Lion doesn't automatically connect to internet

[goombamd]

Not sure if this is a "security feature" but when I turn on my mac, it doesn't automatically connect to the internet. I have to type in my keychain password and it still doesn't connect. Once I go to the wifi menu bar at the top right and click on my wireless network, then it connects. Kinda annoying. Any way to make it connect automatically on the HOME network?

[184550]

Not sure if this is a "security feature" but when I turn on my mac, it doesn't automatically connect to the internet. I have to type in my keychain password and it still doesn't connect. Once I go to the wifi menu bar at the top right and click on my wireless network, then it connects. Kinda annoying. Any way to make it connect automatically on the HOME network?

Sounds like a problem on your end.

When I installed Lion I didn't encounter that problem. It recognized my wifi network immediately and connected. I didn't have to select my network and enter my password

[saguakid]

My iMac does not stay connect to wifi when computer goes to sleep,my macbook pro is ok,so when i wake it up then look for my wifi,how could i fix this

[wpotere]

Actually it looks a little like a bug. We have noticed on our two macs that the internet will connect automatically and sometimes we have to manually do it.

[^^BIGMac]

Actually it looks a little like a bug. We have noticed on our two macs that the internet will connect automatically and sometimes we have to manually do it.:mad:

[eddie832]

My iMac was not connecting to Wi-Fi automatically when waking from sleep. Going to the Energy Saver preferences and checking "Wake for network access" seems to have fixed this for me.

It's worth noting that my Macbook air does not have this problem. And "Wake for Wi-Fi network access" was checked by default.

UPDATE: The iMac fix I described above is not working, my iMac still won't connect to wifi after waking from sleep.

[i.lilly]

The same thing is happening to me too! I have a late 2009 MacBook Pro. I never had a problem with auto connecting to my wifi network when I was running Snow Leopard. Any advice? It does not appear to be a network problem as the other computers in the house are able to auto connect (including one running lion).

[adityanag]

2009 Macbook Pro, same problem. Never had an issue with Snow Leopard, and the other Macbook in the house (Snow Leopard), as well as a Windows laptop, and sundry phones have no issues.

[marmiteturkey]

New macbook air 13, same problem. Won't automatically connect, often the first time I point it at my network it has a timeout error, then the second time it goes through.
Same on every other network too.

[MisterMe]

2009 Macbook Pro, same problem. Never had an issue with Snow Leopard, and the other Macbook in the house (Snow Leopard), as well as a Windows laptop, and sundry phones have no issues.2009 17" MacBook Pro. No problems at all. Your problem is not generic to Lion. This means that the problem is specific to either your computer or to your Wi-Fi network. Do you have a clue what that is?

[adityanag]

2009 17" MacBook Pro. No problems at all. Your problem is not generic to Lion. This means that the problem is specific to either your computer or to your Wi-Fi network. Do you have a clue what that is?

Nope. Everything was working fine till I installed Lion. No changes in the router config or anything else. The only variable that's changed is Lion.

I deleted all my wifi profiles, and all the saved passwords from Keychain, rebooted, and let it detect again. It seems to be working better now, but there are still a few hiccups. Let's see.

[flyn01]

I had the same problem with "Lion" on my MacBook. I fixed it by:

Open "System Preferences"
Select "Advanced"
Select the "Wi-Fi" tab
Search for your preferred network and drag it to the top of the preferred network list.

I deleted all the others from the many networks I've joined on my travels.

Worked like a champ.

[cibergatox]

Mid 2011 15" MBP Didn't connect immediately after waking while running Lion... So I tried this suggestion:

I had the same problem with "Lion" on my MacBook. I fixed it by:

Open "System Preferences"
Select "Advanced"
Select the "Wi-Fi" tab
Search for your preferred network and drag it to the top of the preferred network list.

I deleted all the others from the many networks I've joined on my travels.

Worked like a champ.


I deleted some networks I never use, and I got connected like it did while running SL 10.6.8

[wpotere]

Still having the issue of it not coming back quickly after it has been put to sleep. I only have one network on the system...

Very buggy to say the least.

[BostonBrawler]

It is definitely a Lion issue. Noticed it on my 2010 MBP17 after install, and new 13Air I got last week. Doesnt happen all the time, but mostly when I go into a new network area on my air.

[davidwarren]

Yup, my new Air will not connect automatically from sleep. I have tried all the usuall fixes, seems to be a lion bug. I haven't had this issue since Tiger.

[tigres]

Another thing you may find odd (or I did) was the transmit rate was decreased (or reported as decreased) by 30-50 on Lion vs. SL.

On Lion, my home wifi transmit rate was 270, and on SL it is 300.

