Mac OS X 10.4.8: AirPort does not auto-connect to existing networks after restart or wake from sleep

After upgrading to Mac OS X 10.4.8, some Intel-based computers may not auto-connect to remembered networks that use WPA2 or WEP security. This article explains how to correct this behavior.

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.

To restore the auto-connect feature:

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. Select the Network pane.
  3. From the "Show:" drop-down menu, choose "AirPort".
  4. Make sure the "By default, join:" pop-up menu is set to "Preferred networks." (If it was set to "Automatic networks", you can set it back to Automatic after the next step.)
  5. Select any network that shows WPA2 security and use the minus (-) button to remove those networks from the list.
  6. Once all WPA2 networks have been removed from the list, use the plus (+) button to add them back. (You will need the appropriate passwords for the wireless network.) If it's more convenient, you can wait to re-add the networks until you use them—when you use a network, it will be added to the list automatically.
  7. If in step 3, your default was Automatic rather than Preferred, go ahead and change your default back to Automatic.

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