Low-latency Wi-Fi: stop ping spikes on calls and games

If your calls or games stutter every few seconds on an otherwise good connection, the cause is often AWDL — the wireless side-channel macOS uses for AirDrop, AirPlay and Sidecar. Low-latency Wi-Fi switches it off while you need a steady connection.

Turn it on

Flip the switch on Low-latency Wi-Fi PREMIUM in Browse all › Network. Flip it off to put things back.

What you give up while it's on

The card is upfront about it: “AirDrop, AirPlay and Sidecar are unavailable while this is on.” Turn it off before you AirDrop a file or use an iPad as a second screen.

How it works

AWDL runs on its own network interface, awdl0, and Low-latency Wi-Fi takes that interface down. macOS likes to bring it back up by itself, so while the switch is on, Mainspring checks every 30 seconds and takes it down again if needed. That check runs inside Mainspring, so it stops if you quit the app.

The interface always returns after a restart; if you left the switch on, Mainspring re-applies it when it next opens. Turning the switch off brings awdl0 back up at once.

Changing a network interface needs system privileges, which the helper installed with Mainspring provides.