operating system Manjaro Linux While it's renowned for its beginner-friendly nature and automatic hardware recognition, wireless adapters often become a stumbling block. Unlike a wired connection, which usually works right out of the box, Wi-Fi connection This may require manual installation of proprietary drivers or network manager configuration. This is especially true for laptops with new or rare chips that are not supported by the kernel out of the box.
Connection issues are most often caused by a lack of firmware for a specific adapter model or a kernel version conflict. Users may encounter a situation where the network interface is visible but the connection fails, or the Wi-Fi button is completely missing from the system tray. NetworkManager, which is standard for most distributions, sometimes requires additional configuration to work correctly with power-saving modes. Understanding these nuances will allow you to quickly restore internet access without having to delve deeply into the console.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process, from hardware diagnostics to installing specific packages. We'll also cover working with the utility. mhwd, which is a unique Manjaro tool for hardware management. We'll also cover setting up static IP addresses and DNS if you don't want to automatically obtain parameters from DHCP is failing.
Wireless adapter diagnostics
The first step before doing anything is to accurately determine the model of your network controller. Without knowledge Vendor And Device ID It is impossible to select the correct driver. There are several utilities for collecting this information in Linux, but the most informative in the context of Manjaro is the command inxiIt produces a structured report about the system, including network interfaces.
Launch the terminal and enter the command inxi -NYou'll see a list of network devices. If your Wi-Fi adapter is listed as "Network controller" with the manufacturer's name (e.g., Intel, Realtek, Broadcom), then the system is physically detecting it. If the device isn't displayed at all, it may be disabled in the BIOS or blocked by a hard switch on the laptop case.
For a more detailed analysis, use the utility lspci (for internal cards) or lsusb (for USB whistles). Team lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 net will show not only the model, but also which one kernel driver (kernel driver) is currently in use. If the "Kernel driver in use" line is empty, the driver is not loaded, and this is what needs to be fixed.
- 🔍 Use
inxi -Nfor a quick overview of all network interfaces in the system. - 📟 Team
lspci -nnkwill show whether the kernel module for your device is loaded. - 📶 Check the blocking status via
rfkill list allto make sure that Wi-Fi is not blocked by software.
⚠️ Attention: If the team
rfkillIf it shows "Hard blocked: yes," software methods won't help. You'll need to find a physical switch on the laptop case or use a key combination (usually Fn + F-key with antenna).
Installing drivers via MHWD
The main advantage of Manjaro over other distributions is the presence of a utility MHWD (Manjaro Hardware Detection). This tool automatically scans the system and offers to install the necessary proprietary or open source drivers. Wi-Fi support most often requires installing packages from the repository. nonfree, since many manufacturers do not distribute firmware under an open license.
The installation process begins with updating the driver database. Run the command sudo mhwd-db-updateAfter updating the list, you can run the automatic installation of wireless network drivers. The command syntax is simple: sudo mhwd -a pci nonfree 0300. Here -a means automatic installation, pci — bus type (for USB adapters, replace with usb), nonfree — repository, and 0300 — device class (video card), but for Wi-Fi it is better to use specific commands or search by ID.
However, for network cards, a more effective method is to manually search for and install specific firmware packages, as MHWD is more often targeted at video cards. If MHWD doesn't help, switch to using a package manager. pacmanYou need to know the exact name of the package, which often contains a prefix linux-firmware or a specific name, for example, broadcom-wl-dkms.
sudo pacman -S linux-firmwareThis metapackage contains microcode for a wide range of devices. After installation, be sure to reboot the system or kernel module. If you are using a laptop with hybrid graphics or a specific chipset, make sure you have power connected during the installation to avoid interruptions.
☑️ Checking driver installation
Solving problems with Broadcom and Realtek
The largest number of user complaints are related to chips from Broadcom And RealtekThese manufacturers often don't provide open specifications, forcing Linux developers to reverse engineer them. Broadcom devices often require a package broadcom-wl-dkmsIt is important to understand that this driver conflicts with the open source driver. b43, so before installing the WL driver, the old module must be removed or its loading must be disabled.
For Realtek cards, especially newer models with Wi-Fi 6 support (RTL88xx series), the situation is complicated by the fact that kernel support may only appear in the latest versions. If the standard package linux-firmware If that doesn't help, you'll have to use the AUR (Arch User Repository). On Manjaro, the following utility is handy for this: pamac or yay.
The process of installing drivers from the AUR is as follows: first, the source code repository is cloned, then the module is compiled specifically for your current kernel. This requires the kernel headers to be installed (linux-headers). Without them, compilation of DKMS modules is impossible.
| Manufacturer | Driver package | Repository | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom | broadcom-wl-dkms |
Extra / AUR | Requires disabling b43/brcm80211 |
| Realtek | rtl88xxau-dkms-git |
AUR | Often you need to build from AUR |
| Intel | linux-firmware |
Core | Works out of the box 99% of the time |
| Qualcomm/Atheros | ath10k-firmware |
Extra | Part of linux-firmware |
Configuring NetworkManager and Disabling TLP
Manjaro uses by default NetworkManager to manage connections. This is a powerful tool, but it may conflict with other network services, such as wicd or connmanMake sure the NetworkManager service is active and running. To check, use the command systemctl status NetworkManagerThe status must be active (running).
