Perplexing: Wifi connected but no internet

[Jasonscott71]

I found a thread here from a few years ago on a very similar issue but different circumstances so I thought it was best to start a new thread.

My Macbook Pro (mid 2010) connects to my wifi network but there is no internet that comes through. The internet is not the problem as all other devices connect to it and use it.

Here's the troubleshooting steps I have taken so far with no luck:

* Rebooted the computer over a dozen times.
* Rebooted the modem/router combo unit 2 times with the Mac off, then rebooted Mac.
* Typed 8.8.8.8 in the browser to see if that loads because I read a suggestion to do it. Doesn't load.
* Disconnected my Mac from the home network and connected to my phone's 4G hotspot. Still no internet.

I then opened network diagnostics and under Network status, the first four things listed are in green. That's wifi, wifi settings, network settings, ISP. All green.

Internet has a red button next to it and the word failed next to it.
Server has a red button next to it and the word failed underneath.

This is all the information I can think of at the moment to provide. If this is a DNS problem I have no idea how to fix that. But I don't know what it is and am at a loss. Any help would be appreciated, so if anyone who think they might know how to resolve the issue has more question, please ask me. If I can provide more information to help nail down what I can do to fix it, I'm all ears.

 

[Sanpete]

Have you successfully connected via your phone's hot spot before?

Have you tried to connect to your router with an ethernet cable? I've had a router fail even though it connected fine on my wi-fi network, just didn't pass through the internet anymore. It might have needed a hard reset, which is different from a reboot. Have you tried that with your modem/router?

 

[Jasonscott71]

Have you successfully connected via your phone's hot spot before?

Have you tried to connect to your router with an ethernet cable? I've had a router fail even though it connected fine on my wi-fi network, just didn't pass through the internet anymore. It might have needed a hard reset, which is different from a reboot. Have you tried that with your modem/router?

Thanks for the reply, yes, that's my number 4listed thing I tried. Hotspot connects but no internet. I have done a hard reset on both. Neither worked.

 

[Sanpete]

If your modem/router is owned by your service provider, you can call them for support. They should be able to walk you through tests to determine what the problem is. They might help even if you own the modem/router.

What I was trying to find out is whether, prior to this incident, you have ever successfully connected your MBP to the internet via the phone hot-spot. It may be that the failure to connect that way isn't related to this incident. If you have done it successfully before, then the most likely thing is that the problem is in your MBP.

I take it you don't have an ethernet cable?

 

[robvas]

* Typed 8.8.8.8 in the browser to see if that loads because I read a suggestion to do it. Doesn't load.

That wouldn't do anything - 8.8.8.8 is a Google DNS server

You can try to ping it from a Terminal window, though. Try that and let us know what it does.

Also, take a screenshot of your TCP/IP configuration for that wireless connection in System Preferences

 

[Kromithion]

That wouldn't do anything - 8.8.8.8 is a Google DNS server

You can try to ping it from a Terminal window, though. Try that and let us know what it does.

Also, take a screenshot of your TCP/IP configuration for that wireless connection in System Preferences

I’m having the same exact problem

 

[immsonali]

I’m having the same exact problem

I am having the same problem from last night and i am tired of trying lot of ways.
Any solution you found ?

 

[green86]

Open Activity Monitor and find the Network tab:

Then find the process I've highlighted above, mDNSResponder, and kill it. (The button shaped like a stop sign with an x in the upper left hand corner)

Does that fix anything?

 

[johanleyssens]

same problem here after high siërra update... killing mDNSResponder helped! thanx Green86!

 

[77Clockwize]

Open Activity Monitor and find the Network tab:
View attachment 770270
Then find the process I've highlighted above, mDNSResponder, and kill it. (The button shaped like a stop sign with an x in the upper left hand corner)

Does that fix anything?

[doublepost=1546926797][/doublepost]Ive tried everything and Safari still wont open

 

[VNovaCat92]

Open Activity Monitor and find the Network tab:
View attachment 770270
Then find the process I've highlighted above, mDNSResponder, and kill it. (The button shaped like a stop sign with an x in the upper left hand corner)

Does that fix anything?

This worked great for me, thank you! And fwiw, I have this problem occasionally with my MBP but not at home, rather when I'm at hotels or other "publicish" wifis. This solved the problem in seconds. Thank you thank you!

 

[parkerjd]

Sharing in case it helps others..

