Connecting a Wi-Fi adapter in Ubuntu: From installing drivers to a stable connection

Connecting a Wi-Fi adapter to Ubuntu is often the first major challenge for Linux newbies. Unlike Windows, where drivers are installed automatically, in Ubuntu the process may require manual steps—especially if you have a non-standard adapter. TP-Link, ASUS or RealtekEven experienced users sometimes encounter problems: the system doesn't detect the device, the network constantly drops, or the speed leaves much to be desired.

In this article you will find step-by-step instructions For various scenarios: from basic setup of the built-in adapter to manual installation of drivers for external USB devices. We'll cover how to check hardware compatibility, where to download the latest drivers, and what to do if NetworkManager refuses to connect to the network. And for those who prefer the terminal, here's commands for diagnostics and troubleshooting.

1. Checking Wi-Fi adapter compatibility with Ubuntu

Before purchasing or connecting an adapter, make sure it is supported by the Linux kernel. Many modern chips (for example, Intel AX200 or Qualcomm Atheros) work "out of the box", but with Realtek RTL88x2BU or Mediatek MT7921 problems may arise.

You can check compatibility on the adapter manufacturer's official website or in the Linux kernel database. Please note the Ubuntu version: drivers for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS may not be suitable for 24.04 Due to an updated kernel. If you're using a laptop, check the chipset model using the command:

lspci -knn | grep -iA3 net

Suitable for USB adapters:

lsusb

Key signs of incompatibility:

• 🔌 The adapter is detected as an "unknown device" (lsusb shows ID 0bda:c820 Realtek Semiconductor Corp., but without the model name).
• 📡 In the list of networks (nmcli dev wifi list) only neighboring access points are displayed, but connection is not possible.
• ⚡ The system freezes when trying to activate Wi-Fi via NetworkManager.

⚠️ Attention: Manufacturers often change chip revisions in the same adapter model. For example, TP-Link Archer T4U can be supplied with chips Realtek RTL8812AU (supported) or RTL8852AE (Requires manual driver installation). Check the chipset version before purchasing!

2. Basic Wi-Fi setup via NetworkManager

If your adapter is recognized by the system, you can connect to the network through the graphical interface or terminal. Let's look at both options.

Method 1: Graphical User Interface (GUI)

This is the easiest method for beginners:

1. Click on the network icon in the upper right corner of the panel (next to the clock).
2. Select your network from the list.
3. Enter your password and click Connect.

If there is no network icon or it is crossed out, check whether Wi-Fi is turned on by the hardware switch (on some laptops - the key Fn + F2 or a separate toggle switch).

Method 2: Terminal (for advanced users)

Use nmcli — a utility for network management:

# View available networks
nmcli dev wifi list

Connect to the network (replace "SSID" and "password")
nmcli dev wifi connect "SSID" password "password"

To save your settings and connect automatically:

nmcli connection modify "SSID" connection.autoconnect yes

Ping to the router (replace 192.168.1.1 with your router's IP)|ping 192.168.1.1

Check External IP|curl ifconfig.me

Connection speed|nload wlan0 (install via sudo apt install nload)

-->

If the connection fails, check the service status. NetworkManager:

systemctl status NetworkManager

⚠️ Attention: In Ubuntu 24.04, the default may be NetPlan instead of NetworkManager. If the teams nmcli don't work, check the configuration in /etc/netplan/ and apply the changes with the command sudo netplan apply.

3. Installing drivers for unrecognized adapters

If the system doesn't detect the adapter, the driver is most likely missing. Let's consider two scenarios: installing from the Ubuntu repositories and manually compiling the driver from source.

Option 1: Drivers from repositories (recommended)

For popular chips (eg. Realtek RTL8188EU or Broadcom BCM43xx) The drivers are already in the repositories. Install them like this:

# Updating the package list
sudo apt update

Search for available drivers (replace "realtek" with your manufacturer)
apt search rtl88x2bu | grep driver

Installation (example for RTL88x2BU)
sudo apt install rtl88x2bu-dkms

After installation, reboot the system or load the kernel module manually:

sudo modprobe 88x2bu

Option 2: Manually compiling the driver

For new chips (eg. Realtek RTL8852BE or Mediatek MT7922) You may need to download the driver from GitHub. Here's how:

1. Find the repository with the driver for your model (example: rtl88x2bu).
2. Install dependencies for compilation:

sudo apt install git dkms build-essential

3. Clone the repository and install the driver:

git clone https://github.com/cilynx/rtl88x2bu.git
cd rtl88x2bu
make
sudo make install
sudo modprobe 88x2bu

Popular driver repositories:

• 🔹 Realtek RTL88x2BU/RTL88x2CU: cilynx/rtl88x2bu
• 🔹 Realtek RTL8188EU/RTL8192EU: lwfinger/rtl8188eu
• 🔹 Mediatek MT7610U/MT7612U: ullbeking/mt7610u

4. Solving common problems

Even after installing the drivers, errors may still occur. Let's look at typical cases and how to resolve them.

