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How to Enable NetworkManager in Arch Linux

If you’ve just installed Arch Linux and booted into your fresh system, you might notice that the familiar Wi-Fi icon is missing from your system tray. This is because NetworkManager, the service responsible for managing network connections, might not be running by default. Fortunately, getting it up and running is straightforward. Here’s how you can check its status and enable it.

Step 1: Verify NetworkManager is Installed

Before proceeding, ensure that NetworkManager is installed on your system. Run the following command:

pacman -Qi networkmanager

This command checks if NetworkManager is installed and provides details about its package. If the package is not found, you can install it using:

sudo pacman -S networkmanager

Step 2: Check NetworkManager’s Service Status

To determine whether NetworkManager is running, use:

systemctl status networkmanager.service

You might see an output similar to this:

● networkmanager.service - Network Manager
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/networkmanager.service; disabled; preset: disabled)
     Active: inactive (dead)
  • Loaded: Indicates that the service file is available.
  • Active: If it says “inactive (dead),” then the service is not currently running.
  • Enabled/Disabled: If “disabled,” the service does not start automatically on boot.

Step 3: Enable NetworkManager

To ensure NetworkManager starts automatically at boot, enable the service with:

sudo systemctl enable networkmanager.service

This creates the necessary symlinks so that the service starts with the system.

Step 4: Start the Service

Now, start the service immediately without needing to reboot:

sudo systemctl start networkmanager.service

Once started, you should see your Wi-Fi icon appear in the system tray (if you’re using a graphical environment like GNOME, KDE, or XFCE). You can now manage your connections via the GUI or the nmcli command-line tool.

Conclusion

With NetworkManager enabled and running, you’ll have a much smoother experience managing your network connections. Whether you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or setting up VPNs, NetworkManager simplifies the process significantly. If you still don’t see the Wi-Fi icon, ensure you have a network applet installed for your desktop environment.

Enjoy your Arch Linux setup with seamless networking!

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