Not sure if this has anything to do or help you on, but you can check your distance, and transmit rates to put that in your mix. (btw, hit option +click your wifi menu in toolbar)

FWIW

[alpineraven]

I have the same problem with my MacBook late 2009 (Snow Leopard was perfect but Lion nah), obviously its a bug - it doesnt automatically connect to WIFI network and its a pain because I go approx 4-5 different WIFI networks including iPhone - Used to automatically connect after wake - now it doesnt - have to click on WIFI menu to get it connected... Annoying that have to do that. Also I do have timeout connection issues too.
Cheers
AP

[kingston,]

posted same issue a little while ago...

[mike21190]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but I'm having a similar problem. My 2011 MBA connects to wifi without a problem after in sleep mode, but randomly as I'm using Safari pages stop loading. I check istat and there is nothing going in or out on the network at these times. I have to turn wifi off and on to get them to load again. It's happens quite often. Are you guys having this problem as well?

[jornalero]

Found this temporary solution on another blog.

I turned off Time Machine and disconnected my USB Time Machine backup drive. Had to do both. Now I have no problem staying connected to the Internet via WiFi and Lion.

[handheldgames]

From the MacPro forum: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1202229

In a fresh install of Lion 10.7(or upgrade from 10.6.8), after a wake from sleep,

Both Ethernet ports on the MacPro have about a 45 second delay before they initialize and become active....

After thinking it was a hardware issue, I've verified this doesn't happen on 10.6.8.

Details from the console:

7/30/11 10:35:48.000 AM kernel: 00000000 00000000 Intel82574L::timeoutHandler - has to reset the chipset once since there is still no link for the workaround

7/30/11 10:36:13.000 AM kernel: Ethernet [Intel82574L]: Link up on en0, 1-Gigabit, Full-duplex, Symmetric flow-control, Debug [796d,af08,0c01,0200,cde1,3c00]
__________________

[cokito]

Same prob. I never used time machine, it's off.

[littlebudha]

I was also having the same problem after installing Lion on my MacBook Pro. After turning off Time capsule, it works flawlessly.

[gentlefury]

My MacBook Air auto connects to wifi flawlessly...when I get to work I'm online and when I get home I'm online.

[jfeez]

I was finding that when I was at work, my MBA running Lion would connect automatically to our wireless network. At home, however, I had to manually reconnect every time I closed the lid or the computer went into sleep mode.

I just upgraded to 10.7.1 and now my computer seems to reconnect after sleeping or closing the lid just fine.

[randallw]

Back on... Leopard I think, I had encountered something similar to this, where my MacBook wouldn't connect automatically to my home network from sleep mode (lid closed). I wouldn't need to type in my password, but I did have to click the wifi icon and select my network from the list, then it would connect.

I tracked it down to that I had organized my whole Applications folder, and had moved the Settings.app into a folder. Once I moved it back into /Applications/, everything went back to normal for connecting to wifi from sleep.

-Randall

[cire001]

.. go in to network pref... in advance tab, delete all your known networks.. worked like a charm for me .. It was getting really annoying to have to reconnect every time I closed my mbp!

[mattsutte]

none of these fixes are working for me. it's so frustrating.

my problem was described exactly by someone else on page 1:

my computer (brand new macbook air w/ lion) will never connect automatically to any network. first you connect and it times out, then you connect again and it times out and 3rd time it connects. this is the same for any network, new or old. i've tried deleting all of the known networks upwards of a dozen times and no dice.

please help if anyone finds a real working solution for this. i'm assuming it's just a bug and will be updated in the next revision of lion, but i've been thinking that for a LONG time now.
thx

[wpotere]

none of these fixes are working for me. it's so frustrating.

my problem was described exactly by someone else on page 1:

my computer (brand new macbook air w/ lion) will never connect automatically to any network. first you connect and it times out, then you connect again and it times out and 3rd time it connects. this is the same for any network, new or old. i've tried deleting all of the known networks upwards of a dozen times and no dice.

please help if anyone finds a real working solution for this. i'm assuming it's just a bug and will be updated in the next revision of lion, but i've been thinking that for a LONG time now.
thx

The really solution is that Apple needs to fix it. It is a bug and we have been waiting since the release for them to fix it. All they have done is released iCloud crap instead of fixing their code. If that is the only bug you have feel lucky, my machine crashes daily on Lion and was rock solid on SL.

[privileged2000]

I noticed I only had this problem after I started using a password on my wifi. I noticed in network - advanced, the network i used still said "security - none," so i deleted it and wrote it back in w/ security.

i didn't know what kind so i guessed wep. it still didn't work. i went into network - advanced again, deleted the network again, and added it again, only this time i clicked "choose network." when i chose my network it popped up and i had to enter the password, only this time it was automatically labelled WPA 2 Personal. I hit apply, sleep, woke it up -- now it works.

