Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

2018 MacBook Pro randomly losing WiFi connection

My month-old Mac has randomly started dropping my WiFi connection without any notification. One moment it's working fine, the next I'm offline. According to the WiFi dropdown in the menubar, my machine is behaving as if I had clicked to disconnect from the network; WiFi is on but not connected, all networks that should be in the list of nearby networks are there, and clicking on my network connects back up in under a second and I'm back to working again online... until it drops again anywhere from ten minutes to a few hours later.

This issue started almost immediately after installing "macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Supplemental Update 2 for MacBook Pro (2018)" from the Mac App Store and is affecting me on any WiFi network I connect to now if I'm connected long enough. It's usually just a minor inconvenience, but if it went down at just the wrong time it could cause serious issues with what I use it for. My 2011 MacBook Pro, also running macOS 10.13.6 but without the update specific to the 2018 model, doesn't have this issue... nor does any other device in the house, including a 2014 MacBook Pro, two 2007 MacBooks, and a 2009 iMac which are also all on the latest versions of macOS that they support. (Same for all the iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs in the home) It looks like this bug is reserved for those with the latest and greatest portable Macs, so I'm out of luck until a fix comes around.


Does anyone have any ideas as to what may be causing this? I'm pretty sure it's an issue with the recent update; my Mac doesn't have a whole lot on it yet besides Apple apps and Adobe Creative Cloud software, and I don't browse anywhere or download anything from anywhere that could have given me anything unpleasant on my system. I basically treat this thing like a baby, so there seriously shouldn't be any issues with it already. My MacBook Pro and AirPort Extreme are both on the latest software version they have available, and I've troubleshooted both devices.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018), macOS High Sierra (10.13.6), TimBook Pro

Posted on Sep 10, 2018 10:37 PM

Reply
239 replies

May 19, 2019 11:44 AM in response to d--bar

From the log right when the connection gets lost. Filtering for "wifi" in the log:


========


default 11:33:08.454244 -0700 symptomsd linkQuality changed to -2 as loaded LQM changed on interface type 1 noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:1

default 11:33:08.454375 -0700 symptomsd linkQuality changed to -2 as loaded LQM changed on interface type 1 noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:no, isBuiltin:yes, loi:-1, flags:0

default 11:33:08.454584 -0700 symptomsd linkQuality changed to -2 as loaded LQM changed on interface type 1 noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0

default 11:33:08.454703 -0700 symptomsd NOICLIENT <0x7f7f45109930> observed linkQuality of object NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, partial update to pid: 126, change: {

kind = 1;

new = 0;

}

default 11:33:08.455183 -0700 symptomsd NOICLIENT <0x7f7f45109930> observed powerCostDL of object NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, partial update to pid: 126, change: {

kind = 1;

new = 0;

}

default 11:33:08.455480 -0700 symptomsd NOICLIENT <0x7f7f45109930> observed powerCostUL of object NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, partial update to pid: 126, change: {

kind = 1;

new = 0;

}

default 11:33:08.455745 -0700 symptomsd noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, event: linkQuality, rawLoadedLqm: -2, don't qualify

default 11:33:08.473111 -0700 rapportd SysMon: WiFi link changed

default 11:33:08.473178 -0700 sharingd SysMon: WiFi link changed

default 11:33:08.473878 -0700 rapportd SysMon: WiFi state changed: Connected -> NotConnected, 0x0 < >

default 11:33:08.473910 -0700 rapportd WiFi state changed: Connected -> NotConnected, 0x0 < >

default 11:33:08.473952 -0700 sharingd SysMon: WiFi state changed: Connected -> NotConnected, 0x0 < >

default 11:33:08.474004 -0700 sharingd WiFi state changed: Connected -> NotConnected, 0x0 < >

default 11:33:08.474532 -0700 rapportd SysMon: WiFi SSID changed: NULL

default 11:33:08.474587 -0700 sharingd SysMon: WiFi SSID changed: NULL

default 11:33:08.534406 -0700 CommCenter #I On WiFi: true On Cellular: false

default 11:33:08.566041 -0700 symptomsd wifi no longer primary, letting others know

default 11:33:08.566143 -0700 symptomsd stopPollingWifiFlows

default 11:33:08.566255 -0700 symptomsd WiFi epoch change

default 11:33:08.566330 -0700 symptomsd 0x7f7f45010760 event: kNotificationNewConnectivityEpochWiFi, noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:1, fastpath, current elig: 1, new elig: 0

default 11:33:08.566709 -0700 symptomsd 0x7f7f45010760 event: kNotificationNewConnectivityEpochWiFi, noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, fastpath, current elig: 1, new elig: 0

default 11:33:08.566880 -0700 symptomsd NOICLIENT <0x7f7f45109930> observed isTrafficEligible of object NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, partial update to pid: 126, change: {

kind = 1;

new = 0;

}

default 11:33:08.580199 -0700 symptomsd noi: NOI: v:0 type:Wifi, isAny:yes, isBuiltin:no, loi:-1, flags:0, event: kNotificationNewPrimaryInterface, rawLoadedLqm: -2, don't qualify

default 11:33:08.570010 -0700 symptomsd NWPath: kNetworkWiFi NWPathStatusSatisfied interface en0 index 10

default 11:33:08.612049 -0700 symptomsd wifi no longer primary, letting others know

default 11:33:08.612159 -0700 symptomsd stopPollingWifiFlows


======


pid 126 is contextstored, not sure if it's relevant


0 126 1 0 Wed08PM ?? 0:33.24 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreDuetContext.framework/Resources/contextstored


May 19, 2019 6:01 PM in response to d--bar

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712


10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…


System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.


