TL;DR
Troubleshoot the affected Wi-Fi connection before resetting broader network settings.
- Check the router, renew the DHCP lease if needed, or forget and rejoin one network.
- Save the Wi-Fi password and custom settings first.
- Do not delete system configuration files for these checks.
Before you reset network settings on your Mac
When Wi-Fi stops working, “reset network settings” can sound like one big switch. Start with the part that is failing. If only this Mac has trouble, try the connection steps below.
If every device is offline, check the router or internet provider first. Apple’s current Mac guide resets one Wi-Fi connection by forgetting it and joining again.
Other fixes target an IP lease, DNS, proxy, or VPN setting.
Before disconnecting, have the correct Wi-Fi password or sign-in details ready; our saved-password guide can help you find them. Keep another connection available if this Mac is your only way to contact work or support. Forgetting the network removes its saved credentials, so you will need to join again.
If a school or employer manages the Mac or network, ask its administrator before changing managed settings.
Reset one Mac network setting at a time
1. Restart and check whether the problem is the Mac or the network
Restart the Mac and check the same Wi-Fi on another device.
If all devices have lost internet access, restarting or checking the router and contacting the provider is more useful than removing settings on the Mac.
Apple also recommends checking VPN or other security software and running Wireless Diagnostics when needed. Follow Apple’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting steps.
2. Renew the DHCP lease if the Mac has an IP-address problem
DHCP is how a router or network server assigns an IP address to a Mac. Renewing the lease asks for the address again. This is relevant when the network uses DHCP.
It does not repair an outage or a manually configured IP address.
On current macOS, open Apple menu > System Settings > Network, select the affected service, click Details > TCP/IP > Renew DHCP Lease, then click OK.
The connection may pause briefly while the address renews. Apple documents this DHCP path.
3. Forget and rejoin only the affected Wi-Fi network
Have the current password ready and avoid disconnecting remote access that uses this Wi-Fi. On macOS 27, open System Settings > Wi-Fi, click Details beside the affected network and choose Forget This Network. Rejoin with its current credentials. This resets that connection rather than all network settings. See Apple’s Wi-Fi connection guidance.
4. Undo a DNS or proxy change only if you know what changed
DNS settings affect how names such as websites are looked up. Proxy settings can be required by a workplace, school, or network.
If the problem began after you changed one of these, open System Settings > Network, choose the affected service, and click Details. Review DNS or Proxies.
Compare with the values you recorded or the instructions from whoever configured the network, and restore only the setting you changed. Do not guess at DNS addresses or turn off a managed proxy.
See Apple’s guides for DNS settings and proxy settings.
5. Check a known VPN connection
A VPN or network-security app can affect internet access. If the issue began after you connected to a VPN you recognize, disconnect it temporarily using its app or the VPN controls in System Settings.
Then test the connection. Reconnect it afterward if needed. Do not remove an unfamiliar or organization-managed VPN configuration: it may be required for work or school.
Apple explains how to view or modify VPN configurations and explains that removing a managed profile can remove its settings and access.
What to do if the connection still fails
If websites work but a TV or other AirPlay receiver does not appear, do not start by resetting DNS or deleting network files.
Check that Wi-Fi is on and that the Mac and receiver are connected to the same network, confirm AirPlay is enabled on a compatible receiver, and restart both devices.
Apple’s current Mac AirPlay guide describes the Mac-to-TV route. Guest networks or router settings that isolate devices may prevent discovery; if you are on a managed network, ask its administrator before changing router settings.
If the Mac joins Wi-Fi but websites will not load, try another network if available. If other devices also fail on the same router, contact its administrator or internet provider. If the issue follows this Mac across networks, use Wireless Diagnostics and Apple Support before making broader changes.
Do not delete SystemConfiguration files, remove multiple saved networks, or run broad Terminal commands as a general reset; those actions can remove working settings without identifying the cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does forgetting Wi-Fi delete the Wi-Fi password?
Forgetting a network removes its saved credentials from this Mac. Before you do it, make sure you know the current password or can retrieve it from another device or the network administrator.
You will need to join the network again.
Will renewing the DHCP lease erase my network settings?
No. Renew DHCP asks the DHCP server for an IP address again. It is intended for a service configured to receive its address through DHCP; it does not erase the Mac’s saved Wi-Fi networks.
Should I delete SystemConfiguration files to reset a Mac’s network?
Do not use blanket file deletion as a routine fix. It can remove configurations without showing which setting caused the problem.
Use Apple’s targeted Wi-Fi, DHCP, DNS, proxy, or VPN controls and change only the affected item.
Can I reset DNS settings on a Mac?
You can edit DNS servers and search domains under System Settings > Network > affected service > Details > DNS.
If you changed a value, restore the one you recorded or use the value from your network administrator; do not guess at replacement servers.
Can a VPN stop my Mac from reaching the internet?
Yes. Apple lists VPN or other network-security software among the checks for internet problems. If you recognize and control the VPN, disconnect it briefly to test, then reconnect it.
Ask your administrator before changing a managed VPN or profile.
What if every device on my Wi-Fi is offline?
That points to the router, internet service, or shared network rather than a setting unique to this Mac. Check the router and service status, and contact the person or provider who manages the network.
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