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how to permanently disable wifi?

B

Bento.Box

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 10, 2022
246
149
Hello,

following issue:
Unfortunately, my Mac mini M4 came with built-in wifi (the G4 back in the days had the option to remove it).
When I deactivate wifi in the top right, it comes back on with every OSX upgrade I perform.

Due to an error in the network routing function of the OSX kernel, it prefers the routes with the higher administrative cost instead of the lower, which means that it will try to connect over the slow wifi even though a cable is connected.

But because I use the same apple account (maybe it was a bad idea) on the mini and the iPhone, the iPhone cannot connect to the wifi anymore when I delete the credentials from the mini.

Is there a clean way to disable wifi permanently on OSX?

Thanks!
 
Bento.Box said:
Hello,

following issue:
Unfortunately, my Mac mini M4 came with built-in wifi (the G4 back in the days had the option to remove it).
When I deactivate wifi in the top right, it comes back on with every OSX upgrade I perform.

Due to an error in the network routing function of the OSX kernel, it prefers the routes with the higher administrative cost instead of the lower, which means that it will try to connect over the slow wifi even though a cable is connected.

But because I use the same apple account (maybe it was a bad idea) on the mini and the iPhone, the iPhone cannot connect to the wifi anymore when I delete the credentials from the mini.

Is there a clean way to disable wifi permanently on OSX?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I believe you can just turn off the "auto join" option on MacOS and that doesn't get sync'd anywhere.
 
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With SIP disabled on mini M4 Sequoia 15.4.1, I have disabled several Wi-Fi launch agents and launch daemons and Wi-Fi looks like this now:
Wi-Fi.jpg
What I have disabled:
Code: 
launchctl bootout gui/501/com.apple.wifianalyticsd
launchctl disable gui/501/com.apple.wifianalyticsd

launchctl bootout gui/501/com.apple.wifi.WiFiAgent
launchctl disable gui/501/com.apple.wifi.WiFiAgent

sudo launchctl bootout system/com.apple.wifianalyticsd
sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.wifianalyticsd

sudo launchctl bootout system/com.apple.wifip2pd
sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.wifip2pd

sudo launchctl bootout system/com.apple.wifivelocityd
sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.wifivelocityd
 
Slartibart said:
also if you drag the ethernet connection to the top in the settings it will stay there persistent, even when you update.
Click to expand...
I was going to offer this suggestion! I have a MacBook Pro with both Ethernet connection and WiFi turned on, just for convenience when I go somewhere. It is ALWAYS connected to Ethernetwhen the cable is plugged in. Ethernet is first in my Network Settings list.
 
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Bento.Box said:
Hello,

following issue:
Unfortunately, my Mac mini M4 came with built-in wifi (the G4 back in the days had the option to remove it).
When I deactivate wifi in the top right, it comes back on with every OSX upgrade I perform.

Due to an error in the network routing function of the OSX kernel, it prefers the routes with the higher administrative cost instead of the lower, which means that it will try to connect over the slow wifi even though a cable is connected.

But because I use the same apple account (maybe it was a bad idea) on the mini and the iPhone, the iPhone cannot connect to the wifi anymore when I delete the credentials from the mini.

Is there a clean way to disable wifi permanently on OSX?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hey everyone. I have a similar question for a macbook late 2020 m1. I want to permanently disable wifi to my macbook and only use ethernet. I often get the "but why, just toggle it off etc." answers, which I understand but that's not what I'm looking for. But I want to remove access completely and permanently and only use ethernet if possible.

I've used the command "sudo networksetup -setnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi off," which sortof works temporarily but is easily reversed.

Any ideas? I'd be happy with any fix, even if it means never using wifi on my macbook again. I know this may be a strange question but I'd appreciate any help.
 
I think you can simply go into Settings > Network and delete the Wi-Fi service (right click on Wi-Fi)? That would leave no Wi-Fi interface. No interface, no Wi-Fi. You could also try making it inactive instead of deleting it. That will leave you Network settings looking like this, with no Wi-Fi at all (of course you'd see Ethernet).