System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.


The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.


Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

May 19, 2019 7:46 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks, I had tried that already as well. I currently have Bluetooth and Thunderbolt disabled.


I've been running my script and it has been an ok workaround to auto reconnect within a second or two. I've had it record the timings and the results are interesting. It is happening every hour at roughly the same time:


Sun May 19 10:32:49 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 10:32:57 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 11:33:09 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 11:33:16 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 12:33:28 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 12:33:35 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 13:33:47 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 13:33:54 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 14:34:08 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 14:34:15 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 15:34:29 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 16:34:46 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 16:34:54 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 17:35:06 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 17:35:13 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 18:35:26 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 19:35:45 PDT 2019

Sun May 19 19:35:52 PDT 2019

Jun 24, 2019 8:33 PM in response to TimsTech

I've been having a similar, if not the exact same issue as being described. I previously had a 2015 rMBP. On heavy network loads, the networking would stop. MacOS wouldn't say I'm disconnected, but I would not be able to reach anything network wise. I narrowed down the problem to having issues with 802.11AC connection. I had this problem on two different wireless APs. The first AP is a Sophos AP55 Access Point, and the other is a TP-Link ARCHER-C7 v4 running DD-WRT (Side note, 802.11N on 5GHz works fine with no issues, and I can specify N only with the TP-Link). I resigned it to maybe my wireless card in the 2015 rMBP was going bad. A couple of weeks ago, I moved on from the rMBP to a 2018 Mac Mini.


I figured since I'm on new hardware, I'll move back to the Sophos AP55. I started getting the exact same issue. Under heavy network load, all networking would stop. I switched to the TP-Link and set it to 2018.11AC for testing.. and sure enough, heavy load stopped the networking. So now I'm back to 802.11N.


Does this sound like the same issue as being described here? Also, I noticed the issue around the time that I upgraded to High Sierra. I think Apple might have a bug in the wireless stack somewhere

Jun 25, 2019 4:32 AM in response to TimsTech

I have a Mac currently (25 June 2019) loaded with OS Mogave 10.14.5 . My Mac starts alright, but moving from from BBC news to Yahoo mail to Met. Office weather forecast applications inevitably drops connections. The only (and irritating and time wasting solution) is to do a manual restart. I have had this "dropping connection" problem for about five weeks now.

The problem is in need of an urgent solution.

John.


Jun 25, 2019 8:41 AM in response to John_of_Gloucester

Try this...


RichardFoo


User level:

Level 1

(4 points)

Feb 15, 2019 4:24 PM in response to TimsTech

I've been debugging a problem with my VPN client constantly reconnecting, along with poor WiFi performance. After much digging, I came across an excellent article - although written for Yosemite and iOS8, it still seems to be relevant to Mojave, especially with a newer WiFi chip in the 2018 MacBook Pro. https://medium.com/@mariociabarra/wifriedx-in-depth-look-at-yosemite-wifi-and-awdl-airdrop-41a93eb22e48


The author wrote a program that essentially just issues a command and keeps it enforced. You can try it manually in a terminal window: sudo ifconfig awdl0 down

To reverse the command, type: sudo ifconfig awdl0 up


He gives a great technical explanation, so I won't repeat it here. The command disables a virtual network interface that's used for ad-hoc WiFi by features like Airdrop; I personally won't miss them. So far, I've gone from losing my connection 20 times an hour to being stable for 3+ hours.

Aug 1, 2019 1:58 AM in response to ImagineFIlms

I reported similar problems on 25 June 2019 (see above).


I will add that if, in my Safari window environment, I choose 'Latest Gloucestershire news' using https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/ I am guaranteed that the wi-fi connection will be lost and that I will have to restart my Mac.


Perhaps the technical experts can see what it is with https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/ that collapses the wi-fi link, as opposed to other links such as UK - BBC news ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/news/uk ) and Yahoo Mail (http://mail.yahoo.co./d/folders/1 ) which seem to be well behaved.


John_of_Gloucester

01 August 2019





Aug 1, 2019 8:21 AM in response to John_of_Gloucester

Works fine here in 10.13.6


Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712



System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.



Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.


System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...


8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4


System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.


The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.


Apply.

Aug 3, 2019 2:05 AM in response to BDAqua

Dear BDAqua et alia,


Thank you very much for your email posted to me on 1 August at 16:21 regarding my problem of frequent wi-fi drop outs with OS Mogave 10.14.5 .


 On my MAC, my more knowledgeable IT son took and implemented the advice you suggested, but unfortunately it didn’t solve the problem with a ‘guaranteed’ drop out occurring after shutting down ‘Latest Gloucestershire News’ (https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/ )  when using the Safari web browser.


Still using my Mac, he then set up for me Google Chrome web browser and then successfully and repeatedly  accessed and left https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/ 


The problem had gone!


My particular fault therefore occurs with MAC’s Safari web browser (version 12.1.1 (14607.2.6.1.1) and not in Google Chrome (version 76.0.3809.87 (64 bit)).  IT experts may want to investigate this.


Regards,


John_of_Gloucester


03 August 2019


References

1      Email, 25 June 2019 at 4:32 am


2      Email,  01 August 2019 at 1:58 am

2018 MacBook Pro randomly losing WiFi connection

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.