I was away from my Kubuntu PC for several months, and now its Wi‑Fi connection keeps failing even though it worked previously. The system uses an Intel AX210 PCIe adapter with the compatible driver installed. I've restarted NetworkManager, unloaded and reloaded the iwlmvm and iwlwifi modules, removed and recreated the connection in System Settings, and rebooted, but nothing has fixed it. What should I check next?
3 Answers
Check the system logs around the time the connection fails. Looking through files under /var/log, starting with the newest entries, may reveal firmware, authentication, or driver errors. Commands such as `ls -laFhtr /var/log` and `tail -n 100 ` can help inspect the recent messages.
Run `sudo dmesg` in a terminal immediately after the Wi‑Fi failure and look for messages mentioning iwlwifi, firmware, authentication, or the network interface. A full reboot is also worth trying if you haven’t already, since it can clear a stuck device or driver state.
Try booting into an older installed kernel. A recent kernel update may have introduced a regression affecting the Intel wireless driver. Choosing a previous kernel from the boot menu is generally safe and is a useful troubleshooting step; you can switch back to the newest one afterward.
Is selecting an older kernel safe, or could it affect my files and installation?