Test.png
 
Last edited:
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"I want to permanently disable wifi to my macbook"

My GUESS is that it cannot be done via software or hardware.

It MIGHT be possible by removing all "kext" files (extensions) that pertain to wifi, thus preventing connection between the software and the hardware. If the kexts don't load at boot, the wifi won't work.

BUT... I'm thinking these are located on the "sealed System volume", and inaccessible to the user. Thus, they can't be "removed/deleted".

The only other option would be "hardware", and anything internal you could "remove" would probably involve breaking something. And breaking the computer in so doing.

So...
I'll guess that the only option is to do what bogdanw recommends in reply 4 above.
 
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Fishrrman said:
"I want to permanently disable wifi to my macbook"

My GUESS is that it cannot be done via software or hardware.

It MIGHT be possible by removing all "kext" files (extensions) that pertain to wifi, thus preventing connection between the software and the hardware. If the kexts don't load at boot, the wifi won't work.

BUT... I'm thinking these are located on the "sealed System volume", and inaccessible to the user. Thus, they can't be "removed/deleted".

The only other option would be "hardware", and anything internal you could "remove" would probably involve breaking something. And breaking the computer in so doing.

So...
I'll guess that the only option is to do what bogdanw recommends in reply 4 above.
Click to expand...
This is a helpful response, thank you. It seems as though a software solution isn't available, especially for someone like me who isn't experienced in coding etc. I don't want to get into the hardware as you said bc it seems that would be *easy* to damage something else.
Are you able and willing to tell me how to disable SIP like he said? And for inputting the code, is that done line by line? Sorry for the newbie questions!
 
chabig said:
I think you can simply go into Settings > Network and delete the Wi-Fi service (right click on Wi-Fi)? That would leave no Wi-Fi interface. No interface, no Wi-Fi. You could also try making it inactive instead of deleting it.
Click to expand...
I'll try this - thanks!
 
"how to disable SIP ?"

Power down, all the way off.
Press and HOLD the power/touch ID button, and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN.
When you see "loading startup options" you can let go.
You should then see icons for the internal drive and another named "options".
Click on "options". Then click "continue".
The Mac will then (quickly) boot into Recovery mode.
Go to the menu bar, click "utilities" and choose Terminal.
In terminal, enter
csrutil disable
... and then hit return.
You will now be asked for your administrative password.
Enter it.
YOU WILL NOT SEE IT AS YOU ARE ENTERING IT. This is how it works.
When done, quit Terminal.
Now go up to the Apple menu and choose "Restart".

When the Mac reboots, SIP will now be disabled.
You can check this by opening Terminal again and entering:
csrutil status

I disable SIP as a matter of course on my Macs.
I don't need it or want it.

Now you can try bogdanw's "solution" if you want.

But I must ask:
WHY do you want wifi disabled?
Inquiring minds want to know.
 
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chabig said:
I think you can simply go into Settings > Network and delete the Wi-Fi service (right click on Wi-Fi)? That would leave no Wi-Fi interface. No interface, no Wi-Fi. You could also try making it inactive instead of deleting it.
Click to expand...
How-to undo that?

If I decide later I wish WLAN?
 
Fishrrman said:
"how to disable SIP ?"

Power down, all the way off.
Press and HOLD the power/touch ID button, and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN.
When you see "loading startup options" you can let go.
You should then see icons for the internal drive and another named "options".
Click on "options". Then click "continue".
The Mac will then (quickly) boot into Recovery mode.
Go to the menu bar, click "utilities" and choose Terminal.
In terminal, enter
csrutil disable
... and then hit return.
You will now be asked for your administrative password.
Enter it.
YOU WILL NOT SEE IT AS YOU ARE ENTERING IT. This is how it works.
When done, quit Terminal.
Now go up to the Apple menu and choose "Restart".

