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2018 Mac mini Wifi Issues

My new Mac mini just arrived. I seem to be having WIFI issue's with it. Where my room is I don't don't have a real strong signal but its always been good enough for gaming, streaming video etc. I have a Mac Book, iPad and iPhone that all work fine with the same wifi that the Mac mini seems to have problems with. For example we have our network name and then a 5G connection. Every device I have connects to the network name but the Mini only see's the 5G and for some reason that connection goes in and out, but only for the Mac mini. I'm wondering if I should get a USB wifi antenna to stick in the back of this.

Mac mini, macOS Mojave (10.14.1)

Posted on Nov 10, 2018 10:18 PM

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Posted on Nov 11, 2018 5:08 AM

5G is faster but shorter range. You did not mention what router you have. I use a new Tri- band router with 6 antennas and the range is much better using my 2012 Mini and 5G band. With many new routers you can designate specific network bands in the router setup and force your Mini to use that one (e.g. 2.4). Your Mini should see that network that you specify.

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Nov 11, 2018 5:08 AM in response to losaltoshills

5G is faster but shorter range. You did not mention what router you have. I use a new Tri- band router with 6 antennas and the range is much better using my 2012 Mini and 5G band. With many new routers you can designate specific network bands in the router setup and force your Mini to use that one (e.g. 2.4). Your Mini should see that network that you specify.

Dec 25, 2018 8:00 AM in response to hcsitas

I was switching over from an old iMac where I previously was using the hub for usb flash drives. Several years ago I replaced the drive in my old iMac with a 256GB ssd which never had enough space so I had a hub. The particular hub that caused wifi disfunction on the mac mini is the Sabrent HB-MAC3. This hub worked great on my old iMac. Since ssd prices have dropped greatly this past year I bought and connected a 1TB one to the mini and I no longer need the hub for flash drives. You're correct about the ports on the mini though and several weeks ago I bought adapters. I suspect that many other users of the mac mini are having the same problem with their wifi and are unaware of the usb hub problem. I would add that I suspected that it was a problem with the mini and not a modem/router problem because the mini would also not connect to my smartphone as a hotspot. Everything seems to be working well now but people should be aware of potential usb hub conflicts.

Jan 1, 2019 6:31 PM in response to losaltoshills

I'm still having this issue.. I bought 2018 mac mini when they came out... Worked with Apple customer support for couple days.. with no luck... some how i was able to connect to 5G (2.4G doesn't even show up). So didn't take it to apple store for their analysis... Internet worked fine for 4 weeks.

Since yesterday my mac mini won't connect to internet... (2.4G doesn't even show up)


Is there a solution for this?

Jan 2, 2019 4:14 AM in response to hcsitas

I did try rebooting and resetting router but no help.

Note# From the same place where mac mini runs.. i have my macbook pro which detect both 2.4g and 5g and connect to them without issues.


I also tried Verizon wifi dongle... to see if i can connect to this..Mac mini doesn't even detect the network.. very weird behavior..

Jan 2, 2019 11:01 AM in response to losaltoshills

I was searching online for this issue last night.

Came across few forums where they were complaining about USB HUB's & External Hard drives connected to new mac devices... are blocking the 2.4G network on the mac's...


This morning i removed both the USB HUB & External hard drive.. restarted my mac mini... Now I'm able to see 2.4G network and connect to it without issues.


I'll try to troubleshoot which of the above two devices was actually blocking my network... later this evening.


Jan 2, 2019 5:17 PM in response to rag001

I was using below usb hub with my macbook pro for more than a year.. never had issues.

But with new mac mini.. this USB Hub is blocking 2.4G network...

Once i removed the USB hub... i can see and connect to 2.4G without issues....


I just read the reviews for this HUB.. there are complaints about it...


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072R4M3VQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1



For now... USB HUB seems to be the culprit... causing my wifi connectivity issue...

Will monitor for few weeks and update everyone.. hopefully i'll not come across any wifi issues...


2018 Mac mini Wifi Issues

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