Android x86 Pie: No Wi-Fi connection Although On

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AnonymouSW

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Jun 25, 2020, 9:29:04 PM6/25/20
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Recently, I have just downloaded Android x86 version 9 on my Mac. I wanted to run Android software with it. 

Well, that never happened because there was no Wi-Fi connection. In reality, it does detect that I can connect to Wi-Fi, but it does not list down all the Wi-Fi connections and I only see that it is attempting to look for Wi-Fi connections. It just keeps on loading and loading on the Wi-Fi selection page, and the details regarding my identity to the Wi-Fi is blank compared to that in the "About Tablet" page. On the other hand, Wi-Fi connections are detected when I boot up in the disk selection mode and macOS 10.15 in my Mac in the same place. The only way I can install apps for now is through an SD card—but I think with a Wi-Fi connection, it would be more convenient. 

I've seen a post regarding this, but it does seem very outdated and it is not straight to the point—it goes back to 2009. That was more than a decade ago!

Going back to my question, how do I actually fix undetected Wi-Fi in Android x86 Pie when my Wi-Fi adapter is connected and on in my Mac? Is that actually an issue with the OS?

Thanks. 

AnonymouSW

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Jun 25, 2020, 9:32:43 PM6/25/20
to Android-x86
By the way, I've been using Pheonix OS which was a fork of Android x86. It runs using Android x86 version 7 and the Wi-Fi connection is working. However, I do not want Pheonix OS anymore, and it now looks like that in Android x86 version 9, there is a problem with the Wi-Fi connection service. 

Prajna Sariputra

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Jun 25, 2020, 9:46:08 PM6/25/20
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It would be good to know what Mac model it is exactly at the very least, or even better what the WiFi chip is. Some logs would also be helpful, like dmesg for one.

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Huy Minh Bui

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Jun 26, 2020, 4:48:23 AM6/26/20
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If my guess is right, your Mac is using a Broadcom wifi chip. I compiled the new broadcom wl external wifi in my kernel and gave it for some people to try and they have the same problem with it.

Can turn on, but can't search anything.


Vào lúc 08:32:43 UTC+7 ngày Thứ Sáu, 26 tháng 6, 2020, AnonymouSW đã viết:

AnonymouSW

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Jul 1, 2020, 5:33:37 AM7/1/20
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Sorry, I accidentally unsubscribed from here. It took me some while to rejoin. 

Going back to the point, my Wi-Fi connection is on, but it does not detect Wi-Fi networks. It just keeps on scanning. By the way, I am using a MacBook 7,2. 

Wi-Fi connections work in Phoenix OS which is a fork of the project but not in the project itself (version 9). 

Thanks. 


evansste

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Jul 5, 2020, 12:57:48 AM7/5/20
to Android-x86
I have run into a similar issue when trying to run Android-x86.  When it gets to the Wi-Fi page, and starts looking for wireless networks, it just sets there.

I'm beginning to think that this issue has something to do with whether or not your Wi-Fi hardware is compatible with Android-x86.  I'm running Android-x86 on my desktop with a Wi-Fi dongle.

I searched this issue, online, and came across the following post:


It's an old post, but it talks about compatible Wi-Fi cards.  If you read it, you'll notice that only one compatible Wi-Fi device was suggested.  Unfortunately, that Wi-Fi dongle is obsolete, and now hard to get.

Prajna Sariputra may be onto something.  If you posted details concerning your Wi-Fi hardware, it may be easier for someone to help.

I'd love to try a USB Wi-Fi dongle, that is known to be compatible with Android-x86.  That would allow me to verify that it's a hardware compatibility issue.  It could potentially pinpoint your issue, as well.  However, finding a list of known compatible Wi-Fi devices, is tricky.  I haven't been able to find a list, after extensively searching online.

AnonymouSW

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Feb 22, 2021, 5:03:57 AM2/22/21
to Android-x86
Good news! I have got some good news upon research (and a little bit of bad news). 

  1. I found out that Android-x86 is partially compatible with Realtek Wi-Fi cards. I just plugged in one and managed to connect to a network. However, it will disconnect after few minutes and then will retry to get an IP address (and gets stuck there), which is something I do not experience when I use that Wi-Fi adapter in Windows. 
  2. Also, some open-source Linux distributions have a copy of the Broadcomm driver. One such OS that contains the driver is Ubuntu; I think you must copy the driver and related Mac drivers from there to the Android port. 

Guan Zhang

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Feb 23, 2021, 7:11:09 PM2/23/21
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Hi I'm curious if you're still using Android-x86 on your MacBook 7,2 and if so did you follow some guides to install it, thanks for any info in advance.

Daniel Cheung

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Feb 24, 2021, 12:05:54 AM2/24/21
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You have to find a USB dongle that's compatible with Linux Kernel 4.19 or whatever kernel version the release is using. This Reddit post might help you narrow down which dongle to buy.


If you're using RTL8723BS then the staging driver doesn't work. It sometimes doesn't work at all or connects and disconnects and then refuses to connect. Search the forum as I got help compiling the driver and there are some instructions on how to compile it. You may not be able just copy and paste the driver because it may not be compiled to the right kernel version. Even I had trouble with the same major kernel version but the minor version number was different and it wouldn't load.

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crw

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Feb 24, 2021, 4:32:18 AM2/24/21
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You can also use USB tethering from your phone

AnonymouSW

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Mar 1, 2021, 11:39:09 PM3/1/21
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I agree, but I hope the developers would have it pre-compiled so that it would be ready to go. 

AnonymouSW

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Mar 1, 2021, 11:42:28 PM3/1/21
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I am no longer using Android x86 on that specific MacBook as I had to remove all partitions and upgrade it to macOS Big Sur. I had to share it with a friend. 

Anyway, if my memory is right, you basically install it like how you would install this OS in any laptop, but the boot switcher is [alt] and you will need to set a non-Apple file system on a new partition through Disk Utility in order to help you distinguish where to install it. 
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