Fix for: Activation of network connection failed

Tutorials & Guides
1

After a recent software update to my 17.3 version of Zorin Pro, I lost my connection to the internet. The error message was "Activation of network connection failed".

The advice that I got from Zorin Support helped me to fix the problem. I'm sharing it with you now, in the hope that it may dig you out of a similar situation.

Here is what they told me:

  1. Open the Terminal: You can do this by searching for "Terminal" in the application menu or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

  2. Check Network Interfaces: First, let's see if your network interfaces are recognised. Run the following command:

    ip a

    Look for your Ethernet interface (usually named eth0, enpXsY, or similar). If you see it listed, note its name.

  3. Restart Network Manager: Sometimes, simply restarting the Network Manager can resolve connectivity issues. Run:

    sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

  4. Check for Available Networks: After restarting the Network Manager, check if your system can see the network:

    nmcli device status

    This will show the status of your network devices. Look for your Ethernet device and see if it is listed as "connected" or "disconnected."

  5. Release and Renew IP Address: If your Ethernet interface is recognized but not connected, you can try releasing and renewing the IP address:

    sudo dhclient -r
sudo dhclient

  6. Check DNS Settings: If you are connected but still cannot access the internet, check your DNS settings. You can edit the DNS settings by running:

    sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

    Add the following lines to use Google's DNS servers (if they are not already present):

    nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

    Save the file by pressing Ctrl+O, then Enter, and exit with Ctrl+X.

  7. Update and Upgrade Packages: Ensure that your system is fully updated. Run:

    sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

  8. Reboot Your System: After making these changes, reboot your computer:

    sudo reboot

    After rebooting, check if your network connection is working.

This advice worked for me. Try it out if you encountered a similar error message.

1 Like
2

Thank you for sharing, that will surely come in handy in the future.

I've moved the post to the Tutorials & Guides category, and also added a little bit of formatting on some of the terminal commands, since the forum supports basic markdown format.

1 Like