wifi on macbook for 5 GHz frequency

AndriiTrz wrote:

Hi all.

After upgrading my MacOs to version 15.6.1 wifi on my laptop started dropping on 5 GHz frequency. Using 2,4 GHz is ok, no problems. I'm using Macbook M3 Pro. Might it be software issue related to the latest upgrade?

I don't think your issue is related to an inherent issue with 15.6.1. The reason I say this is that we have a few thousand Macs (most are laptops) where I work and nearly all are on the 5 GHz WiFi there. We get close to 1 Gbps there (at home I get only half that speed, but still on 5 GHz WiFi.

Why might this have happened on your Mac? Each new MacOS update contains improvements to better optimize performance. It may have determined that your 2 GHz signal is stronger and can provide higher speed than your 5 GHz, due to obstructions or other environmental factors. 2 GHz is more resilient in that sense. Perhaps when the two frequencies are marginally close in performance, the new MacOS can better optimize and hence it might choose 2 GHz when older MacOS picked 5 GHz.

If you move your Mac right next to your router, does it pick 5 GHz? Have you restarted your router and then your Mac?

An app you can download is called WIFi Explorer and it provides signal strength measurements of all networks detected by your Mac. This may provide some insights. Owl-53 has a great suggestion, can you follow their instructions and report back on your WiFi characteristics in that diagnostic?

You might consider downloading Etrecheck and posting its report here.

How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

This will help readers diagnose something installed that might not be compatible with 15.6.1.

AndriiTrz wrote:

Yes, you're right. When I'm close to wi-fi router 5 GHz network works fine. Issues start when I'm in another room with closed door, so when there are some obstructions.

Coverage from 5 GHz and 6 GHz are expressly designed to drop off quickly with walls and other intervening structures.

Sometimes increasing power if deliberately running lower power, sometimes failing Wi-Fi gear too, but the usual is better coverage with gear using mesh or more access points.

Wi-Fi using 5 and 6 GHz are working fine in the configurations I’m dealing with, with 18.6.2, and a mix of other gear and other versions.

A third-party tool such as WiFi Explorer for a macOS laptop can be very helpful for mapping coverage, and there are some (free) simple reporting shortcuts available for iOS and iPadOS.

"wifi on macbook for 5 GHz frequency: Hi all. After upgrading my MacOs to version 15.6.1 wifi on my laptop started dropping on 5 GHz frequency. Using 2,4 GHz is ok, no problems. I'm using Macbook M3 Pro. Might it be software issue related to the latest upgrade? Thanks in advance"

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Troubleshooting WiFi Issues After Updates:

A. Restore from a Backup:

Did you create a backup of your Mac prior to this update? Is so, then restore from the backup. If not, then take this as a learning experience, knowing to always backup your Mac, prior making any major changes to your Mac (i.e. updating the MacOS).

B. Try Safe Mode:

In Safe Mode, login items do not run, and corrupt system files(i.e. caches) are intentionally reset as a way to fix issues.

1. Boot: in to Safe Mode
2. Log in: as same user
3. Wait: 30 seconds
4. Restart; your Mac
5. Log in: as same user
6. Open: [the app]
7. See fi the issue persists.

C. Single-Out this User:

For troubleshooting purposes, create and log into a Administrator user, seeing if you do not get this occur while in it. If so, then it is an issue with the configuration of the current user. If not, then it is an issue with the entire Mac, in which case you should reinstall the macOS. See below...

D. Reinstall the macOS:

Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be replaced or reinstalled back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support. Important: Be certain to create a backup of your Mac prior to performing the reinstall. That way, you can have something to restore from the Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Once reinstalled, try this once more, seeing if you still get this error.

Since no one else is reporting a similar problem I doubt it is a bug related to the latest update. I am not having any WiFi issues with macOS 15.6.1

1. Try restarting your MacBook
2. Try restarting your MacBook in Safe Mode

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

I would second @ Ikrupp on this 👍

No issues on 1 M2 Mac Mini, 1 M4 Mac Mini and not on 1 M4 15" Laptop

All machines running the current Sequoia 15.6 1 since day of release Aug 20, 2025

Still getting the full through- put over 6E wifi to a Fibre Optic Router

Option and click the Wifi icon on the Desktop

Post back a Screen Shot , as a reply, by using the 2nd to last icon that looks like a TV Screen

Sorry to add

But using the 5 GHz frequency or the 6 GHz frequency usually need the computer to be located in a " Direct Line of Sight ) to the Access Point / Router

Also without any obstruction between the two

When the connection falls back to the 2.4 Ghz frequency

That frequency penetrates walls, bookcases and even Second folks on the dwelling much better that the other 2 mentioned earlier

I have same problem om my macbook pro M1 Pro, cannot detect 5Ghz wifi

"I have same problem om my macbook pro M1 Pro, cannot detect 5Ghz wifi"

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Try what I've mentioned. It may be a bug from an unsuccessful update install.