How to connect to Wi-Fi in Linux Mint: instructions with images and commands

Connecting to a wireless network in Linux Mint seems like a simple task - until you encounter the missing Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar or the message "No networks available." Unlike Windows or macOS, where drivers for most adapters are installed automatically, in distributions based on Ubuntu (A Linux Mint — one of them) sometimes requires manual adjustment. This is especially true for laptops with new chips. Intel AX200, Realtek RTL8852AE or Broadcom BCM4360, which router and adapter manufacturers do not always support out of the box.

This article will help you figure out how to connect to Wi-Fi in Linux Mint 21.x (and is relevant for versions based on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04). We will consider:

• 🔌 Basic connection via a graphical interface (for most users).
• 🛠️ Manual setting via terminal if the network is not displayed.
• 🔧 Installing drivers for problematic adapters (with commands and screenshots).
• ⚡ Solving typical errors, such as "Device not managed" or "No IP address".

If you've just switched from Windows and never worked with TerminalDon't worry, we'll provide step-by-step instructions with explanations of each command. For experienced users, we'll also cover advanced diagnostic methods, including log analysis. dmesg and setting wpa_supplicant.

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

Before attempting to connect to the network, make sure that Linux Mint "sees" your Wi-Fi adapter at all. To do this:

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

   lspci -knn | grep -iA3 net

   It will list all network devices, including wired ones (Ethernet) and wireless.

In the output, look for lines mentioning Network Controller or keywords like Wireless, Wi-Fi, 802.11. For example:

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200 [8086:2723] (rev 1a)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200NGW [8086:0024]
Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi
Kernel modules: iwlwifi

If the command doesn't return any results mentioning Wi-Fi, try this alternative:

lsusb

- it will show the connected ones USB adapters (look in the output Realtek, TP-Link, ASUS etc.).

⚠️ Attention: If the adapter is not displayed in any lspci, not in lsusb, it may be disabled in BIOS/UEFI (especially relevant for laptops Lenovo And HP). Go to BIOS settings (usually the key F2 or Del when booting) and check the section Advanced → Wireless Devices.

2. Connecting to Wi-Fi via the graphical interface

If the adapter is recognized by the system, the easiest way to connect is to use the built-in network manager. NetworkManager:

1. Click the network icon in the lower-right corner of the taskbar (near the clock). If the icon isn't there, start it manually:

   nm-applet &

2. In the drop-down list, select the desired network and click Connect.
3. Enter the password (if the network is secured) and confirm.

If the connection does not occur after entering the password, check:

• 🔒 Character case in the password (in Linux it is case sensitive!).
• 📶 Signal level - if it is weak (1-2 bars), try moving closer to the router.
• 🔄 Router operating mode - some older adapters do not support 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). In your router settings, temporarily switch to 802.11n (2.4 GHz).

Check the password is correct | Make sure the adapter is turned on (physical switch on the laptop) | Restart the router | Try connecting to a different network (for example, from a phone)

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If the network icon is missing altogether, the service may be NetworkManager is not running. Check its status:

systemctl status NetworkManager

If the service is not active, start it:

sudo systemctl start NetworkManager
sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager

3. Manual connection via terminal (if the graphical interface does not work)

When NetworkManager refuses to cooperate, you can connect to Wi-Fi directly using the utility wpa_supplicantThis method requires knowing the network name (SSID) and password, but it works even if the graphical shell crashes.

First, get a list of available networks:

sudo iwlist wlan0 scan | grep ESSID

Replace wlan0 to your interface (you can find out using the command ip a - look for a name that starts with wl).

Next, create a configuration file for wpa_supplicant:

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

Add the following block to it (replace your_SSID And your_password):

network={
ssid="your_SSID"
psk="your_password"
}

Save the file (Ctrl+O, then Ctrl+X) and connect:

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

If the connection was successful, but there is no internet, check the routes:

ip route

If there is no default route, add it manually (replace 192.168.1.1 to your router's address):

sudo ip route add default via 192.168.1.1

This uses DNS from Google and Cloudflare respectively.-->

4. Installing drivers for problematic Wi-Fi adapters

About 30% of Wi-Fi problems in Linux Mint are related to the absence or incorrect operation of drivers. Manufacturers like Broadcom And Realtek often do not provide open drivers, so they have to be installed manually.

