You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

gcrump Author

Level 1

14 points

WiFi Issues With MacBook Air

I am about two weeks in to my new Macbook Air and love it except for the wifi. I have had five or six other Mac laptops in the past five years including the original air. I can confirm that there are some wifi issues with the Macbook Air. Based on the messages posted here and my experience here is where I am. I think if it is a "N" network it seems to work fine. I have never had an issue with my Airport Extreme at my house or my Dad's Linksys at his house which is also an N. This also I think resolves the "is it an ISP" issue, since they are distinctly different ISP's and these both work perfectly.

My problems are on non-N's it seems. I travel a lot so I hit a lot of guest networks which are almost always "g". These networks I can generally find and attach to them but not get a consistent internet connection. With these networks I have found that turning the airport on/off and refreshing the IP address does not work. Again I can connect to the browser, in most cases get what appears to be a valid IP but not gain any internet access. I have found that a power down and reboot AFTER attaching to the network (but not getting the internet connection) will then give me a steady and consistent connection.

I need to do some more testing and I guess traveling to pin down some of these things but I wanted to share what I have found thus far, but I definitely think there is a problem with the wifi on the new MacBook Air's.

Thanks,

Macbook Pro and iMac 27" and iPad and iPhone and MacBook Air 2010, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 28, 2010 6:10 AM

948 replies

wifiguru

Level 2

240 points

Jul 19, 2013 6:32 PM in response to des325

Please do let folks here know how it goes.

des325

Level 1

9 points

Jul 19, 2013 8:22 PM in response to gcrump

Well, early days on the software update, but so far it has been running for 6-7 hours without a WiFi drop. The Apple tech called me shortly after I installed the update and he said that they tested it quite extensively before releasing it. I will post the progress, but as I said early, I remain optimistic.

Paapaa

Level 1

10 points

Jul 20, 2013 1:43 AM in response to gcrump

Everyone try this update:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1672

RCully

Level 1

36 points

Jul 20, 2013 8:22 AM in response to Paapaa

Thanks for the link but this page states that it is for mid 2013 MBAs. As mine is a late 2011 model, do you reckon it is safe to load the latest version?

WHen I check for updates, the system says there aren't any. I'm currently running the 'latest' which is 10.7.5

Cheers

mdiorio

Level 1

9 points

Jul 20, 2013 8:26 AM in response to RCully

It is not safe to install the update on your Late 2011. Apple updates are very specific to their hardware version. Hopefully it wouldn't even let you install it. Unfortunately for all of us that have a pre-2013 model with this issue, we're still left out in the cold by Apple.

des325

Level 1

9 points

Jul 20, 2013 8:40 AM in response to gcrump

I have used my laptop sporadically for about 20 hours now without a hiccup. So, although I am not assuming resolution just yet, it does seem to be holding. Yes, mine was just purchased in June/2013, so can't address the pre-2013 model issues.

I was amused by Apple's description in the patch of "rare occurrences" - yeah, right. That felt like a slap in the face. But they have shareholders to pay homage to. Also, I noticed that the patch is to resolve sound issues when playing videos. I had noticed that I had that issue too, but assumed it was the video, not my laptop. I will have to watch for that too.

still optimistic......

Jul 20, 2013 9:53 AM in response to gcrump

In the nearly 2 years of owning an imac with problematic wifi - Apple released similar software updates, some of which helped and others which did not. Overall - the problem returned multiple times and in the end I sold my imac as well as other Apple products (with the exclusion of my iphone). I now enjoy problem free connection using products which cost half the money I paid for Apple computers. Good luck to all of you.

Jul 20, 2013 3:38 PM in response to accordguy0325

It's hard to criticise you for doing that if the computers don't work for you, but the MBA is the best laptop I've ever had by a long way. I had some problems to solve this time but even with those problems I thought that for me it was worth persevering.

des325

Level 1

9 points

Jul 21, 2013 7:50 AM in response to accordguy0325

I bought my MBA last month when my relatively new Windows 8 laptop crashed and I got frustrated with it. One of my classmates asked if I paid as much for my windows laptop as I did my Mac. If I had, would I have ran into the problems I did with the windows laptop? He makes a good point - getting frustrated with a $500 Windows machine, so I go and buy a $1400 iOS machine - not really a fair comparison.

des325

Level 1

9 points

Jul 22, 2013 10:55 AM in response to gcrump

There you have it. I did not have a drop since the patch came out and was about to post on it. However, it not only then disconnected me, but I cannot reestablish any connection at all now. It attaches to the WIFI, but no internet (I am typing this from my Windows 8 machine sitting beside it).

wifiguru

Level 2

240 points

Jul 22, 2013 11:01 AM in response to des325

Can you ping your router ? Did rebooting the router help ? Just some troubleshooting tips..

des325

Level 1

9 points

Jul 22, 2013 11:04 AM in response to wifiguru

Completely powered down the laptop twice. It is a university campus, so rebooting the router is not an option.

Mikael_B

Level 1

20 points

Jul 22, 2013 12:45 PM in response to des325

Sorry to repeat myself, and for you and everbody else with this problem.

1400 $ and you tolerate that its not functioning?

Return it!

Buying a ultraportable, such a the MBA, and accepting that it will not connect outside your home netork....

I dont get it

JPecard

Level 1

0 points

Jul 22, 2013 1:45 PM in response to gcrump

I returned a defective mba (13", 4G, 256), and swapped it out for a new one. I downloaded the patch and things seem to be working well! I am running Wireless diagnostics and it has notified me that the signal has failed a couple of times (20, 40 min increments). It has re-connected automatically without me noticing while browsing (I only know it's dropped because of the diagnostics). Is this normal, or should it not disconnect at all? I travel a lot, so I have been testing on all different routers at coffee shops and at my office. I have like 10 days to return, it so I am wondering if a dropped wi-fi signal is normal if it just re-connects automatically?

Thanks!

Jul 22, 2013 1:57 PM in response to Mikael_B

Apple has a unique way of connecting with people on an affective (feelings) level and has built a loyal following. Several years ago I spent a good deal of money on Apple products after becoming frustrated with Windows - only to find my frustration became worse due to connection problems with an imac and later with an Air. I did everything I could think of and tried all the suggestions people gave to no avail. I found after research I was not alone with these problems and I for one voted with my feet. I cannot tollerate a product that does not function as designed. Despite this I still love what Apple stands for and wish I could support them - but know now I can no longer depend on them.

WiFi Issues With MacBook Air