I just installed Ubuntu minimal with i3wm, but I can't figure out, how to connect it to the wireless network.

I already have installed network-manager package. Also I added exec --no-startup-id nm-applet to my ~/.config/i3 but apt-get cannot find network-manager-applet to install.

Im stuck here, what can I do?

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5 Answers

I use (and would recommend) nmtui, a curses based TUI that will allow you to edit and activate connections.

It should already be installed on your system, but if not, you can get it by running sudo apt install network-manager.

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You can use Network Manager's command line tool called nmcli.

1. Use nmcli dev wifi to locate the access point(AP) name.
2. Use nmcli device wifi connect APname password password

Use dmenu ($mod+d by default) and type gnome-control-center then Network → Wireless.

On some older Ubuntu versions you'll need to do unity-control-center instead.

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If you don't have NetworkManager, install it:

$: sudo apt -y install network-manager-gnome

Set up your connection:

$: nm-connection-editor

This way your connection will be persistent on restart.

I think the applet should be in the network-manager-gnome package. If you don't have it run:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-gnome

Also make sure the network manager service is running. You can check with:

systemctl list-units NetworkManager.service

If it's not loaded you should either start it with:

sudo systemctl start NetworkManager.service

or enable so it will also be there after restarting with:

sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager.service

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