TP-Link T6E (Broadcom BCM4352) Wi-Fi not working on Ubuntu

Ubuntu
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I have researched how to disable Secure Boot to see if it solves the problem and I have found the necessary commands. I thought that I should double-check with you guys what steps I should take after disabling Secure Boot.

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Hi, @appsy :slight_smile:

You wrote:

Hmmā€¦ Maybe itā€™s worth trying to reboot the computer and see if, after the reboot, the ā€œwireless connectionā€ option / wi-fi icon appears. Or have you rebooted already?

If you have rebooted already and the wi-fi icon still does not appear, you can try to run again the following command:

 sudo apt install broadcom-sta-dkms/noble-proposed

ā€¦ and please paste the output.

Having said that, I did find several ā€œhorror storiesā€ about getting Broadcom wi-fi adapters to work in Ubuntu 24.04. The following article, for instance, is a nice read, and tells a way to get another Broadcom wi-fi adapter model to work (BCM43142), but it involves ā€œgoing backā€ to the Linux Kernel 6.14 - and, by looking at https://ubuntu.com/kernel/lifecycle , I think that kernel version has stopped received security updates in January 2026 (which is obviously not good):

ā€œThree Days. One Missing Wi-Fi Icon. Here Is What Actually Fixed It.ā€ | by Philip Ondieki | Feb, 2026 | Medium
https://medium.com/@philipbarongo30/three-days-one-missing-wi-fi-icon-here-is-what-actually-fixed-it-71dded6bef35

If you decide to follow a more complicated path like the one that is described in that article, I strongly suggest that you first make good backups of the files from your computer that you consider important, to some external media (e.g: USB connected external Hard Drive), because itā€™s possible that you get to a state where booting fails.

I hope this helps.

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65

Reboot didnā€™t fix it and I ran the recommended command:
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo apt install broadcom-sta-dkms/noble-proposed
[sudo] password for appsy:
Reading package listsā€¦ Done
Building dependency treeā€¦ Done
Reading state informationā€¦ Done
Package broadcom-sta-dkms is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source

E: Release ā€˜noble-proposedā€™ for ā€˜broadcom-sta-dkmsā€™ was not found

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It looks like I will have to follow Phillip Odieckiā€™s suggestions. Just the same, it seems odd that the rsults from you command indicated that broadcom package did not exist.

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Well, I followed Phillip Odieckiā€™s instructions carefully and still had failure. I wasnā€™t even able to revert back to kernel 6.14! Is there another way to revert back to kernel 6.14

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Hi, @appsy :slight_smile:

You wrote:

Ah, sorry. I should have mentioned that, to run again that command ( sudo apt install broadcom-sta-dkms/noble-proposed ), you have to first go again to the ā€œSoftware & Updates ā€ window, go again to the ā€œDeveloper Options ā€ and click the ā€œPre-released updates (noble-proposed)ā€ checkbox to enable it / check it (in case you have unchecked it).

So, why do I say that you should uncheck that checkbox, when everything (in this case, the ā€œwi-fiā€) is working? Because, as I understand it, ā€œ-proposedā€ is a testing / staging area for software updates, and you donā€™t want to get (other) ā€œunstableā€ (for lack of a better word) software packages (unless you require some ā€œunstableā€ specific package / packages to fix a specific problem, as is the case of this ā€œwi-fiā€ issue) because that may cause additional problems. See, for instance, the following Blog post by Alan Pope (ā€œpopeyā€):

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Hi again, @appsy :slight_smile:

You wrote:

Actually, given that youā€™ve mentioned, in an earlier reply, that @Jakarta2ā€™s (which I assume is the same person as ā€œMarcelStevanoā€) instructions worked for you (ā€œTP-Link T6E (Broadcom BCM4352) Wi-Fi not working on Ubuntu - #33 by appsyā€), in that same computer of yours, before you reinstalled Ubuntu (ā€œTP-Link T6E (Broadcom BCM4352) Wi-Fi not working on Ubuntu - #41 by appsyā€), I think it may be best to follow them. Having said that, I noticed that those instructions had an error in the first command. So the first command that had / has an error was the following:

sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source broadcom
sta-dkms

That should actually be:

sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source broadcom-sta-dkms

So, you may want to try to do the following (using your Ethernet connection):

