How to Patch Broadcom and Intel WiFi on the Fly on macOS Sonoma and Later
This guide covers fixing Broadcom and Intel WiFi on the fly on macOS Sonoma and Later using OpenCore. By following this guide, you'll be able to enable Broadcom and Intel based WiFi while doing a clean install of macOS Sonoma and Later using OpenCore Bootloader.This guide must be followed on macOS Sonoma and later only. If you're running a prior version of macOS, there is an original WiFi guide that works with ease up to macOS Monterey and has been linked below for reference:
If you already have installed macOS Sonoma and later, then you can follow the WiFi guide linked below as a part of the post installation:
Overview
Apple dropped for several Broadcom WiFi Cards since macOS Sonoma and a solution was to root patch the system volume using OCLP. OCLP uses AutoPkgInstaller.kext and AutoPkg-Assets.pkg to automatically patch system volume during the clean install stage. This guide is based on that mechanism that auto patches the system for Broadcom and Intel WiFi during the clean installation stage.Requirements
Following are the requirements for enabling Broadcom and Intel WiFi on the fly on macOS Sonoma and later. Please ensure you meet the requirements before proceeding with this guide.| WiFi/ BT Hardware |
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STEP 1: Setup BIOS
The very first step is to set up the BIOS to have the Intel WiFi/BT enabled on your system. This is because there are a few systems that have the option to Enable/Disable WiFi/BT in BIOS which affects the functionality under macOS.1. On your target computer, boot to BIOS. Refer to your system/motherboard user manual for the BIOS Key.
2. Enable WiFi/BT function.
3. Save & Exit Setup.
STEP 2: Verify the WiFi Detection
The next step is to verify whether the installed card is being detected under macOS or not. This step is required in order to ensure you are on the right track and have the right card as per the compatibility list. If the Card is not detected, even following the guide correctly will not help you to drive the card. In addition, not all WWN slots are M.2. There are a few systems with cNVi slots, where even if you replace the card with a compatible one, the card will not be detected at all. This is because of the proprietary connectivity interface by Intel. This means the particular CNVi slot on the motherboard will accept only Intel-based WiFi/BT Cards.Moreover, in some cases, there is whitelist on certain systems which will affect the functionality of the WiFi/BT as replacing the card with another model will simply not work due to the whitelist. Therefore if you replace the card, you must verify the detection of the WiFi/BT module. To verify the WiFi/BT detection, follow the steps below:
1. Download Hackintool.
2. Open Hackintool.
3. Locate your WiFi module under the PCIe section in Hackintool. The WiFi module is usually listed as a Network Controller under the Class and Subclass column:
4. The BT can be verified in the Hackintool>USB section. In case, if you're unable to verify the BT presence using Hackintool, you can verify it from the System Report>Hardware>USB section or even via IOReg:
Hackintool will report the firmware loaded for the Bluetooth but there seems to be a bug. The firmware loading status can be also verified from System Report>Bluetooth:
Moreover, the BT gets recognized as Broadcom instead of Intel. This is another bug where if a correct firmware is not loaded, the system tries to load the Broadcom firmware by default. The issue persist since Monterey onwards. As a result, the Bluetooth does not function at all even with the appropriate kexts injected via OpenCore which was fully functional on macOS Sonoma and prior.
STEP 3: Configure EFI
Depending on the WiFi (either Broadcom or Intel), configure the EFI accordingly as it is a crucial step. For Broadcom based WiFi, you can follow the guide linked below (from STEP #3 to STEP #7):For Broadcom based WiFi, you can follow the guide linked below (Method #2, from STEP #3 to STEP #7):
STEP 4: Create macOS Bootable USB
Create the macOS bootable USB using the offline method:STEP 5: Create OpenCore EFI
After you have created the bootable USB, create the EFI using the guide linked below:NOTE: You must copy the appropriate EFI to the USB's ESP.
STEP 6: Prepare USB for Auto Patching
Now, the next step is to prepare the USB for auto patching the WiFi on the fly during the macOS installation. Follow the steps below to prepare the USB for auto patching:1. Download AutoPkgInstaller.kext and AutoPkg-Assets.pkg.
2. Extract the kext.
3. Mount your ESP.
4. Copy
AutoPkgInstaller.kext to the EFI/OC/kexts directory.5. Navigate to main partition of the USB that has the installer as shown below:
6. Unhide files on macOS and you'll see the hidden files and folders in the installer partition of the USB:
7. Create a new folder named Packages inside the hidden Library directory of the USB's installer partition:
8. Copy
AutoPkg-Assets.pkg to the Library/Packages directory you created above:STEP 7: Perform a Clean Installation
Now, as the USB is ready, perform a clean installation using the prepared USB. You can follow the guide linked below for the installation:Once the installation is complete, OCLP will patch the WiFi before booting to the setup screen:
When the OCLP starts patching the WiFi, you'll see an Apple logo with the percentage along the progress bar:
This way, you'll have a next to native experience and the WiFi will work as it used to prior to macOS Sonoma and you don't have to patch it after completing the installation and setting up macOS.
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