Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network Adapter not seeing wifi networks

I have the Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n USB Wireless Network Adapter and i can tell it’s working by being able to setup a hotspot but it won’t scan for any wireless networks.
Output of inxi Nazy

Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: f000 bus-ID: 2a:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network Adapter type: USB
    driver: r8188eu bus-ID: 1-2.1:4 chip-ID: 0bda:8179 class-ID: 0000
    serial: <filter>

Hello,

Read from here on Wifi Slows to 0kbps periodically - #2 by Mirdarthos

Also, but i might be wrong, probably try a different kernel?
If you go the DKMS route, make sure you install the linux headers for your installed/running kernels/kernel. Use this command for that:

sudo pacman -S $(pacman -Qsq "^linux" | grep "^linux[0-9]*[-rt]*$" | awk '{print $1"-headers"}' ORS=' ')

Thanks for the response, but the linux headers didn’t work nor did the wifi drivers either. When I install any of the wifi drivers, the hotspot option in Networks didn’t even show up.

Output of inxi -Nazy

Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: f000 bus-ID: 2a:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network Adapter type: USB
    driver: N/A bus-ID: 1-2.1:4 chip-ID: 0bda:8179 class-ID: 0000
    serial: <filter>

post output what exactly you have installed:
what kernels:
mhwd-kernel -li
what headers:
pacman -Qs headers
what drivers:
pacman -Qs dkms

I very vaguely recall there was some kind of issue with this driver, although the possibility does exist, and is actually quite good that I might be mistaken.

Nevertheless, looking in the AUR provides a more specific driver:

$ pamac search pacs 8411
[...]
8188eu-dkms                                                                                                                                                                                                                     v4.3.0.8_13968-16       AUR
Driver for Realtek RTL8188EUS (RTL8188EUS, RTL8188ETV) WLAN

So install it with:

pamac build 8188eu-dkms

Reboot and see if it helps! I hope it does!

mhwd-kernel -li

Currently running: 5.18.17-1-MANJARO (linux518)
The following kernels are installed in your system:
   * linux515
   * linux518

pacman -Qs headers

local/acl 2.3.1-2
    Access control list utilities, libraries and headers
local/libcups 1:2.4.2-3
    The CUPS Printing System - client libraries and headers
local/linux-api-headers 5.18.15-1
    Kernel headers sanitized for use in userspace
local/linux515-headers 5.15.60-1
    Header files and scripts for building modules for Linux515 kernel
local/linux518-headers 5.18.17-1
    Header files and scripts for building modules for Linux518 kernel
local/mingw-w64-headers 10.0.0-1 (mingw-w64-toolchain mingw-w64)
    MinGW-w64 headers for Windows
local/mingw-w64-winpthreads 10.0.0-1 (mingw-w64-toolchain mingw-w64)
    MinGW-w64 winpthreads library
local/opencl-headers 2:2022.05.18-1
    OpenCL (Open Computing Language) header files
local/pyopencl-headers 1:2022.1-1
    A complete, object-oriented language binding of OpenCL to Python
local/vulkan-headers 1:1.3.221-1 (vulkan-devel)
    Vulkan header files
local/xorgproto 2022.2-1
    combined X.Org X11 Protocol headers

pacman -Qs dkms

local/8188eu-dkms v4.3.0.8_13968-16
    Driver for Realtek RTL8188EUS (RTL8188EUS, RTL8188ETV) WLAN
local/dkms 3.0.6-1
    Dynamic Kernel Modules System

I have already installed the 8188eu-dkms driver, the r8169 is my ethernet controller, not my usb wifi add-on

Ah, well hmm…

This output still says the driver is N/A even though it is installed. :thinking:

Please provide the output for:

cat /etc/modprobe.d/*

Edit:

Does this happen on all installed kernels?

cat /etc/modprobe.d

blacklist 8188eu
##
## Generated by mhwd - Manjaro Hardware Detection
##
 
blacklist nouveau
blacklist ttm
blacklist drm_kms_helper
blacklist drm
blacklist r8188eu

I think I see the problem, the driver is being blocked

Indeed. Edit the file:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/mhwd-gpu.conf

And remove that line. Save, Ctrl+O, and exit, Ctrl+X.

