How to fix a Mac that won't connect to office Wi-Fi after a password change

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix a Mac that won't connect to office Wi-Fi after a password change. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When your office Wi-Fi password is updated, your Mac may keep trying to connect using the old credentials stored in your keychain. This can result in repeated connection failures or a prompt that never quite resolves the issue. Follow the steps below to clear the saved network and reconnect with the new password.

Quick Fix Steps

If you just need to get connected quickly, follow these steps on your Mac:

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
2. Select Wi-Fi Settings… (or Open Network Preferences on older macOS versions).
3. Find your office network in the list of known networks.
4. Click the Details… button next to the network name.
5. Click Forget This Network and confirm your choice.
6. Reconnect by selecting the network from the Wi-Fi menu and entering the new password.

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Forget the saved Wi-Fi network

Your Mac stores Wi-Fi passwords in the Keychain. When the password changes on the router, the stored credential no longer matches, and the connection fails. Forgetting the network removes the outdated entry.

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar.
2. Choose Wi-Fi Settings… from the drop-down menu.
3. In the network preferences window, locate your office Wi-Fi network under the Known Networks section.
4. Click the Details… button next to the network name.
5. Click Forget This Network, then click Remove to confirm.

macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia steps

On macOS Ventura and later, the Wi-Fi settings are located in System Settings rather than System Preferences:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.
2. In the sidebar, click Wi-Fi.
3. Click the Details… button next to your office network name.
4. Click Forget This Network and confirm when prompted.
5. Return to the main Wi-Fi page, select your office network from the list, enter the new password, and click Join.

Step 2: Reconnect with the new password

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
2. Select your office network from the list of available networks.
3. Enter the new Wi-Fi password when prompted.
4. Ensure the Remember this network option is checked.
5. Click Join.

If you do not know the new Wi-Fi password

If your Mac was previously connected but you were not notified of the password change, you will need to obtain the new credentials before proceeding:

• Contact your office IT administrator or the person who changed the router password.
• Check any internal documentation or welcome pack provided when you started with the organisation.
• Ask a colleague who has successfully connected to the office Wi-Fi since the change.

Without the correct password, you will not be able to complete the reconnection steps above.

Troubleshooting

The network does not appear in the list

If your office Wi-Fi is not visible, try the following:

• Toggle Wi-Fi off and back on using the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
• Move closer to the router or wireless access point.
• Check whether other devices can see and connect to the network.
• Restart your Mac using the Apple menu → Restart.

Hidden network (SSID not broadcasting)

Some offices configure their Wi-Fi network to be hidden, meaning the network name (SSID) does not appear in the standard list of available networks. To connect to a hidden network:

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
2. Select Other… or Join Other Network… from the menu.
3. Enter the exact network name (SSID) as provided by your IT administrator.
4. Select the security type (usually WPA2 Personal or WPA3 Personal).
5. Enter the new Wi-Fi password.
6. Click Join.

Connection succeeds but drops out repeatedly

If your Mac connects but keeps disconnecting, the old password may still be cached in your Keychain. Manually remove it:

1. Open the Keychain Access app from the Utilities folder (located at /Applications/Utilities/).
2. In the top-left of the Keychain Access window, ensure you are viewing either the System or Local Items keychain.
3. In the search bar, type your office Wi-Fi network name.
4. Look for an entry labelled AirPort Network Password or Wi-Fi Password.
5. Right-click the entry and select Delete.
6. Enter your Mac administrator password to confirm.
7. Restart your Mac and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network.

You are prompted for a username and password

Some office networks use enterprise (802.1X) authentication rather than a simple Wi-Fi password. If you see fields for both a username and password, you may need to enter your network or organisational credentials rather than a shared Wi-Fi key. Check with your IT administrator if you are unsure which credentials to use.

MAC address filtering or device blocklists

Some office routers use MAC address filtering to control which devices can connect. If your Mac's Wi-Fi address is not on the approved list, or if the device has been added to a blocklist, authentication will fail even with the correct password.

• Ask your IT administrator to check whether your Mac's Wi-Fi MAC address is permitted on the office network.
• If your Mac was recently added to a blocklist, request that it be removed.
• Once the MAC address is approved, repeat the reconnection steps above.

Check date and time settings

Incorrect date and time settings on your Mac can cause Wi-Fi authentication failures, particularly on enterprise networks that rely on security certificates. To verify your settings:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Click General in the sidebar, then select Date & Time.
3. Ensure Set date and time automatically is enabled.
4. If the date or time is incorrect, restart your Mac and attempt to reconnect to Wi-Fi.

Reset network interfaces

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, resetting your network configuration can help clear deeper system-level conflicts:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Go to Network.
3. Click the Advanced… button at the bottom of the network services list.
4. Review the list of network services and remove any unused or duplicate entries by selecting them and clicking the minus (−) button.
5. Click Apply and restart your Mac.

If you have worked through all of these steps and your Mac still cannot connect to the office Wi-Fi, there may be a broader network issue or a configuration problem specific to your machine. Open a Ticket and our support team will assist you further.

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