Full WiFi But Cannot Connect To Internet On Macbook Pro?

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I come across this problem fairly regularly & always get stumped on how to resolve - despite reading a bunch of guides & videos on how to do so & it is really frustrating.

I do everything in these guides suggest - unplugging, rebooting, restarting, resetting etc - Router, Mesh Nodes, Modem, Network etc.

On my MBP, I do things like deleting WiFi on System Preferences & adding it again, Leaving WiFi selection to Automatic, changing DNS Servers, Renewing DHCP lease & Manually, Apple Diagnostics - basically everything in any guide, I follow but no joy in resolving.

I have 1GB Internet speed & using a Mesh system - all the nodes are showing steady blue light so normal operation.

- My MBP is not connecting to WiFi when using IPV4 is set to DCHP - I am getting an IP Address starting with 169
- Renewing DCHP Lease then produces no information at all in IPV4 section - all blank or starts with 169 again.
- Using DHCP with manual address also does not connect
- Entering details under Manual gets Full Wi-Fi signal but then MBP says “You Are Not Connected To The Internet”

Please see screen-shots below - can anyone please tell me how to resolve once & for all so I know what to do in future - assume everything is working as it should - Internet, Routers, Mesh, WiFi etc but it’s just the MBP that does not connect to internet? I know it is a something on the MBP that causes this as it has happened a number of times before.

Many Kind Thanks.

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[BrianBaughn]

Do any other devices connect to this WiFi network?

Are you in control of the network…the modem and the mesh devices?

 

[Bazzy]

Do any other devices connect to this WiFi network?

Are you in control of the network…the modem and the mesh devices?

Hi,

Thanks for the input! Yes, my iPhone connects via WiFi to the Internet.

I have control/access to the Network, Modem & Mesh Devices

Apple Diagnostics states it is a DNS Resolution Failure & suggests using Google or OpenDNS which do not work & neither does 1.1.1.1.

Many Thanks!

 

[BrianBaughn]

Try creating a new, test user account. Don't enter any Apple credentials…just see if a new account can get internet via WiFi.

 

[Bazzy]

Try creating a new, test user account. Don't enter any Apple credentials…just see if a new account can get internet via WiFi.

Hi,

Tried that but same result - shows WiFi starts with a 169 Address...

 

[BrianBaughn]

Did you try "Using DHCP" with that account?

 

[Bazzy]

Did you try "Using DHCP" with that account?

Hi,

Yes, I did but no joy sadly. I have had this issue before & I can never ever seem to sort it out - no matter how many guides I read or videos I watch - it really defeats me every time. It gets so bad that I even thought to see if there was some kind of networking course I could attend locally.

The good news is that it is back working now - I called the Router company with issues I was having with my Mesh system & they made me completely disconnect each & every single item, reset & reconfigure everything.

What really irks me, is that Apple Diagnostics said it was a DNS issue. 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4 was what I always had & one of the options I tried but it refused to work.

Now that my Router company reset & reconfigured everything, I no longer get the self assigned IP address starting with 169 but a working one starting with 192.

I checked the DNS Servers in Network Preferences after everything was back online & they are 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4.

I therefore just do not understand why it did not work when I used the very same?

Thanks Kindly!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

So resetting the router resolved the issue?

If so, it does seem that it was a DHCP problem (your router acts as the DHCP server for your network).

Why you weren’t able to MANUALLY configure, I don’t know - possibly your router blocks connections not assigned or reserved in DHCP.

Personally, I don’t use the router provided by my ISP. I use it only as a modem, and then connect that via Ethernet to my own router that I control. Some ISP routers have a “bridge mode” you can enable to allow this, but even if not it should work via “dual NAT” which usually doesn’t cause any problems.

 

[Madonepro]

Hi,

Yes, I did but no joy sadly. I have had this issue before & I can never ever seem to sort it out - no matter how many guides I read or videos I watch - it really defeats me every time. It gets so bad that I even thought to see if there was some kind of networking course I could attend locally.