Afterward, reboot and check.

Post the output of:

inxi --admin --verbosity=7 --filter --no-host --width

Again, please.

System:
  Kernel: 5.18.17-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.1.1
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.18-x86_64
    root=UUID=45eb26c1-85ca-4d97-9940-cbcd7ff04e49 rw apparmor=1
    security=apparmor iommu=pt
    resume=UUID=16fa4317-a427-4a14-9b40-e625866bc2b6 udev.log_priority=3
    amd_iommu=on iommu=pt video=efifb:off
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 5.24.6 tk: Qt v: 5.15.5 wm: kwin_x11 vt: 1 dm: SDDM
    Distro: Manjaro Linux base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Micro-Star product: MS-7C56 v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Micro-Star model: MPG B550 GAMING PLUS (MS-7C56) v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: 1.B2
    date: 08/04/2022
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Marathon Mouse/Performance Plus
    M705 serial: <filter> charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: discharging
Memory:
  RAM: total: 15.55 GiB used: 3.37 GiB (21.7%)
  RAM Report: permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges
    required.
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 2 gen: 3
    level: v3 built: 2020-22 process: TSMC n7 (7nm) family: 0x17 (23)
    model-id: 0x71 (113) stepping: 0 microcode: 0x8701021
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 6 tpc: 2 threads: 12 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 384 KiB desc: d-6x32 KiB; i-6x32 KiB L2: 3 MiB desc: 6x512 KiB
    L3: 32 MiB desc: 2x16 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2425 high: 3598 min/max: 2200/4208 boost: enabled
    scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq governor: schedutil cores: 1: 3598 2: 2052
    3: 2055 4: 2196 5: 2163 6: 2635 7: 2835 8: 2056 9: 2054 10: 2399 11: 2177
    12: 2887 bogomips: 86433
  Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm adx aes aperfmperf apic arat avic avx avx2 bmi1
    bmi2 bpext cat_l3 cdp_l3 clflush clflushopt clwb clzero cmov cmp_legacy
    constant_tsc cpb cpuid cqm cqm_llc cqm_mbm_local cqm_mbm_total
    cqm_occup_llc cr8_legacy cx16 cx8 de decodeassists extapic extd_apicid
    f16c flushbyasid fma fpu fsgsbase fxsr fxsr_opt ht hw_pstate ibpb ibs
    irperf lahf_lm lbrv lm mba mca mce misalignsse mmx mmxext monitor movbe
    msr mtrr mwaitx nonstop_tsc nopl npt nrip_save nx osvw overflow_recov pae
    pat pausefilter pclmulqdq pdpe1gb perfctr_core perfctr_llc perfctr_nb
    pfthreshold pge pni popcnt pse pse36 rapl rdpid rdpru rdrand rdseed rdt_a
    rdtscp rep_good sep sev sev_es sha_ni skinit smap smca smep ssbd sse sse2
    sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 stibp succor svm svm_lock syscall tce topoext
    tsc tsc_scale umip v_spec_ctrl v_vmsave_vmload vgif vmcb_clean vme vmmcall
    wbnoinvd wdt x2apic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveerptr xsaveopt xsaves
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed mitigation: untrained return thunk; SMT enabled with STIBP
    protection
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines, IBPB: conditional, STIBP:
    always-on, RSB filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU117 [GeForce GTX 1650] vendor: ZOTAC driver: nvidia
    v: 515.65.01 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 515.xx+ status: current
    (as of 2022-08) arch: Turing code: TUxxx process: TSMC 12nm built: 2018-22
    pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 2b:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1f82
    class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: WCM_USB WEB CAM type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 3-1.2:5 chip-ID: 1c3f:2002 class-ID: 0102
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.4 compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X:
    loaded: nvidia gpu: nvidia display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 5760x1080 s-dpi: 92 s-size: 1590x301mm (62.60x11.85")
    s-diag: 1618mm (63.71")
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: center res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 94
    size: 521x293mm (20.51x11.54") diag: 598mm (23.53") modes: N/A
  Monitor-2: DVI-D-0 pos: primary,left res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 92
    size: 531x299mm (20.91x11.77") diag: 609mm (23.99") modes: N/A
  Monitor-3: HDMI-0 pos: primary,right res: 1920x1080 hz: 75 dpi: 102
    size: 480x270mm (18.9x10.63") diag: 551mm (21.68") modes: N/A
