Although new macOS updates introduce new features and security patches, they might also unintentionally introduce new bugs. macOS Monterey, the latest update from Apple, has caused Wi-Fi network issues for several users who are now looking for possible fixes. Therefore with this guide, we seek to resolve all such problems.
How to Fix macOS Monterey Wi-Fi Network Issues
Network issues can be a great hindrance if you are doing any work online. Before jumping to the solutions, let’s first talk about the causes, which can be:
- A temporary glitch in the system
- Incorrect date and time setting
- Problems with the Router and Slow Internet speed
- Incorrect DNS settings
Quick Answer
You can forget and reconnect to the desired Wi-Fi network to fix all issues.
1. Open System Preferences and click on Network > Wi-Fi.
2. Then, select the Advanced… option and choose the desired network.
3. Click on the – icon for that network and select Remove.
4. From the Mac desktop screen, click on the Wi-Fi icon from the top.
5. Join the desired network by entering the password for it.
Method 1: Basic Troubleshooting Tricks
Before diving into the more complicated and technical solutions for resolving the macOS Monterey network issues, it’s worth trying out the simple troubleshooting methods outlined in the following sections.
1A. Reboot Router – It can fix the temporary glitches which might be causing this network problem.
1. Press the Power button on the router and disconnect the power cable of your router and wait for a few minutes.
2. Now, reconnect the power cable and switch on the Wi-Fi router. Wait until the network connection is re-established.
3. Connect to your Wi-FI network again from your MacBook.
1B. Restart Mac – When you restart your Mac, temporary glitches and bugs on your device get fixed. To make yourself familiar with how to restart your Mac, follow the steps discussed below:
1. First, click on the Apple Menu icon on your Mac.
2. Then, click on the Restart… option.
1C. Remove All Connected Devices – If any accessories, such as Keyboard, Mouse, External Drive, etc., are connected to your Mac, reconnect these drives/devices.
1D. Disable then Enable Wi-Fi – Toggling Wi-Fi can help regain the internet connection.
1. First, click on the Wi-Fi icon located at the top right corner of your Mac’s screen.
2. Turn off the toggle for the Wi-Fi option.
3, Then, wait for a while and turn on the toggle again for the Wi-Fi option.
Method 2: Run Wireless Diagnostics
By running the wireless diagnostics test, you can figure out if there are any issues with the network connection. Upon completion of this test, you will get a detailed report stating the root causes of any network issues you may be experiencing and suggestions for resolving the issue, such as changing the Wi-Fi network or moving your wireless router to a different location. Let’s see how to perform this test:
1. First, press and hold the Option key on the keyboard and click on the Wi-Fi icon located in the top menu bar.
2. After that, click on the Open Wireless Diagnostics… option.
3. Then, click on Continue from the popup window.
4. After the diagnostic report is generated, follow the mentioned suggestions to fix the issues.
Method 3: Run Apple Diagnostics
You can run Apple Diagnostics on your Mac to find out the cause behind the Wi-Fi issues you are coming across on your macOS Monterey. To do so, abide by the steps mentioned below:
Option I: On Intel Mac Devices
1. Select the Apple menu and click on Restart… to turn off your Mac.
2. Then, press and hold the D key while your computer is restarting.
3. Release the D key once you see a progress bar or when asked to choose a language.
Option II: On Apple Silicon-based Mac Devices
1. Click on the Restart… option from the Apple menu.
2. Now, press and hold down the power button while your Mac starts up.
3. Then, release the power button once the startup options have appeared.
4. Next, on your keyboard, press the Command + D keys.
Now, Apple Diagnostics will automatically start up and begin examining your hardware. You will receive a thorough report about any issues it finds.
Also Read: 20 Best PC Diagnostic Tool List
Method 4: Forget and Reconnect to Network
Forgetting and then reconnecting to the same network has fixed this macOS Monterey network issue for several users. Below are the steps stating how to do that:
1. Launch System Preferences and click on the Network option.
2. Then, select the Wi-Fi option from the left pane and click on Advanced…
3. Now, under the Preferred Networks section, select the network you wish to forget and click on – icon to forget it.
4. After that, click on the Remove option from the confirmation prompt.
5. Following that, to reconnect the network, click on the Wi-Fi icon located at the top menu bar.
6. Select the network you want to rejoin.
7. Next, enter the Wi-Fi password and click on Join.
Keep reading to learn more methods to fix the macOS Monterey Wi-Fi network issues.
Method 5: Set Correct Date and Time
Several online services and applications rely on an accurate date and time information to function properly. And due to incorrect date and time settings, your Mac may not be able to establish a secure connection to websites/services that require accurate time information for authentication purposes.
