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OSX Yosemite Wi-Fi: no hardware installed

Hi ASC:

I installed Yosemite about 2 weeks ago, and at first my wi-fi (at home & work) was working fine, but then about a week ago the Wi-Fi icon at the top of the toolbar got an "X" in the middle of it and when I click on the Wi-Fi icon it says, "No hardware installed". I tried resetting the SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own (from another thread) but no luck. I've googled this, YouTube-ed it, but still no Wi-Fi back. Someone PLEASE help 😟

I'm using:

OSX Yosemite

10.10.1

MacBook Pro (15-inch, early 2011)

Thank you.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Dec 17, 2014 6:02 AM

Best reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Posted on Dec 17, 2014 3:55 PM

In some cases, this issue is caused by a hardware fault. A loose connection, a short circuit, or a microscopic break in a solder joint may open and close depending on temperature, making the failure intermittent.

Test after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already taken. Back up all data before making any changes.

1. If you can connect to the Internet via Ethernet, Bluetooth, or a USB network device, make sure all available OS X updates are installed. If Wi-Fi is your only means of network access, skip this step.

2.. There are a few reports that the problem was solved by unchecking the box marked

Wake for Wi-Fi network access

in the Power Adapter tab of the Energy Saver preference pane. I can't confirm.

3. Reset the NVRAM.

4. Reset the System Management Controller.

5. Start up in Recovery mode. In the menu bar of the OS X Utilities screen, there's a Wi-Fi menu. Try to connect. If it works, select Install OS X. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.

6. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

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61 replies

Feb 12, 2015 9:14 PM in response to Rift_Maze_Fee

Hey!

I was having the exact same problem after installing Yosemite. I've had intermittent issues with my Wi-Fi hardware not showing up in previous OS builds, but installing Yosemite seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. None of my usual tricks worked.

Then I found this website: http://m.imore.com/how-fix-mavericks-wi-fi-zapping-bluetooth

I know it says it's a fix for Mavericks, but it absolutely worked for my Yosemite "no Wi-Fi hardware installed" problem. I was pretty shocked because it seemed like such a silly fix. Literally all I had to do was delete one Bluetooth preference file. Upon reboot I had Wi-Fi again as if nothing had ever happened. Wi-Fi hardware responded immediately and required no additional troubleshooting.

I don't use Bluetooth for anything so deleting the file hasn't been an issue for me. However, if you use Bluetooth for a keyboard or mouse or speakers then you might have to reconnect them. Not sure if it messes up Bluetooth or not.

Hope this helps! It was quite the relief when it solved my problem.

halfzero

Level 1

0 points

Mar 9, 2015 11:16 PM in response to Chris Knauer

Thanks Chris!!

It really helped me to solve the problem!

Mar 28, 2015 6:20 PM in response to halfzero

I have exactly the same problem. However, this fix only works temporarily. Wifi will come back and work for a short time, then it will drop and the computer will crash. I had no problems before Yosemite. None. It's unfathomable how such a major issue could go unnoticed by Apple during beta-testing.

Mar 29, 2015 5:05 PM in response to Rift_Maze_Fee

Apple just erased someone who posted a link, and my simple question for him was how to get a kext from 10.10.2.

I don't even know what a kext is. But I know I have 5 macs, 5 iPhones, 2 iPads, and a 4 year MacBook Pro that has no wifi ever since I updated to Yosemite, and it sounds like I'm not alone. Hey APPLE, why don't you put resources into fixing what appears to be a known software glitch/issue, instead of spending resources having people delete posts, which we only do because you charge way too much to have people 'fix' things that shouldn't be broken

Mar 30, 2015 11:30 AM in response to nickdrum1234

Look like they took the link from your post as well and while I was editing my response to your post they locked in my draft and for some reason I can't get in to edit it. This forum is garbage. . .

Mar 31, 2015 4:22 AM in response to ronson11B

That's OK ronson, I did get your original reply and may try that. Mine started about 2 weeks ago, and it was intermittent at first. Restarting the computer fixed it a couple times. But now it hasn't worked since Friday, so I need to do something. Thanks for your detailed description and I will let you know if it works for me or not. I suppose there is a chance my hardware is actually bad, but reading all the other people with the same issue, I am suspecting a software problem. If I worked at Apple I would want to fix a known issue, and resolve it for people like me who have been extremely loyal customers. But that doesn't appear to be the case here.

Mar 31, 2015 12:22 PM in response to nickdrum1234

Deleted again. Here is the email I got from them, which again is as vague as it could be and allows for no exchange on the matter.

Hi ron davidson (ronson11B),

Thanks for participating in the Apple Support Communities.

We removed your post “Re: OSX Yosemite Wi-Fi: no hardware installed” because it discussed inappropriate activities. We understand wanting to share experiences, but these forums are meant for technical questions that can be answered by the community.

