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Wifi constantly looking for networks

Hello,


My Macbook Pro is constantly looking for wifi all the time. Got any ideas how to fix this? There are times when I can get online until I turn off wifi and turn it back on.


Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013


Thanks,

Brandon

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013

Posted on Jan 15, 2014 7:53 PM

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Posted on Apr 26, 2014 9:09 AM

Hi,


I was having same problem with MB Air, factory installed with OSX Mavericks (1 week old). I was getting a Wi-Fi: Looking for networks message every 5-6 seconds, which was very worrying (and extremely annoying). I went to System Preferences > Network > Selected Wi-Fi > Advanced > Highlighted current connection, Clicked âž– to remove it, âž• to connect it, there I added my network name, passord etc and unticked show connection status - applied these settings, (which causes wi-fi icon to disappear) then ticked the box again, so it shows as it did originally. Since doing this the problem appears resolved. Hope that helps!

54 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 26, 2014 9:09 AM in response to SCUBACRAMER

Hi,


I was having same problem with MB Air, factory installed with OSX Mavericks (1 week old). I was getting a Wi-Fi: Looking for networks message every 5-6 seconds, which was very worrying (and extremely annoying). I went to System Preferences > Network > Selected Wi-Fi > Advanced > Highlighted current connection, Clicked âž– to remove it, âž• to connect it, there I added my network name, passord etc and unticked show connection status - applied these settings, (which causes wi-fi icon to disappear) then ticked the box again, so it shows as it did originally. Since doing this the problem appears resolved. Hope that helps!

Sep 14, 2014 2:45 PM in response to SCUBACRAMER

A solution at last!


I have this same problem on a new MacBook Air running OS X 10.9.4

Wifi says it is connected and the diagnostics show that it is working fine but the status indicator drop down says it is "Looking for Networks" every 5 seconds. Trying to work remotely is a nightmare since I was constantly being tossed out. It was not my router, since my iPad has no problem connecting and staying connected. This had nothing to do with waking from sleep, since it occurs after a hard reboot. Turning bluetooth off had no impact. I finally found a fix on another thread (thank you LindsayfromLondon) that seems to be working.


Go to system preferences>network and switch off the "show wifi status in menu bar" then click it back on.

Took me hours of searching to find this solution. Hope this helps someone else.

Nov 18, 2017 11:07 AM in response to Captain Fabulous

Thank you very much it was driving me mad , now at the right hand top of my screen the wifi icon {pyramid] is gone, no more searching for networks thank you very much. So far you have saved me trip to the Mac store, I phoned the support number and they told me to buy a new router which I did told him not to hang up give me the name of the one to buy and so on and so on and it didn't work the first person told me it didn't matter his did this all the time. Wrong answers until you . Thank you

Jan 15, 2014 8:41 PM in response to SCUBACRAMER

Hi Brandon,


System Preferences > Network > (bottom of window) Assist me... > Diagnostics...


Follow the prompts.


I often have to do this several times a day. Sometimes it tells me to restart the modem/Airport. Just turn them off, wait 10 seconds and turn back on. Wait for a new connection.


Also handy to keep Network in the menu bar:


System Preferences > Network > tick Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar.


Regards,

Ian.

Jan 17, 2014 12:16 AM in response to SCUBACRAMER

Have you made a new Location, and tried different setup information, to see if there is a problem with the first Location? How about a different user account, to see if that connects to the internet; if so, the issue may be in the main user account you most often boot into.


Sometimes the issue may be worked around in base station wireless router settings, or a reboot of the base.


Is there any other similar neighorhood base station using the same channel number nearby that you've chosen to set yours to? How about a microwave oven, a microwave communications tower, or a cordless phone that shares a frequency the base station prefers? Interference can be a cause of odd issues, too.


Your computer likely is new enough to get some help at an Apple Store, with a Genius appointment.


Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Apr 27, 2014 10:50 AM in response to Captain Fabulous

Sometimes, to just 'Turn AirPort Off' from the AirPort icon

drop-down on the Apple Menu: Wait 30-sec, & turn back on

can do wonders. Perhaps the cure depends on where the

issue actually resides in a specific system, or OS X build.


At times, mine will be searching, yet still be connected to wi-fi.

If I'm bored and have a few more minutes to waste on this, then

to look further into System Preferences> Networks is helpful.


Working answers for older OS X versions sometimes fix this

in later OS X versions; but not always. The method suggested

by Capt Fab is a good way to re-establish the pathway anew.


A fair answer to an odd issue. Seldom - or never - had this 🙂

Wifi constantly looking for networks

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