To fix this, you have to set these settings correctly with the help of the steps mentioned below:
5A. Set Time Zone
1. Open System Preferences and click on the Date & Time option.
2. Now, click on the Lock icon from the bottom of the screen to unlock the permissions to make changes in the settings.
3. Then, under the Time Zone tab, mark the checkbox for the Set time zone automatically using current location option.
5B. Enable Location Services
Other than this, try enabling the Location Services to improve the location accuracy. To do that, read the steps discussed below:
1. Launch System Preferences and click on Security & Privacy option.
2. Next, switch to the Privacy tab and select the Location Services option from the left pane.
3. After that, mark the checkbox for the Enable Location Services option.
Also Read: Fix Wi-Fi Disconnects When iPhone is Locked
Method 6: Switch to 5GHz Band
5GHz provides greater bandwidth and using it over the 2.5GHz band improves the Wi-Fi performance and speed. To make yourself familiar with how you can switch to 5GHz band Wi-Fi on Mac, read the below-discussed steps:
Note: To switch to the 5GHz band on your dual-band router, ensure that you have separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks on the router with different names.
1. Navigate to System Preferences and click on Network.
2. Now, click on Wi-Fi > Advanced… option.
3. Then, drag the 5GHz network to the top and click on OK.
Method 7: Reconfigure DNS Settings
Incorrect Domain Name System settings can cause this macOS Monterey network issue on your Mac. You must reconfigure g=these DNS settings to fix the discussed issue.
Note: First, ensure that DNS is working properly. To check this, navigate to Safari and enter this URL: https://17.172.224.47. If you are then taken to Apple’s official website, it indicates that your internet is working all right and there is an issue with the domain names.
1. Navigate to System Preferences and choose the Network option.
2. Now, click on the Wi-Fi > Advanced… option.
3. Following that, switch to the DNS tab.
4. Then, click on the + icon and type 208.67.222.220.
5. Click on the + icon again and type 208.67.222.222.
6. Finally, click on the OK > Apply option.
Also Read: Wi-Fi Standards Explained: 802.11ac, 802.11b/g/n, 802.11a
Method 8: Update macOS
Apple releases new updates for Mac which include the latest features, security update features, fixes bugs, etc. If you do not or can’t update your Mac, you might come across macOS Monterey network issues. Apple may send updates targeting those macOS errors users may be facing, so try not to overlook them.
To update macOS, read and follow the steps mentioned below:
1. From the Dock, click on System Preferences.
2. Then, click on Software Update.
3. Finally, if any update is available, click on Upgrade Now.
Method 9: Delete Network Preferences
When network preferences become corrupted or misconfigured, it causes network connectivity issues on your Mac. Let’s see how to delete these preferences to fix the said issue.
1. Open Finder and select the Go > Go to Folder… option from the top menu bar.
2. Then, enter the following path in the given field.
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
3. After that locate the following files given below and Delete them.
- com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
- com.apple.network.identification.plist
- NetworkInterfaces.plist
- preferences.plist
- Settings.plist
Method 10: Reset System Management Controller (SMC)
System Management Controller controls the arrangement of your device’s battery, power, fans, and more. A corrupt SMC can cause macOS Monterey network issues. In this case, perform an SMC reset on your Mac. To do so, adhere to the given steps:
1. Click on the Apple icon > Shut Down… option from the top menu bar.
2. Next, press and hold the Shift+ Control+ Option keys.
3. After that, without releasing the keys, press and hold the Power button.
4. Now, continue to hold all the pressed keys for about 10 seconds and then release them.
5. Finally, power on your Mac to ensure that the network issue has been fixed or not.
Method 11: Reset NVRAM/PRAM
NVRAM/PRAM is a memory type that stores information about your PC’s configuration. Resetting NVRAM/PRAM can sometimes help to resolve network issues.
1. Click on the Apple icon > Shut Down… option on your Mac from the top menu bar.
2. Then, to reboot while your Mac is booting, press and hold the Option + Command + P + R key combination for around 20 seconds.
3. After the MacBooks will play the startup sound, release all keys to reset the PRAM/NVRAM.
Note: For MacBooks that are new with the T2 security chip, you should release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time. This should reset the PRAM/NVRAM.
Also Read: How to Fix MacBook Overheating Issue
These methods were outlined for you to fix the macOS Monterey network issues of the Wi-Fi on your Mac device and we hope they worked for you. Let us know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions or queries. Also, you can convey what you want to learn about next.