2018 Mac Mini can't maintain internet connection after installing Ventura

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Level 4

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2018 Mac Mini can't maintain internet connection after installing Ventura

I recently installed Ventura on my 2018 Mac Mini. Since doing so, the internet connection is toast.

I have tried WiFi, Ethernet, and today tried Ethernet via a USB-C hub. The Ethernet cable is good: it works fine connected to a different Mac, and fine on this Mini if I'm not booted from Ventura.

On WiFi, neither the 5G nor the 2.4 channel can maintain a connection. On both Ethernet and WiFi, I can see the Dropbox icon in the menubar go from on to off about every two seconds. If I launch Evernote, at the same intervals I see "connected" and then "not connected" notifications in a seemingly endless cycle.

I can't find anything in the network settings that would address this repeated on-off symptom. Right now I have booted the Mini from a Catalina drive, and network options work perfectly.

Any suggestions welcome!

Mac mini, macOS 13.7

Posted on May 22, 2025 12:20 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

68,306 points

May 23, 2025 9:18 AM in response to kahjot

I haven't heard of any such issues with Ventura. That means it is isolated to your computer and/or home network.

Usually if you have problems after an OS update or upgrade, the problem is due to some third party software you have installed that is interfering with the normal operation of macOS. I would suggest running the third party app EtreCheck and posting the complete report here so we can examine it for possible clues.

How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting an EtreCheck Report - Apple Community

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Answer 2

kahjot Author

Level 4

2,463 points

May 23, 2025 10:34 AM in response to BDAqua

Wiped the drives, installed Monterey, and internet access is back to normal. I've never seen that problem before: it was as if there was a switch that a gremlin was flipping on and off in an endless cycle. I have Ventura on two M1 Macs, no such issues.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

May 22, 2025 2:20 PM in response to kahjot

Make a new admin account, log out & into the nw account, does it work there?

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Answer 4

kahjot Author

Level 4

2,463 points

May 22, 2025 7:15 PM in response to BDAqua

Unfortunately, no. Am going to go back to Monterey on one or both of the Ventura drives. Really sorry I installed Ventura.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

May 23, 2025 5:40 PM in response to kahjot

Ah, just remembered a bizarre thing about the M Minis, Wi-Fi is buried in the bottom of the case & many get no Wi-Fi until they turn the Mini on its left side.

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