When you complain about your computer not receiving a flawless Internet connection, people tend to say: “It’s okay; we all have the same problem now and then.” Sure; Wi-Fi problems are common. But when you pay a lot for a new computer, you expect things to work perfectly well. If you’re in the middle of important work, problems with the Internet connection make you slow and frustrated. It’s a nerve-wracking experience, especially if the issues continue on a daily basis.
We’ll go through a few simple tips to help you troubleshoot and fix your connection.
- Analyze the Connection
When you want to get to the root of the problem, you start with the most obvious step: you see your Wi-Fi is failing for some reason. The easiest way to do it is to use an analyzer Wi-Fi for Mac. If your computer says that there is a signal but you can’t connect, the app will search for errors.
- Check for Signal Blockades
If you can connect when you move your computer to another room or corner, it means that something is blocking the signal to the spot where you lost connection. Thick walls, steel, concrete, microwave ovens, the TV, and other physical blockades may make the signal weaker or non-existent in some spots. If you don’t have the option of moving the router, a Wi-Fi extender may work as a solution.
- Check How Your Computer Sees the Network
On a Mac, you can easily check the connection’s status in System Preferences > Network. Choose the network that you want to connect, and check the light. If it’s green, it means that the connection is active. A red light indicates that you haven’t set up the service, and a yellow one means that the network is available, but your computer is not connected to it.
- Make Sure It’s Not the Internet Service Provider
Do you have a stable Wi-Fi signal in the first place? If you can’t connect from any device, it’s possible that your ISP has issues. They are probably working on a solution, but you should call them to make sure the situation will be quickly solved.
- Make Sure There Are No Software Issues
Have you been updating your computer’s software on a regular basis? If you set up your computer to automatically cover this process, you want to check just in case. In case you don’t have the latest version installed, outdated software may cause connection failures.
- Do You Have the Recommended Settings?
Your Internet service provider might recommend different settings than the one you have on your computer. If you can connect from another device, search for the recommendations online. If such information is not available, you can call your ISP to ask for guidelines.
- Reboot the Router
In case your ISP says that everything is fine on their side, rebooting the router is the first thing you should do. This is a simple procedure: just turn off the device and wait for about 30 seconds before you turn it on again. This solution sounds too simple to be true, but it works in many cases.
- Forget the Network and Connect Again
Maybe you can solve the issue by connecting to the network all over again. If your Mac automatically connects to this network, go to Network under System Preferences, choose Wi-Fi and go to the advanced settings. You’ll see a list of networks; choose the ones you want to forget and remove them.
Now, all you need to do is type in the password when trying to connect all over again.
- Reboot Your Computer
We got used to our Macs being effective without the need of a restart, but sometimes it’s a helpful solution. Try turning your computer off and on again; you might be able to connect when you reload the operating system.
- Check for Interference from Other Networks
If you live in an apartment building where several networks are located close to one another, they may affect each other’s capacity. To solve this issue, you can replace the router in another room, or shift to another frequency. Switching from the 2.4GHz to the 5GHz frequency is recommended in these situations.
- Use the Network Utility Tool
This is a more advanced step for those who understand networking basics. The Network Utility tool will show you the details of each connection. You’ll see its status and speed, the IP addresses related to it, and potential transmission errors and collisions.
Having Internet connection issues is not fun at all. The good news is that there’s a simple solution in most cases. If you don’t manage to fix the issues, talk to your Internet service provider. Your computer might need servicing, too.
Author Bio:
James Dorian is a technical copywriter. He is a tech geek who knows a lot about modern apps that will make your work more productive. James reads tons of online blogs on technology, business, and ways to become a real pro in our modern world of innovations.