# Mac keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi: find the cause, then fix it

> Check whether the Mac, the router or the signal is dropping the connection, read the reason code macOS logs, and fix it in order from safest to strongest.

Updated: 2026-10-19 · Tested on: MacBook Pro 14" (M1 Pro, 16 GB), macOS 26.3 Tahoe (also checked: Home router on WPA3 transition mode, 5 GHz channel 48) · Applies to: macOS 14 Sonoma – 26 Tahoe, Intel and Apple silicon · Author: Tu Nguyen, OneClickTool Studio

## Short answer

- Wi-Fi drops on a Mac come from one of three places: the router, the signal, or a setting on the Mac.
- Test another device on the same network first; if the phone also drops, restart the router and update its firmware.
- Hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon to see the signal (RSSI) and noise; a signal weaker than -70 dBm is too weak to stay connected.
- On the Mac, forget the network and join again, set Private Wi-Fi Address to Fixed, and turn off VPN or filter apps to test.
- If the drops happen only after sleep, check that the Mac is not set to put the network to sleep and that the router is not kicking idle devices.

## What you see

Your Mac shows the Wi-Fi icon with no bars or an exclamation mark, pages stop loading for a few seconds, video calls freeze, or the Mac shows "No internet connection" and then comes back on its own. Sometimes it happens every few minutes, sometimes only after the Mac wakes from sleep.

Before you change anything, answer one question: **does another device on the same network drop at the same time?** That single check tells you which half of this guide you need.

## Why it happens

| Cause | How to tell | Where to fix |
|---|---|---|
| The router or the internet line | Phone and Mac drop together | Router: restart, firmware, settings |
| Weak or noisy signal | RSSI weaker than -70 dBm, or noise close to the signal | Move closer, change band or channel |
| A saved network profile that went stale | Drops started after a router change or password change | Forget the network, join again |
| Private Wi-Fi Address blocked by the router | Router has MAC filtering or a "new device" limit | Set Private Wi-Fi Address to Fixed or Off |
| VPN, firewall or network filter app | Drops stop when the app is quit | Update or remove the app |
| Sleep settings | Drops happen only after sleep or lid close | Router lease time, wake for network access |

## Step 1: read your signal before you guess

Hold the **Option** key and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. You will see extra lines under your network: **RSSI** (signal), **Noise**, **Channel** and **Tx Rate**.

The same numbers are in Terminal:

```
system_profiler SPAirPortDataType | sed -n '/Current Network Information/,/Other Local/p'
```

On our test MacBook Pro the result was `Signal / Noise: -52 dBm / -90 dBm` on channel 48 (5 GHz, 40 MHz) with 802.11ax. That is a healthy link: the closer the signal is to 0, the better, and you want at least 20 dB between signal and noise.

- **-30 to -60 dBm:** strong. If the Mac still drops, the cause is not the signal.
- **-60 to -70 dBm:** fine for browsing, may stutter on video calls.
- **Weaker than -70 dBm:** expect drops. Move closer, remove obstacles, or use 2.4 GHz which reaches further.

A note for Terminal users: on macOS 26, `networksetup -getairportnetwork en0` printed "You are not associated with an AirPort network" on our Mac **while it was connected**. The network name is hidden from Terminal unless the app has Location permission, so do not trust that line as proof that Wi-Fi is down. Use the command above instead.

## Step 2: see why macOS says it disconnected

macOS logs a reason code every time it leaves a network. This command lists them for the last 24 hours. It took about one minute on our Mac:

```
/usr/bin/log show --last 24h --style compact --predicate 'process == "airportd" AND eventMessage CONTAINS "disassocReason"'
```

Use the full path `/usr/bin/log`, because in zsh `log` is a different command. Each line ends with `disassocReason:<number>`. The numbers are standard Wi-Fi reason codes:

- **8:** the Mac chose to leave, for example to sleep or move to a stronger access point. One or two a day is normal. Our test Mac logged exactly one in six hours.
- **2, 4 or 15:** the router dropped the Mac (expired login, inactivity, or a failed handshake). Look at the router: firmware, security mode, idle timeout.
- **Many lines close together:** the Mac is roaming between two access points or bands that have different settings.