First, determine your adapter model (see Section 1). Then follow the instructions for your specific case:

For Realtek RTL8188EU and similar adapters often require manual driver compilation. Here are the general instructions:

1. Install dependencies:

   sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

2. Download the driver from GitHub (for example, for RTL8188EU):

   git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8188eus.git
   cd rtl8188eus

3. Compile and install:

   make
   sudo make install
   sudo modprobe 8188eu

⚠️ Attention: After updating the kernel Linux Mint Custom drivers may stop working. To avoid this, use dkms:

sudo dkms add -m rtl8188eu -v 1.0
sudo dkms install -m rtl8188eu -v 1.0

5. Solving common errors

Even after installing the drivers, Wi-Fi connection errors may still occur. Let's look at the most common ones:

Error: "Device not managed" (Device not managed)

Cause: NetworkManager Disabled interface management. Solution:

sudo rfkill unblock wifi
sudo nmcli radio wifi on

Error: "No IP address" or infinite IP address retrieval

Possible reasons:

• 🔄 DHCP conflict — The router isn't assigning an IP address. Try a static IP address:

  sudo nmcli con mod "YourConnectionName" ipv4.method manual ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.100/24 ipv4.gateway 192.168.1.1 ipv4.dns "8.8.8.8"

• 🔒 MAC address filtering On the router, add your adapter's MAC address to the list of allowed MAC addresses.
• 📡 Incompatible network mode - change the router settings Channel Width With Auto on 20 MHz.

Error: "Failed to activate connection" (Activation of network connection failed)

In 90% of cases, this error is related to an incorrect password or a hidden network (hidden SSID). If your network is hidden, connect like this:

nmcli dev wifi connect "YourSSID" password "YourPassword" hidden yes

Error: "No networks available" when scanning

Possible solutions:

• 🔌 Check the antennas — If you recently took your laptop apart, the Wi-Fi cable might have come loose.
• 🔄 Reload the kernel module:

  sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi # for Intel
  sudo modprobe iwlwifi

• 📡 Change your country in your Wi-Fi settings (relevant for adapters Realtek):

  sudo iw reg set RU # for Russia
  sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

6. Optimize Wi-Fi speed and stability

If you have a connection, but the speed is low or the connection drops periodically, try the following settings:

Changing the power consumption regulator

By default Linux Saves energy by reducing the power of your Wi-Fi adapter. Disable this:

iwconfig wlan0 power off

To make the change permanent, add the line to /etc/rc.local (before exit 0):

iwconfig wlan0 power off

Choosing the optimal channel

If you have a lot of devices on your network, they may be causing interference. Check the channel load:

sudo apt install wavemon
sudo wavemon

In the interface wavemon (key control F1-F10) find the least loaded channel and set it in the router settings.

Updating the kernel

New kernel versions Linux often contain improved support for Wi-Fi adapters. To update the kernel in Linux Mint:

sudo apt install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04

After updating, reboot your system.

7. Alternative network managers

If NetworkManager It constantly crashes, you can use alternative utilities:

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

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

• 📡 ConnMan — a minimalist manager for experienced users:

  sudo apt install connman
  sudo systemctl start connman

• 🔧 iwd - a modern replacement wpa_supplicant from the developers Intel:

  sudo apt install iwd
  sudo systemctl enable --now iwd

After installing the alternative manager, do not forget to disable it NetworkManagerto avoid conflicts:

sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager
sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager

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

sudo nmtui

sudo apt install hostapd dnsmasq
sudo systemctl stop hostapd dnsmasq

sudo rm /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/*
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

sudo rm /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf