M2 Pro Mac mini shows Wi-Fi connected but has no internet

Question

Level 1

21 points

M2 Pro Mac mini shows Wi-Fi connected but has no internet

A problem with a M2Pro Mini on Tahoe 26.5.2. This won't connect to the internet despite it indicating Wifi is connected; but it won't get mail or allow internet searches. It does however connect correctly if fed with an Ethernet feed from the router.

Background is I also have a Mini M4Pro which works fine within the same setup (A single router in one room feeding both Minis). Have swapped their physical positions over, the wifi signal strength is OK at both positions. I've also made sure the connection priority is Wifi before Ethernet. I've also tried it in another house and the problem exists there too.

Does this sound like a hardware failure on the M2P, or have I forgotten something obvious in the settings? Or something else?

Thankyou, Chris

Mac mini, macOS 26.5

Posted on Jul 25, 2026 3:09 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Owl-53

Level 10

110,569 points

Jul 27, 2026 4:41 AM in response to ccrm

This sounds less like a router problem and more like an issue specific to the M2 Pro Mac mini.

The main clues are that the M2 Pro shows connected Wi-Fi, receives a normal 192.168.x.x address, and works through Ethernet, while the M4 Pro works correctly on the same router and the problem follows the M2 Pro to another house.

That makes a router fault or a general macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 issue less likely.

Before assuming hardware failure, I would check whether the Mac is actually receiving a valid internet route.

While connected only by Wi-Fi, open Terminal and run: route -n get default

A working result should show the router as the gateway and the Wi-Fi interface as the connection.

You can also test: ping 8.8.8.8

and then: ping google.com

If 8.8.8.8 works but google.com does not, the issue is probably DNS. If neither works, it is more likely a routing or network configuration problem.

I would also try forgetting the Wi-Fi network, restarting the Mac, and joining it again. Apple has a useful Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide here:

If your Mac does not connect to Wi-Fi

Another thing worth testing is IPv6.

In System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Details > TCP/IP, temporarily set Configure IPv6 to Link-local only and test again.

Some router and macOS combinations can have IPv6 negotiation problems that leave Wi-Fi connected but without working internet.

A Wi-Fi hardware fault is possible, but the fact that the Mac associates with the router and gets an IP address suggests the Wi-Fi hardware is at least partly functioning.

A failed Wi-Fi module more commonly causes weak signal, dropped connections, or inability to see networks.

The most useful comparison would be the Wi-Fi details from the working M4 Pro and the failing M2 Pro while connected to the same router.

Compare the IP address, router address, DNS servers, and IPv6 information. The output of route -n get default from the M2 Pro may reveal whether the Mac is missing its internet route.

Reply

Answer 2

ccrm Author

Level 1

21 points

Jul 27, 2026 8:59 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thankyou Luis and Owl53. It's a long time since I learned programming on EDSAC2 so I'm reading up about Terminal before using it, but the other things you suggested gave the following results :

-I've 'forgotten' the wifi network and re-established it - but no change in the M2P's operation.

the Wifi details on the working M4P and the non-working M2P have different IP addresses.
router address is the same on both, so is DNS server 192.168.0.1
wifi>details>DNS showed black 192.168.0.1 DNS server on the faultyM2P, but two grey encrypted server addresses on the workingM4P. I've zapped the black DNS on M2P and this has straightaway been replaced by the same two grey server addresses being used on M4P
Bingo! I pulled out the Ethernet connection and the M2P Wifi connection now works with internet.

Presumably the computer saves its wifi settings, so I presume there should now be no problem when using it with another router elsewhere.

So Thankyou again to all as the problem is solved, ChrisM

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 27, 2026 6:33 AM in response to ccrm

Like Owl-53, I am thinking this looks like a DNS problem.

Do please try the two ping tests he suggested. If the first succeeds but the second fails, it is DNS for sure.

Go to System Settings->Wifi, then click Details...

and select DNS. What do you see there?

if you see the address of your router in grey, then it is correct.

If you see an address in black (or white if using Dark Mode), then it is a custom DNS server, and it is perhaps incorrect. 8.8.8.8 is ok (Google's DNS server), but if the address was typed incorrectly you will end up in the current situation. Just select it and click "-" to remove. See how things go from there.

