In today’s interconnected world, having a reliable wifi connection is more crucial than ever. However, sometimes you may face difficulties with your wifi connection on your Ubuntu 18.04 device. Here, we’ll guide you on how to reinstall Ubuntu 18.04 wifi driver to resolve these issues.
Understanding the Issue
The problem commonly occurs when Ubuntu doesn’t detect any wireless network. This can be attributed to various reasons such as kernel bugs, hardware issues, or even the absence of the correct drivers. Although this guide focuses on Ubuntu 18.04, the methods can be applied to other Ubuntu-based distributions like Linux Mint or elementary OS.
Recognizing the Network Adapter
Before we dive into the solution, it’s crucial to identify the type of network adapter your system is using. For instance, the wireless device “QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter” is supported by the Linux kernel and doesn’t need any additional drivers. You can check your network adapter by using the command lspci -knn | grep Net -A3.
Ubuntu’s Additional Drivers
Ubuntu provides additional drivers for a variety of wireless adapters. These drivers can be installed through the Software & Updates application on your Ubuntu system. However, this method requires an internet connection.
Connecting to the Internet without Wifi
If your wifi connection isn’t working, you can still connect to the internet using one of the following methods:
- Wired Network: Try connecting your device to the router via an Ethernet cable.
- USB Tethering: Connect your smartphone (which has an internet connection) to your device via USB.
Installing Additional Drivers from Ubuntu ISO Image
In case you’re unable to connect to the internet, you can install additional drivers from the ISO image of Ubuntu. Here’s how you can do it:
- Download the ISO image of the Ubuntu version you have installed.
- Copy this ISO image to your home directory.
- Mount the ISO image as though it was a CD.
- Use the Software & Updates application to install the additional drivers.
Fixing Wifi Issues with Broadcom Wireless Adapters
If your system uses a Broadcom 43 series of wireless adapters, you’ll need to follow a different method. Here’s the complete process to reinstall Ubuntu 18.04 wifi driver for Broadcom adapters:
- Remove any Broadcom drivers that have been previously installed.
- If you have an internet connection via LAN/Ethernet, install different Broadcom drivers.
- If you don’t have any internet connection, download the driver manually from another system and then transfer it to your Ubuntu system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, reinstalling Ubuntu 18.04 wifi driver can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps and a bit of patience, it’s definitely doable. We hope this guide has been helpful to you. If you have any more questions or suggestions, feel free to drop a comment.