How to Fix WiFi Not Working on Linux Mint: Driver Installation, NetworkManager, and WPA Supplicant Fixes

Linux Mint is one of the most beginner-friendly Linux distributions, but WiFi problems are still a common stumbling block — especially right after a fresh install. The good news: the fixes are well-documented, and most can be resolved in under 15 minutes. This guide covers every major cause, from missing proprietary drivers to misconfigured services.

Step 1: Identify Your WiFi Hardware

Before you can fix anything, you need to know what WiFi chip you have. Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and run one of these commands:

• lspci -k | grep -A 3 -i "network|wireless" — for internal (PCIe) adapters in laptops and desktops
• lsusb — for USB WiFi dongles; look for entries mentioning Realtek, Ralink, MediaTek, or Broadcom

Note the chipset name and model number (e.g., Broadcom BCM4360, Realtek RTL8821CE, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200). You’ll need this for the sections below.

Step 2: Check Whether a Driver Is Already Loaded

Run lsmod | grep -i "wl|brcm|rtl|iwl|ath" to see which kernel modules are active. If you see output like wl, brcmfmac, rtl8821ce, or iwlwifi, a driver is loaded but may still be misconfigured. If you see nothing, the driver is missing entirely.

Also check nmcli device status to see whether NetworkManager even recognizes the adapter. An output of unmanaged or unavailable points to a driver or service problem rather than a configuration one.

Step 3: Install Missing Drivers

Broadcom Chips (BCM43xx Series)

Broadcom is the most common culprit on Linux. There are two driver options:

• bcmwl-kernel-source (proprietary, recommended for most users): Open Menu → Administration → Driver Manager. If a Broadcom driver appears, select it and click Apply Changes, then reboot. Alternatively, via terminal with an Ethernet connection: sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source
• b43 / open-source firmware: For older BCM4311, BCM4312, BCM4321 chips: sudo apt install b43-fwcutter firmware-b43-installer

After installing either package, reboot. Do not load both drivers at the same time — they conflict. If you previously tried both, run sudo modprobe -r wl b43 before rebooting.

Realtek Chips (RTL8xxx Series)

Newer Realtek chips like the RTL8821CE and RTL8852BE are not fully supported by the in-kernel driver and need a DKMS module. With an Ethernet connection active:

1. Install build prerequisites: sudo apt install dkms git linux-headers-$(uname -r)
2. Clone the appropriate driver from GitHub (search for your chipset name + “linux dkms”) and follow its README to run sudo make dkms_install.
3. Reboot and verify with lsmod | grep rtl.

Intel WiFi (iwlwifi)

Intel adapters (AX200, AX201, AX210, BE200) are generally the best-supported on Linux. If yours isn’t working, the firmware blob may be missing. Install it with: sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifi, then reload the driver: sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi && sudo modprobe iwlwifi.

Step 4: Fix NetworkManager Problems

Even with a working driver, NetworkManager can stall or lose track of your adapter. These commands resolve most service-level issues:

1. Restart NetworkManager: sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
2. Check its status: sudo systemctl status NetworkManager — look for errors in the last 20 lines
3. If NetworkManager isn’t running at all: sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager

If your adapter shows as unmanaged in nmcli, check /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/ for any file that sets managed=false under [ifupdown]. Delete or edit it so the value reads managed=true, then restart NetworkManager.

Disable WiFi Power Saving

Power management is a frequent cause of intermittent drops and “connected but no internet” symptoms on Linux Mint. Disable it by creating a config file:

1. sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-powersave-off.conf
2. Paste the following and save:

[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2

3. Restart NetworkManager: sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

A value of 2 disables power saving; the default of 3 enables it. After this change, many users find their connection becomes rock-solid.

Step 5: Fix WPA Supplicant Authentication Failures

If your network appears in the list but you can’t connect — getting “authentication failed” or the password prompt loops — WPA supplicant is usually the culprit.

• Check wpa_supplicant status: sudo systemctl status wpa_supplicant
• Restart it: sudo systemctl restart wpa_supplicant
• If you’re on a WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x) network like a university or corporate network, you may need to install sudo apt install wpasupplicant and configure /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf manually with your EAP credentials.

As an alternative backend, some users have better luck with iwd (Intel’s Wireless Daemon): install with sudo apt install iwd, create /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi_backend.conf containing [device] wifi.backend=iwd, disable wpa_supplicant (sudo systemctl disable wpa_supplicant), and restart NetworkManager. iwd is faster and handles roaming better on some hardware.

Step 6: Offline Driver Installation (No Ethernet Port)

Stuck without Ethernet and can’t get online to download drivers? Here’s the workaround:

1. On another computer, download the Linux Mint Edge ISO from the official site — it ships with newer kernels and broader driver support out of the box.
2. If you need a specific .deb package (e.g., bcmwl-kernel-source), download it on another machine from packages.ubuntu.com along with all dependencies, transfer via USB drive, and install with sudo dpkg -i *.deb.
3. Alternatively, a USB WiFi adapter with a known Linux-friendly chip (Realtek RTL8188EUS or MediaTek MT7601U) can provide temporary internet access to finish setup.

Quick Diagnostic Checklist

• Run lspci or lsusb to identify your chipset
• Open Driver Manager — install any recommended driver, reboot
• Check nmcli device status for adapter state
• Restart NetworkManager and wpa_supplicant via systemctl
• Disable WiFi power saving in NetworkManager config
• Try iwd as an alternative WPA backend if wpa_supplicant keeps failing
• For Broadcom: do not mix wl and b43 modules

Once connected, run a speed test to verify you’re getting the bandwidth your plan delivers. If speeds are lower than expected even with a working connection, see our guide on improving WiFi signal through walls or consider whether your adapter supports the 5GHz band for faster throughput.