Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix and resolve 'Connected but no Internet' issues on macOS. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When your macOS device shows a connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet status but you can't browse websites or use online services, the issue is usually with your local network configuration, DNS settings, or the device's network stack rather than the physical connection itself. This guide walks you through diagnosing and resolving the problem using built-in macOS tools, starting with the quickest fixes and moving to more detailed troubleshooting.

If you haven't yet connected to your network, see How to connect to Wi-Fi.

Quick Fix Steps

Try these steps in order. Most "connected but no internet" issues are resolved within the first few.

1. Toggle Wi-Fi off and back on from the menu bar.
2. Restart your Mac.
3. Restart your router and modem (power off for 30 seconds, then power on the modem first, followed by the router).
4. Try a different network or use your iPhone's personal hotspot to confirm whether the issue is local to your Mac.

If the quick fixes don't resolve the issue, continue with the detailed instructions below.

Detailed Instructions

Check the Connection Status

Before changing settings, confirm what macOS is reporting.

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar (or the Control Centre icon on newer macOS versions).
2. Confirm your network shows as connected with full signal bars.
3. Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon to view detailed information including your IP address, router address, and signal quality.

Note the following:

• IP Address — Should start with 192.168, 10., or 172. for a typical home or business network. An address starting with 169.254 indicates the device failed to obtain an IP from your router.
• Router — Should show your router's address (commonly 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).

Test Connectivity with Network Utility

Use macOS built-in tools to pinpoint where the connection is failing.

1. Open Terminal (found in /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app or search via Spotlight with Cmd + Space).
2. Ping your router first to confirm local network access:

   ping -c 4 192.168.0.1

   Replace the address with your router's IP if different. Successful replies confirm your Mac can reach the router.

3. Ping an external address to test internet connectivity:

   ping -c 4 8.8.8.8

   This pings Google's public DNS server. If this works but websites don't load, the issue is with DNS.

4. Test DNS resolution:

   nslookup google.com.au

   If this fails but the ping to 8.8.8.8 worked, DNS is the problem.

Renew DHCP Lease

If your Mac has an invalid or expired IP address, renewing the lease forces it to request a fresh one from the router.

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
2. Go to Network.
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
4. Click Details (or Advanced on older macOS).
5. Select the TCP/IP tab.
6. Click Renew DHCP Lease.
7. Click OK and try browsing again.

Flush the DNS Cache

A stale or corrupted DNS cache can prevent your Mac from resolving website names even when the network connection is working.

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the following command (you'll be prompted for your admin password):

   sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

   Enter your password and press Return.

3. Try loading a website in Safari.

Change DNS Servers

If your ISP's DNS servers are slow or unreliable, switching to a public DNS service often resolves browsing issues.

1. Open System Settings and go to Network.
2. Select your active connection and click Details.
3. Select the DNS tab.
4. Click the + button and add the following servers:
   • 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
   • 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare)
5. Optionally add Google's servers as a backup:
   • 8.8.8.8
   • 8.8.4.4
6. Click OK, then Apply.

Reset Network Settings

If individual settings changes haven't worked, resetting the network configuration clears all customisations and reverts to defaults.

1. Open System Settings and go to Network.
2. Select your active connection and click Details.
3. Go through each tab (TCP/IP, DNS, Proxies, Hardware) and restore defaults where possible.
4. For a more thorough reset, delete the connection entirely:
   • Select the connection in the Network list.
   • Click the − (minus) button to remove it.
   • Click the + button to re-add it, choosing the correct interface type.
5. Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and re-enter credentials if prompted.

Check for Proxy and VPN Interference

Misconfigured proxy settings or a VPN client can block internet access even when the underlying connection is working.

1. Open System Settings and go to Network.
2. Select your active connection and click Details.
3. Go to the Proxies tab.
4. Ensure all proxy options are set to Off unless your organisation specifically requires one.
5. Open System Settings and go to VPN.
6. If any VPN connections are listed and active, disconnect them and test your connection.

Check Date and Time Settings

Incorrect date and time settings can cause secure websites and services to fail, which may appear as "no internet" in some browsers.

1. Open System Settings and go to General > Date & Time.
2. Ensure Set time and date automatically is enabled.
3. If it's already enabled but the time is wrong, toggle it off, set the correct time manually, then re-enable automatic sync.

Troubleshooting

If Only Certain Websites Fail

This typically points to DNS or browser-specific issues:

• Try the failing website in a different browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox).
• Clear Safari's cache: Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All.
• Test the website on another device on the same network to confirm whether the issue is with the site itself.
• Try accessing the site via its IP address (for example, https://142.250.80.46) to bypass DNS.

If the Issue Affects All Devices on the Network

The problem is likely with your router or modem rather than your Mac:

• Power cycle the modem and router as described in the Quick Fix Steps.
• Check whether your ISP is experiencing an outage in your area.
• Connect a device directly to the modem via Ethernet to bypass the router.
• Contact your ISP for further assistance if the issue persists across all devices.

If Only Your Mac Is Affected

If other devices on the same network work fine, the issue is specific to your Mac:

• Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while starting up) and test the connection. Safe Mode clears some system caches.
• Check for macOS updates via System Settings > General > Software Update.
• Create a new user account and test the connection from there to rule out account-specific settings.
• If the issue started recently, consider whether any new software, security tools, or VPN clients were installed.

Still Having Issues?