GPT4 helped me do it successfully, so the follow steps are correct (at least for my ThinkPad computer)
How to Find Your Hardware Info for Wi-Fi Troubleshooting
Before attempting to fix Wi-Fi issues on Ubuntu, it's important to gather detailed hardware information about the system's Wi-Fi adapter and drivers. This helps to diagnose and apply the correct solution. Below are the key commands to find the necessary information:
Step 1: Identify Your Network Devices
Run the following command to list all network devices and their respective drivers. This will show both Ethernet and Wi-Fi hardware:
lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 net
Example Output:
00:14.3 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51f0] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:0074]
Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi
Kernel modules: iwlwifi
- This shows the Wi-Fi adapter model and the driver used (
iwlwifi
in this case). - Note the PCI ID (
[8086:51f0]
), which uniquely identifies the hardware and is important when searching for drivers or firmware.
Step 2: Check If the Wi-Fi Module Is Loaded
Ensure the Wi-Fi module is loaded and check if it's active:
lsmod | grep iwlwifi
This command lists the loaded kernel modules related to Wi-Fi (like iwlwifi
in the example above). If no output is shown, it means the driver is not loaded and needs to be installed or reloaded.
Step 3: Check for Firmware or Driver Errors in Kernel Logs
If your Wi-Fi adapter isn't working, the kernel logs might have clues about missing drivers or firmware:
dmesg | grep -i iwlwifi
Look for lines related to firmware loading errors or driver issues, such as:
iwlwifi 0000:00:14.3: no suitable firmware found!
iwlwifi 0000:00:14.3: Direct firmware load for iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode failed
This output helps to identify whether the firmware is missing or incompatible, guiding you to download the right firmware files.
Step 4: Check for Software or Hardware Blocks
Sometimes the Wi-Fi interface can be blocked by software or hardware settings. To check this, use:
rfkill list
If the output shows Soft blocked: yes
or Hard blocked: yes
for Wi-Fi, you can unblock it by running:
sudo rfkill unblock all
Conclusion: Gather These Key Details
- Wi-Fi Adapter Model: Found using
lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 net
. - Loaded Driver: Verified using
lsmod | grep iwlwifi
. - Firmware Errors: Check kernel logs with
dmesg | grep -i iwlwifi
. - Block Status: Verify with
rfkill list
.
Having this information will make it easier to follow the correct troubleshooting steps and find appropriate drivers or firmware. You can use this as a reference for troubleshooting Wi-Fi problems on different systems.
Then:
How to Fix Wi-Fi for Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 on Ubuntu 18.04
If you reinstall Ubuntu 18.04 on a ThinkPad with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 card, follow these steps to get the Wi-Fi working:
Step 1: Install Required Build Tools and Headers
You need the correct build tools to install the Wi-Fi drivers.
- Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and run:
sudo apt update sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) git
Step 2: Download and Install the Latest Wi-Fi Firmware
The Intel AX201 chipset requires specific firmware that isn't included in Ubuntu 18.04 by default.
-
Download the required firmware file:
wget https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode
-
Move the downloaded file to the system firmware directory:
sudo mv iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode /lib/firmware/
-
Set the correct permissions for the firmware:
sudo chmod 644 /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode
Step 3: Download and Install the Backported iwlwifi Driver
You'll need to backport the latest iwlwifi
driver for your Wi-Fi card.
-
Clone the backport repository:
git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/iwlwifi/backport-iwlwifi.git
-
Navigate to the cloned directory:
cd backport-iwlwifi
-
Build and install the driver:
make defconfig-iwlwifi-public make -j4 sudo make install
Step 4: Load the Wi-Fi Driver
Now, load the newly installed driver and ensure it works.
-
Unload any existing
iwlwifi
module:sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi
-
Load the new module:
sudo modprobe iwlwifi
Step 5: Reboot the System
Reboot your system to apply the changes:
sudo reboot
Step 6: Verify Wi-Fi is Working
After rebooting:
-
Check that the Wi-Fi interface is active:
iwconfig
You should see a wireless interface like
wlp0s20f3
. -
Check available Wi-Fi networks:
nmcli device wifi list
-
If needed, connect to a network:
nmcli device wifi connect <SSID> password <Wi-Fi password>
Conclusion
By following these steps, you?ll get your Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 card working on Ubuntu 18.04 after a fresh installation. Keep this guide handy for future re-installations!
This guide should help you get Wi-Fi working without any issues in the future!