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Fix Wi-Fi & Internet Connection Problems in macOS Ventura

November 7, 2022
Jennifer C. Robinson

Fix macOS Ventura Wi-Fi issues

Some users are reporting Wi-Fi connection issues and other internet connection issues after updating to macOS Ventura 13 Internet connection does not work after updating a Mac to macOS Ventura. Network connection issues seem to pop up randomly for some users after installing almost every macOS update, and Ventura is no exception.

We’ll walk you through how to troubleshoot WiFi connection issues in macOS Ventura to get you back online in no time.

Resolving Wi-Fi and Internet Connection Issues in macOS Ventura

Some of these troubleshooting methods and tips involve modifying system configuration files, so be sure to back up your Mac using Time Machine or a backup method of your choice before beginning.

1: Disable or remove third-party firewall/network filter tools

If you are using third-party firewall or network filtering tools like Little Snitch, Kapersky Internet Security, McAfee, LuLu or similar, you may experience Wi-Fi connection issues on macOS Ventura. Some of these apps may not yet have been updated to support Ventura or may not be compatible with Ventura. Therefore, disabling them can often fix network connectivity issues.

  1. Go to the Apple menu  and select “System Preferences”
  2. Go to “Network”
  3. Select “VPN & Filters”
  4. In the Filters & Proxies section, identify all content filters and either remove them by selecting them and clicking the minus button, or change the status to Disabled.

Disable network filters on macOS Ventura

You should restart the Mac for the change to take full effect.

If you rely on third-party firewall or filtering tools for any reason, you should ensure that you download any available updates for those apps as soon as they become available, as running earlier versions may result in compatibility issues with macOS Ventura related to your network connection.

2: Clear the current Wi-Fi settings in macOS Ventura and reconnect

Removing the current Wi-Fi settings, restarting, and setting up Wi-Fi again can solve common network problems that Mac users experience. This will involve erasing Wi-Fi settings, which means you’ll have to reconfigure any customizations you’ve made to network TCP/IP or similar.

  1. Quit all running apps on Mac, including System Preferences
  2. Turn Wi-Fi OFF by going to the Wi-Fi menu bar (or Control Center) and flipping the Wi-Fi switch to the off position
  3. Open Finder in macOS, then go to the Go menu and choose Go to Folder.
  4. Enter the following file system path:

    5. /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/

  5. Press Enter to jump to that location. Now locate and select the following files in this SystemConfiguration folder

    6. com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
    NetworkInterfaces.plist
    com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
    com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist
    preferences.plist
    Recycle Bin Network Settings

  6. Drag these files to the desktop (to serve as a backup)
  7. Restart the Mac by going to the  Apple menu and choosing Restart
  8. After the Mac restarts, return to the Wi-Fi menu and turn Wi-Fi back on
  9. From the Wi-Fi menu, select the Wi-Fi network you want to join and connect as usual

At this point, Wi-Fi should be working as expected.

3: Try starting Mac in Safe Mode and using Wi-Fi

If you’ve done the above and are still having Wi-Fi issues, try starting the Mac in Safe Mode and using Wi-Fi there. Booting into safe mode temporarily disables login items that can help further troubleshoot the internet connection issue. Booting a Mac into Safe Mode is easy, but differs depending on Apple Silicon or Intel Macs.

  • For Intel Macs, restart the Mac and hold down the SHIFT key until you log in to the Mac
  • For Apple Silicon Macs (m1, m2, etc.), turn off the Mac, leave it off for 10 seconds, and then press and hold the POWER button until you see the Options screen. Now hold the SHIFT key and select “Continue in Safe Mode” to start Mac in Safe Mode

After Mac boots into Safe Mode, you will find that many customizations and settings in Safe Mode are temporarily overridden, but this may allow you to fix Mac issues. Try using Wi-Fi or the Internet from Safe Mode, if it works in Safe Mode but not in regular startup mode, there is a high possibility that a third-party app or configuration is messing with the Internet functionality (like the network filters, login items, etc. mentioned above), and you should try to uninstall these types of filtering apps, including third-party antivirus or firewall applications.

To exit Safe Mode, simply restart the Mac as usual.

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Have you restored your WiFi and Internet connection in macOS Ventura? Which trick worked for you? Have you found another troubleshooting solution? Tell us about your experience in the comments.