Connecting Wi-Fi on Linux Mint: A Complete Guide with Solutions to Common Errors

Connecting to a wireless network on Linux Mint It only seems like a difficult task. In practice, 90% of problems can be solved using standard system tools—if you know where to look for the right settings. This guide will help both beginners and experienced users: it covers every step, from checking equipment to manually configuring hidden networks.

Peculiarity Linux Mint The problem is that the distribution uses different network managers depending on the version: NetworkManager (most cases) or Wicd (less common). We will focus on the current versions 20.x and 21.x, where the default is NetworkManagerIf your system uses a different manager, you'll find separate recommendations in the relevant section.

Important: Before you begin setup, make sure your Wi-Fi adapter is physically turned on (laptops often have a separate button or combination Fn+F2/F3). Also, check that the router is working correctly by trying to connect to it from another device.

1. Checking the presence of a Wi-Fi adapter in the system

The first step is to make sure Linux Mint can actually see your wireless adapter. To do this:

1. Open Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).
2. Enter the command:

   lspci -knn | grep Net -A3

3. Or for USB adapters:

   lsusb

In the output, look for lines mentioning Network controller or chip names like Atheros, Broadcom, Intel, RealtekIf there are no such lines, the adapter is not detected by the system. This may mean:

• 🔌 The adapter is disabled in BIOS/UEFI
• 🔧 Requires installation of proprietary drivers
• 💻 Adapter hardware failure

For adapters Broadcom Additional drivers are often required. They can be installed via Driver Manager (Menu → Administration → Driver Manager) or manually:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer

2. Enabling Wi-Fi via the graphical interface

If the adapter is detected by the system, the easiest way to connect is through the control panel:

1. Click the network icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar (next to the clock).
2. From the drop-down menu, select Turn on Wi-Fi (if the option is disabled).
3. Wait for the list of available networks to appear.
4. Select your network and enter the password.

If the network icon is missing or does not respond to clicks:

• 🔄 Reboot the system
• 🖱️ Check if the tray icon (the up arrow next to the clock) is hidden.
• 🛠️ Restart NetworkManager command:

  sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

For hidden networks (where the SSID is not broadcast):

1. Click Connect to a hidden network in the Wi-Fi menu.
2. Enter the network name (SSID) manually.
3. Select the security type (WPA/WPA2 in most cases).
4. Enter your password and save your settings.

3. Setting up Wi-Fi via the terminal

The command line gives you more control over the connection. Basic commands:

• 📡 View available networks:

  nmcli dev wifi list

• 🔗 Network connection:

  nmcli dev wifi connect "NETWORK_NAME" password "PASSWORD"

• 🔄 Network restart:

  sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

To permanently connect to a hidden network, create a configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/MY_NETWORK.nmconnection

Add the following content (replace the values ​​with your own):

[connection]
id=MY_NETWORK
type=wifi

[wifi]
ssid=NETWORK_NAME
mode=infrastructure
hidden=true

[wifi-security]
key-mgmt=wpa-psk
psk=YOUR_PASSWORD

[ipv4]
method=auto

[ipv6]
method=auto

Save the file (Ctrl+O → Enter → Ctrl+X) and restart NetworkManager.

Make sure the adapter is enabled in BIOS.

Check for the presence of the adapter with the command iwconfig

Refresh the list of networks with the command sudo nmcli dev wifi rescan

Run the terminal as administrator (sudo -i)-->

4. Solving common problems

If Wi-Fi does not connect, check the following:

rfkill unblock wifi
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager

For adapters Realtek RTL8723DE/RTL8188EE Disabling power saving often helps:

sudo sed -i 's/wifi.powersave = 3/wifi.powersave = 2/' /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

sudo apt install --reinstall brand-driver-package

For diagnostics, it is useful to view logs:

journalctl -u NetworkManager --no-pager | grep -i wifi

5. Alternative network managers

If NetworkManager It works unstable, you can try alternatives:

• 🐧 Wicd — a lightweight manager with a simple interface. Installation:

  sudo apt install wicd
  sudo systemctl disable --now NetworkManager
  sudo systemctl enable --now wicd

• 📶 ConnMan — a minimalist manager for experienced users:

  sudo apt install connman
  sudo systemctl enable --now connman
  sudo systemctl disable --now NetworkManager

To return to NetworkManager:

sudo systemctl disable --now wicd
sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager

6. Speed ​​and stability optimization

To improve Wi-Fi performance on Linux Mint:

• 📶 Change the channel on your router to a less busy one (use Wifi Analyzer on Android)
• 🔄 Disable power saving for Wi-Fi:

  iwconfig wlan0 power off

• 🔗 Use the 5 GHz band if your adapter supports it
• 🛠️ Update your router's firmware via the web interface (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)

To check your actual speed, use:

sudo apt install iperf3
iperf3 -c high-speed_server

On Intel AX200/AX201 adapters in Linux Mint 21, speeds may drop to 300 Mbps instead of the advertised 2400 Mbps. The solution is to update the kernel to version 6.2+ or install the iwlwifi driver manually.

7. Wi-Fi connection security

Some tips to secure your connection:

• 🔒 Use WPA3 instead of WPA2, if the router supports
• 🔄 Update your Wi-Fi password regularly (every 3-6 months)
• 🛡️ Turn it off WPS in the router settings - this is a vulnerable protocol
• 📡 Hide your SSID only if you really need to (it doesn't improve security, but it makes connecting more difficult)

To check the security of your network, you can use the utility aircrack-ng (for testing your own networks only!):

sudo apt install aircrack-ng
sudo airmon-ng start wlan0
sudo airodump-ng wlan0mon

sudo apt install wireguard resolvconf
wg-quick up ./config.conf

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi on Linux Mint

sudo apt install hostapd dnsmasq