No connection to wifi since updating to Tahoe 26.3.1 on M4 Mini Mac

Allister Gourlay wrote:

Since upgrading to Tahoe 26.3.1 my M4 mini Mac keeps dropping its wifi - I get up to 180Mpbs!

Our iPhones iPad all connect fine? Any idea what the problem may be with the new OS on a desktop Mac?

My M4 Air laptop which is still on OS Sequoia connects to wifi fine!

Anyone had this problem know of a fix?

You will want to look for something unique or non-standard that is installed that might be incompatible with Tahoe. Examples can include: VPN, network security apps, custom DNS configuration, "cleaning apps" (example: CleanMyMac), anti-virus or other non-Apple security extensions/software.

If nothing obvious is apparent to you, then suggest that you download Etrecheck and run it allowing full access, post its report here, following https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211 .

Keep in mind that scores of Macs are on 26.3.1 and doing fine (including mine). You haven't done anything wrong, there is probably just something installed and left over from some time in the past that is no longer compatible with Tahoe. It can be challenging to dig in and discern what the cause is, hence the Etrecheck suggestion.

I agree with Allan, those two VPNs are suspect.

Also, the latest version of DuckDuckGo is 1.179.0, yours appears to be much older and your other VPN was installed in 2024. You are better off without any VPNs but if you insist on using one (two is beyond the pale) you should make sure it is compatible with Tahoe. Even if "turned off," these programs have processes running in the background anyway. Best would be to completely uninstall them with the provider's uninstaller.

Many VPNs have a shady history. One of yours, Private Internet Access, Inc., is a personal VPN service that allows users to connect to multiple locations. In 2018, former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès was named chief technology officer of PIA's parent company, London Trust Media, despite his criminal conviction for defrauding MtGox and its users.

Why would you entrust your personal and valuable data to flow through servers of a company like that?

I see two VPNs. One is part of DuckDuckGo, and the other is this one:

    [Running] com.privateinternetaccess.vpn.daemon.plist (Private Internet Access, Inc. - installed 2024-12-20)

        Executable: /Applications/Private Internet Access.app/Contents/MacOS/pia-daemon

Based on scads of reports here, "client-side VPNs, the ones hyped in adverts everywhere, are badly impacting Mac performance and stability. This does not apply to VPNs issued an employer for remotely connecting to their systems.

Try to disconnect external usb storage devices if wifi is not available. I had the same issue in the past!

Allister Gourlay wrote:

Thanks for you help and advice.

I will delete my VPN and if need be find a compatible legit VPN if need be.

VPNs don't provide the privacy or security you think they do except for accessing an employer's network or perhaps your own network if you configured for VPN access.

You should review this article regarding VPNs:

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29