How can I resolve WiFi speed issues on my 2024 MacBook Air?

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Level 1

6 points

How can I resolve WiFi speed issues on my 2024 MacBook Air?

I have a new MBA M3 from 2024; the wifi has serious issues constantly. Sometimes turning off/on wifi will fix the problem temporarily, it always comes back and definitely happens if the computer is idle for a bit (screen saver comes on, Mac locks, etc.). My speeds are awful (in the kbps range) even though it's next to an access point. Other computers/phones/iPads in the same spot register great speeds. It's not a wifi / network problem, it's a MacBook Air m3 problem. Using terminal to ping 1.1.1.1, below is what I receive.

I've read turning off wifi 6e has helped some people, but I don't have that option. I've also read some suggest having different network names for 2.4, 5.0, etc.. That is not a workable solution.

Do others have this problem and if so, have you found a solution?

thank you

PING 1.1.1.1 (1.1.1.1): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=58 time=17.651 ms
Request timeout for icmp_seq 1
Request timeout for icmp_seq 2
Request timeout for icmp_seq 3
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=58 time=758.494 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=58 time=1763.655 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=5 ttl=58 time=361.593 ms
Request timeout for icmp_seq 7
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=8 ttl=58 time=504.709 ms
Request timeout for icmp_seq 9
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=10 ttl=58 time=543.653 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=9 ttl=58 time=1547.600 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=11 ttl=58 time=281.586 ms
ping: sendto: No route to host
ping: sendto: No route to host
Request timeout for icmp_seq 13
ping: sendto: No route to host
Request timeout for icmp_seq 14
ping: sendto: No route to host
Request timeout for icmp_seq 15
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=12 ttl=58 time=4475.118 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=17 ttl=58 time=14.728 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=18 ttl=58 time=30.805 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=19 ttl=58 time=46.418 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=20 ttl=58 time=86.519 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=21 ttl=58 time=94.465 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=22 ttl=58 time=12.858 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=23 ttl=58 time=17.632 ms
ç64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=24 ttl=58 time=44.653 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=25 ttl=58 time=30.814 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=26 ttl=58 time=14.791 ms
64 bytes from 1.1.1.1: icmp_seq=27 ttl=58 time=28.662 ms
^C
--- 1.1.1.1 ping statistics ---
28 packets transmitted, 20 packets received, 28.6% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 12.858/533.820/4475.118/1029.395 ms
user@MacBook-Air ~ % ping 1.1.1.1

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Jan 4, 2025 9:23 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 6, 2025 1:31 PM in response to slomanz

I seem to recall I migrated settings to my new MacBook Air, including network settings.

I think I had to delete my old network settings that were migrated over and setup a new network setting.

It is similar to the issue with printer drivers when they are migrated over, they don't work.

Also be sure a DNS IP address is identified in the network settings- usually your router IP address but can be external.

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Answer 2

slomanz Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 6, 2025 9:25 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks all for the responses thus far. To answer some of the questions:

nothing else was connected to the computer, was plugged into and without power; I've also tested with it plugged into a usb-c hub - same issues either way.
the whole network is Ubquiti / Unifi based; i have 5 access points around the house and tried this in multiple rooms including one that the AP is on the ceiling over where the laptop was.
I’ve restarted the entire network, power cycled the dream machine pro and all access points
Using DHCP, renewed leases, even locked the MBA to the AP above my head
I have not tried connecting on other networks, only the one in my house
I used the terminal / ping command to see the packet loss but it’s noticeable when trying to navigate a variety of websites - google, yahoo, etc. the text takes forever to load, pictures on webpages many times don’t load, etc. then i do a Speedtest (fast.com, Speedtest.net, etc.) and they all show the same thing - terrible latency, very slow speeds, etc.

Open to other ideas if anyone has them?

