Have WiFi troubles on your Ubuntu 24.04 system? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. WiFi problems can be incredibly disruptive, especially when you rely on a solid connection for work or leisure. This guide provides clear, step-by-step solutions to get your WiFi working smoothly again.
Before we dive into Ubuntu-specific fixes, let’s quickly rule out some common issues:
- Restart your router and modem: Often, a simple restart of your networking hardware can resolve connection problems.
- Check your computer’s WiFi switch: Some laptops have a physical WiFi switch. Make sure it’s turned on.
- Test with other devices: See if your phone, tablet, or another computer can connect to the WiFi. This will help determine whether the problem is with your network or your Ubuntu machine.
- Enable automatic connection: Ensure NetworkManager is configured to automatically connect to your preferred WiFi network on startup to avoid future connection headaches.
This comprehensive guide covers various WiFi troubleshooting steps for Ubuntu 24.04, from DNS issues and driver problems to checking your WiFi radio and NetworkManager. We’ll walk you through each solution clearly and concisely.
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1. DNS Settings
Although DNS problems aren’t the most common cause of WiFi issues, they’re worth checking. We’ll use the nmcli command (part of NetworkManager) to investigate. nmcli is a powerful tool for managing network connections.
1 – Identify your WiFi interface: Open your terminal and run:
nmcli d
Look for a device with “TYPE” as “wifi”. The “DEVICE” column shows the interface name (e.g., wlan0, wlp2s0).
2 – Check DNS configuration: In your terminal, replace <interface name> with the name you found and run:
nmcli device show <interface name> | grep IP4.DNS
Or, use this shorter command:
nmcli dev show | grep DNS
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3 – Ping your router: Find your router’s IP address (often listed as the “GATEWAY” in the nmcli device show <interface name> output). Then, ping it:
ping <router_ip_address>
Ping Google’s DNS: If pinging your router works, try pinging Google’s public DNS server:
ping 127.0.0.53
If these tests reveal DNS problems, and if other devices are also experiencing issues, try changing your router’s DNS settings to Google’s public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).
If the DNS problem is isolated to your Ubuntu machine, follow these steps using NetworkManager’s graphical interface:
1. Open System Settings -> Network. Alternatively, run this in the terminal:
gnome-control-center network
2. Click the gear icon next to your connected WiFi network.
3. Go to the IPv4 tab.
4. Set the Method to Automatic (DHCP).
5. In the DNS servers field, enter 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4.
Click Apply.
Finally, restart your computer or the NetworkManager service:
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
Read: How to Configure Network Settings in Ubuntu 22.04
2. WiFi Radio Status
Sometimes, your WiFi radio might be inadvertently turned off. Check this by running:
nmcli d
If the “wifi” state is “off,” turn it on:
nmcli r wifi on
Now, check for available networks:
nmcli d wifi list
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To connect to a network (e.g., “wifi0”), use:
nmcli d wifi connect wifi0 password <your_wifi_password>
Your WiFi password must be between 8 and 63 characters long, or you can use a 64-character hexadecimal string for a 256-bit key.
You can also monitor NetworkManager activity using:
nmcli monitor
Read: Can’t connect to WiFi on Windows 10, here is what to do.
3. Network Manager
If NetworkManager is missing (perhaps accidentally uninstalled), you won’t be able to manage network connections. Reinstall it with:
sudo apt update # Update package lists first
sudo apt install network-manager
Read: How to set up a firewall on Ubuntu 18.04
4. Missing Driver Modules
If your wireless adapter isn’t recognized (“No Wi-Fi Adapter Found”), you might be missing the required firmware. Firmware is essential software that allows your hardware to communicate with the operating system. You’ll need to install the correct firmware for your adapter. You might need a new one if your adapter is incompatible with Ubuntu 24.04.
Here’s how to troubleshoot driver issues:
A. Check Supported Adapters:
Most Linux distributions provide a list of supported wireless adapters. Check this list to see if yours is supported and to identify the correct drivers.
Read: 15 Proven Ways to Fix Wi-Fi Problems on Your Mac
B. Restricted Drivers:
Some manufacturers provide proprietary drivers (not open-source) for their wireless adapters. Check the manufacturer’s website for Linux drivers. If unavailable, consider switching to a Linux-supported adapter.
C. Using Windows Drivers (NDISwrapper):
NDISwrapper is a tool that allows Linux to use Windows wireless drivers. This might be an option if Linux drivers are unavailable, but it doesn’t always work reliably. Search for “NDISwrapper Ubuntu” for more information.
Manual Driver Management:
To list currently loaded modules:
sudo lsmod
To load a module (replace “your-module-name” with the actual module name):
sudo modprobe your-module-name
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Check again with sudo lsmod to verify it loaded.
Auto-loading Drivers at Boot:
To automatically load the module at startup, edit /etc/modules:
sudo nano /etc/modules
Add your module name to a new line and save.
Read: Setting up Bluetooth on Ubuntu 22.04
D. Installing Drivers from an ISO Image:
If you have the Ubuntu 24.04 ISO image, you can use it to install additional drivers:
Download the ISO: If you don’t have it, download the Ubuntu 24.04 ISO file. A bootable USB drive can help transfer the file.
Open the terminal.
Run these commands:
sudo mkdir /media/cdrom
cd ~
sudo mount -o loop ubuntu-*.iso /media/cdrom # Replace ubuntu-*.iso with your ISO file name
Then, use the “Software & Updates” application (go to the “Additional Drivers” tab) to install the necessary drivers.
Read: How to troubleshoot sound issues in Ubuntu 22.04
5. Device Detection
Let’s confirm Ubuntu can detect your wireless adapter. Even if it’s physically connected, it might not be recognized as a network device.
1 – Check for USB adapters:
sudo lsusb
2 – Check for internal cards:
sudo lspci
Look for “Network Controller” or “Ethernet Controller” to indicate detection.
a – Detailed hardware information: For more information, run:
sudo apt update #If needed
sudo apt install lshw
lshw -C network
The -C network filters for network devices. Look for a “Wireless interface” section. The “configuration” line shows the driver in use.
Read: How to display Graphics card information on Ubuntu 22.04
b – Identify wireless PCI controllers:
lspci -nnk | grep 0280 # 0280 is the identifier for wireless PCI controllers
Running `lspci` provides detailed information about all connected PCI cards on your system. By adding the `-nnk` option, you can access additional details, such as the driver associated with each card. The output from `lspci` can be further refined by piping it into the `grep` command. For example, using `grep 0280` filters the results to display only lines containing “0280,” which in Ubuntu corresponds to wireless PCI controllers.
Here’s how it may look like:
09:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8723AV PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [10ec:8743]
Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:0725]
Kernel driver in use: rtl8723av
1 – Get driver details: Once you know the driver’s name, use:
modinfo <driver_name>
2 – List installed wireless drivers:
find /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/net/wireless -name ‘*.ko’
Read: How to Fix the Ubuntu “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found” Error
Conclusion
This guide provides a thorough overview of WiFi troubleshooting on Ubuntu 24.04. We’ve covered various potential problems, from DNS and driver issues to NetworkManager problems and device detection. By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve most WiFi connectivity issues, getting you back online and connected reliably.
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