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To open the hidden Wi-Fi diagnostic option on a Mac, hold Option, click the Wi-Fi status menu in the menu bar, then choose Open Wireless Diagnostics. The built-in utility checks the wireless connection, reports detected issues and possible solutions, and can create a report for support. Apple says it does not change network settings.
How to open and run Wireless Diagnostics
- If possible, connect your Mac to the Wi-Fi network that is having trouble. Apple recommends quitting open apps before you begin.
- Press and hold Option, then click the Wi-Fi status menu in the menu bar.
- Choose Open Wireless Diagnostics and follow the on-screen analysis.
- When the analysis finishes, open the Info buttons in the Summary to read explanations of detected items.
Wireless Diagnostics is an investigative tool, not a guaranteed repair. It can identify problems and suggest possible solutions, but it may not resolve every cause of a failed connection. Apple Support’s Wireless Diagnostics guide describes the steps and the utility’s limits.
What the hidden Wi-Fi menu and report can show
The Option-click menu is the way into Wireless Diagnostics. Its additional controls and connection details can differ by macOS version. Apple’s 2024 macOS Sonoma training material depicts details such as the interface, address, router, security, channel, signal/noise, and transmission information, as well as options for Wi-Fi logging and creating a diagnostics report. Those exact labels should not be assumed to appear on every Mac or macOS release.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →After Wireless Diagnostics runs, it can create a compressed report archive in /var/tmp. The filename begins with WirelessDiagnostics and ends with .tar.gz. If a network administrator, service provider, or IT support person needs it, share the archive with them when appropriate; it may contain details about your network environment.
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When this is the right diagnostic tool
Use Wireless Diagnostics for problems with Wi-Fi connectivity, such as a Mac that joins a router but cannot reach internet services, or a connection that drops intermittently. It examines the wireless connection and can produce information useful to a network support person. It does not reset or reconfigure your network settings.
For suspected component failure, distinguish this utility from Apple Diagnostics. Wireless Diagnostics investigates the Wi-Fi connection; Apple Diagnostics is a separate, hardware-oriented test intended to check device parts and performance and help identify components that may need repair. See Apple’s February 29, 2024 announcement about Apple Diagnostics.
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