WiFi does not show up under network settings

Suddenly, I seem to have lost the option to connect my desktop PC to the Internet via WiFi.

mwhd gives for the network controller:

> 0000:05:00.0 (0200:10ec:8168) Network controller Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  NAME               VERSION          FREEDRIVER           TYPE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         network-r8168            2016.04.20                true            PCI

ifconfig gives

enp5s0: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST>  mtu 1500
        inet 192.168.0.2  netmask 255.255.255.0  broadcast 192.168.0.255
        inet6 fe80::27d1:2966:2b75:e232  prefixlen 64  scopeid 0x20<link>
        ether d4:5d:64:46:16:17  txqueuelen 1000  (Ethernet)
        RX packets 2785  bytes 1518887 (1.4 MiB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 2828  bytes 886075 (865.3 KiB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 0 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0
        device interrupt 60  base 0x1000  

lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING>  mtu 65536
        inet 127.0.0.1  netmask 255.0.0.0
        inet6 ::1  prefixlen 128  scopeid 0x10<host>
        loop  txqueuelen 1000  (Local Loopback)
        RX packets 17  bytes 11104 (10.8 KiB)
        RX errors 0  dropped 0  overruns 0  frame 0
        TX packets 17  bytes 11104 (10.8 KiB)
        TX errors 0  dropped 0 overruns 0  carrier 0  collisions 0

The Settings Manager under Connections shows previously used WiFi network names but I am unable to activate them.

Something has moved from under my feet and I seek help to troubleshoot to a solution please.

I don’t know how mhwd works, but there is an option to it to list the available hardware.

mhwd -lh
or
mhwd --listhardware

You could also use inxi or lspci or lsusb to check for the presence of the wifi hardware.

If your wifi card doesn’t show up … perhaps it got electrically disconnected
Open the case and re-seat it.
Or perhaps it just gave out and no longer works?
It happens … rarely, but it does.

inxi -Fazy

mhwd --listhardware gives

> PCI devices:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          TYPE            BUS   CLASS  VENDOR  DEVICE   CONFIGS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Bridge   0000:02:07.0    0604    1022    43b4         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:08.0    0600    1022    1452         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.3    0600    1022    15eb         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:01.2    0604    1022    15d3         0
         Multimedia controller   0000:07:00.6    0403    1022    15e3         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.1    0600    1022    15e9         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:01.0    0600    1022    1452         0
         Serial bus controller   0000:07:00.4    0c03    1022    15e1         0
       Mass storage controller   0000:08:00.0    0106    1022    7901         0
                        Bridge   0000:01:00.2    0604    1022    43b3         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:14.3    0601    1022    790e         0
         Encryption controller   0000:07:00.2    1080    1022    15df         0
         Serial bus controller   0000:01:00.0    0c03    1022    43bc         0
                        Bridge   0000:02:06.0    0604    1022    43b4         0
            Display controller   0000:07:00.0    0300    1002    15d8         3
     Generic system peripheral   0000:00:00.2    0806    1022    15d1         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.6    0600    1022    15ee         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:00.0    0600    1022    15d0         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:08.1    0604    1022    15db         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.4    0600    1022    15ec         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.2    0600    1022    15ea         0
                        Bridge   0000:02:05.0    0604    1022    43b4         0
            Network controller   0000:05:00.0    0200    10ec    8168         1
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.0    0600    1022    15e8         0
         Serial bus controller   0000:07:00.3    0c03    1022    15e0         0
       Mass storage controller   0000:01:00.1    0106    1022    43b8         0
         Multimedia controller   0000:07:00.1    0403    1002    15de         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.7    0600    1022    15ef         0
         Serial bus controller   0000:00:14.0    0c05    1022    790b         0
                        Bridge   0000:02:04.0    0604    1022    43b4         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:08.2    0604    1022    15dc         0
                        Bridge   0000:00:18.5    0600    1022    15ed         0


> USB devices:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          TYPE            BUS   CLASS  VENDOR  DEVICE   CONFIGS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Keyboard        3-3:1.0   10800    045e    0750         0
                           Hub        6-0:1.0   10a00    1d6b    0003         0
                         Mouse        1-6:1.0   10503    046d    c52f         0
                           Hub        3-0:1.0   10a00    1d6b    0002         0
           Unclassified device        3-3:1.1    0000    045e    0750         0
                           Hub        4-0:1.0   10a00    1d6b    0003         0
                           Hub        1-0:1.0   10a00    1d6b    0002         0
           Unclassified device        1-6:1.1    0000    046d    c52f         0
                           Hub        5-0:1.0   10a00    1d6b    0002         0
                           Hub        2-0:1.0   10a00    1d6b    0003         0

So the Network Controller is a PCI device.

