Ubuntu Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet [Quick Fixes]

Ubuntu is an open-source Linux operating system based on the Debian architecture. It’s popular with developers and testers, and there’s a good reason for that! When you install Ubuntu, it already has many useful apps and drivers ready to go, so you don’t need to worry about getting them separately.

Like any other operating system, Ubuntu is not perfect, and it can have problems. One common issue is when your Wi-Fi is connected, but you can’t access the internet. In this blog, we’ll talk about how to fix this problem.

Here are a few common reasons why Ubuntu Wi-Fi is connected but with no internet access,

1. Wi-Fi Settings Misconfiguration
2. Unrecognized Wi-Fi Adapter
3. Choosing the Wrong Wi-Fi Network
4. Outdated Network Drivers
5. Absent Module Drivers
6. Incorrect DNS Server Configuration
7. Absence of Network Manager

Now let’s jump to quick solutions,

Before you jump to solutions, you must try a soft reset. This usually solves the problem. All you need is to restart the router by unplugging the power cord from the electrical outlet and leaving it for a few minutes.

Fix 1: Configuring Wi-Fi Settings

Wi-Fi settings misconfiguration is a common reason for connectivity issues on Ubuntu.

When the settings are not correctly configured, your device may be connected to the Wi-Fi network, but you won’t be able to access the internet.

Here’s what you can do to fix it:

1. Look at the top-right corner of your computer screen, where you’ll see an icon that looks like two arrows going up and down. Click on it.
2. A menu will appear, and you should choose “Wi-Fi Settings” or “Edit Connections.”
3. Ensure you are connected to the right Wi-Fi network with the correct password. Check if your Wi-Fi network has a checkmark next to it, showing you are connected.
4. Now, check the settings for IPv4 and IPv6. They should be set to “Automatic (DHCP)” most of the time. This helps your computer get the right information from the Wi-Fi router.
5. After making any changes, restart the Wi-Fi.

Fix 2: Enable Wi-Fi Adopter

If Ubuntu OS does not recognize your Wi-Fi device, you’ll remain connected to the network but won’t have internet access. This situation occurs when the OS fails to identify the Wi-Fi device as a network device.

You need to enable your wireless card or Wi-Fi dongle to get internet access on Ubuntu. Here’s how:

For USB wireless adapter:

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Ubuntu terminal.
2. Type: sudo lsusb
3. This will show a list of USB devices connected to your computer, including your wireless adapter. Identify your wireless adapter from the list.

For internal wireless adapter:

1. Open the terminal.
2. Type: sudo lspci
3. This will list all the PCI devices detected by your Ubuntu computer, including your internal wireless adapter.

After identifying your wireless adapter, you may need to take further actions to enable it properly, depending on the specific model and its driver requirements.

If your adapter requires additional drivers, Ubuntu will usually prompt you to install them or provide suggestions on how to do so.

Once your wireless adapter is enabled and recognized by Ubuntu, you can access the internet wirelessly.

Fix 3: Select the Correct Wi-Fi Network

Sometimes, you might unknowingly connect to a Wi-Fi network without internet access. Fixing it is easy! Here’s what you can do:

1. Click on the network icon on your desktop or right-click on the Network Manager icon in the system tray. You can also go to System Settings and click on Network.
2. Select the “Wireless” option in the network settings to see nearby available Wi-Fi networks.
3. Choose the correct Wi-Fi network that you want to connect to. Ensure it has internet access and double-check its name (SSID) to avoid confusion with similar networks.
4. Close the Network Manager window and restart your computer to apply the changes.
5. After your system restarts, check if the Wi-Fi issue is fixed, and you should be able to access the internet through the correct Wi-Fi network.

Fix 4: Update Network Drivers

If your Ubuntu OS cannot detect your wireless network, your network drivers are probably missing.

You can fix your network drivers on Ubuntu using the ISO image without needing an internet connection.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Copy the Ubuntu ISO image into your home directory and rename it to Ubuntu.iso.
2. Launch the Ubuntu terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
3. In the terminal, type the following commands: sudo mkdir /media/cdrom then cd ~ finally sudo mount –o loop Ubuntu.iso /media/cdrom

4. Now Open “Software & Updates” from the dashboard or applications menu.
5. Click on the “Ubuntu Software” tab.
6. Check the box that says “Installable from CD-Rom/DVD.”
7. Enter your root password when prompted.
8. Click on the “Additional Drivers” tab.
9. Select the Wireless Network Adapter from the list.
10. Click on “Apply Changes” to install the new network drivers.
11. Reboot your PC to apply the changes.
12. After the reboot, verify if this resolves the issue with your network connectivity.

Fix 5: Install Module Drivers

Some Wi-Fi adapters might require additional kernel modules to function correctly. For this,

• Identify your Wi-Fi adapter’s model using the following command: lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net
• Search online for the required kernel modules for your Wi-Fi adapter model.
• Install the necessary kernel modules using the appropriate package manager.

Fix 6: Configuration DNS Server Settings

Sometimes, Ubuntu OS may have rare issues with DNS that can cause internet connection problems. This happens due to wrong DNS server settings or a full DNS cache.

To fix these issues and get your Wi-Fi working smoothly, follow these simple steps to configure the DNS settings on Ubuntu.

1. Open the Terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the command-line interface.
2. Check Network Devices: Type “nmcli d” to see available network devices.
3. Get DNS Information: Type “nmcli device show wlan1 | grep IP4.DNS” to find the DNS servers your system is using.
4. Test Connectivity: Type “Ping 8.8.8.8” to check if your system can reach the DNS server (Google Public DNS).
5. Open Network Manager: Right-click the Network Manager icon in the system tray or top panel.
6. Select Edit Connections: Choose “Edit Connections” to manage network settings.
7. Choose Wi-Fi Connection: Select your Wi-Fi network from the list.
8. Configure IPv4 Settings: Go to IPv4 settings for the chosen Wi-Fi connection.
9. Change Method to DHCP Addresses Only: Choose “DHCP Addresses Only” to manually set DNS servers.
10. Add DNS Servers: Add “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” as DNS servers.
11. Save and Close: Save the changes and close the network manager window.
12. Restart your Computer: Restart to apply the new DNS settings.

Solution 6: Network Manager Installation

Sometimes, there might be problems with the Network Manager responsible for managing your network connections on Ubuntu OS. This can result in issues with connecting to the internet or other network-related problems.

To fix these connectivity issues, you can follow these steps:

1. Install the Network Manager package: Use the following command in the terminal to install the Network Manager if it’s not already installed: sudo apt install network-manager

This command will prompt you to enter your password. Type it in, and the installation process will begin.

2. Restart the Network Manager service: After installing the Network Manager, use the following command to restart it and apply any changes made during the installation: sudo service network-manager restart

The Network Manager will stop and start again with the new changes.

Check your internet connection: Once the Network Manager has been installed and restarted, check if your internet connection is working.

Try opening a web page or using any internet-connected application to verify if the issue is resolved.

Here is a summary of the whole blog: