My M2 Mac mini running Sonoma 14.0 intermittently keeps loosing the wireless connection while on the internet. Before we go down any rabbit holes. My Intel MacBook Pro sitting on the same desktop has not lost the wireless connection, ever.
Is there a flaw in the M2 platform?
Mac mini (M2, 2023)
In Intel days lots of mini owners (including me) experienced connectivity problems due to the placement of the BT and WiFi antennas which are in the back near the power button. Third party hard drives and other devices aren’t always well shielded and electronic ‘noise’ could interfere with connectivity. This was often intermittent because if the hard drive wasn’t spinning, for example, the noise wasn’t enough to interfere. The easiest fix was often simply to move peripherals to the left side of the mini.
I don’t have an Apple Silicon mini so I’ve not tested this and can’t, but it should be a simple test to move peripherals to the other side (or further away) from the mini and see if that helps.
In Intel days lots of mini owners (including me) experienced connectivity problems due to the placement of the BT and WiFi antennas which are in the back near the power button. Third party hard drives and other devices aren’t always well shielded and electronic ‘noise’ could interfere with connectivity. This was often intermittent because if the hard drive wasn’t spinning, for example, the noise wasn’t enough to interfere. The easiest fix was often simply to move peripherals to the left side of the mini.
I don’t have an Apple Silicon mini so I’ve not tested this and can’t, but it should be a simple test to move peripherals to the other side (or further away) from the mini and see if that helps.
Fountainhead43 wrote:
Is there a flaw in the M2 platform?
Perhaps, the wireless antenna plate is on the bottom just inside of the cover plate.
In some setups, this can greatly affect wireless reception compared to iMac's and MacBooks.
Another factor is the use and location of poorly shielded high speed USB cables, drives and other devices.
For some good tips, see > Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference - Apple Support
When I first got my mini I wound up turning everything off but the mini and display, reverted to my old wired keyboard and mouse and then slowly began turning things back on and using the computer for a while. That’s how I finally identified a USB cable and an external drive enclosure as the culprits. You may need to do the same, moving alone may not do it until you know which device(s) are the culprits. (If any)
Thank you for your suggestion. I have moved both computers to different sides of the desk. The wireless router is less than 2' above both devices... no other electronics are within 10-12' of both computers. The constant is that the M2 Mac drops while the Intel Mac does not.
What’s connected to the USB/Thunderbolt ports? What make/model display?
Separately, it’s true that Intel platforms are superior to the Apple Ms when it comes to WiFi. I get stable 1300 Mbps on my 2018 mini placed flat on my desk in a room adjacent to the router. Not a hiccup for 5 years almost to the day 😁
Thank you for your reply. I replaced my Intel MacMini with the M2 MacMini. All hardware and connections are the exact same, only keyboard and monitor. It is a LG monitor, but the exact same one that was connected to the Intel MacMini that never had this problem.
Thank you. My Intel Mac Mini did not have this issue positioned in same area/configuration. Did Apple change the design to facilitate these events?
Thank you for your reply. I only have my monitor and wired keyboard/mouse connected. Both exact items were utilized on previous Intel MacMini with no problems.
M2 Mac Mini keeps losing connection
