Activation of Network Connection failed on Ubuntu 20.04

In summary, the speaker has been experiencing sporadic WiFi disconnections on their Ubuntu 20.04 laptop for several months. Despite changing WiFi providers and routers, the issue persists. When the disconnection occurs, the available networks can still be seen, but the system is unable to reconnect. Restarting the network-manager has not proven to be a solution, and the only way to fix the problem is to restart the laptop. The speaker is frustrated with this inconvenience, especially when working with multiple applications. They have searched for solutions online but have not found any that work. They are unsure of the source of the problem and are wondering if there are any log files that could help identify it. They are also looking for alternative solutions to restarting the laptop
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Wrichik Basu

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I am facing this issue since some months on my laptop running Ubuntu 20.04. The WiFi disconnects suddenly and cannot reconnect, and an error message is shown in the Notification saying "Activation of Network Connection failed." This is not a problem with the router because just a few days back, I changed our WiFi provider, and they installed a new router, but I faced the problem today once again. Moreover, when this occurs, I can still connect and access the internet on the same WiFi network on my phone.

Note that when the WiFi disconnects, I can still see all the available WiFi networks, but the system can't connect.

The issue occurs arbitrarily now and then, over both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network. I have tried to restart the network-manager using sudo service network-manager restart, but it doesn't help. The only way to solve the problem is to restart the laptop. That is very irritating for me because I am often working with a number of applications open simultaneously like Android Studio, MATLAB, Texmaker and so on (and Chrome), and restarting the system means I will have to re-open them all over again. (Generally, I do not shut down my laptop; I suspend it overnight and wake it up in the morning.)

Upon searching, I found a number of websites like this one, but none of the solutions really worked (other than restarting). To be honest, I am not sure where exactly the problem is occurring. Are there any log files that I can check to find out why the problem is occurring?
 
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  • #2
Also, is there any other way to solve this issue than restarting the laptop? Any help is appreciated.
 

1. What does "Activation of Network Connection failed" mean on Ubuntu 20.04?

When you see this error message on Ubuntu 20.04, it means that your computer was not able to establish a connection to the network. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as an incorrect network configuration, network hardware issues, or a problem with the network itself.

2. How do I fix the "Activation of Network Connection failed" error on Ubuntu 20.04?

The steps to fix this error may vary depending on the cause. Some possible solutions include checking your network settings, restarting your network devices, or troubleshooting your network hardware. You may also need to update your network drivers or reinstall your network adapter. If the issue persists, you may need to seek further assistance from a technical support team.

3. Can a VPN or proxy cause the "Activation of Network Connection failed" error on Ubuntu 20.04?

Yes, a VPN or proxy can sometimes interfere with network connections on Ubuntu 20.04. If you have recently installed or configured a VPN or proxy, try disabling it to see if that resolves the issue. If the error disappears after disabling the VPN or proxy, you may need to adjust your settings or seek further assistance from the provider.

4. Can a recent system update cause the "Activation of Network Connection failed" error on Ubuntu 20.04?

It is possible that a recent system update may have caused the error, especially if you did not experience any connection issues before the update. If this is the case, you can try rolling back the update or waiting for a new update that may fix the issue. You can also check for any known issues or bugs related to the update that may be causing the error.

5. What should I do if none of the suggested solutions fix the "Activation of Network Connection failed" error on Ubuntu 20.04?

If you have tried all the suggested solutions and the error persists, there may be a deeper underlying issue with your network or system. In this case, it is recommended to seek help from a technical support team or consult online forums for further assistance. They may be able to provide more specific and advanced troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.

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