In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of fixing the ‘No WiFi adapter found’ error in Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 LTS on an Asus laptop with iwlwifi. This error typically arises when the operating system fails to recognize the WiFi adapter. Below, we’ll cover several potential solutions to this problem.
Disable Fast Startup in Windows
If you’re dual-booting Ubuntu with Windows, the Fast Startup feature in Windows might be causing conflicts with the WiFi adapter. Fast Startup is a Windows feature designed to decrease boot time, but it can sometimes interfere with the operation of other systems.
To disable Fast Startup, follow these steps:
- Boot into Windows.
- Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > System Settings.
- Uncheck the box that says ‘Turn on fast startup (recommended)’.
- Click ‘Save changes’ and shut down Windows completely before booting into Ubuntu.
Update the Kernel
The Linux kernel is the core of any Linux operating system, including Ubuntu. If your kernel is outdated, it might not support your WiFi adapter. To check your current kernel version, open a terminal and type uname -r.
To update the kernel, use the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeThe apt update command updates the list of available packages and their versions, but it does not install or upgrade any packages. The apt upgrade command actually installs newer versions of the packages you have.
After updating, reboot your system and check if the WiFi adapter is working.
Reinstall NetworkManager
NetworkManager is a program for providing detection and configuration for systems to automatically connect to networks. A faulty NetworkManager installation might cause the ‘No WiFi adapter found’ error.
To reinstall NetworkManager, open a terminal and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install --reinstall network-managerThe --reinstall option will force the system to uninstall the current version of NetworkManager and then install it again.
Check for Hardware Switch or Key Combination
Some laptops have a hardware switch or key combination to enable or disable the WiFi adapter. Ensure that the WiFi adapter is enabled on your laptop.
Check for Firmware Updates
The firmware version for the WiFi adapter is 66.f1c864e0.0. Check for any firmware updates available for your specific WiFi adapter model. You can find this information on the manufacturer’s website.
Check for Conflicting Drivers
Conflicting drivers can cause issues with the WiFi adapter. To check for any other drivers installed for the WiFi adapter, open a terminal and type:
lspci -knn | grep Net -A2The lspci command lists all PCI devices. The -knn switch shows the kernel driver handling each device and the -A2 switch shows two lines of additional information for each device. If you find any conflicting drivers, remove them.
Check for Blocked Devices
Use the rfkill command to check if the WiFi adapter is blocked:
rfkill list allIf the WiFi adapter is blocked, use the following command to unblock it:
rfkill unblock <device>Replace <device> with the name of your WiFi adapter.
Check for Error Messages
Review the output of the following command for any error messages related to the WiFi adapter:
sudo dmesg | grep iwlThe dmesg command prints or controls the kernel ring buffer. The grep command searches for a specific pattern (in this case, ‘iwl’).
If none of the above solutions work, it may be necessary to seek further assistance or consult the Ubuntu community forums for more specific troubleshooting steps.
You can check if the iwlwifi driver is installed by running the following command in the terminal: lsmod | grep iwlwifi. If the driver is installed, you will see some output related to iwlwifi.
While these solutions are specifically aimed at Asus laptops with iwlwifi, some of them may be applicable to other laptop brands or WiFi adapters. However, it is recommended to consult the documentation or support forums for your specific laptop brand and WiFi adapter for more accurate troubleshooting steps.
Updating the kernel is generally safe, but there is a small risk of compatibility issues with certain hardware or software. It is always a good idea to backup your important data before performing any system updates. If you encounter any issues after updating the kernel, you can usually revert to the previous version from the GRUB menu during boot.
You can find the name of your WiFi adapter by running the following command in the terminal: lspci -nn | grep Network. The output will show the name and model of your WiFi adapter.
These solutions are specifically targeted at Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 LTS, but they may also work for other versions of Ubuntu or even other Linux distributions. However, it is always recommended to refer to the official documentation or support forums for your specific version of Ubuntu for the most accurate troubleshooting steps.