When the Mac reboots, SIP will now be disabled.
You can check this by opening Terminal again and entering:
csrutil status

I disable SIP as a matter of course on my Macs.
I don't need it or want it.

Now you can try bogdanw's "solution" if you want.

But I must ask:
WHY do you want wifi disabled?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Click to expand...
Hey, thanks again for all of that, I appreciate it.

So, I do a lot of writing and want to do a lot of writing in the future. I want to be able to sit down with a computer and have *nothing* to do on it except do mental work for however long I want. When I need to send/download something I'll plug it in and do it all at once. I had this for several months, and I can't tell you the difference it made in my productivity plus how good it felt to open my laptop and not always have the mental strain of not checking this, or not checking that, or the need to do this random thing on the internet and then 20 min late come back to writing and have to refocus.

I'm very curious and find distractions stimulating and a bit addictive. I've always had this love/hate relationship with the internet (like probably everyone). This is one way I've found to still have connectivity when I want it but not have it overload my brain. Plus with my experimenting, I've found that all the "reasons" I *needed* always on connectivity are actually a load of bs. My brain is perfectly capable, and in fact much stronger, when it just has time to think all on its own.

A lot of people find this extreme. And if they're honestly just better at self-control then I am, more power to them. But most of us don't even realize how just the presence of the internet robs us of the ability to just sit with our selves (and a few physical books) and think deeply. That's something I value highly and so come to the place where I refuse to allow the internet to take that from me.

Thus, a macbook without wifi access lol.
 
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josephusiku said:
I want to permanently disable wifi to my macbook and only use ethernet.
Click to expand...
Screenshot 2025-06-02 at 10.24.52 AM.png

Turn off the wifi, then go to this screen in the advanced wifi settings and enable the toggle "Turn wifi on or off".

Then demote the logged in account from admin status.

Before you do that, you should make another account on the Mac the admin account.
 
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Weaselboy said:
Turn off the wifi, then go to this screen in the advanced wifi settings and enable the toggle "Turn wifi on or off".

Then demote the logged in account from admin status.

Before you do that, you should make another account on the Mac the admin account.
Click to expand...

Great idea and the "before you do" bit is important of course.

Does this persist over upgrades? If it does I'm going to do it. I have a few Macs as servers and this turning wifi back on has been a botherment.
 
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Fishrrman said:
It MIGHT be possible by removing all "kext" files (extensions) that pertain to wifi, thus preventing connection between the software and the hardware. If the kexts don't load at boot, the wifi won't work.
Click to expand...
That would work until the next macOS update puts the files back. The best solution is to deselect "automatic join".

You could also address this from your router with a firewall rule to prevent your Mac from joining the network but the exact details depend on your router.
 
bogdanw said:
With SIP disabled on mini M4 Sequoia 15.4.1, I have disabled several Wi-Fi launch agents and launch daemons and Wi-Fi looks like this now:
View attachment 2505881
What I have disabled:
Code: 
launchctl bootout gui/501/com.apple.wifianalyticsd
launchctl disable gui/501/com.apple.wifianalyticsd

launchctl bootout gui/501/com.apple.wifi.WiFiAgent
launchctl disable gui/501/com.apple.wifi.WiFiAgent

sudo launchctl bootout system/com.apple.wifianalyticsd
sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.wifianalyticsd

sudo launchctl bootout system/com.apple.wifip2pd
sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.wifip2pd

sudo launchctl bootout system/com.apple.wifivelocityd
sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.wifivelocityd
Click to expand...
Hello - sorry for the dumb question, but what is the best way to enter that code above? Copy/paste the whole thing? One line at a time?
 
josephusiku said:
One line at a time?
Click to expand...
Yes, copy and paste on at a time. That way you can be aware of any errors one at a time. I wouldn't expect any from @bogdanw, but you never know.

By the way, the commands with 501 will only work if you are the first user created on your Mac.

But you might to ask @bogdanw how to enable them - in case you need to some time in the future.
 
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