I have a mid 2011 Mac Mini that is connected to my router with an ethernet cable, wi fi disabled. I've noticed recently that the Mac Mini is turning the wi-fi connection ON by itself and I have to disconnect it. This has happened several times over the past two weeks. Any thoughts as to why this is happening? Thank you for any assistance.
Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), Corsair 128GB SSD, 16GB 1333 DDR3 RAM,
Update: Still having the same issue. In network preferences I see that Ethernet is connected, I actually removed the wifi option from the list as well. I am still wondering why the Mac Mini is connecting to wifi when an ethernet cable is connected. Could it be that the Ethernet connection is not active at startup? Even after deleting the wifi option from the list in Network preferences it is still trying to connect. Also, as some of the above solutions suggested reinstalling the OS would an upgrade to Sierra possibly provide a remedy? It is mostly just annoying as I am in an apartment environment again and I don't want to use wifi. Thanks for any further suggestions.
- Try resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
About NVRAM and PRAM
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
- Try starting in Safe Mode
OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
- Boot to Recovery and repair the startup disk
OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
- If it is repairable reinstall the OSX
How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904
- If you do not have a backup use disk utility to restore the internal disk to an external disk so you can try to recover data.
Thanks for the info, these see like pretty drastic steps to take, reinstalling the OS?? Before I do any of these things I was curious if you have any idea why this is happening. Would it be if the Mac Mini can't detect the wired connection or something like that. It just did it again when I powered on the Mac Mini this morning. Thank you,
Could be a software or hardware problem.
Since it is intermittent the likelihood of using Apple Hardware test is very slim
Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support
Thus, first is to rule out a software problem
Why not let WIFI stay on?. Just make the order in the internet preferences to use ethernet first. I have both on and no issues.
I have Ethernet at the top of the list in Network Preferences so it's more a question of why is wi-fi automatically turning itself on when it never did that before. I suppose if Ethernet takes priority it wouldn't matter if wi-fi is also on but it bothers me when things start happening when I didn't initiate the action.
Mac Mini keeps turning wi fi on
