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A1708 / EMC 2978 — Released October 2016, this entry-level MacBook Pro retains its traditional function keys (as opposed to the OLED Touch Bar). The function key version packs an Intel Core i5 and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.

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Can the wireless card be removed or "unplugged"?

Can the wireless/airport card be removed, "unplugged", or otherwise made unusable? I know it sounds weird, but I plan to use my MacBook Pro 2016 only for writing and other offline tasks (I have another laptop for net use). I got the MacBook Pro (non touch bar, 13 inch, 2016) because I love the apple system, the power and the memory, the 2nd gen butterfly keyboard, and the overall aesthetics, but want to permanently remove any possibility of internet connectivity - either through hardware or through software removal/modification (removing airport utility etc). I understand that doing so will invalidate the warranty, but would still like to know. Thanks!

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No there is only one wifi chip directly fused to the board.

If you don't want to use the wifi, just turn it off. There is no need for pointless hassles to just remove wifi.

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Thanks! I was hoping for a more permanent and irreversible solution via hardware or software modification, but you're right about the chip.

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Enter recovery mode.

open terminal.

delete the .kext file that is basically the driver for the wifi chip.

do this by using [rm -r [then full directory path]]

Suggest backing it up first to a thumb drive, along with a kext installer on the same drive.

then if you ever need to reinstall the driver to get the wifi chip working again, plug in the usb stick and run the kext installer.

the kext is usually called 1080211Family.kext

you need to enter full path verbatim: /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext

sometimes there is also a IO80211FamilyV2.kext file that needs to be removed also.

Note: this ‘fix’ doesn’t work on latest macbookpro models, need to discover what is the kext file for current wifi chip. But same principle.

I consider this the ultimate productivity tool. If I have a project I need to focus on, then I do the above, hid the usb in a different place, and get stuck into the project without any fear of internet interruptions.

All the best.

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