Cannot join wifi network - "please move closer" I have a macbook pro running osx. It is identical to many others in my office. I am the only one who cannot connect to the office wifi network. I can connect to other networks just fine, but when I try to connect to this one specific network a dialog box replies with 

The Wi-Fi network "office" could not be joined.

Try moving closer to your wireless router. Alternatively, run Wireless Diagnostics to troubleshoot.


Moving closer is not the solution. Diagnostics spits a lot of info, within which the wifi log is contained. During the join attempt the wifi log reported:

Tue Apr 22 14:37:28.028 &lt;airportd[101]&gt; composeEFIJoinParam: Invalid security type
Tue Apr 22 14:37:28.029 &lt;airportd[101]&gt; writeRecoveryNetworksToNVRAM: could not compose EFI join params
Tue Apr 22 14:37:28.029 &lt;airportd[101]&gt; _handleNewMessage: Received XPC message, event = USER_REQUEST_EVENT, pid = 175
Tue Apr 22 14:37:28.029 &lt;airportd[101]&gt; _handleNewMessage: Received XPC message, event = DEBUG_FLAGS_EVENT, pid = 1023


How can I solve this?
Just to make sure, check with network admin that your MAC address is not blocked :)

The message posted indicates you might have a Firewall setting issue.

Open About this Mac + more info + system report and find the Firewall. Check the settings there making sure it is not blocking that network somehow.

Also make sure you do not have a 3D party Network software blocking that connection like Little Snitch or others.

Lets try to connect manually, using the Terminal:

Follow this guide to connect using copy paste.

In Terminal type following (to turn the airport on)

networksetup -setairportpower en0 on


Next type (to scan for networks and find the one you want)

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/A/Resources/airport scan


Finally type (to connect)

networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 WIFI_SSID_I_WANT_TO_JOIN WIFI_PASSWORD


If the password is something weird like ASCI or HEX follow this guide.