Chosen Solution
I have a 2020 M1 Macbook Air that I removed the antenna bar from. See example pic here:https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/…The problem is the laptop is still able to scan for Wi-Fi networks despite no antenna bar. How can this happen when I physically removed the hardware? I would like to completely airgap the system
The issue is that the actual WiFi/Bluetooth antenna bar doesn’t contain any of the actual driving components for Bluetooth or Wifi. The driving components are integrated into the board, and can only be removed if you have micro-soldering skills. However, @danj did have a good alternative solution to this in a similar question. To sum it up, all you should have to do is turn off the WiFi and Bluetooth services through the OS and set up a second user account with the services disabled by admin.
Hi On the under side of the logic board(the opposite side of the one in the picture)there is a chip that looks like a SSD(SSD’s highlighted in photo)
I believe that is the WIFI chip I don’t recommend removing this as it requires applying LOADS of hot air onto the board to melt the solder and unadhere the underfill which can reflow things and even worse burn the board It’s entirely up to you ,so Il let you decide;-) Hopefully this helps Any questions please ask Thanks:-)
@lopptony - Why are you going to such depths? Sadly you can’t take out the chip without creating other problems. Using multiple user accounts is the only way you can do this in this series as unlike the linked answer I wrote that Jacob aimed you to the M series systems are much more integrated. Maybe you need to rethink which system is right for you. Going to an earlier 2015 MacBook Air or Pro which has a removable AirPort board. But then again the newer macOS this system uses is much tighter if you enable all of the security features. Make sure your paranoia doesn’t drive you into vaulted room. Just like living you can’t prevent or prepare for the unforeseen. But you can be guarded and make sure your values are protected.
