Solving ‘No Wi Fi Adapter Found’ Error On Ubuntu: Simple Guide

The “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found” error is a common problem in Ubuntu Linux that prevents users from accessing the internet wirelessly. This error occurs when Ubuntu is unable to detect the Wi-Fi adapter connected to the computer. However, fixing this error is relatively easy and quick.

Key Takeaways:

• The “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found” error is a common issue in Ubuntu Linux that hampers wireless internet connectivity.
• To resolve this error, check if your PC recognizes the Wi-Fi adapter by using terminal commands.
• Identify the build/model of the wireless adapter and install the appropriate drivers accordingly.
• If the error persists, consider using an external USB Wi-Fi adapter as an alternative solution.
• By following these steps, users can troubleshoot and resolve the “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found” error on Ubuntu.

How to Check for Wi-Fi Adapter on Ubuntu

To resolve the ‘No Wi Fi Adapter Found’ error, the first step is to check if your PC can recognize the Wi-Fi adapter. Fortunately, Ubuntu provides straightforward commands that allow you to confirm the presence of the wireless adapter and identify its build/model.

1. Open the terminal, either by searching for it in the applications or by using the shortcut ‘Ctrl+Alt+T’.
2. Enter the command lshw -C network and press Enter. This will display detailed information about your network devices. Look for the wireless adapter in the list. If it is not listed, proceed to the next step.
3. If you are using a laptop, it likely has an internal (PCI) wireless adapter. To list all the PCI devices, enter the command lspci and press Enter. Search for the network controller in the list. If you are using an external USB wireless adapter, enter the command lsusb and press Enter to access the list of USB devices. Find your network adapter in the list.

By following these steps, you can easily check if your PC recognizes the Wi-Fi adapter. This information will be crucial for the next steps in resolving the ‘No Wi Fi Adapter Found’ error on Ubuntu.

Example: Terminal output for ‘lshw -C network’ command:

description	product	vendor	physical id	bus info	logical name	version	serial	capabilities	width	clock	configuration	resources
Wireless interface	Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200	Intel Corporation	0	00:14.3	wlan0	3.00	ab:cd:ef:12:34:56	bus_master	64 bits	33MHz	driver=iwlwifi	latency=0, tx power=20dBm

Once you have successfully identified the wireless adapter, you can proceed to the next steps in resolving this error on Ubuntu.

Installing Drivers for Wi-Fi Adapter on Ubuntu

Once you have identified the build/model of the wireless adapter, you need to install the appropriate drivers to resolve the ‘No Wi-Fi Adapter Found’ error on Ubuntu. Follow the steps below to ensure a successful installation:

1. For Realtek drivers, download the latest Realtek rtlwifi codes repository from the official website. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a convenient location on your system.

Example table below:

File	Location	Terminal Command
rtlwifi codes repository ZIP file	/home/username/Downloads/rtlwifi	cd /home/username/Downloads/rtlwifi

2. Open the terminal and navigate to the extracted folder by running the command mentioned in the table above. Then, run the following commands: “make” (to compile the driver) and “sudo make install” (to install the driver system-wide).
3. For Broadcom drivers, simply enter the command “sudo apt-get install –reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source” in the terminal. This command will reinstall the Broadcom driver and resolve any issues with it.
4. For Intel drivers, download the suitable Intel wireless adapter firmware from the Intel website. Extract the contents of the downloaded file to a convenient location on your system.

Example table below:

File	Location	Terminal Command
Intel wireless adapter firmware files	/home/username/Downloads/intel-firmware	cd /home/username/Downloads/intel-firmware

5. In the terminal, navigate to the extracted folder using the command mentioned in the table above. Then, run the command “sudo cp *.ucode /lib/firmware” to copy the firmware files to the appropriate location.

If, after following these steps, the ‘No Wi-Fi Adapter Found’ error still persists, it could indicate other underlying issues such as a malfunctioning Wi-Fi adapter, lack of support for the adapter by the current version of the Linux kernel, or hardware problems. In such cases, you may consider using an external USB Wi-Fi adapter as an alternative solution.

Resolving the ‘No Wi-Fi Adapter Found’ error on Ubuntu is crucial to restore wireless connectivity. By identifying the wireless adapter, installing the proper drivers, and considering alternative options if necessary, you can successfully troubleshoot and resolve this error, enabling uninterrupted access to the internet on your Ubuntu system.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully troubleshoot and resolve the ‘No Wi-Fi Adapter Found’ error on Ubuntu, ensuring uninterrupted access to the internet on your system. The “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found” error is a common problem in Ubuntu Linux. This error occurs when Ubuntu is unable to detect the Wi-Fi adapter connected to the computer, preventing users from accessing the internet wirelessly. However, fixing this error is relatively easy and quick.

To resolve this issue, start by checking if your PC can recognize the Wi-Fi adapter. Open the terminal and enter the command “lshw -C network” to get a detailed description of your network device. If the wireless adapter details are not listed, proceed to the next step.

If you are using a laptop, there is a high probability that it is equipped with an internal (PCI) wireless adapter. Enter the command “lspci” in the terminal to list all the PCI devices and look for the network controller. For external USB wireless adapters, use the command “lsusb” to find your network adapter in the list.

Once you have identified the build/model of the wireless adapter, install the appropriate drivers. For Realtek drivers, download the latest Realtek rtlwifi codes repository, extract the ZIP file, open the terminal in the extracted folder, and run the commands “make” and “sudo make install”. For Broadcom drivers, enter the command “sudo apt-get install –reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source” in the terminal. For Intel drivers, download the suitable Intel wireless adapter firmware, extract the contents, open the terminal in the extracted folder, and run the command “sudo cp *.ucode /lib/firmware”.

If the error persists, there may be other possibilities such as a malfunctioning Wi-Fi adapter, lack of adapter support in the current Linux kernel version, or hardware problems. In such cases, consider using an external USB Wi-Fi adapter as an alternative solution.

Overall, resolving the ‘No Wi-Fi Adapter Found’ error on Ubuntu involves identifying the wireless adapter, installing the appropriate drivers, and considering alternative options if necessary. By following these steps, users can successfully troubleshoot and resolve this error, ensuring uninterrupted access to the internet on their Ubuntu systems.