Many of us with laptops around the College use both Wi-Fi and ethernet connections on Mac laptops. Here’s something you need to check.

Service Order

Your network settings have a priority system to determine which available network connection to use. This is called the “Service Order”. If you use Wi-Fi a lot, but also plug your laptop into the ethernet network at times, you want it to use the ethernet when plugged in and the Wi-Fi at other times.

How to Check/Adjust Service Order

1. Plug into the Ethernet network.

2. Make sure Wi-Fi is on and connected a Wi-Fi network.

3. Open System Preferences.

4. Select the Network Preference pane. It will look something like this.
   You will note that this Mac has a built-in ethernet connection. Your laptop will probably have “USB Ethernet” if you use a USB adapter between the ethernet cable and the laptop.

   Open

   

    

5. Below the list of possible connection methods, there is a “gear wheel” menu. Click on it and choose “Set Service Order…” as shown.
   
   

   Open

   

    

6. In the Service Order dialogue, drag the connections up or down until you have Ethernet at the top, and Wi-Fi next in the list.
   
   

   Open

   

   Click “OK” when done.