Getting a TP-Link USB Wi-Fi adapter working on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS isn’t always as plug-and-play as you’d hope. Newer versions of Ubuntu often drop in new kernels faster than driver maintainers can keep up, which means users of Realtek-based adapters (like many TP-Link models) may find themselves temporarily offline.
Fortunately, with the right drivers and a few terminal commands, you can quickly get your wireless adapter operational.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through installing and configuring drivers for TP-Link Wi-Fi adapters using two reliable GitHub repositories and Ubuntu’s build tools.
Prerequisites
Before diving into driver installation, make sure your system is up to date and has the necessary build tools.
sudo apt update -y
sudo apt install build-essential dkms git -y
This ensures you have everything needed to compile and install kernel modules.
Cloning and Building the Driver
There are two GitHub repositories known to work reliably with TP-Link Wi-Fi adapters using Realtek chipsets.
Option 1: aircrack-ng/rtl8812au
This repository supports many popular adapters and is updated fairly regularly. Run the following commands.
git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au.git
cd rtl8812au
make
sudo make install
sudo reboot
After rebooting, your Wi-Fi adapter should be recognized and ready for use.
Option 2: morrownr/8821au-20210708
If you have trouble with the aircrack-ng version or if your chipset is specifically RTL8821AU, this repository is another reliable choice. Run the following commands.
git clone https://github.com/morrownr/8821au-20210708.git
cd 8821au-20210708
make
sudo make install
sudo reboot
Again, after rebooting, your adapter should be functional.
Verifying the Installation
To confirm that the driver is installed and your adapter is recognized:
ip a– Look for a new wireless interface likewlan0.iwconfig– Shows wireless interfaces and status.lsusb– Confirms the adapter is being detected at the hardware level.dmesg | grep usb– Useful for troubleshooting if the adapter isn’t working after install.
Conclusion
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS continues to push forward with kernel improvements, but that sometimes comes at the cost of breaking compatibility with proprietary or community-supported Wi-Fi drivers. Thankfully, both the aircrack-ng and morrownr GitHub repositories provide solid driver options for TP-Link USB Wi-Fi adapters.
If you’re running into issues with wireless connectivity, these steps should help you get back online quickly—without waiting for an official package or kernel patch.