The good news is that it is back working now - I called the Router company with issues I was having with my Mesh system & they made me completely disconnect each & every single item, reset & reconfigure everything.

What really irks me, is that Apple Diagnostics said it was a DNS issue. 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4 was what I always had & one of the options I tried but it refused to work.

Now that my Router company reset & reconfigured everything, I no longer get the self assigned IP address starting with 169 but a working one starting with 192.

I checked the DNS Servers in Network Preferences after everything was back online & they are 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4.

I therefore just do not understand why it did not work when I used the very same?

Thanks Kindly!

Unassigned IP addresses are usually caused by DHCP failures!

I suggest the following (highly recommend you do 6 & 7)

Network Configuration Fixes

1. Create a New Network Location:
   • Go to System Settings > Network.
   • Click the ... (menu button) at the bottom right and choose Locations > Edit Locations.
   • Click the + button to add a new location (name it anything).
   • Select the new location, then try connecting to your Wi-Fi again.
2. Forget and Reconnect to Wi-Fi:
   • Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi.
   • Click on the network name and select Forget This Network.
   • Reconnect to the network and re-enter the password.
3. Check IPv6 Settings:
   • Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Details > TCP/IP.
   • Ensure "Configure IPv4" is set to Using DHCP.
   • Try setting "Configure IPv6" to Link-local only.
4. Remove Old DNS Entries:
   • In the same Network > Details menu, click on the DNS tab.
   • If there are any IP addresses listed under "DNS Servers," select them and click the - button to remove them.

Troubleshooting

• Disable VPN/Firewall: VPN software or security software can block DHCP requests. Quit all VPN apps and turn off third-party firewalls temporarily to test connectivity.
• Check for IP Conflict: If another device on your network is using the same IP address, your Mac may fail to connect. Restarting the router usually resolves this.

 

[Bazzy]

Unassigned IP addresses are usually caused by DHCP failures!

I suggest the following (highly recommend you do 6 & 7)

Network Configuration Fixes

1. Create a New Network Location:
   • Go to System Settings > Network.
   • Click the ... (menu button) at the bottom right and choose Locations > Edit Locations.
   • Click the + button to add a new location (name it anything).
   • Select the new location, then try connecting to your Wi-Fi again.
2. Forget and Reconnect to Wi-Fi:
   • Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi.
   • Click on the network name and select Forget This Network.
   • Reconnect to the network and re-enter the password.
3. Check IPv6 Settings:
   • Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Details > TCP/IP.
   • Ensure "Configure IPv4" is set to Using DHCP.
   • Try setting "Configure IPv6" to Link-local only.
4. Remove Old DNS Entries:
   • In the same Network > Details menu, click on the DNS tab.
   • If there are any IP addresses listed under "DNS Servers," select them and click the - button to remove them.

Troubleshooting

• Disable VPN/Firewall: VPN software or security software can block DHCP requests. Quit all VPN apps and turn off third-party firewalls temporarily to test connectivity.
• Check for IP Conflict: If another device on your network is using the same IP address, your Mac may fail to connect. Restarting the router usually resolves this.

Hi,

Thank you so much for this!

I had tried everything in points 1-4 & also disabling VPN, all extensions etc but it still did not work.

I did not turn off the main MacOS Firewall - should I try that next time as well?

How do I check for IP Conflict? I did restart the main Router a number of times but still kept getting a WiFi IP Address starting with 169 each time.

I shall keep a screen-shot of your post for future reference but I really need to figure out once & for all how to resolve getting an IP Address starting with 169 as it really frustrates the hell out of me. I even take screen-shots of when everything is working correctly so I can then just copy & manually input all the correct information manually but even that does not work.

It is obvious there is something I am just not doing or understanding correctly and/or missing something as the number of many times this has happened, I should have figured it out a long time ago!

Many Thanks!

 

[Madonepro]

Hi,

Thank you so much for this!

I had tried everything in points 1-4 & also disabling VPN, all extensions etc but it still did not work.

I did not turn off the main MacOS Firewall - should I try that next time as well?

How do I check for IP Conflict? I did restart the main Router a number of times but still kept getting a WiFi IP Address starting with 169 each time.

