Mac Mini M2 wifi issues

Geordiekeith, did you ever try grounding the HDMI cable's port to the Mac mini like user AbuYang did to reduce or eliminate Wi-Fi interference?

yup, definitely back up all your data. They’ll swap out the logic board which includes the non removable drive.

In the last 2 weeks since I’ve had mine back I haven’t seen wifi issues 🤞🏻

I am using my Mac mini M2 with two displays connected via USB-C and one via HDMI.

Without the HDMI monitor, the connection is getting more stable but not perfect.

Do you have Wi-Fi or AirDrop issues when the Other World Computing Thunderbolt hub is not plugged in to your Mac mini?

K2Kevin Siad:

"Mac Mini M2 wifi issues: New Mac Mini M2 has constant issues with wifi. Its unusable. Ethernet works perfectly, but when using wifi the connection will consistently drop packets. Wifi works perfectly with older Mac mini M1, MacBook Pro, Intel Mac in the same small office. I have turned off all other devices and still have same issue. Did a factory reset and same issues."

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For reference...

Troubleshooting Mac Wi-Fi:

A few thoughts to try...

I. Clear the Temporary Internet Files:

• Cookies perform remembrance of certain site-entered data.
• Cache keeps a snapshot of the last time you visited a site.
• Go Here: Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

II. Restart your Router:

1. Power: off the router
2. Wait: 30 seconds
3. Power: It back on

III. Boot in Safe Mode:

In Safe Mode, Login Items do not run at login, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files are then reset. So, once booted in to Safe Mode, wait 30 seconds, and then boot up normally, attempting another update install. For instructions, go here: How to Use safe Mode on your Mac - Apple Support

IV. Try a New Admin User:

What happens when you create a new administrator user, and log into it? Do you still get this error? If not, then it is likely an error with the current user. If so, then it is likely an error with your Mac.

I have the Bell Home Hub 3000 and have the same problem. I *may* have got it working by doing the following:

• splitting 2.4GHz and 5GHz into 2 separate bands - named them differently as well
• turned off the 2.4GHz band

I got my Mac Mini M2 a few days ago. I was on 13.0. at first. Everything seemed to work fine for some days (using 2.4ghz wifi).

Strangely, in my experience, the problems began shortly after i connected a new Magic Trackpad.

I then activated a separated 5ghz wifi and connected to that, which seems to have helped. Then I updated to 13.2.1. and it is still working. Although. 2.4 ghz seems to be way too slow. I have to run some more tests because i won't be happy until i can use both 2.4ghz and 5ghz and Airdrop etc.

For me, as for many others, the main question is wether it is a hardware/design issue and i should return the mini or wether it is a software problem and will be fully fixed in the future...

I'm interested if your Ping times increase when you click AirDrop in the side panel of a Finder window (it starts looking for nearby AirDrop devices), or when the Displays system setting pane is active?

Very good info to have, thanks! Apple introduced AWDL in 2014. I've got links of reports of it affecting Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura.

I also have a technical document that explains exactly how AWDL works, it's 13 pages long. It's WAY over my pay grade. Here's a snippet:

"(2) Master Election. Apple uses fixed social channels (6, 44, and 149) for coordination using Periodic Synchronization Frames (PSFs). A node starting its AWDL interface monitors the social channels for some time to discover other nodes in range. If AWDL Action Frames (AFs) are received, the node can adopt an existing master. If no frames are received, it assumes the master role itself."

Here's my story with this issue.

Recently, I've bought a MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro.

First, at the setup I noticed I was unable to connect to 5GHz Network!

So, I connected to 2.4GHz Network, which worked perfectly.

After the setup was completed, I was trying to connect to the 5GHz Network!

I couldn't connect to 5GHz at all, so I reached out to Apple Support, they told me I should do a complete MacOS reset. After the full MacOS reset, I was struggling with the same issue. I was going to give up, and return my new Mac device. Lastly, I reached out to my ISP, and they told me I should try on a different router. So, I bought a TP-LINK Archer C6 Router. I successfully connected to the 5GHz network. For all the Apple users, who struggles with the same issue. My suggestion is: Try out the 5GHz connection with a different router. My problem solved. :)

I picked up a base model M2 mac mini to replace my parent's 21.5" Late 2013 iMac. First thing I did was run a speed test on 5Ghz and I was getting 7Mbps down and 10Mbps up despite my parents having a 250/10 plan with Cox. Switching to 2.4Ghz (its a separate SSID) the mac mini gets about 270Mbps down and 10Mbps - great speeds.

The router is a TP-Link Archer C7 version 4.0 that is in the same room about 15 feet away.

Its not the HDMI cable. I downloaded speedtest.net app and ran it blindly with only power and usb wired mouse connected. I put the cursor over the big GO button prior to unplugging HDMI cable and powering off monitor. Still terrible speeds.

Just to note, I am on Ziggo too (a Netherlands provider) and my previous posts describe the same issues. Solved for the moment by linking to a wi-fi extender with an Ethernet cable. Apple have tried to contact me twice to discuss it, but I am currently traveling so could not respond, but they are obviously aware of this issue.

I may have found a solution, at least now my Mac Mini M2 Pro will roam strictly follow my router's band steering. Turn off location service for WiFi and Network in Privacy settings, that way, the Mac will use the locale of the network instead of decides on it's own.

I’ve had my Mac Mini M2 256/16Gb 4 weeks and it was having wifi issues like everyone else from day one, not connecting to sites, stopping without warning. I even plugged it into the router today and it worked for about an hour. I think I did everything that everyone has spoken about. Took it to the Apple Store today, no wifi, total failure. The store contacted me 4 hrs later, logic board needs replacing, 7 day wait. Hopefully that will resolve the issues. Will wait and see. Not good.

Murphy's Law!!!

I have previously extensively reported on how I had the same problem of lisign wi-fi, tempo solved by using an ethernet cable to a wi-fi extender.

Following a contact from a very charming Apple support person a dn gping through diagnostics with him, I unplugged the ethernet cable and everything was working fine - and high speed internet has been maintained for several days now.

So there are differences between when it was not working and now whne it is:

First, I have two identical HP27 monitors attached that were originally connected with 1) an HDMI-HDMI cable to the HDMI port, and the second with an HDMI cable plugged into a Thunderbolt port via an Apple USB-C dongle (the one that goes from Thunderbolt to HDMI, USB-2 and USB-C ports). I replaced both of these with new 1m Silkland USB C to HDMI 4k cables purchased from Amazon (described as [2021 Updated, Optimal Chip] USB C to HDMI Cable (Thunderbolt 3 compatible) for MacBook Pro/Air), both now plugged into Thuderbolt ports.

Second, I did the Apple Security update so I am running Venture 13.3.1 (a)

Now I do not know which, if either, of these changes has made the difference, but I am not suffering from the wi-fi drop-outs any more.