--- title: "Mac connected to Wi-Fi but no internet: find the failing layer · Kilobat Guides" url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/wifi-connected-no-internet" description: "The Mac shows Wi-Fi as connected, but nothing loads. Test the router, the internet and DNS from Terminal, then apply Apple's fixes." --- Wi-Fi # Mac connected to Wi-Fi but no internet A Wi-Fi connection is only the link to the router. The internet can still fail at the router, at the provider or at DNS. Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings steps. The Terminal commands work on all current versions. · Checked: 29 October 2026 ## Symptoms - The Wi-Fi icon shows full bars, but pages do not load. - Safari shows that the server cannot be found. - Other devices on the same network also have no internet, or they work and only the Mac fails. ## Likely causes - **A login page.** Hotel, café and airport networks hold traffic until you sign in. See [Wi-Fi login page does not appear on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/captive-portal-not-appearing). - **A problem at the router or the provider.** When other devices also fail, the problem is not the Mac. - **No valid address.** An address that starts with 169.254 means that the Mac did not get an address from the router. See [Mac has a self-assigned IP address](https://kilobat.app/guides/self-assigned-ip-address). - **DNS fails.** The connection works, but names do not resolve. See [DNS not resolving on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/dns-server-not-found). - **VPN or security software.** Apple says that software that monitors network connections can affect internet access. ## How to check 1. Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon. Look for Wi-Fi Recommendations in the menu. 2. Show the IP address, router and subnet of the Wi-Fi service. ``` networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi ``` 3. Ping the router. Use the router address from the previous step. ``` ping -c 5 192.168.1.1 ``` 4. Ping an internet address. This test does not use DNS. ``` ping -c 5 1.1.1.1 ``` 5. Look up a name. If the ping works but this fails, DNS is the problem. ``` dscacheutil -q host -a name apple.com ``` 6. Test the same network on another device. ## How to fix it 1. If the router does not reply, restart the router. 2. Restart the Mac. The Mac then renews its network address. 3. To renew the address without a restart, choose System Settings > Wi-Fi. Click Details, then TCP/IP, then Renew DHCP Lease. 4. Make sure that the date and time on the Mac are correct. 5. Turn off the VPN or other network software for a test, if you can. 6. If other devices also fail, contact your internet provider or network administrator. ## With Kilobat 1. Check Wi-Fi, the router, the internet, DNS and login pages in one step. ``` kilobat diagnose ``` 2. If one site or service fails, find the layer that stops it. ``` kilobat why example.com ``` 3. The CLI is free. In the app, the advice from these checks is part of Kilobat Pro. See [Find why one site or API won't connect](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/why-cant-it-connect). ## Questions **The router replies, but 1.1.1.1 does not. What does this mean?** The Mac reaches the router, but the router does not reach the internet. Restart the router, or contact the provider. **Can a network block ping?** Yes. Some networks do not reply to ping. Test with a web page or another device before you decide. ## Sources - [Apple Support: If your Mac isn't connecting to the internet over Wi-Fi](https://support.apple.com/en-us/101588) - [Apple Support: Wi-Fi settings on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mh11935/mac) - [Apple Support: Use Wireless Diagnostics on your Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchlf4de377f/mac) - networksetup(8), ping(8) and dscacheutil(1), man page installed with macOS 27.2 Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man ` in Terminal. ## Related guides - [Wi-Fi login page does not appear on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/captive-portal-not-appearing): Public networks often hold all traffic until you sign in on a login page. - [Mac has a self-assigned IP address](https://kilobat.app/guides/self-assigned-ip-address): If the Mac gets no answer from a DHCP server, it gives itself a link-local address from 169.254.0.0/16. - [DNS not resolving on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/dns-server-not-found): When DNS fails, the Mac cannot change a name such as apple.com into an IP address. - [Find why one site or API won't connect](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/why-cant-it-connect): When the internet works but one address fails, Kilobat checks each layer in turn. - [Use Wireless Diagnostics and wdutil on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/wireless-diagnostics-mac): Wireless Diagnostics is a Wi-Fi tool that comes with macOS. - [Wi-Fi says “No Internet Connection” on Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/wifi-no-internet-connection): macOS shows “No Internet Connection” under a Wi-Fi network when the Mac joined the network but cannot reach the internet through it.