Ping is a means of determining whether a specific IP address is available. It works by sending a packet to the specified address and waiting for a reply. A ping is used primarily to troubleshoot Internet connections when you are having problems viewing your Web site online. If you are having problems with your internet connection, you can follow the instructions listed below to determine if there is a problem. If you receive a successful ping, there is an internet connection and the problem is unrelated to your connection.
If you are unable to perform a ping, there could be several reasons including problems with:
- Your local network connection
- Your ISP
- Your local router
Instructions for computers run macOS 11 Big Sur and higher.
1.) Click on the Spotlight icon on the top right of the screen.
2.) Type "Terminal" in the search field and select Terminal.
3.) In the Terminal window, type "ping" followed by the IP address or web address.
4.) Press "Return".
5.) Let the ping program run. Terminal repeatedly tests the ping of the network - it will keep going until you stop it - so press Ctrl + C when you are finished to quit the Terminal ping test process.
Instructions for computers running macOS 10.15 (Catalina), macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)
1.) Click on Spotlight icon on the top right of the screen.
2.) Type Network Utility in the search field.
3.) In the Network Utility window, click on the Ping tab.
4.) In the field under "Please enter the network address to ping," enter google.com to ping Yahoo's domain servers.
5.) Click the Ping button.
Tips & Warnings
If you get replies, it means that your Internet connection is healthy.
If you get timeouts, then you need to check your cabling. Calling your Internet Service Provider might also be of some help.