Can't use WiFi and Ethernet at the same time.

[aliennerd]

I have an infuriating issue with my M2 Mac Studio. I want it connected to my network and internet via the 10Gb ethernet port and this all works perfectly unless I turn on the WiFi.

I want to turn on the WiFi for universal control and airdrop however whenever I turn on the WiFi my internet connection fails. No matter what I do I can't have both on at the same time and still have internet.

I've made sure the service order is set correctly in network preferences but it makes no difference. I simply can't use the ethernet and have the WiFi on at the same time does anyone have any clue what is happening?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bigwaff]

I simply can't use the ethernet and have the WiFi on at the same time does anyone have any clue what is happening?

Is your WiFi and ethernet connections from the same router? Are the IP addresses for WiFi and ethernet in the same subnet? Some description of your network device topology would be helpful.

 

[steve217]

I have WiFi enabled on my Mac mini which is also connected to wired ethernet, but the mini is not logged in to a WiFi network.

The fan-shaped WiFi icon on the task bar is greyed-out. Airdrop works perfectly.

Have you tried that?

 

[aliennerd]

Is your WiFi and ethernet connections from the same router? Are the IP addresses for WiFi and ethernet in the same subnet? Some description of your network device topology would be helpful.

Hi yes sorry the wifi and ethernet connections are from the same router and same subnet. If I go into the WiFi settings and tell it to forget the wifi network so the wifi is on but not connected to the router it also disconnects my iphone from the wifi which resulted in me using up all my data.

 

[aliennerd]

I have WiFi enabled on my Mac mini which is also connected to wired ethernet, but the mini is not logged in to a WiFi network.

The fan-shaped WiFi icon on the task bar is greyed-out. Airdrop works perfectly.

View attachment 2516580

Have you tried that?

Hi yes, this gets airdrop to work but not universal control. However the only way I can disconnect from the wifi is to tell it to forget the wifi network and this disconnects my iPhone as well. If I then reconnect my iPhone it also reconnects my Studio.

 

[aliennerd]

I should probably also mention I have an M4 Mac Mini which is quite happy connected to the same router via ethernet and wifi simultaneously.

 

[Tesla1856]

Unless you are doing something crazy-geeky ... I've never seen a Windows or Mac computer that allows two-concurrent network connections (to serve one OS instance).

I still say "wired ethernet" is the way to go when at all possible.

If you just need the WiFi for wireless peripherals, you might want to try Bluetooth (as it is more of a local-wireless thing).

 

[Bigwaff]

I've never seen a Windows or Mac computer that allows two-concurrent network connections (to serve one OS instance).

WiFi and ethernet are just network interfaces. It is certainly possible to have two (or more) network interfaces active on a single computer. macOS prioritizes one over the other for the default route (local and internet traffic) but it is certainly possible to use the secondary active network interface for specific use cases.