Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS running from USB - WIFI adaptor not detected

Support and Help
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1

I’m very new to Ubuntu and trying to evaluate it before I install it on my PC.

I’ve downloaded Ubuntu 24.04.2LTS, created an ISO, and rebooted the PC.
After startup I was prompted to enter my language and keyboard and then asked to setup the network. Ubuntu did not recognise my USB network card. All the options were grayed and can only proceed with NO Network.

As a result, I cannot download any updates/drivers from the Ubuntu repository.

The USB network card works fine in Windows, so I’ve rulled out any BIOS or hardware issues.

Ubuntu Version:
24.04.2 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable):
Desktop

Problem Description:
WIFI USB is not detected

Relevant System Information:
Processor=AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core Processor, 3701 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS=American Megatrends International, LLC. A.I0, 20/03/2025
BIOS Mode=UEFI
MotherBoard=MAG B550 TOMAHAWK (MS-7C91)
Graphics card=NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
WIFI=Realtek RTL8811AU Wireless LAN 802.11ac USB 2.0 Network Adapter
Harddisk1=Samsung SSD 870 QVO 1TB
Harddisk2=GIGABYTE GP-GSM2NE3100TNTD

What I’ve Tried:
lsusb

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 1a86:8095 QinHeng Electronics USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 1a86:8095 QinHeng Electronics USB Hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0781:5567 SanDisk Corp. Cruzer Blade
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 1044:7a30 Chu Yuen Enterprise Co., Ltd USB-HID Device
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 04e8:a051 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd USBC Headset
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 0bda:0811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Realtek 8812AU/8821AU 802.11ac WLAN Adapter [USB Wireless Dual-Band Adapter 2.4/5Ghz]
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 1044:7a4d Chu Yuen Enterprise Co., Ltd Castor3
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 1a2c:4c5e China Resource Semico Co., Ltd USB Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 011: ID 0738:2221 Mad Catz, Inc. Saitek Pro Flight X-56 Rhino Stick
Bus 001 Device 012: ID 1462:7c91 Micro Star International MYSTIC LIGHT 
Bus 001 Device 013: ID 18a5:0302 Verbatim, Ltd Flash Drive
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 0738:a221 Mad Catz, Inc. Saitek Pro Flight X-56 Rhino Throttle
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1bcf:08a0 Sunplus Innovation Technology Inc. Gaming mouse [Philips SPK9304]
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub

sudo lshw -C network


  *-network                 
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
       logical name: enp4s0
       version: 15
       serial: 2c:f0:5d:cf:e8:b9
       capacity: 1Gbit/s
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
       configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=6.11.0-17-generic firmware=rtl8168h-2_0.0.2 02/26/15 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair
       resources: irq:34 ioport:e000(size=256) memory:fc604000-fc604fff memory:fc600000-fc603fff
  *-network
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller
       vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:2a:00.0
       logical name: enp42s0
       version: 04
       serial: 2c:f0:5d:cf:e8:b8
       capacity: 1Gbit/s
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
       configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=6.11.0-17-generic firmware=rtl8125b-2_0.0.2 07/13/20 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair
       resources: irq:36 ioport:d000(size=256) memory:fc500000-fc50ffff memory:fc510000-fc513fff
2

You will likely need the rtl8812au-dkms driver package (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rtl8812au) to make it work, there is no in-kernel driver for that card …

3

Thanks for the reply.

So I can’t install Ubuntu, because once installed I have no way of getting to https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rtl8812au

What are my options?

4

You seem to have two wired ethernet cards in that machine, connect one of them to a wired network and just do

sudo apt install rtl8812au-dkms

… or if you can not use wired networking, attach your phone and use USB tethering to share the mobile connection for the moment you need to install the package from the archive …

2 Likes
5

I have no way of using wired internet.
I like the idea of USB Tethering with my mobile. Can this be done when I’m booting from a USB iso, or do I have to install Ubuntu on my harddrive 1st?

6

I definitely know it works from the installed system, I personally never tried it from a live session, but I wouldn’t see why it could not …

7

I’ll give it a try now and report back…thanks again

1 Like
8

OK we have some progress.
Running sudo apt install rtl8812au-dkms resulted in errors.

I had to run this comamnd first sudo apt-get update
Then I ran your commend sudo apt install rtl8812au-dkms

At the end of the install, I was prompted to creat a UEFI password

Password
Password1920×1081 113 KB

Not sure why that is and what impact it will have on BIOS (if any)

At the end of the process, I still cannot see the WIFI adaptor in the network settings

Result
Result1920×1081 131 KB

I assume that I need to reboot my PC for teh change to take effect. If so, and because I’m running on USB this won’t work.

So my questions are

  1. What is that password that is needed and will it have any impact on my system or BIOS
  2. Am I correct that the reason I cannot see my wifi adaptor is because I need to restart my system? If not, does that mean I installed an incorrect driver?
9

Plug in an Ethernet cable to your router, just while you do the first update post-install. Then reboot and run the “Software & Drivers” tool, and install everything it offers.

Then your wifi should work and you can unplug again.

1 Like
10

I am following. New user with the same issue.

11

Not physically possible. Big house and the router is on a different floor. The USB Tethering suggested by @ogra works

13

Success… I finally managed to get the WIFI USB device working. Here is what I did

Downloaded this driver and followed the install process

Note: If you’re using Secure Boot, you’ll need to Enroll the MOK (Machine Owner Key) (see install instructions - step 5 i think