## Step 3: fix it on the router (when every device drops)

1. Unplug the router and modem for 30 seconds, then plug the modem in first.
2. Update the router firmware from its app or admin page.
3. Check the security mode. Apple recommends **WPA3 Personal**, or **WPA2/WPA3 Transitional** when older devices need to join. Every band and every mesh unit should use the same name, password and security mode.
4. If the router has a "band steering" or "smart connect" option and drops are frequent, try giving the 5 GHz band its own name for a day to test.

## Step 4: fix it on the Mac (when only the Mac drops)

Do these in order and test for a while after each one:

1. **Forget and rejoin.** System Settings > Wi-Fi > click **…** next to the network > **Forget This Network**, then join again with the password. Since macOS 15, forgetting a network also gives it a new private address.
2. **Set Private Wi-Fi Address to Fixed.** System Settings > Wi-Fi > **Details** next to your network > Private Wi-Fi Address > **Fixed**. Choose **Off** only for your home network if the router filters by MAC address. A rotating address can look like a new device to the router and be refused.
3. **Quit VPN, firewall and "network protection" apps** for a test. If the drops stop, update or replace that app.
4. **Check service order.** Run `networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder`. A disconnected USB or Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter above Wi-Fi can make the Mac try the wrong path first. Drag Wi-Fi up in System Settings > Network > **…** > Set Service Order.
5. **Remove and re-add Wi-Fi.** System Settings > Network > select Wi-Fi > **…** > Delete Service, restart, then add it back with **+**. This rebuilds the network settings for Wi-Fi only.
6. **Run Wireless Diagnostics.** Hold Option, click the Wi-Fi icon, choose **Open Wireless Diagnostics** and let it monitor the connection while the problem happens.

## What does not help

- Deleting files in `/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration` is old advice from the Intel era. Removing and re-adding the Wi-Fi service does the same thing safely.
- Resetting NVRAM or SMC does nothing for Wi-Fi on Apple silicon Macs.
- "Wi-Fi booster" apps cannot make the radio stronger. Only distance, walls and channel choice change the signal.

## If it is the Mac itself

If every network drops (home, office, phone hotspot), the signal is strong, and the problem continues after a restart in Safe Mode, the Wi-Fi hardware may be at fault. Back up, then book a repair with Apple. If the Mac also runs hot or slow, see [kernel_task high CPU](https://oneclicktool.app/fix/slow-mac/kernel-task-high-cpu) or [WindowServer high CPU](https://oneclicktool.app/fix/slow-mac/windowserver-high-cpu). More guides: [all Mac Help topics](https://oneclicktool.app/fix).

## Still not fixed? Collect these details for an AI assistant or Apple Support

- Signal, noise, channel and Wi-Fi standard: `system_profiler SPAirPortDataType | sed -n '/Current Network Information/,/Other Local/p'`
- Disconnect reason codes from the last 24 hours (can take a minute): `/usr/bin/log show --last 24h --style compact --predicate 'process == "airportd" AND eventMessage CONTAINS "disassocReason"'`
- Network services and their order: `networksetup -listnetworkserviceorder`

## FAQ

**Why does my Mac disconnect from Wi-Fi but my phone does not?**

Then the router is probably fine and the cause is on the Mac: a weak signal where the Mac sits, a VPN or network filter app, a private address the router blocks, or an old saved network profile. Forget the network and join again first.

**Why does my Mac lose Wi-Fi after waking from sleep?**

The Mac drops Wi-Fi during sleep to save power and rejoins on wake. If it fails to rejoin, the router may have given its address away, or a VPN or security app starts before Wi-Fi is ready. Restarting the router and updating that app usually fixes it.

**Should I use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz on a Mac?**

Use 5 GHz when you are in the same room or one wall away, because it is faster and less crowded. Use 2.4 GHz when you are far from the router, because it reaches further. Many routers use one name for both bands and pick for you.

**Does resetting network settings on a Mac help?**

There is no single reset button on a Mac like on an iPhone. Forgetting the network, removing and re-adding the Wi-Fi service in Network settings, and restarting do the same job without touching your other settings.

## Sources

- [Use private Wi-Fi addresses on Apple devices — Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102509)
- [Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points — Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102766)
- [MacBook Air keeps disconnecting from wifi — Apple Community](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251345133)

Source: https://oneclicktool.app/fix/network/mac-keeps-disconnecting-from-wifi