Connection Failed when selecting Mac mini in Finder on MacBook Air

Question

Level 2

164 points

Connection Failed when selecting Mac mini in Finder on MacBook Air

For years, I have connected from my MacBook (once Pro, now Air) to my nearby Mac Mini on the same local network. Starting about last month, I get the message that the connection failed when I select the Mini in the left pane of any Finder window:

If I click on "Connect As...", the message changes to "Not Connected":

...but nothing else happens. It still doesn't connect.

I can pull down from Finder's "Go" menu to "Connect to Server..." and that works just fine.

Also, "Screen Share" works just fine.

I wonder what I might have changed that changed this behavior.

--Gil

My Mini is a Mac mini (Mid 2011) running macOS Sierra 10.12.6.

My Air is a MacBook Air M1, 2020 running macOS Sequoia 15.7.1.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Connection Failed ... why?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 2:37 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 10, 2025 7:38 AM in response to Gil Dawson

Have you restarted both computers lately?

Have you also restarted your cable gateway or wi-fi router lately?

If those have not resolved the problem, then you might also wish to restart each computer in safe mode and see if that sorts things out.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If non of the above works, and were this my setup, I would start over with the Mac mini.

Disable and delete the file sharing that you have already set up.

Then set it up again with a fresh set of provisions and permissions.

Set up file sharing on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

164 points

Nov 10, 2025 11:35 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Thanks, D.I.--

Restarting both machines worked.

I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't try this before posting the question.

Many years ago, restarting would have happened every week or so. But macOS has become so robust that I forgot about it.

--Gil

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2025 11:40 AM in response to Gil Dawson

You're welcome.

Happy to know you got it worked out.

It's easy to let the little things get by you when you don't have to address issues often. 🙂

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