Linux Troubleshooting

Common problems and their easy fixes — because everyone gets stuck sometimes

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Running into a problem on Linux can feel intimidating, but most issues have simple fixes. This guide covers the most common problems new Linux users encounter and walks you through the solutions step by step.

Golden rule of Linux troubleshooting: before trying anything complicated, restart your computer. It sounds cliché, but it genuinely fixes many issues, especially after installing updates or new drivers.

Network & Wi-Fi Problems

Wi-Fi Not Working After Installation

This is one of the most common issues, especially on laptops with Broadcom or Realtek Wi-Fi chips. The Wi-Fi driver may not be included by default.

Solution
  1. Connect your computer to the internet temporarily using an Ethernet cable
  2. Open Driver Manager (Linux Mint) or Additional Drivers (Ubuntu) from the application menu
  3. The system will detect your Wi-Fi hardware and suggest the appropriate driver
  4. Select the recommended driver and click Apply
  5. Restart your computer

If you don't have access to Ethernet, you can use your phone's USB tethering as a temporary internet connection.

Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting

Some Wi-Fi adapters have power management enabled by default, which causes intermittent disconnections.

Solution
# Check if power management is on
$ iwconfig 2>/dev/null | grep "Power Management"

# Disable power management temporarily
$ sudo iwconfig wlan0 power off

To make this permanent, create a configuration file or disable Wi-Fi power saving in your network manager settings.

Sound Problems

No Sound or Audio Output

If you have no sound after installing Linux, there are several things to check.

Solution
  1. Check the obvious: Make sure your volume isn't muted. Click the speaker icon in the system tray and check both the volume slider and the mute toggle.
  2. Check output device: Open Sound Settings and make sure the correct output device is selected (speakers vs. headphones vs. HDMI).
  3. Restart PulseAudio:
$ pulseaudio --kill
$ pulseaudio --start
  1. Install PipeWire (newer alternative to PulseAudio):
$ sudo apt install pipewire pipewire-audio-client-libraries
  1. Test with alsamixer: Open a terminal and run alsamixer. Make sure nothing is muted (MM means muted — press M to unmute).

Graphics & Display Problems

Screen Resolution is Wrong

If your screen looks stretched, too small, or is the wrong resolution after installation.

Solution
  1. Open Display Settings from Settings or System Settings
  2. Select your monitor and change the resolution to the recommended value
  3. If the recommended resolution isn't available, you may need to install graphics drivers (see below)

NVIDIA Graphics Not Working Properly

NVIDIA cards often need proprietary drivers for full performance, especially for gaming or video editing.

Solution
  1. Open Driver Manager (Linux Mint) or Additional Drivers (Ubuntu)
  2. You'll see options for NVIDIA drivers — select the latest recommended version (usually marked "proprietary, tested")
  3. Click Apply and wait for installation to complete
  4. Restart your computer

Alternatively, install via terminal:

$ ubuntu-drivers devices
$ sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Boot Problems

Computer Boots Into Windows Instead of Linux (Dual Boot)

After installing Linux alongside Windows, your computer might still boot straight into Windows.

Solution
  1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI (press F2, F12, Del, or Esc during startup — varies by manufacturer)
  2. Find the Boot Order section
  3. Move "Ubuntu" or "Linux" above "Windows Boot Manager"
  4. Save and exit (usually F10)
  5. Your computer should now show the GRUB menu where you can choose between Linux and Windows

System Won't Boot After Update

Occasionally, a kernel update can cause boot issues, especially with certain hardware.

Solution
  1. At the GRUB boot menu, select Advanced Options
  2. Choose an older kernel version from the list
  3. Once booted, you can remove the problematic kernel or wait for the next update to fix it

If you set up Timeshift backups, you can also restore a system snapshot from the recovery options.

Software Problems

"Unable to Locate Package" Error

This error appears when you try to install software that isn't in your current repositories.

Solution
# First, update your package list
$ sudo apt update

# Check for typos in the package name
$ apt search package-name

# If it's not in your repos, try Flatpak
$ flatpak search package-name

"Permission Denied" Errors

You get this when trying to access files or run commands that require higher privileges.

Solution
  • If you're running a system command, add sudo before it
  • If it's a script you want to run, make it executable first: chmod +x script.sh
  • If it's a file you own but can't access, check permissions with ls -la filename

"Broken Packages" or Dependency Errors

Sometimes package installations fail due to dependency conflicts.

Solution
# Fix broken packages
$ sudo apt --fix-broken install

# Clean package cache
$ sudo apt clean

# Update and try again
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

General Troubleshooting Tips

  • Read error messages carefully. Linux error messages are usually descriptive and tell you exactly what went wrong.
  • Search online. Copy the exact error message and paste it into a search engine. Chances are someone else has already solved it.
  • Check the forums. Your distro's official forums (Ubuntu Forums, Linux Mint Forums) are full of helpful people.
  • Use Timeshift. If your system was working before and broke after a change, Timeshift can roll back to a previous state.
  • Try a different kernel. If problems started after an update, boot with an older kernel from the GRUB menu.
  • Don't panic. Linux problems almost always have solutions. Take it step by step.

Compare: Linux vs Windows

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