Are you having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi networks on your Mac after updating it to macOS Monterey recently? Although connecting to Wi-Fi networks on a Mac is a fairly straightforward procedure for the most part, some users have reported issues with getting the internet to work over Wi-Fi after installing macOS Monterey. Thankfully, fixing Wi-Fi not working after Monterey update is not a big deal, courtesy of the tried and tested solution.
The most commonly reported macOS Monterey related Wi-Fi issues include: Wi-Fi not working, connection dropping frequently, won’t reliably connect to wi-fi, slow WiFi connection, or the overall network performance is lacking. This could be due to several reasons ranging from Wi-Fi router issues, to software-related problems that you may be facing on your Mac after Monterey update. Sometimes, improper DNS settings could also prevent you from accessing the internet.
If you are also facing WiFi issues after macOS Monterey update, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the steps to troubleshoot and resolve Wi-Fi issues in macOS Monterey.
Use these tips to fix macOS Monterey Wi-Fi Problems
Regardless of whether you own a MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Pro, you can follow these basic troubleshooting methods whenever you’re facing Wi-Fi problems on your macOS Monterey machine.
1. Make Sure your Mac is Up to date
Sometimes, buggy software can result in Wi-Fi connectivity issues on a Mac. Apple is usually quick to release a hotfix and address OS-related issues that have been reported by users. So, if Apple has released an update since your upgrade to Monterey, it may contain bug fixes that can fix your problem. Go to System Preferences > Software Update to look for available updates.
2. Turn Off /On Wi-Fi Network
Whenever I find the Wi-Fi network misbehaving, I soft reset the network. And I must say, it helps me fix the connection issues right away. To do that, click on the Wi-Fi menu icon at the top right corner of the screen and then turn off/ on the Wi-Fi toggle. Now, check if the problem has been fixed.
3. Forget Wi-Fi Network and Reconnect
If Wi-Fi is still not working on your macOS Monterey device, forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect to it. To do so, click the Wi-Fi icon in your Mac’s menu bar and choose Network Preferences. After that, move to the Advanced tab. Under the Wi-Fi tab, select the network in question and click the minus sign (-). When prompted, click Remove to forget the network. Now, reconnect to the Wi-Fi network.
4. Restart your Mac
If you are still facing issues, you can restart your machine to fix the Wi-Fi problem on your macOS Monterey device. You may find this silly, but most minor software-related bugs and glitches can be resolved by simply rebooting your device.
- Go to Apple menu  > Shutdown.
- Power on your Mac.
5. Reset the Wi-Fi Router / Modem
If you’re still facing problems, it’s possible that the issue is with your Wi-Fi router or modem and not the Mac itself. Hardware or firmware-related issues with your Wi-Fi router could prevent you from accessing internet over the wireless network. However, you can try resetting your Wi-Fi router to see if it fixes the issue.
- Go to your modem and router. Unplug them and wait 30 seconds.
- Plug in your modem. Wait for it to reconnect to your ISP.
- Plug in and power on your router. Wait a couple of minutes to give it time to fully boot up.
6. Reset NVRAM and PRAM
For those who aren’t aware, NVRAM or Non-Volatile Random Access Memory is a small amount of memory utilized by your Mac to store certain settings for quick access. Resetting your Mac’s NVRAM is typically considered an effective troubleshooting method when your system is misbehaving.
- Shutdown your Mac.
- Power on your Mac and immediately press and hold 4 keys: Option, Command, P and R. Hold for 20 seconds, then release.
7. Reset the SMC
Resetting your Mac’s System Management Controller (SMC) can sometimes resolve issues related to Wi-Fi, power, batter, and other features. It may be necessary to restore normal lower-level system functionality to your Mac especially when you’re facing hardware-related problems.
To reset the SMC:
- Shutdown/power off your MacBook.
- Press and hold 3 keys: Shift, Control and Option.
- Press and hold the power button, without releasing the other 3 keys.
