How do I uninstall a WiFi adapter on a Mac?

Introduction

Uninstalling a WiFi adapter on a Mac can sometimes be necessary, whether you’re troubleshooting connectivity issues or upgrading to a new device. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you can safely and effectively remove your WiFi adapter from your Mac.

Steps to Uninstall WiFi Adapter on a Mac

Step 1: Identify Your macOS Version

First, you need to identify the version of macOS your Mac is running. The steps to uninstall a WiFi adapter may vary slightly depending on the macOS version. To find out your macOS version:

  • Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
  • Select “About This Mac.”
  • In the window that appears, you’ll see the macOS name followed by the version number.

Step 2: Uninstall the WiFi Adapter

Now that you know your macOS version, follow the appropriate steps below:

macOS Big Sur and Later

  1. Open the “System Preferences” by clicking the Apple logo and selecting “System Preferences.”
  2. Go to “Network.”
  3. Select the WiFi network you want to remove from the list of connections on the left-hand side.
  4. Click the “-” button at the bottom to remove the WiFi connection.
  5. Confirm the removal by clicking “Apply.”

macOS Catalina and Earlier

  1. Open “System Preferences” from the Apple menu.
  2. Select “Network.”
  3. Click on the WiFi network in the list on the left.
  4. Click the “-” button to remove it.
  5. Click “Apply” to save your changes.

Step 3: Remove WiFi Adapter from Device Manager

For advanced troubleshooting, you may need to remove the WiFi adapter from the device manager. Although macOS does not have a traditional device manager like Windows, you can achieve this through Terminal:

  1. Open Terminal from the Utilities folder in Applications.
  2. Type sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/YourWiFiAdapter.kext replacing “YourWiFiAdapter” with the actual adapter name.
  3. Enter your admin password and press Enter.
  4. Restart your Mac to complete the process.

Step 4: Verify Removal

After completing the above steps, verify that the WiFi adapter has been uninstalled:

  • Open “System Preferences” and select “Network.”
  • Ensure the WiFi network is no longer listed.
  • Open Terminal and type networksetup -listallhardwareports to check that the WiFi adapter is no longer present.

Reinstalling a WiFi Adapter

If you need to reinstall the WiFi adapter, follow these steps:

Using Terminal

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Type sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/YourWiFiAdapter.kext.
  3. Enter your admin password and press Enter.
  4. Restart your Mac.

Using System Preferences

  1. Open “System Preferences” and navigate to “Network.”
  2. Click the “+” button to add a new network interface.
  3. Select “Wi-Fi” from the drop-down menu and click “Create.”
  4. After filling in the necessary details, click “Apply.”

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues during the uninstallation process, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

  • If the WiFi adapter doesn’t appear in the Terminal, ensure you’re using the correct name of the kext file.
  • Make sure you have admin privileges before trying to uninstall the adapter using Terminal.
  • If System Preferences doesn’t save your changes, try restarting your Mac and attempting the uninstallation steps again.

Conclusion

Uninstalling a WiFi adapter on a Mac is a straightforward process, provided you follow the correct steps for your macOS version. Whether you’re troubleshooting or upgrading, you now have all the information needed to safely remove and reinstall a WiFi adapter on your Mac.