You can read our submission guidelines here:

Apple Support Communities - Terms of Use
https://discussions.apple.com/static/apple/tutorial/tou.html

We hope you’ll keep using our Support Communities forums. You can find more information about participating here:

Apple Support Communities - Tutorials
https://discussions.apple.com/static/apple/tutorial/index.html

If you have comments about any of our products, we welcome your feedback:

Apple - Feedback
http://www.apple.com/feedback

I’ve included a copy of your original post below.

Thanks,
Apple Support Communities Staff

Apr 12, 2015 1:13 AM in response to Rift_Maze_Fee

Hi,even iam facing the same problem,did you h get any solution for this?

Apr 12, 2015 10:57 AM in response to R.Sainath

Well, I took it to the Apple Store where they ran a diagnostic test and said the WiFi hardware had failed. Since I was out of warranty they had me. $113 and a couple days later I now have working WiFi. Heaven forbid that Apple would ever admit that their 10.10.2 update is causing so many people with computers from 2010 to have WiFi hardware fail. It seems to be too many instances for a coincidence. But what other choice did I have? One funny thing the Genius Bar guy told me was as soon as computers are 5 years old, Apple terms them "obsolete" and then they no longer offer parts or support. So they are basically saying even if you take care of your computer and it is built to last longer, then too bad, you need to buy another expensive one anyway after 5 years. I have bought so many Apple computers, iPods, iPhones, and iPads since 2004, and frankly I am getting sick and tired of the company and the attitude and the price for all of this convenience.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 19, 2015 8:24 AM in response to ronson11B

ronson11B wrote:

Deleted again. Here is the email I got from them, which again is as vague as it could be and allows for no exchange on the matter.

The moderators do not discuss their decisions, no exchange is possible.

Apr 22, 2015 7:28 PM in response to Csound1

After the last update I had the same problem on my HW (MBA'13 2014), as I am also traveling in Asia having no WIFI was a "slight" issue. Let's put it that way some of you may question my judgement and after clicking the OK button to reboot I was thinking to myself "shouldn't have done that...", but some things you can't change after you committed :-).

In my humble opinion the issue is related to the 802* drivers and definitions in the ~\library directory are either locked or not properly updated. Without network on a business trip that, however, is fairly hard to figure out. So here is how I got network back in a pinch:

1. Boot to recovery (R+Command)

2. Unlock (if you have protected and encrypted your disk, what I guess should be the disk in Disk utility, verify and repair both disk and permissions

(make sure your WIFI works after you boot to recovery and properly connects, but that should be the case otherwise you cannot install anyhow if you do not have a media)

3. Install OSx over your existing disk (25 minute investment)

This worked for me and got me back online with WiFi working, now keep in mind I did not have any issues before that latest update to 10.10.3. At least what I know that far, as 10.10.3 installs and updates the recovery partition as well, a triggered reinstall updates and overwrites the 802* files with the correct ones, but I have not check on this yet.

As I am naturally curious, I have done some more digging on another box, that if I zip up the 802* files before update, update and get stuck with "no hardware" unpack the 10.10.2 files that worked I can get my wifi back. What might be a little easier than the ~25 minute install investment (at the time without all tools an tricks in my pocket it was the fastest back to a working state option).

I am now checking if you can move the 802* files from recover over after the update, but have not been successful yet for some reason (I guess my terminal skills have suffered over the last couple of years or some of them files are locked or have permission issues).

As I thought there might be others that during a trip and evening of questionable "team building" exercises, make questionable update decisions I wanted to put something up here. If I can make the Recovery idea work I will provide an additional update.

Any comments are welcome, no guarantee this will work for everybody, but it is worth a try if you are in a bind like me :-).

EricP12

Level 1

8 points

Jun 15, 2015 12:55 PM in response to Chris Knauer

This is a great comment. Why a bluetooth setting effects Wi-fi network, I have no idea. But this was genius and helped me right away.

Running Mavericks 10.9.5 on 2009ish MacBook Pro, Didn't even lose my Wi-fi password as that is in my key chain.

I was ready to put in another airport card.

Side note: was getting hard to stay connected to my wi-fi network so I changed the channel setting in the Airport Utility program, then get to the channel settings which has a default setting of "automatic" and changed that default setting to channel "10" (I have a 2.4 Ghz phone) on my airport express. IF you don't remember the password to your airport express or airport extreme base station, all you have to do is push in on the really small white reset button (almost does not look like a button) with a pen and then it allows access for a few minutes so you can reset the base station base word. This is different than the wi-fi network password. Then you change the channel settings in the Airport Utility program. Through the Airport Utility program you also can reset the wi-fi network password.