So, you finally installed Linux on your Mac.
It boots fast, looks clean, and you feel like a digital rebel.
Then reality hits:
- No Wi-Fi
- No sound
- Sleep mode? It just dies and never wakes up.
Welcome to the dark side of Mac + Linux compatibility.
But don’t panic. These three issues are fixable—and here’s how to handle them in 2025.
🔌 1. Wi-Fi Doesn’t Work (Thanks, Broadcom)
Apple loves Broadcom. Linux does not.
If your Mac has a Broadcom chip, chances are the kernel doesn’t recognize it by default.
💡 Solution:
First, identify the card:
lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net
If you see 14e4 in the output, you’re cursed with Broadcom.
🛠️ Fix:
For Ubuntu/Mint:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source
For Fedora:
sudo dnf install broadcom-wl
If that doesn’t work, consider:
- Using a USB Wi-Fi dongle temporarily
- Compiling the driver manually (if you’re brave)
And if none of that helps? Swap the Wi-Fi card. MacBook Pros from 2012–2015 allow it with minor surgery.
🔇 2. No Audio After Install
It’s like the system forgot it has speakers.
🧠 Diagnosis:
Check your sound card:
aplay -l
If ALSA recognizes it but still no sound:
- It’s likely muted by default
- PulseAudio or PipeWire isn’t routing properly
🔧 Fix:
Open terminal:
alsamixer
Unmute everything. Use M key.
Then:
sudo alsactl store
Still broken? Try installing/reinstalling PipeWire:
sudo apt install pipewire pipewire-pulse
systemctl --user restart pipewire
And if your Mac has a Cirrus Logic or Realtek chip, you may need to manually load the driver.
😴 3. Sleep Mode = Death Mode
Close the lid. Open it.
Black screen. No fans. System locked.
Yup, that’s a thing. Suspend/resume is inconsistent on many older Macs.
🔧 Fix Options:
- Use
uswsusp:
sudo apt install uswsusp
- Edit your sleep settings:
sudo nano /etc/systemd/sleep.conf
Set:
AllowSuspend=yes
AllowHibernation=no
- Disable sleep completely (if all else fails):
sudo systemctl mask sleep.target suspend.target hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target
Bonus: prevent accidental lid-close sleep in GNOME or XFCE power settings.
🧰 Bonus Tools
- tlp – Battery and power management
sudo apt install tlp
- fwupd – Firmware updates for supported hardware
sudo apt install fwupd
- inxi – Full system diagnostics
sudo apt install inxi
inxi -Fxx
Pro Tip: Don’t Panic
Linux is like dating someone smarter than you.
It can be frustrating, but once you figure out their quirks—it’s magic.
Fixing these three issues makes your Mac not just usable, but excellent as a daily driver.
Final Words
Yes, Macs are weird when you take away macOS.
But Linux gives you speed, privacy, customization—and you can actually fix things.
Get the Wi-Fi going, pump up the volume, and teach your laptop how to sleep like a pro.