Mac forgets home wifi network every time

I found this thread because I was experiencing the same problem. I tried the fix suggested by BDAqua (as well as suggested fixes from similar threads) and nothing worked for me, but I did figure it out on my own. When I went into the Advanced tab in the network preferences window, I noticed that though my home network was listed first in the preferred networks list, it for some reason showed that my network did not have a security setting even though it was WPA encrypted.

I created a new network by hitting the "+" button just below and on the left side of the list pane and gave it the same exact name as my existing home network. I then set it up properly with WPA encryption enabled and the appropriate password. When I saved it, the computer asked me if I wanted to replace the existing network of the same name and of course I did. Boom, problem solved. The MacBook remains connected at all times now.

Hope this helps those of you future readers that, like me, weren't being helped by any of the existing suggestions.

JAHelms method is perfect! worked for me Thanks 🙂

for anyone that needs a walkthrough...

system preferances>>>Network>>>unlock padlock>>>Advanced>>> use + to add a new network>>>type in the exact same network you always use>>>save (it says same already exists and do you want to replace it) say Yes>>>save>>>Apply done!

now it shouldbe working

Hi, this has worked for a few...

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

10.7 & 10.8…

System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x instructions...

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

For 10.5/10.6, System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

Click OK.

Also, turn off IPv6:

System Preferences » Network » AirPort » TCP/IP tab » Configure IPv6

Or whatever Interface you use.

I changed my router wireless security encryption setting and issue was solved, been a week and no connection drop, even after wake from sleep my iMac mid 2011 was able to instantly connect to WIFI. The encryption setting on my router are Automatic(Recommended), TKIP, AES. By default it sit on Automatic(Recommended), I changed to TKIP, rebooted the router and have never seen a drop for the past week. Hope this helps some of you out there~ Cheers~

JAHelms' fix didn't work for me either, but the following seems to have done the trick:

Network Preferences --- Advanced --- Click on the + --- Click 'Choose a Network' --- let it scan, and click on the network you want --- 'OK'/'Apply' everything.

It seemed to reset what my Mac was searching for all along.

So I was looking for an answer to this and kind of figured out a solution. I am using a work supplied computer that has been corpified, but we have multiple guest networks that I use for testing software since the corp network treats everything as hostile and does not allow me to do my job.

Select System Preferences > Network > Advanced

Select the WiFi tab (if not already selected)

Click and drag the network you want to use as default to the top of the list and [OK] out of everything.

I performed a couple of reboots and put the system asleep multiple times and I am still connecting to my preferred network.

Did you try this?

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

I just tried this and I'm hoping it works. My MacBook Air kept connecting to my 5GHz network over my 2GHz network, even though the 2GHz was at the top of the list. After reading your post, I looked at the security settings. The 5GHz had WPA2Personal whereas the 2GHz had WPA/WPA2Personal. I created a new 2GHz network with the same name and set the security to WPA2Personal. I'm hoping that makes the difference.

I also noticed a bunch of networks listed in my remembered networks list that I don't ever remember connecting to. So strange.

YES! Works for my Macbook Air!

My computer got very cold this past winter and I've been trying to get it back to its same self since. Lots of lil complications and that terrible Mailbox problem that was locking up my GB's! Oy!

OMG , Thank you JAhelms. I've had this problem for almost a year and I never took the time to try and fix it. I literally googled my issue and wam, your solution was easy and fixed my problem. Thanks!!!

Excellent, thanks for posting! Does this mean I'll need to do this for all networks I use frequently at work, cafés etc? What a ball-ache! Come on apple this is an old thread now, it's still not fixed, and IMO is a pretty fundamental problem!

Is the other Network the same generic SSOD/Name?

Not on 10.7 at the moment but in 10.4 in the Network>Airport prefpane>Options, you can have it not automatically join new Networks.

Thank you JAHelms! Your suggestion worked perfectly for me.