One of the most common reasons for unstable Wi-Fi on laptops is an aggressive power saving policy implemented by the daemon TLPTLP may automatically disable the Wi-Fi adapter to save battery life, resulting in connection drops or failure to connect. To fix this, you need to edit the TLP configuration file.
Open the file /etc/tlp.conf (or /etc/default/tlp (in older versions) and find the parameter WIFI_PWR_ON_AC And WIFI_PWR_ON_BAT. Set their value to onto enable the adapter. You can also completely disable Wi-Fi management from the TLP by commenting out the relevant lines or setting WIFI_PWR_MGR_ON_BAT=off.
sudo nano /etc/tlp.confAfter making changes, restart the TLP service with the command sudo tlp start Or simply restart your laptop. This often resolves Wi-Fi issues that drop out within a few minutes of powering it on.
- 🛠 Check the service status:
systemctl status NetworkManager. - 🔋 Disable Wi-Fi power saving in TLP settings.
- 🔄 Restart the network:
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and parameter names in TLP may vary depending on the package version. Always consult the official configuration file comment or the TLP project documentation, as updates may change the syntax.
Working with the console: nmcli and nmtui
The graphical interface can sometimes glitch, hide networks, or fail to save passwords. In such cases, the console utilities built into NetworkManager come to the rescue. The simplest of these is nmtui (Network Manager Text User Interface). It provides a pseudo-graphical menu controlled by the keyboard arrows, making it ideal for initial setup.
Launch nmtui As root. Select "Activate a connection," find your network in the list, and press Enter. If the network is protected, the system will prompt you for a password. This method is convenient because it's visually clear and immediately shows the connection status. If the connection is successful, the graphical interface should also "come to life."
For more advanced users, there is a utility nmcliIt allows you to manage your network completely from the command line, without unnecessary menus. It can be used to create connection profiles, configure static IP, DNS, and routes. For example, the command nmcli dev wifi connect "SSID" password "password" will immediately try to connect to the specified access point.
nmcli dev wifi listThis command will list available networks, indicating their signal strength and security. If your network isn't displayed even here, the problem is likely with the driver or a physical lock. If the network is visible but you can't connect, check the system logs (journalctl -u NetworkManager), where the reason for the refusal will be indicated (incorrect password, DHCP timeout, etc.).
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Even after installing drivers, users may encounter errors. One common issue is a kernel version conflict. Manjaro makes it easy to switch between kernels. If Wi-Fi is lost after a system update, try booting with an older kernel version via the GRUB menu. If everything works there, it means the driver hasn't yet been adapted to the new kernel.
Another common error is entering the wrong character set or keyboard layout when entering a password. In Linux, letter case is important. It's also worth checking that the list of saved connections isn't full. Sometimes, deleting the old network profile and creating a new one from scratch resolves the issue of the authentication process freezing.
Don't forget about your router settings either. Some older adapters don't support the standard. WPA3 or operation in the 5 GHz band with certain channels. Try temporarily switching your router to compatibility mode (WPA2/WPA Mixed) or changing the broadcast channel to 1, 6, or 11 to eliminate radio interference.
- 📉 Check the logs:
journalctl -xewill show the latest system errors. - 🔄 Change the kernel: use
mhwd-kernelto install the LTS version. - 📡 Change the Wi-Fi channel on your router if you experience interference.
Why doesn't Manjaro detect my Wi-Fi adapter after updating?
Most likely, the update affected the Linux kernel, and the proprietary driver (DKMS) was not automatically rebuilt for the new version. Check the DKMS status with the command dkms statusIf the module is missing for the new kernel, run sudo mhwd-kernel -i linuxXX (where XX is the version) or reinstall the driver manually.
How to completely remove the Broadcom driver if it is interfering?
Use the command sudo pacman -Rns broadcom-wl-dkms. It is also necessary to delete blacklist files in /etc/modprobe.d/, which prohibit loading open drivers (for example, blacklist-broadcom.conf), and execute sudo mkinitcpio -P to rebuild initramfs.
Is it possible to use Wi-Fi in Hotspot mode in Manjaro?
Yes, NetworkManager supports creating access points. In the graphical interface, this is usually the "Turn On Wi-Fi Hotspot" option. In the console, this is done via nmcli connection add type wifi ifname wlan0 con-name hotspot ssid MyHotspot mode ap. Make sure your adapter supports AP mode (check via iw list).
What to do if Wi-Fi speed is very slow?
Check if the adapter is working in the old standard (b/g instead of n/ac). Command iwconfig will show your current link speed. Also, disable IPv6 in your connection settings if your ISP doesn't use it—this often speeds up connection establishment. Make sure power saving mode isn't enabled.