I will try to find another network and see if I have the same issues.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

158,562 points

Jan 6, 2025 1:17 PM in response to slomanz

Ok, thanks for the updates. I'm very familiar with Ubiquiti for both their UniFi and EdgeRouter systems. My current home setup is also UniFi-based on the UCG-Ultra with U6 PRO APs. These replaced my aging Apple-based network ecosystem.

As such, the UniFi Network app should provide you with Wi-Fi health information that could be helpful, including how well your Mac is connecting to any of the APs.

To do so, simply select the Client Devices tab, then select your MBA. Then on the Overview tab, you can see the overall WiFi Experience for your Mac. You can also test for latency and/or choose the Having Issues? option. You can also review your Mac's current Wi-Fi connection "quality" via the macOS Wi-Fi icon. Just hold down the Option key before selecting the icon. The resultant pop-down menu will include a number of valuable bits of information. The most important for troubleshooting are: RSSI, Noise, Tx Rate, PHY Mode, MCS Index, and NSS.

FWIW ... In my case I have multiple VLANs to isolate IoT, Game Platform, & Media devices from my general network. We recently got Fiber in our area, and all of my network clients (including an assortment of Mac) are getting stellar Wi-Fi Internet access. I also have employed a number of Pi-holes to help manage DNS requests to request undesired DNS traffic on my VLANs. This helped reduce overall traffic by up to 30%.

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Answer 4

Jan 5, 2025 11:28 AM in response to slomanz

There are better apps to test your speeds than just using the Ping command to cloud fare DNS server.

Who knows how long it is going to react?

There is a free version of internet speed test app to get Megabytes per second upload and downloads between your computer, ISP, and a server.

If you want better visibility to all the hops/servers, you can use the Pingdoctor app but you will need to pay for it after a while. It is a great app to show your ISP how poor they are doing.

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Answer 5

Jan 5, 2025 10:48 AM in response to slomanz

Hello, slomanz.

I own the MacBook Air M1 (2020). I just bought this unit, and already experiencing issues with Wi-Fi and the touch ID button. But, going back to the Wi-Fi concern you're facing, it looks like it disconnects every here and there as you mentioned. Do you have anything plugged into the USB-C ports? My unit's Wi-Fi starts acting up if I connect a USB-C Hub. Try disconnecting anything connected to your laptop (if you have any) and run the test again. If you don't have anything hooked up, then maybe others from the community can share their experiences.

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Answer 6

Jan 5, 2025 11:12 AM in response to slomanz

Do you know what WIFI routers you are trying to connect to? Public? Private? What brands Models?

I have a MBA M2 and do not have speed issues with WIFI.

When I travel, I pack a travel router I can connect to and between the hotel wifi/ethernet and my computer.

Public WIFI is a different issue but I don't seem to have problems connecting to it - airports - and use a VPN.

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Answer 7

Jan 5, 2025 11:38 AM in response to slomanz

Systems Settings > Network > Wifi connection name :

Have you tried Renewing the DHCP lease?

Have you tried fully shutting off WIFI and turned it back on?

What is your Configure IPV4 setting? Using DHCP?

What is your Configure IPV6 setting? Automatically?

Under DNS settings, do you have your router IP address set or are you using cloud fare or some other DNS server?

Is the wifi router you want to connect to in the Known Network?

Try forgetting it and then reconnecting to it.

I recall some initial trouble with WIFI when I first got my laptop a year ago but going through the network settings I was able to figure it out. I just don't recall exactly what it was I did but it made sense at the time. The mac was new to my environment and did not know the wifi routers I wanted to use.

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Answer 8

Tesserax

Level 10

158,562 points

Jan 5, 2025 12:13 PM in response to slomanz

Does this issue occur no matter what Wi-Fi network your Mac connects to, or just to one specific network?

If the latter, what is the make & model of your wireless router? Do you have administrator access to it? The more you can tell us about this network, the more we will be able to help you troubleshoot this issue.

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How can I resolve WiFi speed issues on my 2024 MacBook Air?

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