WiFi issues on 2017 MacBook Pro

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

also, any of these items may be involved:

• 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/

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Not sure if it's related, but I have a lot of WiFi problems as well on my MacBook Pro 2017 with Touch Bar.

Every once in a while, while browsing or doing something that intensively uses the WiFi connection, my connection just stalls. The WiFi icon still shows fully connected, but all wireless connections drop for a few seconds. This includes both WiFi internet connection and all connected Bluetooth pheriphals.

Loading a simple website or doing a simple Google search just hangs. Streaming music connection drops for a few seconds. With or without Bluetooth pheriperals connected. Connected Bluetooth devices like Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard or a bluetooth headphone quickly disconnected for a few seconds as well.

This happens on 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz. Tried several different home networks, office networks, public networks. It happens everywhere.

When diagnosing the connection, it seems to drop packages every once in a while. Tried the Wifi Monitor, and this showed a drop in the graph. Tried a continuous ping in Terminal. Showed fine pings and then every once in a while it created packet loss or high pings for a while.

Not sure if this is hardware or software related. Starting to relate it to the wifi/bluetooth radio chip itself. Do not have any problems with my older MacBook Pro Retina 2012.

Wish I could reproduce the problem somehow, so I can show Apple for testing. Wasn't able to so far.

The main Wi-Fi interference problem is in the 2.4GHz band.

If your Router is dual band, you can escape the issue by using its 5GHz band. If it does not have 5GHz, its time for a replacement or additional Router.

Your phone likely has both 2.4 and 5, so you can establish a reliable connection in the 5GHz band.

If you like, start a new thread and post a screenshot of holding down the Option key while clicking on the Wi-Fi Icon on the menuBar. the report looks like this old one:

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i have a 2017 macbook pro 13" and wifi drops out when i use a usb...i noticed someone had a problem with their macbook pro about 2 years ago same problem...is it possible Apple have not yet resolved this?.. their employees must have had the problem as well...?....i would love to know if anyone has a solution..i am thinking its a software...but how to get apple to fix this??

Alaz

I did not expect anything from High Sierra.

However, after installing it everything is buttery smooth now. Browsing works perfectly. Wifi is fast. Pings are fast and no packet loss anymore.

For now, it seems like this finally solved the problem. Will give it a few more days to be sure, but I highly recommend upgrading to High Sierra to try it out yourself.

Hello, all

I have this issue on my Macbook Pro 2017 15" with touchbar. I do not think that it's software related so much as a hardware problem on these devices. I've tested two right next to each other. One has it, one doesn't. I tested it next to a 2012 15" Macbook Pro using the same Mac OS X version and had no trouble on the 2012 model.

I even tested it on Windows and watched it bounce on and off the network on one machine and not on the other.

I would suggest anyone with this issue talk to the Genius bar and/or other authorized Mac tech and see if they can't help with a repair or replacement.

If anyone comes up with a solution that doesn't involve swapping out machines, I'd love to hear it.

-V

I have exactly this issue; have had it on both a 13” 2016 MBP and a 13” 2017 MBP on Sierra and High Sierra. After being connected for a while, WiFi will essentially just stops working.

When it occurs, I appear connected and the notebook thinks it is connected, no noted information or errors in the wifi log (with logging turned on), the network traffic just stops. It’s not the whole network, no other users report the issue, just me. Disassociating the Wi-Fi and reassociating will resolve the issue - but this is a real pain when it occurs during a video conference.

I’ve experienced it only occasionally on my home network, but it happens several times a week on my office network. I’ve deleted all network preferences, reset NVRAM, captured various logs - but still with no effect or clue on what is happening and why.

I had similar issues, WiFi remains connected but after a short while internet traffic would stall. I had the line and router tested, no fault found. Other devices on the same network would also stop getting internet traffic until I shut down my MBP. I reset NVRAM, run diagnostics, turned Bluetooth off, unplugged USB hub, logged in safe mode etc. I then plugged in to the router direct and was able to replicate the problem. But if I logged into a different user account (I have an admin account set up for these situations) no problem.

What I deduced is that the problem was caused by iCloud, I noticed a large file wasn't syncing so I moved it to a non-iCloud folder. And as I suspected once I moved that file, all my problems disappeared. I've experienced similar issues in the past with Google Drive, it took me ages then to figure out why we couldn't watch TV when my MBP was open.

I hope this helps, the problem was easy to solve but difficult to identify. I was surprised Apple didn't check this when I called them for support.

I had been having the same problem on my MacBook Pro 15" with Touch Bar since purchasing it in early 2017. There are 3 scenarios:

1) It hangs when I first turn on the computer and try to load a web site it hangs for 30 to 60 seconds. Then it works fine. Other devices don't show the same problem and connect perfectly to the internet.

2) It is working fine and then won't load any web sites even though WiFi shows connected. For example a video stream will just cut out. Other devices can connect and watch video just fine.

3) It is working fine and then cuts off and the wi-fi symbol shows an exclamation point. Once I did a reboot in Safe Mode and it fixed the problem. But other times I've tried the same thing and it didn't fix the problem.

Called tech support and changed my DHCP (?). Went to Genius Bar and they created a new "wifi location" and also a new user account. They suggested I try to use those and if the problem goes away it is a software issue.

Finally I sent the computer away for repair and just got it back. Repair sheet says they replaced "Vent/Antenna Module" which had "Mechanical Damage/Cosmetic Issues."

From reading this message thread it sounds like this solution doesn't always fix the problem so I'm crossing my fingers. If the problem persists I will investigate the iCloud syncing issue. That is something odd I've noticed several times in the finder where many folders in my iCloud Drive seem to be indicating transmissions, but it doesn't seem right since I don't use those folders.

I just want to feel good about my $2800 computer!!!

I have the same exact problem with a very new Macbook Pro 15" Touchbar. Just installed High Sierra hoping that this ridiculous problem would go away but it had no effect. I have noticed that I don't have any drop outs when playing games (noticed someone here has had the opposite problem), only when I'm working on something and oddly the most common problematic thing is streaming (netflix and youtube).

I have not noticed that I have this problem when using my phones hotspot. I wonder if it is somehow possible that my phone is interfering with my puter then.

If you have a USB-C dongle (adapter) plugged in for an external hard drive or HDMI cable, your WiFi will 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

I had been unable to reproduce this problem. But after reading your post I plugged in an external WD hard drive and poof! My wi-fi connection no longer transmitted data even though the menu bar showed me as connected. I think that you have diagnosed the problem correctly. It is related to plugging in certain USB-C devices. I haven't tried to reproduce by plugging in other devices, or combinations of devices. Apple..is there a problem???