How to fix Wi-Fi problems on Ventura

On October 24, 2022, Apple officially launched macOS Ventura, making it free and available to all users with compatible Macs. You might encounter some issues after upgrading, though.

If you’ve been googling Wi-Fi problems Ventura, desperate to get your internet connection back after upgrading macOS, you’re in the right place. Worry not, this is a very common issue, and you’re not alone. Let’s deal with this!

Find out what’s causing macOS Ventura network issues

The thing with internet connection is that it relies on many things such as your router, network environment, computer settings, etc. Not to mention there could be issues with certain apps interfering with your Wi-Fi. It’s important to weed out some of the obvious problems to make sure we’re indeed dealing with Ventura Wi-Fi issues and not something completely different:

Try multiple apps. If your Wi-Fi suddenly stops working when you’re using a certain browser or an app, maybe they are the problem? Try switching to different apps that require internet connection and see if they work. If they do, restart the app that won’t work on your Wi-Fi. If you have issues with a browser, clear its history.
Switch to a different network. This will help exclude router issues. If you manage to connect to a different network, try restarting or resetting your router.
Scan your network environment. This might sound a bit more complex, but it’s not — as long as you use WiFi Explorer. The app scans all the networks around you and lets you know if there are any issues. For example, you might notice you’re sharing a channel with a lot of other networks. In this case, switch to a different channel where there’s less congestion. Also, pay attention to signal strength. If it’s very low, you need to switch to another network.
Uninstall firewall and VPN apps. Some users report on Reddit that uninstalling Little Snitch helps fix Wi-Fi problems on Ventura. If you have this or similar apps, try uninstalling them.

Fix Ventura Wi-Fi issues

If you didn’t find anything critical messing with your network, it means you’ve narrowed down

the search. Now we can confidently say that your Wi-Fi issues have to do with your Mac. Read on to learn how to solve the problem.

Restart your Mac

What can we say, never underestimate the power of the power button! Restarting your Mac could indeed fix the issue:

Click the Apple logo in the menu bar
Click Restart
Connect to Wi-Fi after your Mac restarts.

Toggle Wi-Fi off and on

Another cliche yet powerful fix is to disable your Wi-Fi, and then enable it again:

Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar or open System Settings > Wi-Fi
Toggle off Wi-Fi
After a few seconds, toggle it on again.

disable Wi-Fi

Forget your Wi-Fi network (just for a sec)

Wi-Fi won’t turn on on Ventura, still? Try forgetting the network and then connecting again:

Open System Settings > Wi-Fi
Under Networks, select your network and click the minus button
Click Remove to forget this network
Wait a few seconds and then connect to the same network again.

Check for macOS updates

There are issues and bugs that get fixed by Apple with each new macOS update. Make sure you don’t miss your fix! Here’s how to scan for pending macOS updates:

Open System Settings and go to General
Choose Software Update
Wait a few seconds until your Mac checks for updates
If there’s an update available, click Upgrade Now.

Automatic Updates

Flush DNS cache

This one could be particularly useful if you’re facing the macOS Ventura slow Wi-Fi issue. Flushing your Mac’s DNS cache is a one-click job if you have CleanMyMac X:

Open CleanMyMac X via Setapp
Go to Maintenance
Select Flush DNS Cache
Click Run.

Flush DNS Cache

Remove redundant DNS addresses

This one is relatively simple but we urge you to only use it if you know what a DNS server is and have enough technical knowledge to work with it. Let’s remove odd DNS servers:

Open System Settings > Wi-Fi
Click Details next to your network
Go to the DNS tab
Remove all DNS addresses except 8.8.8.8 by using the minus button
If there’s no 8.8.8.8 server on the list, use the plus button to add it
Click OK
Quit System Settings and re-connect to your network.

DNS Servers

Get rid of the old open networks

Ditching open unsecured networks is a smart thing to do whether you’re dealing with macOS Ventura internet not working or not. And, it can certainly help fix your issue!

Open CleanMyMac X via Setapp
Go to Privacy and click Scan
Click Wi-Fi Networks
Select Open Networks (you can also review them before deleting)
Click Remove.

Wi-Fi Networks

Reset network settings

Another thing that can help fix Ventura Wi-Fi issues is resetting network settings on your Mac:

Open Finder
In the menu, click Go > Go to Folder
Paste the following: /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
Locate and delete the following files:
com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist
com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
NetworkInterfaces.plist
preferences.plist
Restart your Mac and try re-connecting to your network.

Reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC on your Intel Mac

Whenever your system misbehaves and you can’t figure out what’s wrong, try resetting NVRAM/PRAM (non-volatile random access memory) and SMC (system management controller). It’s effortless and devoid of risk, so why not give it a try?

Reset NVRAM/PRAM:

Shut down your Mac
Turn your Mac back on while holding down Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds
Release the keys and try connecting to Wi-FI once your Mac turns on.

Reset SMC:

Shut down your Mac
Press and hold Shift + Control + Option + power button for about 15 seconds
Release the keys and turn on your Mac
Try connecting to Wi-Fi.

Downgrade to Monterey

If you’ve tried it all and can’t fix the issue, it’s smart to downgrade to your previous macOS, at least for a while, until Apple fixes the most frequently reported issues on Ventura. You can read how to downgrade to macOS Monterey here.

Get helper tools to fix Wi-Fi issues

Wi-Fi won’t turn on on Ventura can be very frustrating. Obviously, a Mac without Wi-Fi connection is not very usable. We hope the tips from this article help you find the culprit and fix the issue asap. You’ll need a little help along the way — WiFi Explorer and CleanMyMac X. Good news is both apps are part of Setapp, a subscription for Mac and iPhone apps, with a free 7-day trial available. Sign up and let’s get the work done!