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How to connect your old PowerPC Mac (without an AirPort Express card) to the internet in 2026!
Written by MacRenaissance - Published Saturday, March 7th, 2026
In 2026, ISPs are constantly advancing their technologies and innovating at an insanely fast pace. So fast that older devices get left behind, forgotten about, and de-prioritized by the companies that allow you to use them. And while technology blazes past and innovates swiftly, here's how you can get your old PowerPC Mac (or really any Mac with an ethernet port) back online in 2026 without needing to buy and install an old, obsolete AirPort card.
Firstly, here's what you'll need to do this;
First, power on your old MacBook Pro and open System Preferences. Click on the Sharing icon. Then, look through the options within the Sharing menu and make sure that Internet Sharing is checked. After you've done that, click on Internet Sharing and make sure it's set to "Share Wi-Fi connection to Ethernet". Once Internet Sharing is all set up, turn on your other Mac without an internet connection. Once it's on and you've logged in, plug one end of your Ethernet cable into the MacBook and the other end into your old Mac. You should now have a working internet connection on your old PowerPC Mac without an AirPort card. Congratulations!
P.S., If you're only using the MacBook Pro as an Internet Sharing device for the Mac, you can plug it in to an outlet and leave it plugged in to use it as a dedicated router for the Mac. (the MacBook will not go to sleep when Internet Sharing is on and the MacBook is connected to power, essentially allowing you to use it as a Wi-Fi sharing box. If you wanted to.)