I recently had the same issue.
-- Neither Safari nor Chrome would connect or load web sites.
-- Ping and mail worked just fine, and AirPort utility would report internet connected
-- Restarting the computer (often a restart would hang, and need to be forced) would always clear the problem until it returned (it appeared to return after a sleep).

I tried the steps listed here to clean it up:
-- updated all software (10.15.4 Catalina -- late 2016 MBP 13)
-- reset DNS, cleared DNS cache, killed mDNSResponder
-- checked process hogs using TOP

I then tried to do some troubleshooting...
-- Created an alternate test user
-- When I encountered the problem, I then switched to the test user.. The test user would also exhibit the issue!
-- Ran the CleanMyMacX maintenance script(s) (including Flush DNS Cache)

As the problem existed for each separate user, I had hope that re-installing the MacOS might have a strong chance to clear the issue.
So, I decided to back-up (again) and re-install MacOS using recovery mode
https://macpaw.com/how-to/start-up-mac-in-recovery-mode (reference other sites as well)
AND....
No. It did not solve the problem. (To my disappointment!)
The problem re-appeared after some time (again after sleep).
I had only started Safari, and switched users during this process.
EXCEPT... I did a scan using CleanMyMacX (I recommend this tool!)
... AND... I had the free version of AVAST installed. I decided to try an un-install of AVAST (as I had purchased CleanMyMacX, and the latest version also has malware detection and removal.)

After 3 days, and multiple sleep cycles, I now have not seen the return of the issue.
If I do, I will return here to respond. Also, I do not experience a hang on restart either (which makes sense, as the hang would only occur once the issue had appeared.)

I am not saying definitively, that Avast (or the combination of CleanMyMacX and Avast) was causing the issue, BUT... (until otherwise noted here in the future...)
1. I experienced EXACTLY the same symptoms as noted in this thread:
No web site loads, but network connected
2. No other attempt to clear the issue up worked (reviewed multiple separate threads, including this one)
3. Re-installed MacOS did not solve
(re-install leaving users in place -- FULL clean re-install not tried -- that would have been next step)
4. Un-installing free Avast Anti-Virus tool, has cleared the problem
(at least in my circumstance and system.)

-jason

 

[mackiee]

I have a MacBook Pro 2018 13". The last two or maybe three weeks I experienced exactly the same problem. VERY hard to get an Internet connection and when I do it often goes away almost immediately. I have no problems accessing the router and every other device in the house has no problems with WiFi.

I literally tried everything regarding deleting and/or changing network settings. My computer was also VERY slow at startup. I eventually started to suspect Avast and that lead me to this thread. Then I read Jason's post above.

I immediately uninstalled Avast and at the first boot there was some initial problems but I eventually got a stable Internet connection. Then I also changed the MTU to 1453 (from auto which is 1500). Rebooted and for the first time in weeks I got an Internet connection immediately. Several reboots later the problem has not come back, so this seems to be the fix! Will later try to change back the MTU to the default setting and see if that will change anything.

I also installed Sophos free antivirus. Seems to work well even though I'm not that fond of the web based dashboard. One thing is sure, I will never touch Avast on the Mac again...

 

[mackiee]

I have a MacBook Pro 2018 13". The last two or maybe three weeks I experienced exactly the same problem. VERY hard to get an Internet connection and when I do it often goes away almost immediately. I have no problems accessing the router and every other device in the house has no problems with WiFi.

I literally tried everything regarding deleting and/or changing network settings. My computer was also VERY slow at startup. I eventually started to suspect Avast and that lead me to this thread. Then I read Jason's post above.

I immediately uninstalled Avast and at the first boot there was some initial problems but I eventually got a stable Internet connection. Then I also changed the MTU to 1453 (from auto which is 1500). Rebooted and for the first time in weeks I got an Internet connection immediately. Several reboots later the problem has not come back, so this seems to be the fix! Will later try to change back the MTU to the default setting and see if that will change anything.

I also installed Sophos free antivirus. Seems to work well even though I'm not that fond of the web based dashboard. One thing is sure, I will never touch Avast on the Mac again...

One day after I posted the above the problems started again... My startup time after a boot is MUCH faster after I uninstalled Avast but the problems with Internet connection over WiFi is back. I have no problems accessing my router or pinging my NAS on the same network, but I rarely get an Internet connection without switching WiFi on/off several times or trying to switch back and forth between 2.4GHz and 5GHz. It often takes 10-15 minutes to get a connection. But... when I eventually do get a connection it seems to be stable until the next reboot.