How to Enable WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 Support on Ubuntu 22.04
Learn how to enable WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 support on Ubuntu Jammy 22.04 LTS with easy BIOS and driver setup steps for optimal wireless performance.
Enabling WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 on Ubuntu unlocks access to faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and improved network capacity. These latest wireless technologies use new frequency bands, including the 6 GHz spectrum, to deliver superior performance compared to previous WiFi standards.
To fully benefit from WiFi 6E/7 on Ubuntu Linux, it is essential to enable the correct BIOS flags like the DSM Flags. This ensures that your device’s firmware and driver can properly communicate with the hardware to activate these advanced features, preventing connection issues or limited bandwidth.
The Ubuntu users should also verify that their wireless drivers and firmware are updated and compatible with their WiFi 6E/7 adapters. Keeping your system updated guarantees optimal stability and security while leveraging the full potential of these next-generation wireless standards.
It’s important to understand the difference between Linux firmware and BIOS/UEFI firmware when enabling WiFi 6E/7. Linux firmware consists of software files loaded by the kernel to operate your wireless chipset.
Meanwhile, BIOS/UEFI firmware controls low-level hardware settings like enabling DSM flags. Keeping both updated ensures full compatibility and access to advanced WiFi features on your Ubuntu system.
Finally, as a basic requirement, always check whether your WiFi adapter is supported by Linux. If not natively supported, you may need to install the appropriate out-of-tree driver to enable full functionality of WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 features.
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1. Verify Linux Kernel and Driver Support
Ensure your Linux Kernel and Driver support reading 6E DSM flags from BIOS/UEFI. This support is available in recent kernel versions but varies depending on your device model and Linux distribution.
First, check if your system already has basic WiFi connectivity with:
nmcli dev status
If your WiFi device is listed as “connected” or “disconnected”, it means the driver is loaded. If it shows “unavailable”, a driver issue is likely.
In case of Issue try to check our Guide about How to Install Wi-fi Drivers on Linux!Then check your current Kernel version with:
uname -r
If needed, see: How to Upgrade Kernel Guide.
2. Updating Linux Firmware
How to Update Linux Firmware on Linux Desktop
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3. Update BIOS/UEFI Firmware
Download and install the latest BIOS/UEFI firmware from your device’s manufacturer. Firmware updates often include important ACPI _DSM flags necessary to enable full Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 support.
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