Ubuntu 24.04 LTS installation doesn't recognize wifi adapter after installation

Question

It does not recognize the Wi-Fi adapter, but it worked in my laptop when opened with Windows. It is the Realtek driver rtw89_8851be. Please suggest easy steps to resolve this issue

My screeen is showing these:

ip link show
sudo rmmod rtw_8851be
[sudo] password for rnsarma: 
rmmod: ERROR: Module rtw_8851be is not currently loaded
rnsarma@my-laptop:~$ sudo modprobe rtw_8851be
modprobe: FATAL: Module rtw_8851be not found in directory /lib/modules/6.11.0-24-generic
rnsarma@my-laptop:~$ sudo dmesg | tail
[  336.325580] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750204.899:167): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap-update-ns.snap-store" pid=5840 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.488738] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.064:168): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap-update-ns.firefox" pid=5838 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.532133] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.107:169): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap-update-ns.firmware-updater" pid=5839 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.566182] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.141:170): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap-update-ns.snapd-desktop-integration" pid=5841 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.578137] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.153:171): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap.firefox.hook.disconnect-plug-host-hunspell" pid=5846 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.578417] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.153:172): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap.firefox.hook.post-refresh" pid=5848 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.579075] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.154:173): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap.firefox.hook.install" pid=5847 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  336.580323] audit: type=1400 audit(1745750205.155:174): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" info="same as current profile, skipping" profile="unconfined" name="snap.firmware-updater.hook.configure" pid=5852 comm="apparmor_parser"
[  339.927774] loop10: detected capacity change from 0 to 8
[  353.554497] loop10: detected capacity change from 0 to 151320
rnsarma@my-laptop:~$ apt search realtek | grep dkms
WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.
r8125-dkms/noble-updates 9.011.00-4ubuntu1.1 all
  dkms source for the r8125 network driver
r8168-dkms/noble-updates 8.052.01-1ubuntu1.1 all
  dkms source for the r8168 network driver
rtl8812au-dkms/noble-updates 4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg-0ubuntu23 all
  dkms source for the r8812au network driver
rnsarma@my-laptop:~$ sudo apt search realtek | grep dkms
WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.
r8125-dkms/noble-updates 9.011.00-4ubuntu1.1 all
  dkms source for the r8125 network driver
r8168-dkms/noble-updates 8.052.01-1ubuntu1.1 all
  dkms source for the r8168 network driver
rtl8812au-dkms/noble-updates 4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg-0ubuntu23 all
  dkms source for the r8812au network driver

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 27 '25 at 16:55

Installing Realtek Wi-Fi drivers may solve your problem. First check that your devices are compatible by running in a terminal:

lsusb → Realtek or RTL must appear in the list of USB devices
lspci → Realtek or RTL must appear in the list of PCI devices

If Realtek appears in the above lists, continue with the installation of drivers as shown below. If not, you will need to try other solutions.

Before installation ensure that your system is up to date. In a terminal run:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
```

Add the Realtek PPA to your system repository search and update:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kelebek333/kablosuz
sudo apt update

Install the driver:
```
sudo apt install rtw89_8851be
```
Reboot your system and your Wi-Fi should work:
```
sudo reboot
```

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 27 '25 at 17:02

According to the no wifi realtek drivers not working? thread in Linux Mint Forums, you are supposed to load the rtw_8851be module. Does it work, does it report errors?
```
sudo rmmod rtw_8851be
sudo modprobe rtw_8851be
sudo dmesg | tail
```
If this module does not exist, you need to install it first. Check for example [Help] rtw89 WiFi driver not working after Ubuntu update in r/Ubuntu. Note that whenever you manually compile a kernel module, you have to recompile it for each kernel update (linux-image package). That is why you should always prefer installing the appropriate -dkms package, if any.
```
apt search realtek | grep dkms
```
Check whether a Wi-Fi interface is listed in the following command result (e.g., wlp2s0):
```
ip link show
```
If not, you probably did not install/load the appropriate kernel module (see the first step).
If the device appears in ip link show but is not usable, maybe there is a bug. Please check the following threads:
- Wifi card rtw89 8851BE not detected by Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS Jammy Jellyfish
- [SOLVED] rtw89_8851be wifi not working

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS installation doesn't recognize wifi adapter after installation

2 Answers2