Ubuntu can't detect wifi networks on macbookpro 13.3

Question

I'm new to Ubuntu and Linux in general and I'm not sure how to go about setting up my wifi. It doesn't detect any networks.

I'm using a late-2013 13.3" macbookpro with retina display, so it doesn't come with an ethernet port. I used this installation guide to dual boot Mac OSx and Ubuntu 14.04.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro11-1/Saucy

I have a second computer that runs windows 7 that I'm using to research this and I want to avoid purchasing an ethernet adapter if possible.

I also did not install/download any of the updates as a result.

Solution 1

Please run:

lspci -nn | grep 0280

The pipe symbol | is on the right side of my US keyboard on the same key with '\'. Is this your device?

Broadcom Corporation BCM4360 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [14e4:43a0] (rev 03)

If so, then bcmwl-kernel-source is correct for your device. If you still have the install DVD or USB, then you can find it and its prerequisite there. Navigate to pool > restricted > b > bcmwl and drag and drop the deb file to your desktop. Now navigate to pool > main > d > dkms and drag and drop dkms to your desktop. Now install both with:

cd ~/Desktop
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Load the driver:

sudo modprobe wl

Your wireless should now be working.

If your device is not 14e4:43a0, tell us what it actually is and we'll proceed.

Solution 2

Possible Solution Copied from Installing Broadcom Wireless Drivers

• Uninstall the bcmwl-kernel-source package by issuing the following command on a terminal:

  sudo apt-get remove bcmwl-kernel-source
  

• make sure that the firmware-b43-installer and the b43-fwcutter packages are installed (of course you will need internet by others means):

  sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer b43-fwcutter
  

• type into terminal:

  cat /etc/modprobe.d/* | egrep 'bcm'
  

  (you may want to copy this) and see if the term 'blacklist bcm43xx' is there

• if it is, type cd /etc/modprobe.d/ and then sudo gedit blacklist.conf

  put a # in front of the line: blacklist bcm43xx

  then save the file (I was getting error messages in the terminal about not being able to save, but it actually did save properly).

• reboot

After I did the above the wireless had to be unblocked by rfkill: How to unblock something listed in rfkill?

Solution 3

Please make sure you buy a ETHERNET adapter to connect your mac to the internet. Then do the fallow steps bellow to make the WI-FI work...

After spending the entire weekend on trying to get the wifi to work on my mac-book air, I finally installed and got the WI-fi working by just typing on the terminal sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source and after type sudo modprobe wl to load the file.... Hope that works for you...

Comments

[user272776]

I tried to follow the guide that I used to install ubuntu with and it said to use sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source to install broadcom's driver and i get Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done E: Unable to locate package bcmwl-kernel-source I get a similar response when I tried the first step you listed. is it safe to assume any attempt to sudo apt-get install ... will fail (since most of the solutions from that thread require that)? Is there no other way to get around this than get an ethernet adapter? Thanks!!

[Back.Slash]

you were trying to install bcwl-kernel-source using apt-get, now you are removing bcwl-kernel-source using apt-get so you can try doing this as lot of users have faced problem with Broadcomm Wireless Modules. So i would say give it a shot but again its your wish

[chili555]

@Back.Slash-- There is no module named bcm43x; why un-blacklist it? Is it bcwl or bcmwl?

[user272776]

So, I finally got my wifi up and running. I gave in and purchased an ethernet adapter. I gained access to the internet and tried sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source again and I still received a message saying it was unable to locate package. I found the package on ubuntuupdates.org/package/core/trusty/restricted/base/… and downloaded the 64-bit deb package. I tried the code again, and it worked this time. If I had tried the solution @chili555 had posted, I"d probably get the same result, since I had to download the package first.

[user272776]

Mmm, I don't know much about this, but I did get my wifi to work on my 11,1 macbook with 14.04 trusty tahr with no problems at all. I don't think it's a driver issue.

[hadi]

Amazing solution @chili555. Thanks. I can confirm that this solution also works for 14e4:4331 (rev 02)

[Sigur]

Thanks so much!! If I could I would give you one million dollar. You saved my day.

[Jose Vazhappilly]

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer b43-fwcutter was enough to get me going after a clean install of 14.04.2.

[Cesar]

sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source works like a charm (MacBook Pro reina late 2013, using thunderbolt eth adapter)

[Rob]

This does not work for me. Tried all of the above apart from apt install because I don't have USB/thunderbolt Ethernet. Ubuntu 14.04.2 on macbook pro late 2013.

[chili555]

@Rob Please start your own new question and add the result of: lspci -nn | grep 0280.Thanks.

[Michael Blankenship]

@user272776 Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS on a MacBook Pro 2010 that "sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source" worked like a charm (combined with editing my interfaces file with the wifi SSID/key). Thanks.

[thenakulchawla]

@chili555 am having the same problem. My driver is a little different - 03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM43602 802.11ac Wireless LAN SoC [14e4:43ba] (rev 01). When I do sudo modprobe wl , it goes on forever. Any ideas, what i should do? Thanks.

[chili555]

@nakulchawla09 Please start your own new question. I'll be happy to assist. I doubt that bcmwl-kernel-source is correct for this device.

[thenakulchawla]

I did start my own question. Yes, bcmwl-kernel-source wasn't correct for my system. After removing that, my wireless did start working. Thanks.