Reply

Answer 4

Jul 26, 2026 4:37 AM in response to ccrm

Now, you state that the Mac is connecting to the WiFi but you cannot connect to the internet. Is the IP address consistent with all other devices that are connected via WiFi and have internet access? It should be something like 192.x.x.x or 10.x.x.x. If it is not you actually do not have an network connection.

If you have a proper IP address, the issue is not hardware and is somewhere in settings in either in the router or the Mac or there is an issue in the OS.

And just to make sure, does the router show that your device is connected? You could be connecting to some other nearby guest network.

Also, if the Mac is connected to the WiFi network, do you see your other devices on the network?

It terminal, enter the following command: arp -a

It should list all the devices that are on your connected network with their IP address. Again, if this works, then the issue is not likely hardware. However, if this does not work, it doesn't eliminate hardware if some basic OS network issue is present.

Also, have you tried reseting your router? I have had occasions with some routers if a device has been disconnected from WiFi, it may reconnect again but some connection permission data in the router messes up and a router reset fixes it.

Reply

Answer 5

TheLittles

Level 10

207,729 points

Jul 25, 2026 4:37 PM in response to ccrm

"M2 Pro Mac mini shows Wi-Fi connected but has no internet: A problem with a M2Pro Mini on Tahoe 26.5.2. This won't connect to the internet despite it indicating Wifi is connected; but it won't get mail or allow internet searches.[...]"

-------

It might be a hardware error. There's lots you can do to troubleshoot this, including reinstalling the macOS. First things first...

Are you using a VPN? If so, delete it.

Add the Network Back:

Find your WiFi password in the Passwords app. Then, add the network back...

Go to: System Settings
Click: Wi-Fi
Click: Details...
Click: Forget This Network
Click: Remove

Reply

Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

96,346 points

Jul 25, 2026 4:58 PM in response to ccrm

Work thru the steps at > If your Mac isn't connecting to the internet over Wi-Fi - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 7

ccrm Author

Level 1

21 points

Jul 26, 2026 4:02 AM in response to TheLittles

Thanks very much to TheLittles and den.thed. But we're not there yet. The network itself doesn't appear to be the problem - It's a new Router yesterday supplied by the ISP , and its wifi is working properly with this M4P Mini and an iPad in this room. Only the M2P Mini is affected.

More Background :

No VPN here, I have deleted the Network connection then re-established it, and it still shows Wifi as connected though it is not connecting to the internet. M2P was updated about 2 weeks ago to Tahoe 26.5.2, no problems with Date and Time or other visible faults on the Mini. No outside security issues that I know about (and why would this other Mini be working OK if there were?). I have run through the list in > If your Mac isn't connecting to the internet over Wi-Fi - Apple Support and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do there.

Four weeks ago I last used the M2P via wifi here in House1. I took the M2P to House2 and couldn't get Wifi to work from the Router there; I had to use an ethernet connection. Bringing the M2P back to House1 yesterday it wouldn't connect to wifi either, but it does connect to internet via ethernet from yesterday's new router.

This brings me back to thinking it's a hardware issue.in the M2P.

So is there any other suggestion, other than re-installing the macOS?

Reply

Answer 8

ccrm Author

Level 1

21 points

Jul 26, 2026 10:44 AM in response to woodmeister50

Woodmeister, Thanks, but I'm still stuck.

Yes, the M2P has a 192etc internet address and so does the other M4P. No, there's no other internet address showing locally to connect to. So I'm sure I'm not on a guest router by mistake. I'm also sure my other 2 working-wifi devices are connected to the new router's address also.

A router reset seems inappropriate as it is a brand new router that the two other devices successfully connected to on first use yesterday, but not the M2P.

The M2P shows it is connected to wifi, but that is not to the internet, and the M2P will connect to the new router direct via ethernet only if the apparent wifi connection is switched off first.

The fault appeared at House2 some 4 weeks ago on OS 26.5.1, which was successfully upgraded to 26.5.2 about 2 weeks ago with the fault remaining. If it's an OS problem surely the other M4P on the same OS would not work now either.

I can see the M4P's own connection is to the new router , but I haven't checked your Terminal suggestion.

Reply

Answer 9

Owl-53

Level 10

110,569 points

Jul 27, 2026 9:20 AM in response to ccrm

Thank you for the additional information

Hopefully, no further issues present

Reply