This is the solution dsin@dsin-laptop:~$ sudo ifconfig wlan0 up [sudo] password for dsin: SIOCSIFFLAGS: Operation not possible due to RF-kill dsin@dsin-laptop:~$ rfkill list 0: phy0: Wireless LAN Soft blocked: yes Hard blocked: yes 1: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN Soft blocked: yes Hard blocked: no 2: hp-bluetooth: Bluetooth Soft blocked: yes Hard blocked: no dsin@dsin-laptop:~$ rfkill unblock all Thanks to winunixmax's webmaster for a very useful solution. I think the original post is for Fidora. It works with ubuntu as well :)