How to Configure Network Locations and Priority Service Order in macOS Sequoia

Modern Mac users frequently dock their laptops at office workstations equipped with high-speed Gigabit Ethernet while also maintaining active Wi-Fi connections. If macOS prioritizes the slower wireless network over the wired connection, file transfers to local NAS units crawl and latency increases. Additionally, remote workers who switch between home setups, corporate offices, and client networks often need distinct DNS and proxy configurations. In macOS Sequoia, managing Network Service Order and Network Locations guarantees optimal connection routing and seamless network switching.

Understanding Network Service Priority Order

macOS uses a hierarchical priority list to determine which physical or virtual interface handles outgoing traffic when multiple connections are active:

• Top Priority: macOS routes all default internet traffic through the topmost active interface in the list (e.g., Thunderbolt Ethernet).
• Secondary Failover: If the primary interface disconnects (e.g., unplugging an Ethernet cable), macOS fails over to the next active service in the hierarchy (e.g., Wi-Fi) with zero disruption to established sessions.
• VPN Precedence: Virtual private network adapters can be elevated above physical adapters to force all outbound client lookups through enterprise encrypted tunnels.

Configuring Network Service Order in macOS Sequoia

To ensure macOS always prioritizes high-speed wired connections over Wi-Fi:

1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner and select System Settings.
2. In the left sidebar, select Network.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the interface list and click the Action button (…) (three dots next to the Add Service button).
4. From the dropdown menu, select Set Service Order….
5. In the modal window, drag your preferred network interfaces to rearrange their priority:
   • Place Thunderbolt Ethernet or USB-C LAN at the very top.
   • Position Wi-Fi immediately below Ethernet.
   • Position cellular personal hotspots or secondary adapters below Wi-Fi.
6. Click OK and then click Apply. Now, whenever an Ethernet cable is plugged in, macOS routes traffic across the wired link while keeping Wi-Fi active for AirDrop and Location Services.

Managing Custom Network Locations via Terminal

While modern macOS settings emphasize automated network discovery, power users requiring distinct IP, DNS, or proxy profiles for home, office, and field environments can manage multi-environment Locations using the networksetup command:

List all currently configured network locations:

networksetup -listlocations

Create a dedicated new network location for office work:

networksetup -createlocation "CorporateOffice" populate

The populate argument automatically replicates your Mac’s current hardware interfaces into the new profile.

Switch active operational location:

networksetup -switchtolocation "CorporateOffice"

Assign custom DNS servers specifically to that active location’s Wi-Fi interface:

networksetup -setdnsservers "Wi-Fi" 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1

Verifying Route Selection with netstat

To confirm that outgoing packets travel across your highest priority interface:

netstat -nr | grep default

Review the Netif column in the default route row (e.g., en0 for Ethernet vs en1 for Wi-Fi) to verify that your highest-speed interface acts as the primary gateway.