Mac Mini Wifi Problems! Won't connect

Hi, I solved today the Connection Problem .

I completely remove all the USB Printer, Scanner, and Hard drive connected direct with the 4 USB 3.0 ( in the rear Mac mini ) and 1 HUB USB 3.0 with other devices.

I only connect Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2 by Bluetooth.

Mac Mini immediately connect to my WiFi router !

I think I connected too many devices into my Mac mini .

Best regards.

73 + 51

Spot on, good find Nekoma. 😉

The real problem is poor shielding from USB 3.0 devices.

see > SOLVED: Challenge! Converting the WiFi/Bluetooth to external - Mac Mini Late 2012 - iFixit

FWIW I get exactly the same thing when I test my 2012 Mac Mini.

With no external USB 3.0 drives connected, the Mac Mini instantly connect to my Wi-Fi router.

When I connect any one of my external USB 3.0 drives, it instantlly drops and will not re-connect.

(fortunately I have an Ethernet cable running from router to Mac Mini and do not use Wi-Fi)

Hi ! I think that Mac mini doesn't like strange Modem/router access Passwords .

Strange characters like %% or && in the modem/router access password to connect the mac mini to the Local Wifi Area Network create Mac mini became little crazy . Only Macmini becuase my iPhone SE and iPad get in touch with the Modem/router password without problem.

Ciao .

73 + 51's

Passwords are definitely not the issue for me; but I may have found a cure as my Mac Mini wi-fi has been up continuously for a week.

In the DNS tab of the Advanced area of my wi-fi Network Preferences, I added my router's IP (culled from the TCP/IP tab) to the list of DNS servers.

Maybe that's a thing and everyone bar me always adds it but it was new to me and it seems to work.

I have the exact same problem as the OP, on the identical hardware and Os. I did take the Mini in for repair and I know they replaced the Airport card - and it did work for a few weeks before it decided to die again. It's very frustrating…and too late now to get another warranty repair.

All I can add is that if I keep moving my Mini around in tiny increments I can sometimes get wi-fi to connect. But it soon drops out again and it obviously isn't a workable solution.

I have a neat utility called Wi-Fi Scanner which, even when my network can't be joined, successfully picks up the wi-fi signal (from a router 4 feet away) and identifies all the devices on the LAN, including some 50 feet away and through several brick walls. So if this utility can access the wi-fi network, why can't my Mini (except one time in a thousand)?

Like most of us, my Mini is surrounded by other electronic devices which I have tried removing, to no avail. Anyway, if there were interference, the Wi-Fi Scanner tool would also suffer - but it never does.

Do other device successfully connect to that network?

Does the Mini successfully connect to other networks?

- 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

Also, can you successfully connect when in Recovery mode?

- 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.

Then format the startup disk and do a fresh install of OSX

If you can't connect when booted to Recovery mode then either your network has problems (not likely) or you have a hardware problem with the Mac. Thus, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.

Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/