Old Retina MacBook not connecting to internet out of safe mode

[Superman041]

Any ideas on how to resolve this?

Tried the below

Forgetting network and re-adding
Renewed DHCP lease
Tried adding the DNS servers to 8.8.8.8
Also did a fresh install of O/S from recovery mode

Not sure what else? WiFi works on all other devices

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

To rule out possibilities outside of the MB case, have you taken the MB to a different wifi source and see if it can connect? Bookstore? Library? Work? Etc. A simple test like that would narrow the problem in on actually being the MB itself.

Assuming it still shows this problem with any Wifi source, have you tried connecting it via ethernet to your wifi router?

Have you rebooted your wifi router to rule out any potential kludge that might be in it from not being restarted in a long time?

 

[Superman041]

To rule out possibilities outside of the MB case, have you taken the MB to a different wifi source and see if it can connect? Bookstore? Library? Work? Etc. A simple test like that would narrow the problem in on actually being the MB itself.

Assuming it still shows this problem with any Wifi source, have you tried connecting it via ethernet to your wifi router?

Have you rebooted your wifi router to rule out any potential kludge that might be in it from not being restarted in a long time?

Other devices work
I’ve also tried rebooting the router yes
Also tried tethering through iPhone which it won’t connect to the internet

I’ve done a hardware diagnostic there isn’t any issue apparently

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Again, I'd take my MB to a public wifi source and see if it can access wifi there. That rules out lots of possibilities and narrows in on the MB itself. As is, there is still room for the problem to be OUTSIDE of the case.

Connect through ethernet as a test too.

It probably is something DEAD in the MB but you are in search of solutions and ruling out other possibilities is the path to them.

 

[ab22]

…"not connecting to internet out of safe mode…"

You mean it does connect when started in Safe Mode ?.

Some software : AV / proxy / security seems very likely.

The reinstall - was that a complete erase ?

 

[Superman041]

…"not connecting to internet out of safe mode…"

You mean it does connect when started in Safe Mode ?.

Some software : AV / proxy / security seems very likely.

The reinstall - was that a complete erase ?

Yes that’s correct it connects in safe mode

Reinstalled after holding down CMD + R which put it in recovery mode and now on this screen

 

[Superman041]

Again, I'd take my MB to a public wifi source and see if it can access wifi there. That rules out lots of possibilities and narrows in on the MB itself. As is, there is still room for the problem to be OUTSIDE of the case.

Connect through ethernet as a test too.

It probably is something DEAD in the MB but you are in search of solutions and ruling out other possibilities is the path to them.

I’ll have to get an Ethernet adapter given the MacBook doesn’t have a port

Wouldn’t the diagnostic show then ‘dead’ component?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Diagnostics aren't always perfect. Maybe it's not dead but just a portion of it is malfunctioning. Maybe the diagnostic is designed to check for some inputs from the chip but doesn't check that the antenna is functional.

The free thing to do is head for another source of wifi and see if it will connect there. That would tell you that wifi is working but your own wifi is not... and shift the hunt for the problem to stuff OUTSIDE of the case. However, if you do this and it doesn't connect to any wifi anywhere, it's INSIDE the case and- since safe mode will connect- probably just some software thing.

If this, I'd create a guest user account and try to connect to your wifi from that. If guest connects, that means your main user account has some software issue- which then might be remedied in a number of ways.

 

[ab22]

Definitely try a Guest account as HobeSoundDarryl suggests.

"...Recovery keeps your files and user settings intact when reinstalling."

Reinstall macOS

You can reinstall macOS on your Mac while keeping your files and user settings intact.

support.apple.com

 

[Chazzle]

I would create a new network location, then remove the original network location. Seems this issue dozens of times and this often times helps.

Use network locations on Mac

Quickly switch network settings on your Mac by using a network location. To set up a network location, use Network preferences.

support.apple.com