Thanks. That helps, but there are other network annoyances that need to be fixed, also. For instance, why can't I tell MacOS not to look for available networks ? I only need my home network. I don't want to see 20 other wifi modems/routers in the vicinity. I would be able to tell the system to ignore all but my chosen networks.
You have not drank the Apple Kool-Aid. As few options as possible. The WiFi interface works for the most users. It is only visible when you click on it. Adding a bunch of options to say do not scan, or do not show, etc... just adds complexity for something that is looked at for a few seconds every once in a while.
What you can do is make sure your WiFi access point is at the top of the
System Preferences -> Network -> Wi-Fi (interface in the left column) -> Advanced -> Wi-Fi -> Preferred Networks:
Find your WiFi interface, and drag it to the top of the list.
macOS always walks down the Preferred Networks list in the order shown to find a connection. If your desired network is not at the top of the list, it will delay how fast your Mac re-establishes network connections after waking from sleep, or rebooting.
You can use the [-] button to remove any names from the list, so they will not be checked when waking from sleep or rebooting.
This will NOT change how the menu bar WiFi icon behaves, but it does affect how fast your Mac gets back on your network after waking from sleep or rebooting.
You are right. I have not drank the Apple Kool-aid. Nor am I a fan of MS. But needs require a desktop machine. I try to look at things objectively. MacOS has millions of lines of code. It would take about 10 to stop it checking and/or listing every network in range, in favour of named networks only. It would also be more secure. If I was designing an OS, I wouldn't be looking for it to be checking every network in range by default. Quite the opposite, in fact. As I said - it is clumsy, clunky, annoying and unnecessary.
There is a "heartbeat" built into the Broadcom WiFi chip that periodically polls for other available networks. There is no stopping that unless you disconnect Wi-Fi and use an Ethernet cable.
Thanks, that helps me to understand. I still think that it is pretty clunky not to have an "ignore all other networks" option after I have chosen my required ones.
Late 2013 Imac 27" Running macOS Catalina constantly looks for networks.
