How do i get the broadcom bcm4360 wifi driver to work on my MacBook Air?

Ask Fedora
1

Hello! I need help getting the “Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4360 802.11ac Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter (rev 03)” wifi card working on my MacBook Air.

Starting from the latest update on a fresh install I have already tried installing the broadcom-wl and akmod-wl following this guide: How to Make Broadcom WiFi Modules Work in Fedora.

I had previously tried to fix this issue using disparate advice online, but that ended badly, so I just gave it a fresh install. No advice I could find online seems to help.

Here is an excerpt from journal that may provide context to people smarter than me:
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0268] policy: auto-activating connection ‘WIFI-5D54’ (8e67ef76-e1a3-4e9f-aa28-fb12edd71fe6)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0288] device (wlp3s0): Activation: starting connection ‘WIFI-5D54’ (8e67ef76-e1a3-4e9f-aa28-fb12edd71fe6)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0294] device (wlp3s0): state change: disconnected → prepare (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0304] device (wlp3s0): state change: prepare → config (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0309] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) access point ‘WIFI-5D54’ has security, but secrets are required.
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0311] device (wlp3s0): state change: config → need-auth (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0314] sup-iface[d7ad6c86c3c853e3,0,wlp3s0]: wps: type pbc start…
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0586] device (wlp3s0): state change: need-auth → prepare (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0595] device (wlp3s0): state change: prepare → config (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0599] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) connection ‘WIFI-5D54’ has security, and secrets exist. No new secre>
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0599] Config: added ‘ssid’ value ‘WIFI-5D54’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0600] Config: added ‘scan_ssid’ value ‘1’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0600] Config: added ‘bgscan’ value ‘simple:30:-70:86400’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0600] Config: added ‘key_mgmt’ value ‘SAE’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0600] Config: added ‘auth_alg’ value ‘OPEN’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0600] Config: added ‘psk’ value ‘’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0600] Config: added ‘ieee80211w’ value ‘2’
Nov 30 03:56:32 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496592.0653] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: disconnected → scanning
Nov 30 03:56:57 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496617.0569] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) association took too long, failing activation
Nov 30 03:56:57 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496617.0570] device (wlp3s0): state change: config → failed (reason ‘ssid-not-found’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:57 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496617.0579] device (wlp3s0): Activation: failed for connection ‘WIFI-5D54’
Nov 30 03:56:57 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496617.0583] device (wlp3s0): state change: failed → disconnected (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 03:56:57 fedora NetworkManager[955]: [1764496617.0667] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: scanning → disconnected

I’m more then willing to try another fresh install if that would help, as At the moment I plan to use this computer as a glorified youtube player for my tv, so I do not care if i need to give it another fresh install. Im using a wifi dongle to access wifi, and thats fine right now, but I plan to use this computer for school, and It will only be a matter of time before I smash it into something on accident

2

Does your model have the T2 security chip? See https://wiki.t2linux.org/guides/wifi-bluetooth/.

3

No, I do not. I have a Apple MacBook Air “Core i5” 1.6 13" (Early 2015) model a1466 EMC 2925. I’m not sure if you need it, but heres a specs page for my exact model: MacBook Air "Core i5" 1.6 13" (Early 2015) Specs (Early 2015, MJVE2LL/A*, MacBookAir7,2, A1466, 2925): EveryMac.com

4

You need to install sudo dnf kernel-devel akmod-wl kmod-wl broadcom-wl . After that reboot and wait to finish because it may appear to hang for a minute. Just let it finish.

1 Like
5

I tried to install what you suggested, and it said everything was already installed. I assume this is because I followed the guide I linked in the original post, which It did not work. I’m totally willing to reinstall and follow your advice from a fresh install if you think that would work?

At this point the broadcom chip can recognize wifi networks, however it can not connect to them. it just gets stuck on “configuring interface”, but never actually connects. I posted the exact behaviour as reported by journal in the original post. Sorry for not being more clear on the situation.

