User profile for user: jjjefff
jjjefff Author
User level: Level 1
22 points

Why does my Mac not connect to wifi that my other devices easily connect to?

Why does my M1 Macbook Air have so much trouble connecting to wifi networks that my Android, iPhone, and Windows computers have no trouble connecting to?


This usually happens with public wifi networks. Usually unsecured, sometimes secured by password. This rarely happens with home/office networks.


When I connect to the network, my Mac shows 3 full bars. The captive screen might show up, then I click accept, then there is no internet. Or the captive screen might not show at all.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.0

Posted on Jul 11, 2026 2:00 AM

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User profile for user: alarictheking
alarictheking
User level: Level 1
18 points

Posted on Jul 11, 2026 2:27 AM

This is a known quirk with how macOS handles captive portal (login-page) detection on public wifi. A few things worth trying:


  1. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) next to the network > turn off "Private Wi-Fi Address" for that specific network. Randomized MAC addresses can confuse some captive portal systems into not recognizing your device after you log in.
  2. If the captive portal doesn't pop up automatically, open Safari (not Chrome) and go to http://captive.apple.com — this often forces the login page to appear.
  3. Try "Forget This Network" and rejoining fresh, since a cached bad DHCP lease can cause the "connected but no internet" state.
  4. If it keeps happening, toggle Wi-Fi off/on or run System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset Network Settings as a last resort.

Since this is mostly public networks, it's likely the captive portal/DHCP combo rather than a hardware issue.

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User profile for user: alarictheking
alarictheking
User level: Level 1
18 points

Jul 11, 2026 2:27 AM in response to jjjefff

This is a known quirk with how macOS handles captive portal (login-page) detection on public wifi. A few things worth trying:


  1. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) next to the network > turn off "Private Wi-Fi Address" for that specific network. Randomized MAC addresses can confuse some captive portal systems into not recognizing your device after you log in.
  2. If the captive portal doesn't pop up automatically, open Safari (not Chrome) and go to http://captive.apple.com — this often forces the login page to appear.
  3. Try "Forget This Network" and rejoining fresh, since a cached bad DHCP lease can cause the "connected but no internet" state.
  4. If it keeps happening, toggle Wi-Fi off/on or run System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset Network Settings as a last resort.

Since this is mostly public networks, it's likely the captive portal/DHCP combo rather than a hardware issue.

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User profile for user: leroydouglas
leroydouglas
User level: Level 10
204,658 points

Jul 12, 2026 3:12 PM in response to jjjefff

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.0

jjjefff — please note seems more Ai spittle... for the iPhone only—



you are asking about macOS Sequoia use your "search" feature in >System Settings for TCP/IP


and refresh the DHCP lease and compare your results.




The current stable release of Sequoia including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 15.7.7

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support


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Why does my Mac not connect to wifi that my other devices easily connect to?

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