Earlier it used to be possible to force macOS Wi-Fi connection via some commands in the terminal: Force connect to WiFi channel - Apple Community using:
sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport --channel=?channelNumber?
This doesn't seem to work anymore. How can it be done nowadays?
I'm on a Macbook Pro M1 Max, running macOS Ventura
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.1
It could be a workaround on the router side if you separate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channel in the router settings with different SSIDs like "HomeAP 2.4GHz" and "HomeAP 5GHz". After that you can disable the auto connection (in Mac's Wi-Fi settings) to the 2.4 GHz interface, and connect automatically only to 5 GHz.
It could be a workaround on the router side if you separate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channel in the router settings with different SSIDs like "HomeAP 2.4GHz" and "HomeAP 5GHz". After that you can disable the auto connection (in Mac's Wi-Fi settings) to the 2.4 GHz interface, and connect automatically only to 5 GHz.
Then Speak to the Company IT Department to have the Extender in you area to be changed to Broadcast in the 5 gHZ Band
Thanks for your advice. I have no access to the router's configuration, it's a business network. The 2.4 GHz is coming from a (slow) Wi-Fi extender. I want to make a direct connection to the router, which is broadcasting 5 GHz on a different channel. My macbook keeps choosing the 2.4 GHz after some time because the signal is better. Any idea how to do this:
sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport --channel=?channelNumber?
in newer macOS versions?
Oh, I see, that's frustrating when you can't access the router. How did you execute the command you wrote above? What was the output?
If I understand correctly you run first the scan method:
"sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport /usr/sbin/airport -s"
And then you choose the channel which the desired network use and you prefer, but you have to write only the channel number after the next command, like:
"sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport --channel=36"
Similar question regard Force Connection to 5 Ghz Network except in a Private Network Setup Not Managed Company Network setup like yours
Link below
How to reorder preferred wifi networks in… - Apple Community
Hi Yaki,
Thaks for the response.
I executed the command in terminal. There was no output actually.
"sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport /usr/sbin/airport -s"
This works, it gives you a list of the available networks + channels etc.
sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport --channel=36
From what I read on various fora this is not working any longer since maxOS 11+.
Similar topic here.
Thanks P. Phillips.
The network names are the same, it's the same network. I want to force my mac to access a particular access point.
This is the following command output: (among other networks)
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport -s
MIWIFI_2AEF -82 104 Y -- RSN(PSK/AES/AES)
MIWIFI_2AEF -62 1 Y -- RSN(PSK/AES/AES)
The latter two are the network access points. Channel 104 is a 5 5Ghz, channel 1 is a 2.4 Ghz. I want to force my MB to join channel 104.
Unless the user has Direct Access to the Router ( which you say you do not ) - IMHO is will not be possible to Modify or Alter the Broadcast Signal
That or move the machine to a position where it has a Directly Line of Sight to the Router
Yes, 5 gHZ works best with that setup where as 2.4gHZ penetrates objects ( Partitions / Walls ) better
Thanks again for your reaction. I cannot move and or access the router(s) / access points. They're from the company. I do no want to modify the signal. I want macOS to choose a specific access point.
Yes, I know there are other possible solutions to the issue, that is not my question. My question is: is it still possible in the current macOS to choose a specific channel / access point of our liking or not?
As evidenced in this you question AND from the supplied link is an earlier posting in you question, it appears Not
Thank you very much for your time and effort P. Phillips. If anyone else knows of a way to reach this, I'd be happy to hear about it.
Have asked another Contributor to offer some additional insights.
Fingers 🤞 they arrive and can assist.
Thanks! 🤞
Forcing (5GHZ) Wi-Fi Channel or BSSID