MacBookWon’t connectOther / not sure
How to fix “Won’t connect” on your MacBook
Password errors, saved networks that won’t join, or a network that just spins — fix it here. Written for your MacBook, with your current router in mind.
These steps are written for a MacBook running a recent macOS. The router-side fixes apply to every device on your network.
When a device refuses to join your Wi-Fi, it’s usually a saved-password problem or a stuck network setting — both are easy to fix.
Try these steps in order before resetting anything.
On your router
Check the sticker on the bottom or back for the admin address and default password, and use the status lights as a guide: power solid, Wi-Fi solid, internet solid means the router side is healthy.
Your step-by-step fix
1On your MacBook, hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar to see detailed connection info.
2Turn Wi-Fi off and back on in your device settings.
3Choose your network again and carefully re-enter the password — passwords are case-sensitive.
4Still stuck? Forget the network in your device settings, restart the device, then reconnect with the password.
5Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then try connecting once it has fully powered up.
6If your router has both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with different names, try joining the 2.4 GHz one — it reaches further and more devices support it.
The Wi-Fi password is often different from your internet account password — check the sticker on your router.
If only one device can’t connect, the fix is almost always on that device, not the router.
After forgetting a network, you’ll need the password again to reconnect — have it ready.
In System Settings → Wi-Fi → your network → Details → TCP/IP, “Renew DHCP Lease” clears a bad address that blocks the internet.
If the network keeps misbehaving on this Mac only, remove it under Details → Forget This Network, then rejoin.
This wasn't quite it?Build a different fix for another device or issue, or read the general fix wi-fi that won’t connect guide.