Troubleshooting Linux for Beginners — No Command Line Needed!

You don’t need to touch the command line. Everything below is click-only, written for Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Zorin OS.

Who this is for

• Windows users trying Linux for the first time (or dual-booting)
• People who just want their Wi-Fi, sound, and USB drives to work—without learning commands
• Anyone who likes clear, step-by-step fixes with plain language

Quick “try this first” checklist

1. Restart the PC (Linux re-detects hardware on boot).
2. Check physical toggles (Wi-Fi/Fn key, airplane mode).
3. Try another port/cable (USB/HDMI).
4. Unplug Bluetooth devices, then reconnect.
5. Update via “Software Updater” (no terminal).

1) Wi-Fi not showing or won’t connect

Step-by-step (GUI only)

1. Click the network/Wi-Fi icon (top-right or bottom-right).
2. Open Settings → Network → Wi-Fi and make sure Wi-Fi is On.
3. Wait a few seconds; your SSID (network name) should appear.
4. Select the SSID → Enter your Wi-Fi password → Connect.
5. If you see “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found”:
   • Temporarily connect with Ethernet (a cable) and restart.
   • Many adapters get detected after a first update + reboot.

Pro tips

• Check airplane mode isn’t enabled.
• Some laptops have a Fn+F2-style Wi-Fi toggle—enable it.
• If only your network fails, reboot the router and try a phone hotspot to rule out router issues.

Optional (advanced): If the adapter still won’t appear after a cabled update + reboot, your model may need a vendor driver. (That’s for the “advanced/command” post.)

2) Can’t type correctly / keyboard layout issues

Even in English-only setups this crops up after first boot.

Fix layout / input method

1. Open Settings → Keyboard (or Region & Language).
2. Under Input Sources, click + Add and select the layout you actually use (e.g., English (US), English (UK)).
3. Remove the wrong one (select it → – Remove).
4. Test typing in a text editor.

Toggle tip: If you added more than one layout, use the panel icon (usually “EN”) or Super+Space to switch.

3) No sound / wrong speaker selected

Pick the right output device

1. Open Settings → Sound.
2. Under Output, click each option in turn:
   • Speakers (Internal Audio)
   • HDMI / DisplayPort (if you plugged a monitor/TV)
   • Your Bluetooth headset
3. Unmute and raise volume.
4. If you use HDMI, some monitors claim audio by default—switch back to Speakers if you want the laptop audio.

Bluetooth audio won’t connect or cuts out

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Remove (forget) the headset → Pair it again.
3. For multi-device headsets, make sure they’re not still connected to your phone/another PC.

Optional (advanced): If output options look wrong after pairing, installing a simple mixer like PulseAudio Volume Control helps—but keep that for the advanced guide.

4) USB flash drives / external HDD won’t open

Make it appear in the file manager

1. Re-insert the drive and wait 5–10 seconds.
2. Open Files (file manager) → look at the left sidebar for “USB Drive” or the drive’s label. Click to open.
3. If nothing appears, try a different USB port or a different cable (for HDDs).
4. Still nothing? Restart, then check again in Files.

Good to know

• Modern Ubuntu/Mint/Zorin read NTFS and exFAT out of the box.
• If Windows shut down with Fast Startup or hibernation, Linux may refuse to mount the drive. Fully shut down Windows (disable Fast Startup) and try again.

Safely remove: In Files, right-click the drive → Eject before unplugging.

5) Bluetooth mouse/keyboard stutters or won’t pair

1. Remove the device from Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Put the device into pairing mode (hold the button until LED blinks).
3. Pair again from the list; confirm/enter the code if prompted.
4. If it still lags, move USB 3.0 drives away from the Bluetooth dongle (they can interfere).
5. For desktops, a USB extension to bring the dongle closer to the mouse/keyboard helps a lot.

6) External display issues (HDMI/USB-C)

1. Plug the cable firmly on both ends; try a different port/cable.
2. Open Settings → Displays.
3. Click Detect Displays.
4. Choose Mirror or Join Displays, set the resolution/refresh rate, and Apply.
5. If audio follows the monitor but you want laptop speakers, go back to Settings → Sound → Output and choose Speakers (Internal).

7) Dual-boot: Linux won’t start / Windows always boots

When both are installed, Windows updates can sometimes jump to the top of the boot order.

Fix the boot order (no commands)

1. Reboot and tap your PC’s BIOS/UEFI key (often F2, F10, Del, or Esc).
2. Open Boot / Startup settings.
3. Put ubuntu (or “Linux/GRUB”) above “Windows Boot Manager”.
4. Save & Exit (usually F10).
5. On next boot, you should see the Linux menu (GRUB) letting you choose Linux or Windows.

Tip: If you don’t see Linux at all, boot your USB install media, choose Try Ubuntu, and use its recovery tools to repair the bootloader (that’s still GUI-driven).

8) Time is wrong after rebooting into Windows

Linux uses UTC internally; Windows uses local time by default. That mismatch causes clock drift in dual-boot.

Easiest workaround

• In Windows, open Date & Time → Set time automatically ON → Sync now.
• In Linux, open Settings → Date & Time → Automatic Date & Time ON.
• If the issue persists, pick one OS to be the “time boss” and always sync after switching.

(There’s an advanced fix to make Windows use UTC, or Linux use local time; we keep it GUI-only here.)

9) Updates & drivers (without the Terminal)

You can keep everything healthy by using built-in applets:

• Software Updater (Ubuntu/Mint): runs automatically; you can also launch it from the app menu.
• Driver Manager (Mint/Zorin): auto-detects proprietary drivers (graphics/Wi-Fi). Open it, let it scan, and apply recommended drivers.
• Additional Drivers (Ubuntu, under Software & Updates): similar flow—select the recommended option and Apply Changes.

Rule of thumb: Install the recommended driver → Restart.

Troubleshooting quick table (print-friendly)

Keep calm: 90% of fixes are just clicks + a restart

Modern Linux desktops are far more forgiving than they used to be. If you can open Settings, you can fix most first-day problems.
When you’re ready to dig deeper, you can jump to the advanced/command edition for power-user tricks.

💡 Looking for more tips? Check out our full list of Windows Help Guides.

タグ: Beginners, Wi-Fi, Dual-Boot, Linux, HDMI, Bluetooth, No Terminal, USB, troubleshooting, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Sound