No wi-fi connection when booting via USB

[luchovolke]

Hi everyone! Some artist from the internet here. I've been wanting for a while to migrate from Microslop, and I wanted to try Kubuntu (a friend installed it on their puter, and I went with it), so I made a bootable USB to try it. The thing is: I can't connect to wi-fi, and I don't know if that's a driver's issue, a Kubuntu issue or a me issue (?). Simply: the network list is empty.
The patient is an Asus VivoBook 14, currently running Windows 11. No parts have been changed whatsoever; it's practically the same as how I got it from the store some years ago.
[Edit Jan 24 2026] I booted Kubuntu 25.10 with Plasma 6. I just downloaded it mere days ago, so it's the latest version.

Thank you in advance for the help!

[Snowhog]

Welcome to KFN.

What version of Kubuntu?

[luchovolke]

Kubuntu 25.10 with Plasma 6. I just downloaded it mere days ago, so it's the latest version.

[Snowhog]

AI Overview

Many ASUS Vivobook 14 models, particularly those with MediaTek Wi-Fi adapters (like the MT7902), often lack native Linux kernel support, requiring manual driver installation or an external USB Wi-Fi adapter. If Wi-Fi fails on Ubuntu 25.10, users frequently must manually install the rtw89 driver for Realtek cards or compatible Mediatek drivers.

Steps to Fix Wi-Fi on ASUS Vivobook in Ubuntu:

• Check Drivers: Open the "Additional Drivers" menu in Ubuntu to see if proprietary drivers are available to be enabled.
• Use USB Tethering: Connect your phone via USB and enable USB tethering for internet access to download necessary drivers.
• Install Drivers: For Realtek/MediaTek, you may need to clone and build drivers from git repositories, such as rtw89.
• Update Kernel: Newer kernels (like 6.10+ in Ubuntu 25.10) may improve compatibility, but firmware might still be missing.

If the Wi-Fi card is too new (e.g., specific MediaTek models), you might need to use a USB Wi-Fi adapter until drivers are added to the Linux kernel.