Wifi No Longer Automatically Connecting on Startup/Reboot

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Level 1

31 points

Wifi No Longer Automatically Connecting on Startup/Reboot

Installed El Capitan the day it came out and ever since, my machine starts up or reboots with the wifi on but not connected. Under Yosemite and Mavericks it would make the connection even while the machine was still at the login screen. Now, when I pull the wifi menu down it says "looking for network" even though my network is listed below.

When I select my network, I have to enter my password, usually more than once as I sometimes get the message that the password is invalid, even though it's not. Nothing has changed in my setup nor machine except El Capitan. Never had any problems before, not even through the Yosemite problems I've heard about.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 11, 2015 2:19 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 11, 2015 2:26 PM in response to YoCraig

Open System Preferences > Network then select Wi-Fi on the left.

On the right you should see: Network Name

Click that pop up menu then select your Network name.

In the same System Preferences > Network pane click Advanced.

If your preferred network is not on the top of the list, drag it up then click OK.

Then see if your Wi-Fi connects automatically.

If not, the network preferences may be corrupted.

Open the Finder. From the Finder menu bar click Go > Go to Folder

Type or copy paste the following:

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration

Click Go then move all the files in the SystemConfiguration folder to the Trash.

Restart your Mac. See if that makes a difference.

Your Mac will generate a new SystemConfiguration folder for you.

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Answer 2

YoCraig Author

Level 1

31 points

Oct 16, 2015 7:22 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

I only had one Wi-Fi network in that list. I deleted that one Wi-Fi network, quit System Preferences and rebooted the machine. Then after the restart, I went back in and recreated it. All is well now. Thanks!

(There were files in that SystemConfiguration folder that I was kinda hesitant to delete, but it worked out.)

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2015 6:32 AM in response to YoCraig

I have dragged my preferred network to the top three days in a row now. Even so, when it starts up, it tries to connect to the Xfinity network instead of my personal network.

No, I'm not going to delete my network and make a new one. Why should I have to go to all that trouble? The download should work right, and if not, Apple should fix it.

I've also set my home page three days in a row. Still, upon start-up, it takes me to the last page I looked at before I shut down.

This is a flaw in the system. I shouldn't have to completely re-do everything multiple times to get the system to work right.

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Answer 4

Oct 16, 2015 7:27 AM in response to YoCraig

Glad your Wi-Fi is working now.

As I mentioned previously, your Mac will automatically create a new System Configuration file for you upon restart of your Mac. It's typical Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

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