6

OK That is different problem. Can you write witch version of fedora you install and dnf info wpa_suppliciant

7

I am on fedora 43 updated the latest version. Here is the result of running dnf info wpa_supplicant

hexite@fedora:~$ dnf info wpa_supplicant
Updating and loading repositories:
Repositories loaded.
Installed packages
Name : wpa_supplicant
Epoch : 1
Version : 2.11
Release : 7.fc43
Architecture : x86_64
Installed size : 6.3 MiB
Source : wpa_supplicant-2.11-7.fc43.src.rpm
From repository : d15e557246b143e68b4d7cf7c8078e9c
Summary : WPA/WPA2/IEEE 802.1X Supplicant
URL : Linux WPA Supplicant (IEEE 802.1X, WPA, WPA2, WPA3, RSN, IEEE 802.11i)
License : BSD-3-Clause
Description : wpa_supplicant is a WPA Supplicant for Linux, BSD and Windows with support
: for WPA and WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i / RSN). Supplicant is the IEEE 802.1X/WPA
: component that is used in the client stations. It implements key negotiation
: with a WPA Authenticator and it controls the roaming and IEEE 802.11
: authentication/association of the wlan driver.
Vendor : Fedora Project

8

I have an iMac14,2:

Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom BCM4360 802.11ac Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Apple driver: wl v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 03:00.0
    chip-ID: 14e4:43a0

WiFi “works for me” on a fresh install of F43. I have read that this WiFi configuration has problems with current standards. My WiFi is a 2017 vintage, so you may need to look at your WiFi network for logs.

9

Read workaround make sure with ip a you find your wifi name follow workaround after last update the wifi stopped displaying or connecting to wireless networks - Page 2

10

I just followed the workaround, and it does not work. My wifi still gets stuck on “configuring interface” for a few seconds before disconnecting. Here is a excerpt from journal that details what network manager is doing:

Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0611] policy: auto-activating connection ‘WIFI-5D54’ (d8359821-3c57-48f6-85b7-8d7e601236cd)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0618] device (wlp3s0): Activation: starting connection ‘WIFI-5D54’ (d8359821-3c57-48f6-85b7-8d7e601236cd)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0619] device (wlp3s0): state change: disconnected → prepare (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0623] device (wlp3s0): state change: prepare → config (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0631] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) access point ‘WIFI-5D54’ has security, but secrets are required.
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0631] device (wlp3s0): state change: config → need-auth (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0648] sup-iface[ffc5bb38425ce36e,0,wlp3s0]: wps: type pbc start…
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0961] device (wlp3s0): state change: need-auth → prepare (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0969] device (wlp3s0): state change: prepare → config (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0974] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) connection ‘WIFI-5D54’ has security, and secrets exist. No new secre>
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0978] Config: added ‘ssid’ value ‘WIFI-5D54’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0986] Config: added ‘scan_ssid’ value ‘1’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0986] Config: added ‘bgscan’ value ‘simple:30:-70:86400’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0986] Config: added ‘key_mgmt’ value ‘SAE’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0986] Config: added ‘auth_alg’ value ‘OPEN’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0986] Config: added ‘psk’ value ‘’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.0986] Config: added ‘ieee80211w’ value ‘2’
Nov 30 15:02:25 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536545.1024] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: disconnected → scanning
Nov 30 15:02:50 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536570.0612] device (wlp3s0): Activation: (wifi) association took too long, failing activation
Nov 30 15:02:50 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536570.0613] device (wlp3s0): state change: config → failed (reason ‘ssid-not-found’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:50 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536570.0620] device (wlp3s0): Activation: failed for connection ‘WIFI-5D54’
Nov 30 15:02:50 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536570.0623] device (wlp3s0): state change: failed → disconnected (reason ‘none’, managed-type: ‘full’)
Nov 30 15:02:50 fedora NetworkManager[951]: [1764536570.0641] device (wlp3s0): supplicant interface state: scanning → disconnected