Fix Missing Wi-Fi Drivers on Linux (Broadcom and Realtek)

Before you begin

Match the environmentUse this guide only for Windows 10, Windows 11 or a clearly compatible setup.

Protect recoveryBack up important data and save encryption or account recovery keys before changing system state.

Know when to stopMake one change at a time and stop if the result differs from what the guide describes.

Problem overview

After installing a Linux distribution, you have no Wi-Fi access. The network manager only shows wired connections, and the Wi-Fi hardware acts as if it doesn’t exist. This happens because companies like Broadcom and Realtek do not mainline all their drivers into the Linux kernel due to proprietary licensing.

Common causes

Missing proprietary Broadcom STA drivers
Newer Realtek chips (like the rtw89 series) not yet supported by older Linux kernels
Wi-Fi adapter being soft-blocked or hard-blocked by the system rfkill utility

Solution 1: Unblock the Wi-Fi adapter

Sometimes the driver is present, but the system has disabled the radio.

Open a terminal and run:
```
rfkill list all
```
Check if your Wireless LAN is listed as Soft blocked: yes.
If it is, run the following command to unblock it:
```
sudo rfkill unblock all
```
If it says Hard blocked: yes, you need to press the physical Wi-Fi switch on your laptop or toggle the Fn-key combination for Wi-Fi.

Solution 2: Install Broadcom drivers

First, identify your Wi-Fi chipset by running:
```
lspci -vnn | grep Network
```
Connect your PC to the internet using a wired connection or USB tethering from your phone.
If you have a Broadcom chip (like BCM43142 or BCM4352), install the proprietary driver. On Ubuntu/Mint, run:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source
```
Once the installation is complete, reboot your computer. The Wi-Fi menu should now appear.

Expert Tip

If bcmwl-kernel-source doesn’t work, you may need the open-source alternative. Uninstall the previous package with sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source and try installing firmware-b43-installer instead.

Solution 3: Compile Realtek drivers from GitHub

For many newer Realtek cards (like RTL8852AE/rtw89 or RTL8821CE), the drivers must be cloned and compiled.

Connect to the internet via Ethernet or USB tethering.

Install the necessary build tools:

sudo apt install build-essential git dkms

Clone the appropriate GitHub repository for your chipset. For example, for rtw89:
```
git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtw89.git
```
Navigate into the directory and build the driver:
```
cd rtw89
make
sudo make install
```
Reload the module (or reboot):
```
sudo modprobe rtw89pci
```

Confirm the result

Repeat the exact action that originally triggered the problem.

Confirm the original error or symptom is gone and no new warning has appeared.

If the guide changed a driver, service, package, or system setting, restart once and test again.

If the result is worse or unexpected, stop. Reverse only the last change using its documented restore option; if none is documented, use your backup or qualified support.

Questions about this fix

How do I download drivers without Wi-Fi?

You will need to plug in an Ethernet cable, use a USB Wi-Fi dongle that is natively supported, or plug in your smartphone and use USB Tethering.

What is DKMS?

Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS) ensures that your Wi-Fi driver is automatically rebuilt and remains functional whenever your Linux kernel receives an update.

Fix Missing Wi-Fi Drivers on Linux (Broadcom and Realtek)

Before you begin

Problem overview

Common causes

Solution 1: Unblock the Wi-Fi adapter

Solution 2: Install Broadcom drivers

Solution 3: Compile Realtek drivers from GitHub

Confirm the result

Questions about this fix

Weighted Consensus Protocol

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