Fix Wi-Fi for Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 on Ubuntu 18.04---GPT

Certainly! Here's a step-by-step guide you can document on your blog to help you easily set up the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 on your ThinkPad when reinstalling Ubuntu 18.04.

How to Fix Wi-Fi for Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 on Ubuntu 18.04

If you reinstall Ubuntu 18.04 on a ThinkPad with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 card, follow these steps to get the Wi-Fi working:

Step 1: Install Required Build Tools and Headers

You need the correct build tools to install the Wi-Fi drivers.

1. Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and run:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) git
   

Step 2: Download and Install the Latest Wi-Fi Firmware

The Intel AX201 chipset requires specific firmware that isn't included in Ubuntu 18.04 by default.

1. Download the required firmware file:

   wget https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/plain/iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode
   

2. Move the downloaded file to the system firmware directory:

   sudo mv iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode /lib/firmware/
   

3. Set the correct permissions for the firmware:

   sudo chmod 644 /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-so-a0-hr-b0-89.ucode
   

Step 3: Download and Install the Backported iwlwifi Driver

You'll need to backport the latest iwlwifi driver for your Wi-Fi card.

1. Clone the backport repository:

   git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/iwlwifi/backport-iwlwifi.git
   

2. Navigate to the cloned directory:

   cd backport-iwlwifi
   

3. Build and install the driver:

   make defconfig-iwlwifi-public
   make -j4
   sudo make install
   

Step 4: Load the Wi-Fi Driver

Now, load the newly installed driver and ensure it works.

1. Unload any existing iwlwifi module:

   sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi
   

2. Load the new module:

   sudo modprobe iwlwifi
   

Step 5: Reboot the System

Reboot your system to apply the changes:

sudo reboot

Step 6: Verify Wi-Fi is Working

After rebooting:

1. Check that the Wi-Fi interface is active:

   iwconfig
   

   You should see a wireless interface like wlp0s20f3.

2. Check available Wi-Fi networks:

   nmcli device wifi list
   

3. If needed, connect to a network:

   nmcli device wifi connect <SSID> password <Wi-Fi password>
   

Conclusion

By following these steps, you?ll get your Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 card working on Ubuntu 18.04 after a fresh installation. Keep this guide handy for future re-installations!

This guide should help you get Wi-Fi working without any issues in the future!