15" Macbook pro 2016 USB-C adapter wifi issue

Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.
• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.
• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

Using USB devices with your Mac - Apple Support

• Power Adapter cable recall

Apple USB-C Charge Cable Replacement Program - Apple Support

• firmware update for the Apple Multi-Port display adapters (specifically to reduce interference).

About the USB-C Multiport Adapter Update 1.0 - Apple Support

• LG-display recall -- to address Wi-Fi interference so severe, it knocks the Router off the air if too near the Router.

https://9to5mac.com/2017/02/03/lg-fixes-wifi-interference-problems-with-ultrafin e-usb-c-5k-display-new-units-unaffected/

Confirmed issue... such a bummer... some wifi do work due to the frequency, change your wifi router to 5ghz should solve the wifi dongle issue, problem is not all wifi's are 5ghz mostly are still 2.4ghz which interferes with the signal. guess the only way is to find the right dongle as some dongles does have proper shield to avoid interference or connect it on the right side usb c ports, far away from the wifi chip on the left side ports (bad luck to those with 2 usb c ports as those are only on the left side of you macbook pro)

apple is getting bad lately, it is my first time to regret purchasing an apple product 😟 should have stayed with my 2013 macbook pro 😟 or bought the 12 inch macbook 😟

I've read discussions about how usb-c accessories affecting wifi by interfere the signals due to the MBP's wifi adapter position near the usb-c ports (on the left side). So i tried to cover several parts of the dongle with my hand hoping it will reduce the interference. I did this over and over until i get improvement on the wifi speed with speedtest app. Every time i cover the dongle on the jack with my hand, the speedtest showed improvement. So i got into conclusion that i need to cover the jack part to reduce the wifi interference. I have this rubberband in my drawer, so i tried to wrap the jack with it.. and voila.. it worked.

this is how i wrapped the usb-c jack..

and this is how the speedtest result with the usb-c dongle on (my current internet plan max speed around 10Mbps)

I spent all day for surfing forums to solve this problem. I have brand new MBP 2017 with High Sierra and wifi doesnt work with attached HHD through USB-C to USB-A adapter.

It is very strange, but when I holding mac on my knees - everything works, while when it stands on table - don't.

In the end, I took foil from the kitchen and wrap adaptor - AND IT'S WORKS! I tried without - don't.

I have this EXACT same problem. My girlfriend and I both do. This has to be a huge problem. I was trying to use a flash drive and she was attempting to use a CD drive. I'm starting to believe it has to do with the power consumption. The portable CD drive she has comes with 2 USB plugs, when both plugged into her macbook the wifi was useless, so we plugged the secondary one into mine right next to hers and it worked. However, I have a handful of flash drives that when plugged in kill the internet also. So, it's clearly a huge problem. I hope it's a software issue.

It's NOT your adapter. I have the one from the Apple Store and we have the same issue.

I am having the exact same issue. I finally found a DVI to USB-C adaptor to plug my old Apple HD Cinema display into my new Macbook Pro and as soon as I plug it in, it cuts off my wifi. So frustrating!!

I have the same problem with a 13" model. It is really annoying. And after spending lots of money on dongles, the HDMI connection does not work properly, if I connect it, the wifi drops out, and another hub that I bought causes problems too. This is really pathetic.

Same issue for me with a 13 inch macbook pro without touch bar...It happens every time I plug a dongle into the usb port which is closer to the display. When plugged into the other one, sometimes the wifi works properly sometimes it doesn't.

I am totally new to the Mac world, I got the latest Macbook Pro thanks to my office. However I have the same issue, I just plug the adapter in and the wifi gets killed. I did notice that it worked fine at my neighbor's place. Any help with this issue would be appreciated. I have to get my wireless keyboard and mouse working...otherwise I cannot function as a developer.

The issue is definitely with the USB hub and the frequency of the wi-fi.

I have the 2016 Touchbar Macbook Pro 15" for about 5 months now and literally never had this issue at home.

Went to my parents' house and instantly got this issue when using my extremely cheap USB hub, the only difference at my parents' is the wi-fi frequency being 2.4GHz as opposed to back home where it's 5GHz.

So yeah, very unfortunate but can't really place the blame squarely on Apple for this one as the **** hub shouldn't be generating enough noise to mess with the wi-fi.

Thank You!

There must be a way to fix that on the adapter. Maybe shielded tape will do it.

The only problem is that now the dongle is on the side of the mouse, and cables are now in the way.

👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;👏-1F3FC;

Following some comments, I got my wifi to work plugging the two data peripherals into the right-side USB-C connectors, and the the power on the left.

Too bad I can't chain the power through the dongle now, though. I can live with it, but this will be the last Apple computer for me. Eat ****, Apple, or return to making good products.

YES!
If you got a hub like me (Satechi) it has 2 USB-C ports. If I connect the power adapter to the one closer to the actual port in my Macbook Pro 13" 2017, I have the wifi issue. If I connect it to the bottom one - no issue at all!

Apparently i have tried and solved this interference problem with a simple hack. I'm using USB-C to HDMI dongle with MacBook Pro 2016 13" without touchbar, so there's only 2 usb-c ports on the left side.

I wrapped a rubber band (the thick-wide one, the one that looks like a wristband) around the USB-C jack handle. It seems to be working and my wifi speed seems normal (i've done speed test also). I found this simple hack is hard to believe. Tell me if this worked for you too.

Cheers

Yeah, this is the exact reason behind the problem. The wi-fi comes back even if you only put your hands on ports as a shelter. There is also a paper about this problem written by Intel. Here: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/universal-serial-bus/usb3-frequency-i nterference-paper.html