I shall keep a screen-shot of your post for future reference but I really need to figure out once & for all how to resolve getting an IP Address starting with 169 as it really frustrates the hell out of me. I even take screen-shots of when everything is working correctly so I can then just copy & manually input all the correct information manually but even that does not work.

It is obvious there is something I am just not doing or understanding correctly and/or missing something as the number of many times this has happened, I should have figured it out a long time ago!

Many Thanks!

Have you removed all DNS entries? You don’t need to have anything in there.

The only real solution, that’s left for you, is to reset network settings on both Mac and router and connect via Ethernet, enter your router username and password, and start from scratch.

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

Well, it back to square one again & getting a Self Assigned IP Address again.

I have tried absolutely everything recommended above & again, watching a bunch more fix it videos & online guide etc but nothing works.

I even called Linksys who brand the Router & Mesh are & they checked everything & said all is working fine. Everything else connects via WiFi but not this Macbook Pro.

I have another Macbook Pro that someone else uses & that connects fine to WiFi.

If I select DHCP - I get a Self Assigned IP.
Renewing DHCP does nothing.
Selecting DHCP with Manual Address only allows one to input a IP Address but the Subnet Mask is 255.255.0. & cannot alter. The Router IP information is not there so cannot be input.

If I select Manually, I can input all parameters & then get Full WiFi Signal but still cannot connect to the Internet.

I input the exact IP Address from when it was working & get a Full WiFi Signal but no internet connection. Changing the last digits of the IP Address results in the same.

One video suggested removing a P-list file & that did not work.

Another to remove a file from KeyChain & that did not work.

Removing Network & adding it again does not work

Adding a New Location with New name does not work

Unplugging everything & replugging does not work

Resetting the Router does not work

Removing P-Lists does not work

Pretty sure I do no have any Proxies (whatever they are) - see screen-shot below

Tried checking if WiFi connects in Safe Mode & still get a Self Assigned IP Address.

I am beyond fed up with this crap now - what is going on here? I cannot call Apple as I do not have any warranty - it is a 2015 model & every resource that I can find & reference solutions do not work?


Many Thanks,

 

[Fishrrman]

Other things you could try... I realize these are all "off-the-wall".

Get a USB ethernet dongle. Can it connect to the router via a wired connection?

Get a USB wifi dongle. Yes, I realize wifi is "inside", but that's not working. Can it work using a USB dongle?

Finally...
Back up your personal data.
Boot to internet recovery.
Erase the internal drive.
Reinstall the OS, then...
... migrate your data back.

Does a completely "fresh start" work?

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

Just did another Wireless Diagnostics:

I am currently connected to the MBP via an Ethernet Cable to one of the Ports on the Mesh Child Nodes & am able to connect to the Internet via Thunderbolt Connection - I assume that is a LAN Connection so not sure why WD is saying LAN Connectivity Failure?

WD is stating the obvious here & what I need to resolve but it does not give any solutions? It says, contact ISP but I have already contacted Linksys.

I checked with my Router & the default DNS Settings are 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4 which is exactly what is on my MBP so the DNS Settings are correct so again, not sure why WD is saying this.

I came across this post from someone who states that my changing MAC Address he was able to get it to work but it seems complicated & being non technical, not sure about or how to do Point 3 - is what he suggests worth a try or not advisable for someone of my level?

I am clutching at straws here - this seems such a widespread & common issue & so many different fixes - some which work & others/most that do not - what a very convoluted issue if experienced Mac users cannot definitively find a simple, common & universal fix?

Many Thanks!

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

Sorry Guys, I just got super frustrated & just tried to change the WiFi MAC Address as per the last image instructions but got this:

So the first file (sudo/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport -z) is not even in my system?

Thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

If you take the MBP to a public place that has wifi, can you connect there?

 

[chown33]

If you're connected to the internet with an ethernet connection, what happens if you turn wifi off completely?

Does the ethernet connection alone give you a working internet connection?


Please identify the exact make and model of the router and mesh components. I didn't see anything named in earlier posts, but I may have missed it.

