In this article, we will be exploring how to fix the “Network Unclaimed” issue that you may encounter on Ubuntu 20.04 when using the Realtek RTL8821CE Wireless Adapter. This issue typically arises when the appropriate driver for the wireless adapter isn’t being loaded, causing the network controller to show as “UNCLAIMED”.
To fix the "Network Unclaimed" issue on Ubuntu 20.04 with the Realtek RTL8821CE Wireless Adapter, you can try blacklisting the ineffective driver or installing the latest rtl8821ce driver. If neither solution works, further troubleshooting steps or assistance may be required.
Understanding the Issue
When the network controller is “UNCLAIMED”, it means that your system is unable to claim a network interface, which in turn means that the system does not have the necessary driver to use the network interface. In our case, it is the Realtek RTL8821CE wireless adapter that is causing the problem.
Solution 1: Blacklisting the Ineffective Driver
The first solution we will explore is blacklisting the ineffective driver. This essentially means that we will be disabling this driver so that it does not load during startup.
To do this, you need to open a terminal. You can do this by pressing CTRL + ALT + T on your keyboard. Once the terminal is open, you can run the following commands:
sudo -i
echo "blacklist rtw88_8821ce" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
modprobe -r rtw88_8821ce
exitHere’s what each command does:
sudo -i: This command opens a root shell. This is necessary because the commands that follow require root privileges to run.echo "blacklist rtw88_8821ce" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf: This command appends the string “blacklist rtw88_8821ce” to the file/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf. This is the file that the system checks to know which modules to blacklist.modprobe -r rtw88_8821ce: This command removes the rtw88_8821ce module from the kernel.exit: This command exits the root shell.
After running these commands, reboot your system and check if there is any improvement.
Solution 2: Installing the Latest rtl8821ce Driver
If blacklisting the driver didn’t work, you can try installing the latest driver for the RTL8821CE wireless adapter. To do this, you will need a temporary internet connection. This could be through an Ethernet cable, tethering, or any other means.
Once you have a temporary internet connection, open a terminal and run the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install rtl8821ce-dkmsHere’s what each command does:
sudo apt update: This command updates the list of available packages and their versions, but it does not install or upgrade any packages.sudo apt install rtl8821ce-dkms: This command installs the rtl8821ce-dkms package, which is the latest driver for the RTL8821CE wireless adapter.
After running these commands, reboot your system. The “Network Unclaimed” issue should now be resolved.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve looked at two potential solutions to the “Network Unclaimed” issue on Ubuntu 20.04 with the Realtek RTL8821CE wireless adapter. We hope that these solutions have been helpful. If neither solution resolves the issue, you may need to explore other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance. Remember, the Ubuntu community is a great resource for resolving issues like this.
You can check if you have the Realtek RTL8821CE wireless adapter by opening a terminal and running the command lspci | grep Network. If the output includes "Realtek RTL8821CE", then you have the adapter.
Yes, these solutions should work for other versions of Ubuntu as well, as long as you are facing the "Network Unclaimed" issue with the Realtek RTL8821CE wireless adapter. However, it’s always a good idea to check for any specific instructions or updates related to your version of Ubuntu.
