How Can I Get Wi-Fi Working on Linux Mint After Installing?
Asked by
CuriousCat42
Hi everyone! I'm making the switch from Windows 10 to Linux Mint because my Windows installation is acting up. Right now, I'm using a temporary account to access my laptop, and I've installed the latest version of Linux Mint Cinnamon from a USB drive. However, I'm only able to connect to the internet through a wired connection. I can't find any option for Wi-Fi or hotspots, even though my drivers appear to be up to date. I'm looking for some help to get my Wi-Fi up and running. Thanks!
Answers
You can also try using the command `sudo lshw -c network` in the terminal to get details on your network adapter. After you find out what adapter you have, search online for something like "your_adapter_name Ubuntu" to see if it's supported. Here's a great guide: https://itsfoss.com/find-network-adapter-ubuntu-linux/.
Reply to this answer
Seems like a common issue! A lot of people with Broadcom wireless cards run into this since the drivers don’t install automatically. Plug in an Ethernet cable or use a USB Wi-Fi adapter, then open Driver Manager. It should detect your Broadcom card and offer to install the drivers for you. Good luck!
Reply to this answer
I've noticed that many Ubuntu-based distros, including Mint, don't automatically download and install Wi-Fi drivers during the setup. They usually stick to open-source drivers only. Use `lspci` to check your Wi-Fi card and then you can look up the necessary drivers online. After downloading the correct one, it might be a good idea to restart your system.
Reply to this answer
First off, you should run `lspci` in your terminal. This command will help you identify your network controller, which is essentially your Wi-Fi card. With that info, you can check the compatibility of your card with Linux on this page: https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/users/drivers.html. It’s really useful!
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
CuriousCat42: Thanks for the tips! I’ll try using an Ethernet cable and check Driver Manager.