How to Enable Wi-Fi in Ubuntu: 5 Working Methods

You have installed Ubuntu and found that Wi-Fi not working? This problem is familiar to many users, especially after a fresh installation of the system or a kernel update. Unlike Windows, where drivers are often installed automatically, in LinuxWireless modules in distributions can sometimes be a bit of a hassle. The reasons can range from a simple disabled adapter to a lack of proprietary drivers for your chip. Broadcom, Intel or Realtek.

In this article we will look at 5 proven methods turn on Wi-Fi on Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 (also relevant for other distributions based on Debian). You will learn how to check the module status, install missing drivers, and unlock the adapter via rfkill and even manually download the firmware. We'll pay special attention to common errors on laptops. Dell XPS, HP Pavilion And Lenovo ThinkPad, where the problem is often related to hardware switches or Secure Boot.

1. Checking the status of the Wi-Fi adapter

Before you try to fix something, you need to understand, Does the system recognize your Wi-Fi module at all?To do this, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run the command:

lspci -knn | grep Net -A3

In the output, look for lines mentioning Network Controller. 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 instead of the driver (Kernel driver in use) you see UNCLAIMED — this means the system couldn't find a suitable driver. If the adapter isn't displayed at all, the problem may be BIOS (for example, disabled Wi-Fi at the hardware level) or in the module malfunction.

Also check if the adapter is blocked by software:

rfkill list

If there is a line in the output Soft blocked: yes or Hard blocked: yes, which means the module is disabled. Soft block is being filmed by the team rfkill unblock wifi, A hard block usually associated with a physical switch on the laptop case or a key combination (e.g. Fn+F2 on ASUS).

2. Enabling Wi-Fi via the graphical interface (GUI)

If your adapter is recognized by the system, but Wi-Fi It doesn't work, first try to enable it through the standard settings. Ubuntu:

1. Click on the network icon in the upper right corner (next to the clock).
2. If the icon is crossed out or missing, open it Settings → Wi-Fi.
3. Move the slider "Wi-Fi" in position "On".
4. Select your network from the list and enter the password.

If the slider is grayed out or no networks are displayed, the problem is deeper. Drivers may not be installed, or the adapter may be blocked. In this case, proceed to the next steps.

Make sure Wi-Fi is not disabled by the physical button on the case.

Check the command output rfkill list

Update the system (sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade)

Restart your laptop (sometimes resetting the adapter status helps)

-->

On some distributions (for example, Ubuntu Budgie or Kubuntu) the interface may differ, but the logic is the same: look for the section Net or Connections in system settings.

3. Installing proprietary drivers

Many Wi-Fi adapters (especially from Broadcom and some models Realtek) require proprietary drivers that are not included in the kernel Linux by default. To install them:

1. Open Programs and updates (can be found via search in the menu).
2. Go to the tab Additional Drivers.
3. Wait while the system scans for available drivers.
4. Select the recommended driver for your adapter (usually marked with a check mark) and click Apply Changes.
5. Restart your computer.

If the drivers are not listed, try installing them manually through the terminal. For example, for adapters Broadcom a bag often helps bcmwl-kernel-source:

sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source

For Realtek RTL8821CE (a popular chip in budget laptops) you may need a driver from the repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomaspinho/rtl8821ce
sudo apt update
sudo apt install rtl8821ce-dkms

After installing the drivers, check if the adapter appears in the output. ip a or iwconfigIf yes, try connecting to the network.

4. Unlock Wi-Fi via rfkill

Tool rfkill manages the state of wireless devices in LinuxIf your adapter is blocked by software, you can unblock it as follows:

sudo rfkill unblock wifi

To see all blocks, run:

rfkill list all

In the output, pay attention to the lines:

• 🔴 Soft blocked: yes — OS-level blocking. Removed with the command above.
• 🔴 Hard blocked: yes — hardware lock. You need to look for a physical switch on the laptop or in the BIOS.

On some laptops (eg. HP EliteBook) hardware blocker It may be triggered by a BIOS bug. In this case, the following helps:

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Remove the battery (if removable) and turn off the power.
3. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds (reset) EC-controller).
4. Connect the power and turn on the device.

5. Manually downloading firmware for the adapter

Some Wi-Fi modules (for example, Intel AX200/AX210 or Realtek RTL8723DE) require additional files firmware, which are not always included in the distribution. If in the output dmesg | grep firmware You see errors like:

firmware: failed to load iwlwifi-cc-a0-77.ucode (-2)

This means you need to download the missing files. Here's how to do it:

1. Connect your computer to the Internet via cable Ethernet or USB modem.
2. Install the firmware package:

sudo apt install linux-firmware

For new adapters (eg. Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211) you may need to manually download the firmware from the manufacturer's website:

1. Download the archive from official repository (or from the website Intel).
2. Unzip it and copy the files to /lib/firmware:

sudo cp -r iwlwifi-* /lib/firmware/

3. Reboot the system.

For adapters Realtek RTL8852AE (found in ASUS ROG And MSI (laptops) firmware from the repository may be required lwfinger:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lwfinger/rtlwifi-new
sudo apt update
sudo apt install rtl8852ae-dkms

6. Checking network and DNS settings

If Wi-Fi connects, but the internet doesn't work, the problem may be in the network settings or DNS. Check:

• 🔍 Command output ping 8.8.8.8If there is a ping, but websites don't open, the problem is DNS.
• 🔍 Command output ip route. Make sure there is a default route (default via).
• 🔍 File /etc/resolv.confIf there is no line there nameserver 8.8.8.8, add it:

sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

Add:

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

Save (Ctrl+O) and close (Ctrl+X) file. Then restart the network service:

sudo systemctl restart systemd-networkd

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings:

sudo netplan apply

Or reinstall NetworkManager:

sudo apt purge network-manager
sudo apt install network-manager
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

sudo iwconfig wlo1 power off

(replace wlo1 to the name of your interface from the output ip a).-->

7. Troubleshooting

If none of these methods help, it's time to run a deeper diagnostic. Start by checking the kernel logs:

dmesg | grep -i wifi

Look for errors like:

• 🚨 firmware: failed to load — firmware is missing.
• 🚨 Direct firmware load failed — the driver cannot find the firmware file.
• 🚨 iwlwifi: No suitable firmware found — incompatible firmware version.

If the adapter is detected but does not work, check its status:

iwconfig

Pay attention to the line Mode:Managed. If instead of her Mode:Monitor, this means that the adapter is switched to monitoring mode (for example, due to installation aircrack-ng). You can return it to normal mode like this:

sudo ifconfig wlo1 down
sudo iwconfig wlo1 mode managed
sudo ifconfig wlo1 up

If you suspect a hardware failure, test the adapter on another system (for example, by booting from Live USB Windows). Also, inspect the antenna connectors inside the laptop—sometimes they come loose during disassembly.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

sudo apt install --reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source

sudo nano /etc/netplan/01-netcfg.yaml

network:
version: 2
renderer: networkd
wifis:
wlan0:
dhcp4: true
access-points:
"your_ssid":
password:"your_password"

inxi -N

If your Intel AX210-based Wi-Fi adapter isn't detected in Ubuntu 24.04, check your firmware version: kernels 6.2+ require the iwlwifi-ty-a0-77.ucode files, which may not be available in the repositories. Download them manually from git.kernel.org and place them in /lib/firmware/.

⚠️ Attention: On laptops with hybrid graphics (For example, NVIDIA Optimus) The Wi-Fi adapter may conflict with the graphics card drivers. If after installing proprietary drivers NVIDIA Wi-Fi stopped working. Try rolling back to open-source drivers. nouveau or update the BIOS.