1. - Disable again / uncheck the ā€œPre-released updates (noble-proposed)ā€ checkbox (in the ā€œSoftware & Updates ā€ window ā†’ ā€œDeveloper Optionsā€ tab)

2. - Optional, but recommended: do a backup of your important files (Documents, Pictures, etcā€¦), to some external media (e.g.: to an USB connected hard drive), in case some of the following steps go wrong!

3. - Remove broken driver installation

Run the following commands:

sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source broadcom-sta-dkms

sudo rm -f /var/crash/broadcom-sta-dkms*.crash

sudo apt autoremove

4.. - Install the fixed driver (compatible with newer kernels)

Download the updated package that includes fixes for newer kernel versions:

cd /tmp

wget https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/restricted/b/broadcom-sta/broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2_all.deb

sudo dpkg -i broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2_all.deb

5. - Reboot

sudo reboot

If, after you reboot, the ā€œwi-fiā€ icon appears, I would say that the problem should probably be solved. In that case, try to set up your wi-fi connection and test it.

I hope this helps :slight_smile:

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70

Hi @ricmarques, I tried the corrected commands again and the result is the same. No wifi. What are your thoughts on reverting back to kernel 6.14 please? For reference, this is the output I get after those commands.
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source broadcom-sta-dkms
[sudo] password for appsy:
Reading package listsā€¦ Done
Building dependency treeā€¦ Done
Reading state informationā€¦ Done
Package ā€˜bcmwl-kernel-sourceā€™ is not installed, so not removed
Package ā€˜broadcom-sta-dkmsā€™ is not installed, so not removed
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 12 not upgraded.
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source broadcom-sta-dkms
Reading package listsā€¦ Done
Building dependency treeā€¦ Done
Reading state informationā€¦ Done
Package ā€˜bcmwl-kernel-sourceā€™ is not installed, so not removed
Package ā€˜broadcom-sta-dkmsā€™ is not installed, so not removed
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 12 not upgraded.
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo rm -f /var/crash/broadcom-sta-dkms*.crash
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo apt autoremove
Reading package listsā€¦ Done
Building dependency treeā€¦ Done
Reading state informationā€¦ Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 12 not upgraded.
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:~$ cd /tmp
appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:/tmp$ sudo dpkg -i broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2_all.deb
Selecting previously unselected package broadcom-sta-dkms.
(Reading database ā€¦ 181957 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2_all.deb ā€¦
Unpacking broadcom-sta-dkms (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2) ā€¦
Setting up broadcom-sta-dkms (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2) ā€¦
Loading new broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271 DKMS filesā€¦
Building for 6.17.0-20-generic
Building initial module for 6.17.0-20-generic
Done.

wl.ko.zst:
Running module version sanity check.

  • Original module
    • No original module exists within this kernel
  • Installation
    • Installing to /lib/modules/6.17.0-20-generic/updates/dkms/
      depmodā€¦
      appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:/tmp$ sudo dpkg -i broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2_all.deb
      (Reading database ā€¦ 182023 files and directories currently installed.)
      Preparing to unpack broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2_all.deb ā€¦
      Module broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271 for kernel 6.17.0-20-generic (x86_64).
      Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

wl.ko.zst:

  • Uninstallation
    • Deleting from: /lib/modules/6.17.0-20-generic/updates/dkms/
  • Original module
    • No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
    • Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
      depmodā€¦
      Deleting module broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271 completely from the DKMS tree.
      Unpacking broadcom-sta-dkms (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2) over (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2) ā€¦
      Setting up broadcom-sta-dkms (6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.2) ā€¦
      Loading new broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271 DKMS filesā€¦
      Building for 6.17.0-20-generic
      Building initial module for 6.17.0-20-generic
      Done.

wl.ko.zst:
Running module version sanity check.