So my advice for anyone still having this problem is delete all the networks from "preferred networks" (system pref - network - advanced - wifi tab), then add yours back, add it by "choose network," make sure it shows up w/ security as needed, and it should work.

good luck!

[wpotere]

Deleting and re-adding the settings is only a temporary fix to be honest. What you guys are having is a driver related issue that needs to be resolved by Apple. We can only hope that they will fix it in the next patch. However, there is a way to shoehorn the SL drivers on the the Lion system and that fixes the problem. I wouldn't use it as a permanent fix but it will work until Apple fixes it.

[hyperpiper45]

I just want to add that I am also having problems connecting to my wifi network after waking from sleep.

The strange thing is, I can connect to my 2.4Ghz wireless network fine after a wake. It is only when I try to connect to the 5Ghz network on the same router that it will not connect automatically after waking from sleep. When I select the connection from the drop down menu it connects fine.

I have tried numerous fixes and nothing has worked at all.

This problem occurs with my 2011 MBP and a 2009 MacBook which leads me to believe it is a Lion bug.

[navarretemarce]

My computer (brand new macbook air mid 2011 w/ lion) will never connect automatically to any network. first you connect and it times out, then you connect again and it times out and 3rd time it connects. this is the same for any network, new or old. i've tried deleting all of the known networks and works until i move to my work or somewhere else, then when i am back the issue is back.

It is really irritating my cheap Chinaware laptop does it better, and 6 yes SIX months since the original post and Apple cant release a patch?

[rshaylor]

I came here with the same problems and walked away with a fix. Make sure you delete all your preferred networks then click the + and click choose network and it should just work from now on.

[Droymac]

I found an effective solution for both dropped WiFi connections as well as network connection failure on wakeup. The drops were an issue right out of the box, and the connection failure didn't start happening until I reset my router in an attempt to fix the drops (which didn't work).

For drop issues, try this (http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/06/lion-wi-fi-problems-solution-mac/). For wakeup connection failure, I disabled Wi-Fi, opened System Preferences... > Network, selected Wi-Fi on the left, clicked the Advanced... button on the bottom right, and removed all of my saved networks by clicking the minus sign (including the one I was trying to work on). Then I clicked the plus sign to re-add my home network and things have been running fine since.

Hope this helps.

[corrales1]

I found an effective solution for both dropped WiFi connections as well as network connection failure on wakeup. The drops were an issue right out of the box, and the connection failure didn't start happening until I reset my router in an attempt to fix the drops (which didn't work).

For drop issues, try this (http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/06/lion-wi-fi-problems-solution-mac/). For wakeup connection failure, I disabled Wi-Fi, opened System Preferences... > Network, selected Wi-Fi on the left, clicked the Advanced... button on the bottom right, and removed all of my saved networks by clicking the minus sign (including the one I was trying to work on). Then I clicked the plus sign to re-add my home network and things have been running fine since.

Hope this helps.

This solution also worked for me. Delete the problem network from "Preferred Networks" and then reconnect; let it rebuild itself in Preferred Networks again. I do not believe it is a driver-related issue or bug in Lion, but rather a result of modifying the router. In my case, the wifi not connecting automatically started after I had restored my router to factory settings. (prior to that, it was auto connecting after sleep/startup just fine). Router password and all settings remained the same, so I didn't think I would need to rebuild the Preferred Networks until I read this and connected the dots. Thanks, Droymac!

[hyperpiper45]

The 10.7.3 update has not fixed the wake from sleep issues for me :(

[wpotere]

The 10.7.3 update has not fixed the wake from sleep issues for me :(

So far it has been OK here for now. However, reading some of the posts, it looks like they introduced a whole new series of issues. Apple is on a roll!

[tug]

I found an effective solution for both dropped WiFi connections as well as network connection failure on wakeup. The drops were an issue right out of the box, and the connection failure didn't start happening until I reset my router in an attempt to fix the drops (which didn't work).

For drop issues, try this (http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/06/lion-wi-fi-problems-solution-mac/). For wakeup connection failure, I disabled Wi-Fi, opened System Preferences... > Network, selected Wi-Fi on the left, clicked the Advanced... button on the bottom right, and removed all of my saved networks by clicking the minus sign (including the one I was trying to work on). Then I clicked the plus sign to re-add my home network and things have been running fine since.

Hope this helps.

thanks for this, it works perfectly, connects immediately from sleep.

[jumpup4it]

same as many on this thread, i have a MacBook Pro 15" from 2010 now on Lion OS. My doesn't even connect when I first start my mac.

