Macbook Pro 2016 can't connect to wifi

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Level 1

60 points

Macbook Pro 2016 can't connect to wifi

I'm having problems with my new MacBook Pro 2016 and the Wi-Fi connection. It is almost impossible to get a decent connection and it drops all the time. I tried to reconnect with the airport icon in the menu bar, select the network and the bars go up and down but nothing happens. The icon is then just thin grey lines and when I try and connect again nothing happens, no black moving semicircle and then I get a "can't connect to network" dialogue box.

I followed all the tips I can find, set my location to automatic, changed what I can on the route and Wi-Fi extenders but the majority of the time I have to have a powerline extender plugged in via ethernet to my MacBook.

According to net spot I'm getting good coverage with the signal-to-noise ratio and all my other devices successfully connect, even my old 2009 MacBook Pro.

What does seem weird is that it seems to happen when I get the signal to noise ratio up high, typically noise is 4% when I have the problem. More noise usually means that I can connect.

I've got a Wi-Fi router, two powerline Wi-Fi extenders and 2 networks, one for myself and family and the other for guests. They are all configured in a similar way using DHCP whenever possible. I've attached a screenshot which might help someone more technically minded than I am :-)

I've cleared all the preferences I can find, looked at almost every tip I can find on the Internet but so far nothing has worked, it seems like the problem lies with the hardware or operating system on my new MacBook.

I'm severely disabled, paralysed from the neck down so have to rely upon my support workers to help me which isn't easy but we get eventually. It's not easy for me to travel to my nearest Apple store as it is over 85 miles away. If posting here doesn't resolve the problem I guess I'm going to have to spend some time on the phone to Apple support not easy when I also breathe with a ventilator and have to rely upon hands-free telephones.

Any help would be appreciated. TIA Michael

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2016), iOS 10.2, null

Posted on Jan 7, 2017 8:22 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 6, 2018 8:17 PM in response to Gizmo-__

If you have a USB-C dongle (adapter) plugged in for an external hard drive, HDMI cable, etc., your WiFi may drop and a re-start may be required after unplugging the dongle. If you are using a dongle, this video will fix your WiFi disconnect issue.

FIX for USB-C DONGLES MACBOOK PRO - YouTube

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Answer 2

Gizmo-__ Author

Level 1

60 points

Jan 8, 2017 4:15 AM in response to Gizmo-__

I might have solved the problem, I used Network Setup Assistant and got to entering my password for the Wi-Fi but it wouldn't accept it. That got me looking at all of my routers and I discovered there were slight differences In the security settings so reset them all to WPA 2/PSK and made sure they were all the same.

I then tried connecting to the network and it did so first time on both my work and guest networks. It seems like this could be the issue so maybe one to check if you are having problems and use multiple Wi-Fi extenders.

One of the tests I did was to switch off security on the guest network and use that for testing before altering my main network. So if you are having problems try doing that.

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Answer 3

macOS11

Level 3

931 points

Jan 8, 2017 4:29 AM in response to Gizmo-__

Nice!

Also make sure to "forget" the network since your Mac might have saved your old (and wrong) instructions to connect to the network which could make it slow to connect. Go to System Preferences -> Network -> Wi-Fi -> Advanced, select your network and then click on the "-" button.

After this, connect again to your Wi-Fi and enter your password.

Now you're sure that your Mac will be using the good info to connect to your network and it should work much better.

Cheers.

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Answer 4

Gizmo-__ Author

Level 1

60 points

Jan 12, 2017 11:00 AM in response to Gizmo-__

An update, my connection problems continued after the change to wifi security. After days of reading article after article on websites I found a reference to interference with USB C to USB 3 connectors I was using that type of connector with an ethernet socket https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Adapters/CableCreation-3-Ports-Gigabit-Ethernet-Adapt er-Macbook-Devices/B0179TU9SW/ref=sr_1_2…. just to get a stable connection to resolve wifi. I removed USB-C connector from Macbook pro and immediately I could join the network that I couldn't before with no problem. Check all of your usb-c cables/connectors if you do have random wifi problems!

When it was connected scaning using Wireless Diagnostics showed 0 noise on every network , rather unusual in itself, removing connector saw noise return which is what could be a way of checking, 0 noise probably indicates a problem.

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