Mac OSX 10.7.5 will not connect to WPA/WPA2 Wifi

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Mac OSX 10.7.5 will not connect to WPA/WPA2 Wifi

Mac OSX 10.7.5 will not connect to a WPA2 wireless router. I've tried numerous techniques for clearing preferred networks, the PSK in the Keychain, wireless settings, but the problem persists:

Wifi menu at top right -> Name of the network I'm trying to connect to -> "Could not join... A connection timeout occurred." - I am not prompted for a password which is very strange since I believe I've removed the password from my system.

Wifi menu at top right -> Join other network -> Enter name of network, WPA2, and PSK -> "No network found."

Disabling encryption on the router results in the Macbook being able to connect (but is obviously not an option)
I have tried several other devices, all of which are able to connect to the router without any issues. The Macbook was previously able to connect to the router but started having connection issues a while ago.

I don't know how to find more diagnostic information (if it's even available) or properly reset the configuration so that the Macbook can connect.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 23, 2013 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 23, 2013 9:09 PM in response to Osborn A

Take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried, until the problem is resolved.

Step 1

Restart the router. Many problems are solved that way.

Step 2

Change the name of the wireless network, if applicable, to eliminate any characters other than letters and digits. You do that on your router via its web page, if it's not an Apple device, or via AirPort Utility, if it is an Apple device.

Step 3

Run the Network Diagnostics assistant.

Step 4

Back up all data.

Launch the Keychain Access application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Keychain Access in the icon grid.

Enter the name of your wireless network in the search box. You should have one or more "AirPort network password" items with that name. Make a note of the name and password, then delete all the items. Quit Keychain Access. Turn Wi-Fi off and then back on. Reconnect to the network.

Step 5

You may need to change other settings on the router. See the guidelines linked below:

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

Potential sources of interference

Step 6

Make a note of all your settings for Wi-Fi in the Network preference pane, then delete the connection from the connection list and recreate it with the same settings. You do this by clicking the plus-sign icon below the connection list, and selecting Wi-Fi as the interface in the sheet that opens. Select Join other network from the Network Name menu, then select your network. Enter the password when prompted and save it in the keychain.

Step 7

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).

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Answer 2

Osborn A Author

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May 23, 2013 6:51 PM in response to Linc Davis

I changed the router to use only WPA2-PSK (which caused Encryption Technique to be AES.) No change- still can't connect. I've also tried WPA-PSK (encryption technique TKIP) which produced the same results.

Thanks,
Osborn

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 23, 2013 4:27 PM in response to Osborn A

In the router's advanced settings, you may find options for the following parameters:

Encryption algorithm

Group key interval

What are they?

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Answer 4

Osborn A Author

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May 23, 2013 5:51 PM in response to Linc Davis

In the router settings, I see "Encryption Technique > TKIP+AES" The router is setup to use "WPA-PSK+WPA2-PSK".

My router doesn't seem to have any setting for "Group key interval",

Thanks

Osborn

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 23, 2013 6:06 PM in response to Osborn A

Encryption Technique > TKIP+AES

Try changing that to AES, if possible.

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Answer 6

Osborn A Author

Level 1

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May 24, 2013 7:47 PM in response to Linc Davis

Ok...

Restarting the router did nothing.
Changing the name of the network to not include a space did nothing. (although after doing that Mac OSX did prompt me for the PSK when trying to join the network.)
Already cleared the PSK from the Keychain
Deleting Wifi from the Connections list did nothing.
Resetting the SMC did nothing (maybe?)
Network Diagnostics wouldn't run on the Wifi connection.

So I tried changing various settings in the router to match what Apple recommended.
I tried changing bandwidth to 20Mhz only, no change.
I changed the router from 802.11b/g/n mode to 802.11n only mode -> suddenly it all works.

But: I then changed the router settings back to what they were before, and Wifi still works - so not sure what's going on there, but Wifi's working again.

Thanks for your help,
Osborn

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