Change the DNS

Changing the DNS setting is a recommended troubleshooting option if everything else hasn’t had positive results on your Mac’s wireless connectivity. Make sure you back up the following files that you will be moving in this tutorial, which are outlined in the box on the right.

1 Locate System Configuration

In Finder, click on Go>go To Folder, and then type: /Library/preferences/ Systemconfiguration/ into the text field.

2 Locate Preference files

Create a new ‘Back-up’ folder on your desktop and then drag the files outlined above from the System Configuration folder into the backup folder.

3 Restart your Mac

Now delete the original files from the System Configuration folder and restart your Mac. Is your Wi-fi connected and working when it boots up?

4 Location settings

If the answer is no, you will need to create a new Wi-fi network location. Go to System Preferences>network>wi-fi and click the ‘Location’ menu.

5 Edit location

Select the ‘Edit Location’ option and click on the ‘+’ icon to create a new location. Give it a memorable name and then click ‘Done’ when you have finished.

6 Join network

Select your new location in the ‘Location’ menu and then click ‘Apply’. Your Mac should then join the new network with your existing password.

7 Go to ‘Advanced’

Now you need to click on the ‘Advanced’ button and, in the ‘TCP/IP’ settings, click ‘Renew DHCP Lease’. Then go to the ‘DNS’ tab.

8 Add servers

In the DNS Servers column, click ‘+’ and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the list (fast Google DNS) and then click on the ‘Hardware’ tab.

9 Manually configure

Click on the Configure menu and choose ‘Manually’ and then change MTU to ‘Custom’ and set it to 1453. Finally, click ‘OK’ followed by ‘Apply’.