TL;DR
To reset network settings on Mac:
- Go to System Settings > Network.
- Select your network and click Details.
- In the TCP/IP tab, click Renew DHCP Lease.
- Click Apply and OK to save changes.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
I was having constant issues with my Mac’s network connection, and after trying several things, I decided to reset the network settings. It’s not as tricky as it sounds, and I’ll show you the easiest ways to get your Mac’s connection working smoothly again.
Before You Reset Network Settings on Your Mac
If your Mac is slow or having connection problems, resetting your network settings might seem like the solution, but it’s a big step that might not be necessary. Try these simple fixes first:
- 🔁 Restart Your Mac: Sometimes, a quick restart can fix network issues.
- 🔌 Restart Your Router or Modem: Unplug your router or modem, wait a few seconds, then plug it back in and reconnect.
- 📞 Contact Your ISP: If problems persist, contact your internet provider for help.
- 🧹 Clear Junk Files: Remove junk files to prevent them from causing issues. MacKeeper is a good option for clearing out unnecessary files.
How to Clear Junk Files Using MacKeeper
- Download and Install MacKeeper.
- Launch MacKeeper and select Safe Cleanup from the left-hand menu.
- Click on Start Scan to scan your Mac for unnecessary files. Once the scan is complete, review the files that can be safely removed.
- Check the boxes next to the files you want to delete, or use the Check All option to delete the unnecessary files.
- Tap Clean Junk Files to delete the selected files.
This will delete all the unwanted junk files from your Mac.
What Else Can MacKeeper Do?
Besides clearing junk files on your Mac, MacKeeper can help delete duplicates, remove login items, and detect malware. You can learn more about its amazing features in my detailed MacKeeper review and improve your Mac’s performance.
How to Reset Network Settings on Mac
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Below, I’ll show you top four easy ways to reset network settings on Mac to fix issues with Wi-Fi and network settings configuration:
Warning: This process can change your current network configurations, and you might need to re-enter some network information afterward.
1. Use System Settings
System Settings is the easiest way to reset all network settings to default. This can fix any issues with your network connection, like slow internet speeds or difficulty connecting to Wi-Fi.
Here’s how you can reset network settings on your Mac using System Settings:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Click Network in the System settings window.
- Select the type of network connection you want to reset (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, etc.) from the list on the right side.
- Click the Details button next to your Wi-Fi network.
- Select the TCP/IP tab.
- Tap the Renew DHCP Lease button.
- Confirm by clicking the Apply button.
- Click the OK button to save your changes.
Your Mac will now reset the network settings for the selected network connection. After the reset, you may need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network or Ethernet connection.
2. Delete and Re-add Your Wi-Fi Connection
Deleting and re-adding your Wi-Fi connection on a Mac can often resolve issues related to network connectivity. Here’s how to delete your Wi-Fi connection:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Click Network in the left sidebar and select Wi-Fi.
- Click the Details button next to your Wi-Fi network.
- Click Forget This Network on the next window that appears.
- A prompt may appear asking if you’re sure you want to remove the Wi-Fi service. Confirm your choice by clicking Remove.
- To re-add the Wi-Fi network, click the Connect button next to your desired network.
- Once connected, try browsing the internet or performing an online task to ensure the connection works properly.
3. Reset Network Configuration Files
Resetting network configuration files forces your Mac to recreate default settings, resolving deeper network issues. Here’s how to reset network configuration files on Mac:
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and toggle off Wi-Fi.
- Open a new Finder window. Click Go in the menu bar and select Go to Folder or use the shortcut: Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + G.
- Enter the following path and press Enter:
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
- Select the following files:
- com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
- com.apple.network.identification.plist
- com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist
- com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
- NetworkInterfaces.plist
- preferences.plist
- Copy all these files to the desktop to create a backup.
- Right-click these files in their original location and select Move to Bin to delete them.
- Restart your Mac. After your Mac restarts, reconfigure your network settings. This includes reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network and entering the password.
4. Try a Terminal Command
Using Terminal commands allows for manual control over network settings and can help troubleshoot more complex issues. Here are the steps to reset network settings on Mac using Terminal:
This method requires administrator privileges and should be used cautiously, as it can potentially harm your system if misused.
- Open Terminal from the Utilities folder or by searching for Terminal in Spotlight.
- To turn off Wi-Fi, type the following command and press Enter:
sudo ifconfig en0 down
- Alternatively, you can type the following command to restart Wi-Fi and press Enter:
sudo ifconfig en0 up
- Type your administrator password if prompted.
- Wait for the command to execute. This may take a few minutes and your Wi-Fi should be turned off (or on, depending on the command you used).
- Restart your Mac, and it should fix the Wi-Fi connection issues.
Reset Your Mac Network Settings
If your Mac has slow internet or connection problems, resetting network settings can help. But this doesn’t fix everything. Here are some tips to solve other common Mac issues:
- Use Apple Diagnostics on your Mac to identify hardware problems and diagnose issues.
- Repair your Mac startup disk to enhance its speed and efficiency.
- Reinstalling macOS on your MacBook may be your only solution if nothing else resolves performance issues.