 

[Bazzy]

If you take the MBP to a public place that has wifi, can you connect there?

Hi,

I will try that tomorrow & update you

Thanks!

 

[chown33]

So the first file (sudo/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport -z) is not even in my system?

You need a space after 'sudo'. Try this:

sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport -z

Each of the spaces in that command line are required.

 

[Bazzy]

If you're connected to the internet with an ethernet connection, what happens if you turn wifi off completely?

Does the ethernet connection alone give you a working internet connection?


Please identify the exact make and model of the router and mesh components. I didn't see anything named in earlier posts, but I may have missed it.

Hi,

The WiFi is not working at all - currently getting the WiFi symbol with an exclamation mark in it. IP Address keeps staying at Self Assigned starting with 169.

Turning WiFi off completely just turns shows a slash line on the WiFi Symbol - ethernet connection still works fine.

Ethernet connection via Thunderbolt ports gives working Internet. (Ethernet cable is connected to a Child Node of a Mesh System).

Router Parent Node & Mesh Child Nodes are all the same made by Linksys. They are the Linksys MX5600 (ISP has labelled them as SPNMX56).

I have 6 & all is working fine. On my MBP currently getting between 900MB to 1.2GB with Ethernet connection. Before on WiFi, it was anywhere between 350MB-800MB.

General Speeds depending on Room are between say 350MB-700MB.

All other devices connect via WiFi.

Did a Apple Hardware Test & this showed No Issues.

Did a PRAM & SMC Reset.

Ran Wireless Diagnostic Test again - which says LAN Connectivity Failure & Custom DNS Settings.

Purged DNS Cache by deleting:

according to:

.

If I am able, I can attach the WiFi logs file here - do you know if that is possible?

Many Kind Thanks!

 

[chown33]

The WiFi is not working at all - currently getting the WiFi symbol with an exclamation mark in it. IP Address keeps staying at Self Assigned starting with 169.

Not working on any device? Or not working only on this MBP?

What happens if you disable ethernet and enable only wifi?

Turning WiFi off completely just turns shows a slash line on the WiFi Symbol - ethernet connection still works fine.

Ethernet connection via Thunderbolt ports gives working Internet. (Ethernet cable is connected to a Child Node of a Mesh System).
...
I have 6 & all is working fine. On my MBP currently getting between 900MB to 1.2GB with Ethernet connection. Before on WiFi, it was anywhere between 350MB-800MB.
...

What are you trying to accomplish by having both ethernet and wifi connections active?

The ethernet appears to be faster than wifi was, so why have wifi at all?

 

[Bazzy]

Not working on any device? Or not working only on this MBP?

What happens if you disable ethernet and enable only wifi?

WiFi not working ONLY on this MBP - working everywhere else

What are you trying to accomplish by having both ethernet and wifi connections active?

The ethernet appears to be faster than wifi was, so why have wifi at all?

I do not use it in just one place in the property - I need to use elsewhere as well & need it to be mobile. I also need to know that it can connect to WiFi when I use it at other locations as not everywhere will have an ethernet port I can connect to.

 

[Bazzy]

You need a space after 'sudo'. Try this:

sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport -z

Each of the spaces in that command line are required.

Hi,

I think as a novice, I did something wrong as it did not seem to work - I almost never go into terminal. Please see below what this guy wrote who was having the same issue & even a fresh install did not work, He then said he did the following which worked.

If you/anyone can be kind enough to explain exactly what to do & when like I am the village idiot, then hopefully it might work - he wrote:

"After 3 days of persisting with this problem I have managed to fix it on my MacBook M1. I can't believe the rabbit hole I have been down. I am in a hostel for the next 2 months so I had no admin access to the router, all my other devices worked except my MacBook. I tried everything I could find, clearing caches, deleting network preference files, creating a new location, setting manual gateways and subnets, even a complete erase and reinstall of MacOS which still did not work. I couldn't let it go and finally I found an answer that hopefully can help someone else.

