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The Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar is displaying as empty. When I open Network Preferences and press “Turn Wi-Fi On”, nothing happens.

I have tried making the Wi-Fi service inactive, deleting it, then restarting the MacBook and adding the service back.

This fix actually worked, but the problem returned after about thirty minutes.

Since then, I have simply been repeating the process every time the Wi-Fi turns itself off, but it is very inconvenient and I hope it is not the only fix.

I’m afraid that the fact that the Wi-Fi turning itself back off again indicates that it’s a hardware issue.

After seeing a response to another user who had a similar problem, I have also tried using Terminal to “cycle the power to my wireless card”. It had no effect.

After restarting the MacBook again, it now says “Wi-Fi: No hardware installed” and will not let me create a new Wi-Fi service.

After another reboot I was able to turn WiFi on again, but it turned off after about ten minutes. I imagine that I will sometimes get “No Hardware Installed” again in the future.enter image description here

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  • Could you check in the Console.app if there are any entries related to the wifi card? It might point you in the direction of the issue.
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Dec 9, 2018 at 16:53
  • WiFi is off again and will not turn on. Whenever I press “Turn Wi-Fi On”, these two messages appear in Console: “Wi-Fi power is now off”; “Wi-Fi power changed (interface on: YES)”
    – Marcus
    Dec 9, 2018 at 18:06

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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Google's answer to "wifi no hardware installed mac"

This OSX Daily article from 2016 suggests that you need to reset your NVRAM and the SMC to solve the problem.

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  • Could the downvoter add a comment on how I can improve this answer?
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Dec 9, 2018 at 17:27
  • I saw that article before posting here, and I have tried resetting the NVRAM and the SMC. Unfortunately neither worked at the time, although I’m willing to try them again. However, I don’t know if doing so is still relevant; I am no longer getting the “No hardware Installed” message, the MacBook has returned to simply not turning WiFi on.
    – Marcus
    Dec 9, 2018 at 18:12
  • @Marcus Well, it was not stated in your question that you tried that already, so I couldn't know. Please include the things you have tried in your question. No need to do preface it with "UPDATE". Just write it in your question to create a single, information packed question.
    – Saaru Lindestøkke
    Dec 9, 2018 at 18:22
  • I’m sorry, your response leads me to believe that you think I am the one who downvoted you. I am not. Thanks for the advice; I will edit my question accordingly.
    – Marcus
    Dec 9, 2018 at 18:29
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Before we can declare your AirPort extreme WiFi card as dead lets try following.

  1. First take look at the hardware profile information in About this Mac > System Report > WiFi does it shows there. as for example...

Interfaces: en0: Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x117)

  1. To investigate possible Hardware problem run the Apple Hardware Test.

Hold D during boot.

When resenting the SMC pay attention to the magsafe light briefly flickering indicating the SMC rest worked.

  1. Reset your Modem and Router

  2. Create New Profile in the System Preferences > Network

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  • The System Report shows an Interface, en1. Everything seems normal, but it says “Status: Off”.
    – Marcus
    Dec 9, 2018 at 18:10
  • well so it is there !...while I believe your judgment "Everything seems normal" I would like to take look, so please take a screen shot from the Top to the "current network" (do not need that part at the moment).
    – Ruskes
    Dec 9, 2018 at 18:54
  • I’ve added the picture to the main post. The status now says “not associated”; it has been cycling between not being able to turn on WiFi, to being able to turn on but not able to connect to any networks, and “no hardware installed”. When I took the picture, WiFi was actually turned on, but it can’t connect to any networks.
    – Marcus
    Dec 9, 2018 at 20:08
  • Thank you for that, do you mind telling me what is your Geo location (not the town, just the territory)
    – Ruskes
    Dec 9, 2018 at 20:20
  • I’m in Iowa right now
    – Marcus
    Dec 9, 2018 at 20:34

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