Home wifi stops working when M4 Mac Mini is connected with ethernet

Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues: When Ethernet-Connected Mac Mini Disrupts Wi-Fi on Other Devices

Are you experiencing a frustrating situation where your home Wi-Fi network appears to be disrupted whenever your Mac Mini is connected via Ethernet? Many users have encountered a scenario where, upon connecting their Mac Mini (or similar device) to the internet through an Ethernet cable, their wireless network becomes inaccessible for other devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, or gaming consoles. This article explores potential causes and solutions to this common network configuration challenge.

Understanding the Problem

In scenarios where a Mac Mini or similar device is directly connected to the internet via Ethernet, users have observed that wireless connectivity for other devices in the network suddenly ceases to function. This is often accompanied by:

• Loss of Wi-Fi signal across all devices.
• Inability to access the internet wirelessly.
• Normal Ethernet connectivity on the Mac Mini itself.

These symptoms suggest a network conflict or misconfiguration that disrupts the propagation of wireless signals rather than an issue with the internet service provider.

Common Troubleshooting Steps and Their Outcomes

Many users have already attempted basic troubleshooting measures, including:

• Replacing the Ethernet Cable: Swapping the Ethernet cable did not resolve the issue, indicating that the physical connection was likely not the cause.
• Changing the Ethernet Port on the Modem or Router: Switching ports sometimes helps, but in this case, the problem persisted regardless of the port used.
• Using a Network Switch: Introducing a switch between the modem and the Mac Mini did not prevent the issue, suggesting that the root cause is not related to hardware infrastructure.
• Disabling Wi-Fi on the Mac Mini: Turning off Wi-Fi on the Mac Mini itself did not restore network functionality for other devices.
• Updating the Operating System: Ensuring that your Mac Mini runs the latest version of macOS is essential, but it did not resolve this specific problem.

Potential Causes and Solutions

This issue often stems from network configuration conflicts—particularly how the Mac Mini handles network sharing and its interaction with the router. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this problem:

1. Check Network Sharing Settings:
2. On your Mac Mini, navigate to System Preferences > Sharing.
3. If Internet Sharing is enabled, review its configuration.

4. Consider disabling Internet Sharing if it’s turned on, as it can sometimes create conflicts in network routing.

5. **Configure Network Settings Properly