What finally fixed the problem for me was changing the MAC address. It must have logged it in the router and blocked it for some reason. On a MacBook Pro M1 with Monterey 12.6 this is the fix that worked for me:

1. leave the wifi turned on.
2. dissociate from any current network by opening terminal and entering the command: "sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport -z"
3. change the MAC address by entering a new MAC: "sudo ifconfig en0 lladdr xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx" where xx is a hex number
4. I choose a new MAC by copy and paste the old one at the bottom of the network page on system preferences and at the bottom of the advanced tab, then changing the last two digits to "FF"
5. reconnect to network the normal way by selecting it under the wifi menu icon
6. 👌"

In Point 2, I am unsure what he means by "dissociate from any current network".

In Point 5, I am unsure what sequence of events he followed if he went into Network Preferences & put in new DNS numbers, Checked the IP Address etc.

Many Thanks!

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

A very big update - I spoke to someone who services & repairs Apple computers & even he could not figure out why it was not connecting.

Googling over days, I found that this is an issue that can affect even very experienced users as it seems a very common issue indeed that stumps most or many. There does not seem to be a single prescribed solution to solve - it seems that people try many different things that may work for them & post their solutions online.

Apple Wireless Diagnostics stated that there was a LAN Connectivity Failure & that I was using Custom DNS Servers which I was not (I was using 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4). Also remember that Linksys had checked everything on the Router & said all was fine & they could not figure out why this was happening.

Feeling utterly dejected very late last night after hours go reading & googling, I went into my Router settings (not something I normally do as I do not know what the heck most of the settings do or mean). I very carefully went to each page & menu pages from each.

I went through the "WiFi" settings & from what I could tell they all seemed fine & I did not alter/change anything.

I also went to the "Connectivity" option from the LHS menu. There were pages for: Basic, Internet Settings, Local Network, Advanced Routing & Administration.

I went through each one just to see & check what was there & set.

Basic: Just showed Admin Password, Time Zone & Firmware Update.

Internet Settings: Showed Automatic Configuration - DHCP. I could not understand then why on my MBP, the renew DHCP lease was not working.

Local Network: showed Router Details, DHCP Server Enabled, IP Address Ranges & DNS Servers set to 8.8.8.8 which is what I have on my MBP so again stumped as to why I could not connect to WiFi.

There was another selection at the bottom of the DNS Servers named "DCHP Reservations". No idea what this was but upon pressing, it came up with a table that had headings:

Reserved Addresses

Manually Add Device Reservation

& then a table with headings:

Device Name | Interface | IP Address | MAC Address | Select (Tick Boxes - all Unticked)

This table showed all the devices connected with their IP Addresses & MAC Addresses.

I looked & found 3 separate one for my MBP - 2 with some computer generated name & the one I named on my iPhone on the mobile Linksys App as "15" Macbook Pro".

I have no idea why there are 3 entries for my Macbook Pro but I just started to compare the numbers from Network Preferences against the ones from this list.

I then just copied the IP Address from one of these other ones named as my MBP into the IPV4 input on the TCP/IP pane from Network Preferences on my MBP (out of desperation tbh) & would you believe it - Holy Cow - IT WORKED!!!

I did not change or alter anything else except under the DNS Server, since my Router Settings set by the ISP only had one row of 8.8.8.8 with the rest of the 4 lines blank, I also input under neath, 8.8.4.4 & 1.1.1.1.

IT WORKED FOLKS! This Neophyte & "Monkey See, Monkey Do" Computer Illiterate somehow, someway managed to get it working again - even if it was by pure chance & luck!

WiFi connecting fine now & seems stable - getting WiFi Speeds of around between 390MB-450MB.

What I would like to do next is post screen-shots of my Router Settings just to ensure I have not messed anything up & to see if it is set up for best & maximum/optimum performance - that way, I have to never go into it again hopefully.

My apologies for the very long post but seeing as so many novice & experienced struggle so much with this issue, I wanted to detail mine in case it helps others out hopefully.

You guys have all been amazingly helpful so just wish to express my sincere gratitude & say a big Thank You to you all!

Many Kind Thanks
Bazzy!