[SOLVED] Wifi option not visible on Ubuntu

Issue:

Option for switching on Wifi not visible in Settings

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Fix:

1. Enable USB Tethering on Phone and connect to internet

2. Reinstall Linux Firmware
   sudo apt install --reinstall linux-firmware

3. Reboot system
   sudo reboot

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Reason:

I had reinstalled kernel hoping it would fix GPU drivers.. but it seems that corrupted the wifi service. reinstalling linux-firmware package fixed it

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Attempts and Troubleshooting:

1. Checked if Network Manager service was running
   sudo systemctl status NetworkManager.service
   --> service running but no wifi detected

2. Force restarted NetworkManager service
   sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.service
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
   --> no changes

3. Enabling wifi radio through terminal
   nmcli radio wifi on
nmcli device wifi list
   error: no wifi device found

4. Checking wifi hardware
   lspci | grep -i wireless
   --> adapter detected in hardware

5. Checking if driver loaded
   lsmod | grep iwlwifi
   --> error: driver not loaded

6. Manually loading driver
   sudo modprobe iwlwifi
   --> failed to load

7. Checking firmware files
   ls /lib/firmware/iwlwifi-*
   --> files present but not loading

8. Updating system and reinstalling network-manager
   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install network-manager
   --> no changes but now which nmcli works