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Wifi Guide

How to Get Wifi on Ubuntu? Network Manager and Driver Setup Steps

Introduction Getting wireless internet working on Ubuntu can feel straightforward on some laptops and surprisingly complicated on others. Unlike Windows, which often bundles a wide range of proprietary drivers out of the box, Ubuntu follows a free-and-open-sou

HowToFixWiFi

Introduction

Getting wireless internet working on Ubuntu can feel straightforward on some laptops and surprisingly complicated on others. Unlike Windows, which often bundles a wide range of proprietary drivers out of the box, Ubuntu follows a free-and-open-source philosophy that sometimes leaves Wi-Fi hardware unsupported until you install the correct firmware or driver package. If you have ever booted into Ubuntu only to find no Wi-Fi networks listed, or if your connection drops repeatedly, you are not alone.

This guide walks you through How to Get Wifi on Ubuntu? from the very beginning. You will learn how to check whether your wireless card is detected, how to identify missing drivers, how to install them, and how to configure connections using Network Manager. We also cover command-line tools such as nmcli, troubleshooting steps for common failures, and best practices for keeping your wireless connection stable and secure.

Whether you are using Ubuntu Desktop with a graphical interface or Ubuntu Server with only a terminal, the steps below apply to most modern releases, including Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Let us start with the basics.

Table of Contents

Understanding Ubuntu Wi-Fi Basics

Before diving into installation steps, it helps to understand how Ubuntu handles wireless networking. Three main components work together to get you online:

  • The Linux kernel and drivers: The kernel communicates with your Wi-Fi adapter through a driver. Some drivers are built into the kernel, while others require separate firmware files.
  • Network Manager: This is the default service on Ubuntu Desktop that detects networks, handles authentication, and stores connection profiles. It provides both a graphical applet and a command-line interface.
  • netplan and wpa_supplicant: On Ubuntu Server and in some advanced desktop setups, netplan configures network interfaces at a lower level, while wpa_supplicant manages the actual Wi-Fi authentication and encryption.

When you ask How to Get Wifi on Ubuntu?, the answer usually depends on which of these layers is missing or misconfigured. Most desktop users only need to interact with Network Manager, but driver installation happens at the kernel level.

Prerequisites Before You Begin

Before you start troubleshooting, gather the following:

  • An Ubuntu installation, preferably a supported LTS release.
  • Administrator (sudo) access to the user account.
  • A temporary wired Ethernet connection or USB tethering from a smartphone, so you can download drivers if Wi-Fi is not working.
  • Knowledge of your Wi-Fi adapter model, which you can find using the commands in the next section.

It is also wise to create a system backup or restore point if you are working on a production machine. Driver changes rarely break a system, but it is better to be safe.

Checking Your Wi-Fi Hardware

The first step in How to Get Wifi on Ubuntu? is confirming that Ubuntu actually sees your wireless adapter. Open a terminal and run the following commands.

Using lspci

Most internal Wi-Fi cards connect through the PCI bus. Run:

lspci -knn | grep Net -A3

Look for a line that says Network controller followed by a vendor and device ID. For example:

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Wireless 8265 / 8275 [8086:24fd] (rev 78)
        Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:0130]
        Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi
        Kernel modules: iwlwifi

If you see Kernel driver in use with a driver name, the hardware is detected and a driver is loaded. If that line is missing, you likely need to install a driver.

Using lsusb

If you are using a USB Wi-Fi dongle, lspci will not show it. Instead, run:

lsusb

Look for entries mentioning wireless, 802.11, or known adapter brands such as Realtek, MediaTek, or TP-Link.

Checking rfkill

Sometimes the Wi-Fi adapter is simply blocked at a software or hardware level. Run:

rfkill list

If you see Soft blocked: yes or Hard blocked: yes, unblock it with:

sudo rfkill unblock wifi

Identifying Missing or Faulty Drivers

If your hardware is detected but no networks appear, the driver may be missing, outdated, or incompatible. Here are ways to diagnose the problem:

  • Check loaded modules: Use lsmod | grep iwlwifi (replace iwlwifi with your driver name) to see if the module is active.
  • Check kernel logs: Run dmesg | grep -i firmware to look for firmware loading errors.
  • Use Additional Drivers: Ubuntu includes a graphical tool that scans for proprietary drivers and recommends installation.