A critical feature of Ubuntu 24.04: this version disables support for legacy security protocols (WEP, TKIP) by default. If your router uses these standards, update its firmware or change the encryption type to WPA2-AES.

Diagnostics via the system log

If the problem persists, check the kernel logs:

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

Please note the lines with firmware — they indicate the absence of firmware files. For example, for chips Intel You may need to install a package firmware-iwlwifi.

5. Optimize Wi-Fi speed and stability

Even if the adapter is working, the speed may be lower than expected. Here's how to improve it:

• 📶 Channel selection: Use the utility iwlist wlan0 scanning | grep Frequencyto find the least loaded channel on your router.
• 🔄 Opening hours: Set it in your router settings 802.11ac (5 GHz) instead 802.11n (2.4 GHz), if your adapter supports it.
• 🔋 Energy saving: Disable automatic Wi-Fi shutdown when idle: sudo iw dev wlan0 set power_save off.
• 🛡️ Safety: Use WPA2-AES instead of WPA2-TKIP - this speeds up packet processing.

To test the speed use iperf3 (install on PC and router):

# On the router (server):
iperf3 -s

On Ubuntu (client):
iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1 -t 30

6. Alternative connection methods

If standard methods don't work, try alternative solutions.

Method 1: Using wpa_supplicant manually

This is a universal method that works even without NetworkManager:

1. Create a configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

2. Add network settings (example for WPA2):

network={
ssid="Your_network"
psk="Your_password"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

3. Connect:

sudo wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
sudo dhclient wlan0

Method 2: USB Tethering with Android

If your Wi-Fi adapter isn't working and you need internet urgently, use your smartphone:

1. Connect your phone via USB.
2. Turn on USB tethering in Android settings.
3. On Ubuntu, check the new network device:

ip a | grep usb

4. Configure IP acquisition via DHCP:

sudo dhclient usb0

Method 3: Virtual Adapter (for advanced users)

If you have a working Ethernet connection, you can share Wi-Fi from your PC:

# Installing utilities
sudo apt install hostapd dnsmasq

Configuring hostapd (simplified example)
sudo nano /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

Add:

interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
ssid=MyUbuntuHotspot
hw_mode=g
channel=6
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=12345678
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK

7. Updating the kernel to support new adapters

If your adapter is less than a year old (for example, Intel BE200 or Qualcomm FastConnect 7800), its support may not be available in the current Ubuntu kernel. The solution is to update the kernel to the latest version.

The safest way is to use mainline-cores:

# Installing the kernel update utility
sudo apt install mainline

View available versions
sudo mainline --list

Installing the latest stable version
sudo mainline --install-latest

After rebooting, check the kernel version:

uname -r

⚠️ Attention: Updating the kernel may break proprietary drivers (for example, for NVIDIA graphics cards). Before updating, back up important data or use Timeshift to create a system snapshot.

If Wi-Fi stops working after updating the kernel, revert to the older version:

sudo apt install linux-image-5.15.0-XX-generic # replace with your version
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi in Ubuntu

nmcli connection modify "SSID" connection.autoconnect yes

network:
version: 2
renderer: NetworkManager
wifis:
wlan0:
access-points:
"Your_network":
password: "Your_password"
dhcp4: true

sudo netplan apply

sudo iw reg set BO # BO — Bulgaria, where the full 5 GHz band is allowed

hw_mode=a
channel=36 # Channel in the 5 GHz range

cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg | grep menuentry

sudo apt remove linux-image-6.5.0-XX-generic

sudo update-grub

sudo apt install --reinstall network-manager

sudo apt install ndiswrapper-common ndiswrapper-utils-1.9
sudo ndiswrapper -i path/to/driver.inf
sudo ndiswrapper -m
sudo modprobe ndiswrapper