How to Fix the Ubuntu "No Wi-Fi Adapter Found"

Having trouble with your Wi-Fi adapter on Ubuntu? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this guide, we'll walk you through some simple steps to help resolve the "no Wi-Fi adapter found" error. Whether it's due to hardware issues, driver problems, or kernel bugs, we've got solutions for you. So let's get started and get your Wi-Fi up and running again!

Verify Wi-Fi Adapter Recognizance

The first step is to ensure that your Ubuntu system recognizes the Wi-Fi adapter properly. To do this, follow these instructions:

a. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

b. Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo lshw -C network

c. Look for the line that says "network UNCLAIMED." If you see this, it means that your Wi-Fi adapter is not being recognized by the system.

d. If your Wi-Fi adapter is recognized, it will be listed under the "*-network" section. Make a note of the adapter's name and model.

Install New Drivers for Wi-Fi Adapter

Sometimes outdated or incompatible drivers can cause issues with your Wi-Fi adapter. To fix this, we need to install new drivers. Here's how:

a. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

b. Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo apt-get update

c. After the update is complete, type the following command and press Enter:

sudo apt-get install linux-firmware

d. Wait for the installation to finish. Once it's done, restart your computer.

e. After restarting, open the terminal again and type the following command and press Enter:

sudo modprobe -r

f. Replace with the name of your Wi-Fi adapter's driver. For example, if you have an Intel Wi-Fi adapter, you would type:

sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi

g. Finally, type the following command and press Enter:

sudo modprobe

h. Restart your computer once again and check if your Wi-Fi adapter is now recognized.

Verify Firmware Installation

In some cases, incomplete firmware installation can lead to problems with your Wi-Fi adapter. To verify if the firmware is installed correctly, follow these steps:

a. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

b. Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo apt-get install git

c. After the installation is complete, type the following command and press Enter:

git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git

d. Wait for the download to finish. Once it's done, type the following command and press Enter:

cd linux-firmware

e. Now, type the following command and press Enter:

sudo make install

f. After the installation is complete, restart your computer and check if your Wi-Fi adapter is now recognized.

Try Using a New USB Wi-Fi Adapter

If none of the previous steps have resolved the issue, it might be worth trying a different approach. Testing with a new USB Wi-Fi adapter can help us determine if there are any hardware-related problems causing the error.

a. Purchase a new USB Wi-Fi adapter that is compatible with Ubuntu.

b. Plug the new adapter into a USB port on your computer.

c. Ubuntu should automatically recognize the new adapter and install the necessary drivers.

d. Check if your Wi-Fi is now working with the new adapter. If it is, then the issue was most likely with your original Wi-Fi adapter.

Install Linux With an Alternative Kernel Version

If you're using a version 5.x Linux kernel on your Ubuntu system, there might be a kernel bug causing the "Ubuntu Wi-Fi not working" issue. Changing to an alternative kernel version can often solve this problem:

a. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

b. Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-

c. Replace with the version number of the kernel you want to install. For example, if you want to install the 4.19 kernel, you would type:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-4.19

d. Wait for the installation to finish. Once it's done, restart your computer.

e. After restarting, check if your Wi-Fi adapter is now recognized and working properly.

By following these friendly guidelines, you should be able to fix the "no Wi-Fi adapter found" error on your Ubuntu system successfully. Remember to go through each step carefully and try them out one by one until you find a solution that works for you.