Common Wi-Fi chipsets on Ubuntu include Intel (usually works out of the box), Realtek (often needs extra drivers), Broadwell/Broadcom (frequently requires proprietary packages), and MediaTek (varies by kernel version).

Installing Wi-Fi Drivers on Ubuntu

Once you know which driver you need, you can install it using one of the methods below.

Using the Additional Drivers Tool

  1. Open the Software & Updates application.
  2. Click the Additional Drivers tab.
  3. Wait for Ubuntu to scan your hardware.
  4. If a proprietary Wi-Fi driver appears, select it and click Apply Changes.
  5. Restart your computer or reload the driver module.

This is the easiest method for most desktop users because it handles dependencies automatically.

Installing via apt

If you prefer the terminal, you can search for and install driver packages directly. For example, Broadcom users often need:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source

Intel users usually already have iwlwifi, but firmware can be updated with:

sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifi

Always run sudo apt update before installing packages to ensure you have the latest package lists.

Installing from the Manufacturer Website

Some newer or less common adapters require drivers from the manufacturer’s GitHub repository or website. These often come as source code that must be compiled:

sudo apt install build-essential dkms git
git clone https://github.com/example/rtl8821ce.git
cd rtl8821ce
sudo make install
sudo modprobe 8821ce

Replace the example URL and module name with the ones appropriate for your adapter. After installation, reboot to load the new driver.

How to Get Wifi on Ubuntu? Using Network Manager

Network Manager is the standard tool for managing wireless connections on Ubuntu Desktop. Once your driver is installed, here is how to connect.

Connecting to a Network via GUI

  1. Click the network icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
  2. Select Wi-Fi and make sure it is turned on.
  3. Choose your network from the list of available SSIDs.
  4. Enter the password when prompted and click Connect.
  5. Optionally, check Connect automatically so Ubuntu joins this network whenever it is in range.

If you do not see the network icon, Network Manager may not be running. You can start it with:

sudo systemctl start NetworkManager
sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager

Connecting via Command Line (nmcli)

On Ubuntu Server or minimal installations, use nmcli, the command-line client for Network Manager.

  1. List available Wi-Fi devices:
nmcli device status
  1. Scan for networks:
nmcli device wifi list
  1. Connect to a network:
nmcli device wifi connect "Your-SSID" password "Your-Password"

If the connection succeeds, you should see a confirmation message and your IP configuration will be applied automatically.

Troubleshooting Common Wi-Fi Issues

Even after installing drivers, Wi-Fi on Ubuntu can misbehave. Below are the most frequent problems and how to fix them.

Wi-Fi Not Showing Up

  • Run rfkill list and unblock any soft or hard blocks.
  • Restart Network Manager: sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.
  • Check if the driver module is loaded: lsmod | grep your-driver.
  • Look for firmware errors in dmesg | grep -i firmware.

Connected but No Internet

  • Check DNS settings. Try adding Google DNS temporarily:
nmcli connection modify "Your-SSID" ipv4.dns "8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4"
nmcli connection up "Your-SSID"
  • Disable IPv6 if your router does not support it:
nmcli connection modify "Your-SSID" ipv6.method ignore
nmcli connection up "Your-SSID"

Slow or Unstable Connection

  • Switch to the 5 GHz band if your router supports it and your adapter is dual-band.
  • Disable power management for Wi-Fi, which can cause latency on some laptops:
sudo nmcli device set wlan0 managed yes
sudo iwconfig wlan0 power off

Note: iwconfig settings may not persist after reboot. For a permanent fix, create a systemd service or use Network Manager dispatcher scripts.

Managing Wi-Fi Connections with nmcli

nmcli is powerful for scripting and remote management. Useful commands include:

Command Purpose
nmcli device status Shows all network devices and their state.
nmcli device wifi list Displays available Wi-Fi networks.
nmcli connection show Lists saved connection profiles.
nmcli connection delete "SSID" Removes a saved network profile.
nmcli radio wifi on Enables the Wi-Fi radio.
nmcli radio wifi off Disables the Wi-Fi radio.