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA
    515.65.01 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA vendor: ZOTAC driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 3-1.2:5
    v: kernel chip-ID: 1c3f:2002 pcie: gen: 3 class-ID: 0102 speed: 8 GT/s
    lanes: 16 bus-ID: 2b:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10fa class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 2d:00.4 chip-ID: 1022:1487 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: WCM_USB WEB CAM type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.18.17-1-MANJARO running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 16.1 running: no
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.56 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: f000 bus-ID: 2a:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp42s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network Adapter type: USB
    driver: r8188eu bus-ID: 1-2.1:4 chip-ID: 0bda:8179 class-ID: 0000
    serial: <filter>
  IF: wlp2s0f0u2u1 state: down mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: virbr0 state: down mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> scope: global broadcast: <filter>
  WAN IP: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Cambridge Silicon Radio Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode) type: USB
    driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-2.2:6 chip-ID: 0a12:0001 class-ID: e001
  Report: rfkill ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: see --recommends
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Message: No RAID data found.
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.29 TiB used: 704.21 GiB (30.1%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Kingston model: SA400S37240G
    size: 223.57 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 0102 scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM008-2FR102
    size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> rev: 0001 scheme: MBR
  ID-3: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Samsung model: MZNLN128HAHQ-000H1
    size: 119.24 GiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 4H3Q scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 type: USB vendor: Generic model: N/A
    size: 119.15 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A
    serial: <filter> rev: 1.11 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
  ID-5: /dev/sde maj-min: 8:64 type: USB vendor: Lexar model: USB Flash
    Drive size: 14.91 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: SSD
    serial: <filter> rev: 1100 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
  Message: No optical or floppy data found.
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 206.1 GiB size: 201.81 GiB (97.92%) used: 158.17 GiB
    (78.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 maj-min: 8:2 label: N/A
    uuid: 45eb26c1-85ca-4d97-9940-cbcd7ff04e49
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%) used: 288 KiB
    (0.1%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1 label: NO_LABEL
    uuid: C94C-480D
  ID-3: /mnt/NVME_Drive raw-size: 119.24 GiB size: 119.24 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 107.01 GiB (89.7%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sdc1 maj-min: 8:33
    label: NVME_Drive uuid: 0ee9dec5-c0d7-41e1-98da-77bce6903dae
  ID-4: /mnt/New_Media raw-size: 1.8 TiB size: 1.77 TiB (98.37%) used: 438.32
    GiB (24.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb3 maj-min: 8:19 label: New_Media
    uuid: f1d7ed3c-4439-4a30-a35f-d809a1ba1552
  ID-5: /run/media/gcars06/0123-4567 raw-size: 119.13 GiB size: 119.13 GiB
    (100.00%) used: 586.5 MiB (0.5%) fs: exfat dev: /dev/sdd1 maj-min: 8:49
    label: N/A uuid: 0123-4567
  ID-6: /run/media/gcars06/E756-EC94 raw-size: 512 MiB size: 511 MiB
    (99.80%) used: 5.3 MiB (1.0%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sdb2 maj-min: 8:18
    label: N/A uuid: E756-EC94
  ID-7: /run/media/gcars06/E756-EC941 raw-size: 512 MiB size: 511 MiB
    (99.80%) used: 5.3 MiB (1.0%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sdb1 maj-min: 8:17
    label: N/A uuid: E756-EC94
  ID-8: /run/media/gcars06/USB raw-size: 14.9 GiB size: 14.9 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 129 MiB (0.8%) fs: ntfs dev: /dev/sde1 maj-min: 8:65 label: USB
    uuid: 5B81ED4D3FBEF8CD
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 60 (default) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 17.17 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/sda3 maj-min: 8:3 label: swap
