Macbook 16inch M2 Pro does not show 6Ghz networks

Hi RicoAppleM,

We appreciate you sharing these details with us. Is your MacBook able to connect to any 6Ghz network?

You can also run a wireless diagnostic test to help analyze your wireless network as outlined here: Use Wireless Diagnostics on your Mac - Apple Support

1. "On your Mac, quit all open apps.
2. Try to join the Wi-Fi network you’re having problems with (if you’re not already connected).
3. Press and hold the Option key, click the Wi-Fi status icon  in the menu bar, then choose Open Wireless Diagnostics.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to analyze your network connection.
5. After the analysis is complete, click the Info buttons  in the Summary pane to learn more about each item in the list."

If you're not able to connect to any 6Ghz network with your Mac, you may consider reaching out to Apple directly to investigate this further with you. You can find their contact information here: Contact Apple Support 

Take care!

Hello RicoAppleM,

While 6e is available on some newer Apple models, you want to be sure your network is set up for it per the recommendations at Use Wi-Fi 6E networks with Apple devices - Apple Support

For best performance with Apple devices, the Wi-Fi router providing the network should use a single network name across all of its wireless bands: the 2.4GHz band, the 5GHz band, and the Wi-Fi 6E network’s 6GHz band.

If the router isn’t using the same name for all bands, your device identifies the network as having limited compatibility. It then finds the name of the corresponding 5GHz network and asks whether you want to join it for better compatibility. 

Cheers!

I'm having problems with my 14" M2 Pro MacBook not finding 6GHz networks, may be related..:

• When using "airport -s" or WiFi Explorer 3 Pro I can confirm that the 6GHz network is in range and has the highest signal strength

5GHz AP: Channel 36, RSSI -44

6GHz AP: Channel 69 (nice), RSSI -34

Currently connected to: Channel 36

• However, my MacBook only connects to the 5GHz network. Even if I switch off WiFi and turn it on again, even if I "forget" this network and add it again.
• In Wireless Network settings the "WiFi 6e Mode" toggle appears, which does seemingly not happen in non-6e-networks -> so it does detect "something".

I have used all router settings that Apple recommends (same SSID, etc. ) - and yet I just cannot get it to connect. Even when literally next to the AP. Shouldn't it choose the channel with the highest signal strength?

The 6GHz AP does not show up in System Information, but it is found by "airport -s".

• "airport -s" does not categorise the 6GHz network as "HT" (high throughput), which is correct as it is a VHT network (very high throughput). But due to so many reports on compatibility I can't help but wonder...

..does macOS Ventura prefer 5GHz as it thinks it's the "fastest" network?

I'm very frustrated that I can't "manually" connect to a specific channel, any kind of "airport" command / settings are completely ignored.

The built-in diagnostic tools tell me to "fix some settings", specifically to change the service order of the known WiFi-networks - but this functionality has been removed (why?).

Somehow, on this brand new MBP things do not "just work", and there are quite a few inconsistencies related to networking. Honestly a bit disappointed at this point.

Hi RicoAppleM,

We're glad to hear that you've found how to resolve that issue. Thank you for sharing what to do with the community, as this may help someone in the future.

All the best!

It is Jan 2024 so why am I having same issue if the firmware update fixed this issue [of not seeing 6ghz devices]? Nothing is connected to my 6g network. Why?

With Wi-Fi 6E, you must use a WPA3 password with the SSID and be advertising it via a combo 2.4/5/6Ghz SSID. That is what I had to do to get my M2 Mac mini Pro (Sonoma 14.2.1/14/3) to connect to my Netgear MR6550 Nighthawk M6 Pro hotspot using a 2.4/6 GHz solution.