Saving and Auto-Connecting to Networks

When you connect through the desktop GUI, Ubuntu usually saves the profile and sets it to auto-connect. With nmcli, you can ensure this behavior manually:

nmcli connection modify "Your-SSID" connection.autoconnect yes

To view all settings for a connection:

nmcli connection show "Your-SSID"

If you move between multiple networks frequently, you can prioritize them by adjusting the autoconnect-priority value. Higher numbers take precedence.

Security Best Practices for Ubuntu Wi-Fi

Wireless connections introduce security risks, so follow these practices:

  • Use WPA2 or WPA3: Avoid WEP and WPA-TKIP, which are easily cracked. WPA3 is preferred if your router and adapter support it.
  • Enable the firewall: Ubuntu includes UFW. Enable it with sudo ufw enable and allow only necessary services.
  • Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks: Use a VPN when connecting to coffee shops, airports, or hotels.
  • Disable MAC randomization only if needed: Ubuntu may randomize your MAC address by default. If your router uses MAC filtering, disable randomization in Network Manager settings.
  • Keep the system updated: Run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade regularly to receive driver and kernel security patches.

Comparison: Network Manager vs. netplan vs. wpa_supplicant

Different tools manage networking at different layers. This table helps you decide which to use.

Tool Primary Use Case Interface Best For Configuration Persistence
Network Manager Desktop and laptop Wi-Fi management GUI and nmcli Most Ubuntu Desktop users Stored in /etc/NetworkManager/
netplan Server and cloud network configuration YAML files Ubuntu Server and headless systems Stored in /etc/netplan/
wpa_supplicant Low-level Wi-Fi authentication Configuration files and CLI Advanced users and embedded systems Stored in /etc/wpa_supplicant/

Tips and Best Practices

  • Use Ethernet or phone tethering first: If Wi-Fi is not working, get internet access another way before installing drivers.
  • Note your adapter model: Write down the chipset name so you can search for solutions quickly.
  • Secure Boot may block third-party drivers: If you install a proprietary driver and it does not load, check whether Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS. You may need to disable it or sign the kernel module.
  • Test with a live USB: Before installing Ubuntu permanently, boot from a live USB to see if Wi-Fi works out of the box.
  • Document your connection settings: Save SSIDs, passwords, and static IP configurations in a secure password manager.
  • Prefer LTS releases: Ubuntu LTS versions receive longer driver support and are more stable for daily use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Wi-Fi adapter not detected at all?

This usually means the driver is missing or the adapter is disabled in BIOS. Run lspci or lsusb to confirm the hardware is visible to the system. If the device does not appear there, it may be physically disabled or faulty.

Do I need proprietary drivers for Wi-Fi on Ubuntu?

Not always. Many Intel and some Realtek adapters work with open-source drivers built into the kernel. However, Broadcom and certain newer adapters often require proprietary firmware or driver packages.

Can I use nmcli on Ubuntu Desktop?

Yes. nmcli works on both Ubuntu Desktop and Server. It is especially useful when the graphical interface is unresponsive or when you are managing the system over SSH.

How do I forget a Wi-Fi network on Ubuntu?

Open Settings, go to Wi-Fi, click the gear icon next to the saved network, and choose Forget. Alternatively, run nmcli connection delete "SSID".

Why does my Wi-Fi disconnect when I suspend my laptop?

Power management settings can cut power to the wireless card during suspend. Disable Wi-Fi power saving or adjust Network Manager dispatcher scripts to restore the connection after resume.

Is netplan used for Wi-Fi on Ubuntu Desktop?

Generally no. Ubuntu Desktop uses Network Manager for Wi-Fi. netplan is mainly for server installations, though it can coexist with Network Manager if configured correctly.

Conclusion

Getting wireless internet working on Ubuntu does not have to be difficult. By checking your hardware, installing the correct driver, and using Network Manager—either through the graphical interface or nmcli—you can reliably answer How to Get Wifi on Ubuntu? for nearly any laptop or desktop configuration.

Start with the basics: confirm that your adapter is detected, unblock it with rfkill if necessary, and install missing drivers through Additional Drivers or apt. Once connected, secure your network with WPA2 or WPA3, enable the firewall, and keep your system updated.

If you run into issues, use the troubleshooting steps and logs mentioned in this guide. Most Wi-Fi problems on Ubuntu are driver-related or configuration-related, both of which are solvable with the right commands and a little patience.