    uuid: 16fa4317-a427-4a14-9b40-e625866bc2b6
Unmounted:
  Message: No unmounted partitions found.
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 10 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-2: 1-2:2 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 05e3:0608 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-2.1:4 info: Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network
    Adapter type: Network driver: r8188eu interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s power: 500mA chip-ID: 0bda:8179 class-ID: 0000
    serial: <filter>
  Device-2: 1-2.2:6 info: Cambridge Silicon Radio Bluetooth Dongle (HCI
    mode) type: Bluetooth driver: btusb interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 0a12:0001 class-ID: e001
  Device-3: 1-5:3 info: Logitech Unifying Receiver type: Keyboard,Mouse,HID
    driver: logitech-djreceiver,usbhid interfaces: 3 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s
    power: 98mA chip-ID: 046d:c52b class-ID: 0300
  Device-4: 1-7:5 info: Micro Star MYSTIC LIGHT type: HID
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 1 rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s
    power: 500mA chip-ID: 1462:7c56 class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
  Device-5: 1-9:7 info: Lexar Media LJDTT16G [JumpDrive 16GB]
    type: Mass Storage driver: usb-storage interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s power: 200mA chip-ID: 05dc:a81d class-ID: 0806
    serial: <filter>
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0003 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 3-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 4 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 3-1:2 info: Realtek RTS5411 Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 0bda:5411 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 3-1.1:4 info: GEMBIRD MicroSD Card Reader/Writer
    type: Mass Storage driver: usb-storage interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s power: 150mA chip-ID: 1908:0226 class-ID: 0806
  Device-2: 3-1.2:5 info: WCM_USB WEB CAM type: Video,Audio
    driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo interfaces: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 1c3f:2002 class-ID: 0102
  Device-3: 3-3:3 info: Holtek Gaming keyboard type: Keyboard,HID
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 4 rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 04d9:a1cd class-ID: 0300
  Hub-6: 4-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0003 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-7: 4-1:2 info: Realtek Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s
    chip-ID: 0bda:0411 class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 42.9 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 36 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 50%
Info:
  Processes: 402 Uptime: 1m wakeups: 2 Init: systemd v: 251 default: graphical
  tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.1.1 clang: 14.0.6 Packages: 1866
  pm: pacman pkgs: 1850 libs: 520 tools: pamac,paru,yay pm: flatpak pkgs: 11
  pm: snap pkgs: 5 Shell: Zsh v: 5.9 default: Bash v: 5.1.16
  running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.21

I have to go to school, I will try to continue this when I get back

Well, the driver does seem to be loaded, now. So in theory it should work fine.

When I checked the pc before I left, I still couldn’t scan for wifi networks

Then check if it’s blocked:

rfkill

And if it it, unblock it with:

rfkill unblock wlan

Hope it helps!

The only thing listed is my bluetooth, not my wlan before and after I ran both commands

ID TYPE      DEVICE      SOFT      HARD
 0 bluetooth hci0   unblocked unblocked

so remove all of the blacklisted entries:
blacklist r8188eu
blacklist 8188eu
uninstall the driver:
pamac remove 8188eu-dkms
reboot and provide output from:
inxi -xN

inxi -xN

Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: kernel port: f000 bus-ID: 2a:00.0
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network Adapter type: USB
    driver: r8188eu bus-ID: 1-2.1:4

good now provide output from:
lsmod | grep r8188eu

r8188eu               417792  0
libarc4                16384  1 r8188eu

good so blacklist it again:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
put there this line:
blacklist r8188eu
press ctrl+x to save it;
then install a different driver:
pamac build 8188eu-aircrack-dkms-git
reboot and select the 5.15 kernel in grub