- Hold all keys for 10 seconds, then release.
- Press the power button on your Mac.
8. Check Third-Party Software
Third-party software may be interfering with your ability to use your Wi-Fi network. The software may not be compatible with macOS Monterey, or you may need to update it. Software that is unneeded should be removed. A couple of places you can check are /Library/Extensions and /Library/DriverExtensions.
With a Finder window open, go to the menu bar at the top of your screen and select Go.
Select Go to Folder. Enter: /Library.
In the Extensions Folder, you should see:
HighPointIOP.kext
HighPointRR.kext
SoftRAID.kext
You may also see AppleMobileDevice.kext. Other, third-party software files may also be in this folder.
For the files you don’t recognize, you should figure out their origin. Try Googling the file name to find the software they are associated with. Check with the developer’s website to see if the software application is compatible with macOS Monterey. If you no longer need the app, you should uninstall it:
Open Finder. Most apps will be in the Applications folder.
If you see a folder associated with the app, look in the folder for an Uninstaller. If you see one, double-click on it and follow the onscreen instructions.
If there is no uninstaller for your app, drag the app to your Trash (on your Dock).
9. Use Apple Diagnostics
Apple Diagnostics can help you diagnose problems with your Mac’s internal hardware.
- Disconnect any unnecessary external devices and ethernet cables.
- Go to Apple menu  > Restart. Immediately press and hold the D key until you see a screen with language options.
- Choose your language and Diagnostics will start automatically.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
10. Create a New Wi-Fi Configuration
Before deleting or moving files around, its always a good idea to make a backup.
- Disable Wi-Fi: Go to the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar at the top of your screen. Click to open, then click the toggle next to Wi-Fi.
- Create a new folder to save some files associated with your Wi-Fi settings. You could call it “Wi-Fi Backup Files”. Save it to your desktop.
- With Finder open, Choose Go from the menu bar at the top, then select Go to Folder.
- Enter: /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ into the location field.Select the following files:
NetworkInterfaces.plist
com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
preferences.plist - Move the selected files to the backup folder you created.
- Restart your Mac then go to the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar and re-enable Wi-Fi.
11. Try a Different Wi-Fi Network, or Personal Hotspot
Another option is to try a different wi-fi network entirely, or use Personal Hotspot from an iPhone or cellular iPad. If the Mac works with a different network, or with a personal hotspot, it’s certainly an indicator the issue is with the other wi-fi router, network, or provider, and you’d want to focus troubleshooting efforts on that side of things rather than the Mac.
You can also try using the same wi-fi network with a different device, like another Mac, a PC, iPhone, iPad, Android device, or something else – if those devices are working with the wi-fi network it suggests something is going on with the Mac, whereas if those devices also are not connecting to the internet successfully, it points to an issue with a particular wi-fi network or ISP.
WiFi not working after Monterey update: Problem Fixed!
Hopefully by now you have resolved any Wi-Fi connectivity issue you were facing on your Mac with macOS Monterey.
If none of the above troubleshooting methods worked in your favor, you might want to contact your internet service provider (ISP) to check for any issues on their end. Server-side issues can also prevent you from accessing the internet over Wi-Fi. One of the best ways to check if it’s actually a Wi-Fi specific issue is by using an ethernet cable and establishing a wired connection with any of your other devices.
If you are still experiencing wi-fi connectivity issues on macOS Monterey, contact Apple Support. The following are available Apple support options:
See also: Mac Connected to Wi-Fi but no Internet access? Fix
Do you use an iPhone as your primary mobile device? In that case, you may also be interested in taking a look at some of the basic troubleshooting steps you should follow if Wi-Fi is not working after iOS 15 update.
We hope you were successful in troubleshooting your macOS Monterey Wi-Fi problems. Which of the troubleshooting methods that we discussed here worked for you? Did you have another solution for Monterey related Wi-Fi issues? Share your experiences, thoughts, and opinions in the comments section below!