Connect your Mac to a Wi-Fi network

Why it happens

Your Mac lists the Wi-Fi networks it can hear and remembers each one you join. Once you've typed the password, it reconnects by itself next time. If the network is hidden or the password has changed, you join it by hand or forget the old details first.

How to fix it

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon near the top right of the screen, the fan of curved lines. If you don't see it, click Control Center (the two-switch icon) and use Wi-Fi there. If Wi-Fi is off, turn its switch on.

2. Click your network's name in the list. If it isn't there, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Wi-Fi to see every network your Mac can find.

   Wi-Fi

3. Type the Wi-Fi password and click Join. It's often printed on a sticker on the router. Passwords are case sensitive, so check capitals.

4. When it connects, the Wi-Fi icon fills in and Wi-Fi settings shows Connected under your network's name. That's also how you see which network you're on.

Still not fixed?

1. If it says the password is wrong, forget the network and join it again. Open Wi-Fi settings, click Details… next to the network, click Forget This Network…, then join it fresh.

   Wi-Fi›Details…

2. If your network isn't listed, it may be hidden. In Wi-Fi settings, click Other… below the list of networks, type the exact network name and password, and click Join.

3. In a hotel, cafe or airport, a sign-in page usually has to open before the internet works. If it doesn't pop up, turn off any VPN, open Safari and go to a plain http site such as neverssl.com to bring it up.

4. Move closer to the router, then turn Wi-Fi off and on to rescan. If no device can join, restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.

5. If other devices join the network fine but your Mac never finds any networks at all, contact Apple Support, as the Wi-Fi hardware may need checking.