  • Original module
    • No original module exists within this kernel
  • Installation
    • Installing to /lib/modules/6.17.0-20-generic/updates/dkms/
      depmodā€¦
      appsy@appsy-System-Product-Name:/tmp$
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71

Hello all, you can have a rest from my constant questions, etcetera, because I will be in Bali for the next 5 days aware from the problem PC. I am beginning to wonder if solving the WiFi problem is going to be an ongoing issue if it fails with subsequent kernel updates. I mentioned rolling back the kernel to 6.14 earlier but, I wonder if that is wise (from a security standpoint). My other thought is, should I dump the TPLink WiFi card and replace it with something else?

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72

Five days away from the problem will probably bring a fresh approach.

On the kernel rollback, I wouldnā€™t stay on 6.14 long term just for wifi. Youā€™d be missing security patches and eventually youā€™ll hit the same wall when something else forces you forward. Fine as a short-term workaround while you sort out a proper fix.

Honestly, Realtek chipsets have a long history of being a pain on Linux. An Intel card like the AX200 or AX210 (on Amazon or eBay) is basically plug and play, well supported in mainline, and you stop having to care about this every few months. Cheap too.

Depends on what youā€™d prefer. Have a good trip mate!

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Hi, @appsy :slight_smile:

No worries! I hope you have a great time in Bali. For what itā€™s worth, I totally agree with the following @hydn 's reply to you, that I believe addresses, very well, all the (very relevant) concerns that you wrote in your last post:

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Thanks guys, I will go shopping when I am back in Australia. I might have a look for one over here in Bali. Actually, we are in Sanur and it is a fantastic place, I could live here!

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75

I just looked it up online. It does look beautiful!

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Well, that was a very pleasant break in Sanur, now to get back to the nitty gritty of wifi access! I have looked at amazon ebay and even aliexpress and the the selection is extensive. Aliexpress has one with the card mounted on the bracket with a heat-sink attached whereas amazon and ebay have them with the card connected by cables to the mounting bracket. Is one any better than the other , please?

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Welcome back, hope Sanur was good! I was visiting my wifeā€™s family last Wednesday to Wednesday but no place fancy.

The cable-connected ones are usually laptop M.2 cards adapted for desktop use with antenna cables. Those cables can be a pain to route and cheap ones affect signal. The direct-mount card with the heatsink is the cleaner option for a desktop.

Of course, avoid Broadcom entirely at this point. Look for an Intel-based card (AX200, AX210, BE200). Realtek and MediaTek are hit or miss.

If you find one you like the look of, drop the link here and we can check the chipset before you buy. No guarantees, of course but have to provide input if you find it helpful.

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78

I know I am late in this game, but have you succeeded in getting your WiFi network to behave as desired?

Were you trying to get connected ā€¦

  • to a Printer ?
  • to a NAS ?
  • to another computer ?
  • to a Music Player ?
  • to speakers ?

The context is critical in choosing the approach to troubleshooting.


Stupid question: Is the TP Link T6E

  • in your computer ?

  • or in computer/device you are trying to connect with using your own WiFi ? If this latter case, please provide the report of the following commands:

sudo lspci -nn | grep '[Nn][Ee][Tt]'

sudo hardinfo2 -r -f text -t NETWORK -t PCI  | grep '[Nn][Ee][Tt]|[Ww][Ii][Ff][Ii]|[Ww][Ii][Rr][Ee][Ll][Ee][Ss][Ss]'
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79

I trying to get the PC to recognise the T6E wifi card.

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You might want to review my post about kernel ā€œquirksā€ for hardware issues. There might be something out there for you. Youā€™ll need the output of that lspci command I mentionned earlier to get you there.


Also, you might want to consider the advice reported by a search on Google for the following search string:

linux kernel quirk for fixing hardware wifi issue
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This supplier seems to have decent products reasonably priced. My modem is wifi 5 so as long as these cards are backward compatible either one could be suitable. I would be very pleased to have your thoughts Hayden.

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Hi Hayden, I was wondering if you had chance look at the wif cards that I uploaded, please?

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