How to Troubleshoot an iMac's Airport Issues

All Intel-based Apple iMac computers feature integrated wireless networking, labeled AirPort Extreme. The first Intel-based iMacs supported the 802.11g wireless standard, with later revisions supporting the faster 802.11n standard. You may need to do some troubleshooting if the AirPort Extreme wireless connection is not working as expected or if it is not working at all. Common issues include the wireless being disabled in the System Preferences and encryption key or type mismatches.

Instructions

1. Make sure the AirPort Extreme card is turned on by clicking the AirPort icon in the upper right corner of the screen by the clock, and then clicking "Turn Wi-Fi On."

2. Make sure the AirPort is connected to the proper wireless network -- start by clicking the AirPort icon in the upper right corner by the clock, and then clicking your wireless network. This is most likely the wireless network with the strongest signal, which is represented with the most bars. Enter the wireless password, if prompted, and make sure the security type, such as WEP or WPA, matches your wireless router's settings.

3. Check to see if your wireless router or access point is powered on and configured correctly. In some cases, the issue may not be with the iMac, but the wireless infrastructure device itself. Sometimes disconnecting the power from the router or access point, and then reconnecting the power can fix the problem. If your wireless infrastructure device needs to be reconfigured, refer to its user manual for details on how to do so.