inxi -Fazy 

suggested by @cscs gives

System:
  Kernel: 6.4.6-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.1.1
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.4-x86_64
    root=UUID=08dcec6a-3100-41db-9705-afdd84060972 rw quiet apparmor=1
    security=apparmor udev.log_priority=3
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 5.27.6 tk: Qt v: 5.15.10 wm: kwin_x11 vt: 2 dm: SDDM
    Distro: Manjaro Linux base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: PRIME A320M-K v: Rev X.0x
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends v: 5409
    date: 01/07/2020
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Mouse B330/M330/M331
    serial: <filter> charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G with Radeon Vega Graphics bits: 64 type: MCP
    arch: Zen/Zen+ note: check gen: 1 level: v3 note: check built: 2019
    process: GF 12nm family: 0x17 (23) model-id: 0x18 (24) stepping: 1
    microcode: 0x8108109
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 384 KiB
    desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x64 KiB L2: 2 MiB desc: 4x512 KiB L3: 4 MiB
    desc: 1x4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1977 high: 3693 min/max: 1400/3600 boost: enabled
    scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq governor: schedutil cores: 1: 3693 2: 1400
    3: 1418 4: 1399 bogomips: 28756
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  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 disabled
  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:
    disabled, RSB filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Picasso/Raven 2 [Radeon Vega Series / Radeon Mobile Series]
    vendor: ASUSTeK driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: GCN-5 code: Vega
    process: GF 14nm built: 2017-20 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
    active: HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1 bus-ID: 07:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:15d8
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 49.0 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.8 with: Xwayland v: 23.1.2
    compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu unloaded: modesetting
    alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-A-0 model: BenQ GW2780 serial: <filter>
    built: 2020 res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2
    size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 23.0.4 renderer: AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics (raven
    LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.52 6.4.6-1-MANJARO) direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Raven/Raven2/Fenghuang HDMI/DP Audio
    vendor: ASUSTeK PRIME B450M-A driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3
    speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 07:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:15de class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK PRIME B450M-A
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 07:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.4.6-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 0.3.75 status: off with: pipewire-media-session
    status: active tools: pw-cli
  Server-3: PulseAudio v: 16.1 status: active with: 1: pulseaudio-alsa
    type: plugin 2: pulseaudio-jack type: module tools: pacat,pactl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: ASUSTeK PRIME B450M-A driver: r8168 v: 8.051.02-NAPI modules: r8169
    pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: f000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp5s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 344.68 GiB used: 188.03 GiB (54.6%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WDS120G2G0A-00JH30 size: 111.8 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0000
    scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Seagate model: WDC WDS250G2B0A
    size: 232.89 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 90WD scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 51.75 GiB size: 50.64 GiB (97.84%) used: 40.65 GiB (80.3%)
    fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3 maj-min: 8:3
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 6.4 MiB (2.1%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 116.44 GiB size: 114.06 GiB (97.95%)
    used: 66.33 GiB (58.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1 maj-min: 8:17
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 60 (default) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 8 GiB used: 1.02 GiB (12.8%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/sda2 maj-min: 8:2
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 49.6 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 49.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 223 Uptime: 8m wakeups: 2 Memory: total: 16 GiB note: est.
  available: 13.57 GiB used: 3.02 GiB (22.3%) Init: systemd v: 253
  default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 13.1.1 clang: 15.0.7
  Packages: 2187 pm: dpkg pkgs: 0 pm: pacman pkgs: 2184 libs: 397
  tools: pamac,trizen,yay pm: flatpak pkgs: 0 pm: snap pkgs: 3 Shell: Bash
  v: 5.1.16 running-in: yakuake inxi: 3.3.28

It appears that the Network device is indeed seen and assigned a bus ID.

Moreover,

lspci

gives

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Root Complex
00:00.2 IOMMU: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 IOMMU
00:01.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:01.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 PCIe GPP Bridge [6:0]
00:08.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:08.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Internal PCIe GPP Bridge 0 to Bus A
00:08.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Internal PCIe GPP Bridge 0 to Bus B
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SMBus Controller (rev 61)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH LPC Bridge (rev 51)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 0
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 3
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 5
00:18.6 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 6
00:18.7 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2 Device 24: Function 7
01:00.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 43bc (rev 02)
01:00.1 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 43b8 (rev 02)
01:00.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 43b3 (rev 02)
02:04.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
02:05.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
02:06.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
02:07.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 15)
07:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Picasso/Raven 2 [Radeon Vega Series / Radeon Vega Mobile Series] (rev c9)
07:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Raven/Raven2/Fenghuang HDMI/DP Audio Controller
07:00.2 Encryption controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) Platform Security Processor
07:00.3 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven USB 3.1
07:00.4 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven USB 3.1
07:00.6 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h/19h HD Audio Controller
08:00.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 61)

Could the recent kernel upgrade have made it necessary to install some firmware package?

There is only one Network device - the ethernet controller.

No wifi to be seen anywhere.

I very much doubt that a kernel update or even the change to a different kernel could result in the complete disappearance of a whole device.

Either it is broken or it got disconnected electrically.

Possibly missing firmware will not cause a device to become invisible, it will still be present but just not functional.
So: that is not (cannot be) the reason.

Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: ASUSTeK PRIME B450M-A driver: r8168 v: 8.051.02-NAPI modules: r8169
    pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: f000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp5s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
1 Like

Thank you @Nachlese

I am sorry that I have been rather obtuse. I confounded the Ethernet controller with the WiFi network adapter.

The WiFi adapter was an add-on USB dongle from TP-Link, plugged into a USB slot at the back of the PC. Pulling it out, dusting it, and re-inserting it solved the problem.

lsusb
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 045e:0750 Microsoft Corp. Wired Keyboard 600
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:8179 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188EUS 802.11n Wireless Network Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 046d:c52f Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hu

All is well: I can see my WiFi options now.

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