MacBook Pro struggles to maintain Wi-Fi after short usage periods.
MacBook Pro struggles to maintain Wi-Fi after short usage periods.
Computer: Macbook Pro 2.2 GHZ on 10.11.16. Recently switched routers from an N router to an AC router. The MBP doesn’t support AC but connects via N and improved speed. HOWERVER started working after a few hours, but Wi-Fi became unstable. Upload drops from 100Mbps to under 1Mbps—still online but slow. When I disconnect and reconnect, it fails. If I power off the device and restart, everything works instantly. Connections to other devices on my home network are affected too. Other Wi-Fi users (iPhone, iPad) aren’t impacted. This seems software-related; I’m unsure how to fix it. Need advice.
While it was stuck in the "not working" state, I connected it to my Ethernet cable... didn't realize I had done that. No signal. Restarting resolved both the Ethernet and Wi-Fi issues as before. It appears to activate after a period of active use (not just idle for 3 hours or right after startup), though my tests haven't confirmed this yet.
Well, the idea of three hours being too long has stuck with me after just two or one hour. My guess is it might relate to how much data I've transferred or processed in that time. After getting some unsatisfactory advice from an expert on the apple forum—who suggested running TRIM and adding more RAM—I plan to reach out to @GabenJr and @DrMacintosh to see if they can help me get my story noticed.
Another user experienced the same problem with their 2017 MacBook Pro and iPad 2018. Loading pages required switching Wi-Fi connections, which is frustrating.
Interestingly, during low performance, websites still manage to load (especially those with lighter file sizes)....this makes it hard to pinpoint exactly when I enter a bad phase, since simply browsing Facebook might go unnoticed.
What model of MacBook Pro is this specifically? I might be able to track down the issue if I could have a model number. Also 10.11.16 is VERY out of date. Also, what type of network interference do you have in your home? USB dongles are notorious for emitting high levels of 2.4GHz interference. Microwaves and other WiFi networks from neighbors can cause problems. But this doesn’t sound like that is your problem. I would say that because this problem is causing issues with your wired connection and your wireless connection, that my first instinct is to say that the WiFi and network card is shot. If it is, it might be replaceable. (If your Mac doesn’t support AC WiFi it probably has a removable AirPort Card) Though I don’t know why the AirPort card being bad would effect Ethernet at all, even if it’s being adapted over USB.
Model Name: MacBook Pro Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1 Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz Number of Processors: 1 Total Number of Cores: 2 https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbo...specs.html 10.11.16 is the best version available. -------------------------------------------------------------- The only modification in my setup since before this began and after is the new router. There’s nothing else affected by this, and a restart resolves the issue—it isn’t related to the router. Possibly, before this router upgrade, the connection speed was slower, so I didn’t download much (like videos). Maybe the problem existed earlier and I just didn’t encounter it until now. If my idea is right, it might be a temporary state, like a cache filling up and needing emptying after restart. But I’m not sure what that “cache” refers to. ------------------ Ultimately, I’ll probably reinstall the operating system on this machine, hoping it fixes things, but I need to understand this issue first. It’s a 12-year-old device (though some parts are newer), so I’m hesitant to spend more money unless it really helps. The next RAM upgrade would cost around $40, and maybe a 4G SDRAM is still gathering dust... Thanks for looking into this. I tried to stay away from tagging you, but the support site is busy and the Macrumors forum is empty—I’m really struggling.
Problems often need an OS reinstall to be fully resolved. I understand the desire to identify the root cause, but it's important to consider if learning what the issue is makes sense compared to the initial frustration. Also, there seems to be no reference to troubleshooting steps—like checking network preferences or profiles. Have you cleared and readded your macOS Wi-Fi settings? Consider using a static IP address or adding an external DNS server such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8.
The issue hasn't required much troubleshooting due to difficulties in pinpointing the problem. I noticed that a bad phase doesn't activate when connected to Ethernet. If it does occur, interference from Wi-Fi seems to disrupt it rather than affecting "filling the bucket." The next step will involve connecting my old router and testing with N WiFi to see if it triggers the issue. I'm not clear on what you meant by changing or removing the profile.