Interestingly I have a wifi router and wifi access point. It automatically connects to the router but not the access point..... i have deleted the router from the preferred networks.

Does anyone know if there is a bug fixes i can download?

UPDATE: I tried Droymac's advice but still the same issues.

[eljanitor]

Hmmm I was at an Airport waiting for my flight. When I had Snow Leopard installed on my Macbook, using the free internet at that airport wirelessly wasn't a problem. I just sat back and selected it and surfed the net while waiting for my flight.

I went back with Lion installed about 6 months later. I went to my Airport icon , now its called wireless :( and oh joy. "There was a problem connecting to the selected network." It didn't matter what I did it wouldn't connect. I have had other wireless issues since downgrading to Lion in many other places.

Who thought Lion would suck so badly?

[tug]

thanks for this, it works perfectly, connects immediately from sleep.

sadly, it didn't last, still stuck with the same problem.

maybe by the time apple puts the 10.9.4 update out they might have sorted it. :eek:

[colourfastt]

sadly, it didn't last, still stuck with the same problem.

maybe by the time apple puts the 10.9.4 update out they might have sorted it. :eek:

If it weren't for the fact that I've made the mistake and moved my MobileMe to iCloud I'd upgrade from Lion to Snow Leopard in a heartbeat. I never had a problem with SL automatically reconnecting my wifi from sleep, yet with Lion I have to manually do it nearly every time.

[SR45]

Just my glitch that is slightly different than most of yours using the sleep mode....

Mine will not connect (Not using sleep mode) when I first turn on the cable modem, and boot up. I have to click on the WiFi icon each time. However, if I turn on the modem first, and wait a few seconds (10/15) then turn on the Mac, the WiFi turns on without issues or any more hands on my me. I guess for me its just a timing issue and not really Lion per se.

[harleystumm]

This has been so annoying. But it was only my home wireless that my July 2011 MBP wouldn't join automatically - would log on straight away to the wifi at my studio, and the offices of others I regularly visit.

I did all of the fixes suggested. Deleted the WiFi profile. Deleted other profiles from my travels. Making other profiles top of the list, then mine again. Deleted the plist. Rebooted a gazillion times. Poked inside the router settings, changed the password there.

Finally, after I not only changed the password, but changed the type of security to WPA/WPA2 instead of WEP, did it work. Now it connects automatically like it used to.

Presumably this is a more modern or preferred standard and Lion deals with it more easily...

Hope this helps. Send me flowers if so.

[tug]

This has been so annoying. But it was only my home wireless that my July 2011 MBP wouldn't join automatically - would log on straight away to the wifi at my studio, and the offices of others I regularly visit.

I did all of the fixes suggested. Deleted the WiFi profile. Deleted other profiles from my travels. Making other profiles top of the list, then mine again. Deleted the plist. Rebooted a gazillion times. Poked inside the router settings, changed the password there.

Finally, after I not only changed the password, but changed the type of security to WPA/WPA2 instead of WEP, did it work. Now it connects automatically like it used to.

Presumably this is a more modern or preferred standard and Lion deals with it more easily...

Hope this helps. Send me flowers if so.

nope! didn't work for me, so here you are;324657 thanks for the idea though. :)

[K1100RS]

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/42037/apple-imac-wi-fi-update

[ahaggard17]

I had the same issues as everyone on this thread. Macpro laptop goes to sleep. Wakes up. Need to manually reconnect to home wifi network.

The alert that pops up appears to have my wifi network on name on it XXX_XXX_XXXX (actual network hidden to protect the innocent) so I click on that and then I'm linked back up.

Upon reading the pop-up more closely it says "preferred networks not found"...

which is odd because it appears that the preferred network is found.

The difference is that my preferred network name is XXX XXX XXXX with no "_" space characters....

My unproven theory is that when I upgraded it somehow patched "_" into my network names.

Simply updating my preferred network to reflect the correct network name (no "_" for spaces) it is now reconnecting like a charm on waking up from sleep.

This might not affect others, but it solved my problem....

Cheers,
Andrew

[Barfoot89]

Not sure if this is a "security feature" but when I turn on my mac, it doesn't automatically connect to the internet. I have to type in my keychain password and it still doesn't connect. Once I go to the wifi menu bar at the top right and click on my wireless network, then it connects. Kinda annoying. Any way to make it connect automatically on the HOME network?

I am experiencing the exact same thing! It is rather annoying and I do believe it is not operator error but an issue with Lion 10.7.4. I have read about those with far worst issues than this so I feel fortunate that it is a rather simple step to log onto the internet but none the less, annoying. I have sought answers from some who are far more experienced with macs than I and receive the same answer, it's the operating system, NOT the user. Have not found the answer to this issue, other than that Lion seems to working fine on my MBP.