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WiFi disabled by RF-kill? [SOLVED]

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 3:07 pm
by JASpup

Using an old version of Tor in 32Xenial I lost wifi.

I rebooted into Tahr & took this pic in Android which I'm using now.

Wlan0 is still hard blocked.

Does this have a common fix?


Re: WiFi disabled by RF-kill?

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 3:51 pm
by dimkr

Check the BIOS settings, it's probably disabled.

I have a laptop with a BIOS bug - sometimes, the WiFi interface gets randomly enabled or disabled.

Alternatively, check if you have a Fn key combination that disables WiFi (Fn + the key with an antenna on it).


Re: WiFi disabled by RF-kill?

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 4:04 pm
by rcrsn51

"Hard blocked" means a hardware-related problem.

Is this a laptop? Remove the battery and press the power button to fully discharge it. Replace the battery and try again.


Re: WiFi disabled by RF-kill?

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 5:01 pm
by CaptGeorge
rcrsn51 wrote: Sat Aug 14, 2021 4:04 pm

"Hard blocked" means a hardware-related problem.

Is this a laptop? Remove the battery and press the power button to fully discharge it. Replace the battery and try again.

Thanks, rcrsn51. This is the kind of stuff I like to know!


Re: WiFi disabled by RF-kill?

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 5:11 pm
by Flash

I googled rf-kill Linux and found a ton of information.


Re: WiFi disabled by RF-kill?

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 6:43 pm
by TerryH

The laptop if it doesn't have a switch, probably uses a Fn key to control the hard block.

If wifi previously worked you may have inadvertently switched it off.


Re: WiFi disabled by RF-kill?

Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2021 12:54 am
by JASpup
dimkr wrote: Sat Aug 14, 2021 3:51 pm

Alternatively, check if you have a Fn key combination that disables WiFi (Fn + the key with an antenna on it).

Tor froze the desktop & I started trying keyboard shortcuts to pull up a terminal window.

Nailed it.