RTW88 WiFi Drivers for Android 🚀

Realtek RTW88 WiFi Driver Suite - Android Kernel Compatible

Pre-patched and ready to build for Android devices running Linux 4.x/5.x kernels

Features • Supported Hardware • Building • Installation • Loading Modules • Troubleshooting

---

📋 Overview

This repository contains the RTW88 WiFi driver suite from the Linux kernel mainline, specially patched and configured for Android devices. These drivers support modern Realtek WiFi chipsets with 5 GHz capability and multiple bus interfaces (SDIO, USB, PCI).

Why This Repository?

The upstream RTW88 drivers use newer kernel APIs that aren't always available in Android kernel trees. This repo provides:

• ✅ Ready-to-build drivers for Android kernels (4.x/5.x)
• ✅ Backward compatibility patches for older kernel APIs
• ✅ Complete SDIO/USB/PCI interface support
• ✅ Pre-configured Makefile for Android toolchains
• ✅ 25+ kernel modules for various Realtek chipsets

---

✨ Features

• 🌐 Dual-band WiFi (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
• 📡 802.11a/b/g/n/ac support
• 🔌 Multiple interfaces: SDIO, USB, PCI/PCIe
• 🎯 Monitor mode capable (depends on chipset)
• 🔧 DebugFS interface for advanced debugging
• 💡 LED control support
• 🐧 mac80211 wireless subsystem integration
• 📊 WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption support

---

🔧 Supported Hardware

Chipsets Supported

Chipset Family	Models	Interface Types
RTL8703	RTL8703B	SDIO
RTL8723	RTL8723CS, RTL8723D, RTL8723DS, RTL8723DU	SDIO, USB
RTL8812	RTL8812A, RTL8812AU	USB
RTL8814	RTL8814A, RTL8814AE, RTL8814AU	PCI, USB
RTL8821	RTL8821A, RTL8821AU, RTL8821C, RTL8821CE, RTL8821CS, RTL8821CU	PCI, SDIO, USB
RTL8822	RTL8822B, RTL8822BE, RTL8822BS, RTL8822BU, RTL8822C, RTL8822CE, RTL8822CS, RTL8822CU	PCI, SDIO, USB

Bus Interface Support

• SDIO - SD card interface (common in embedded/mobile devices)
• USB - USB WiFi adapters
• PCI/PCIe - PCI Express (desktop/laptop cards)

---

📦 What's Included

Kernel Modules (25 total)

Core Module

• rtw_core.ko - Main driver core (8.2 MB)

Bus Interfaces

• rtw_sdio.ko - SDIO interface support
• rtw_usb.ko - USB interface support
• rtw_pci.ko - PCI interface support

Chipset Drivers

All chipset-specific modules for RTL8703B, RTL8723 series, RTL8812/8814/8821/8822 series

---

🛠️ Building

Prerequisites

1. Android kernel source tree (configured and prepared)
2. ARM64 cross-compilation toolchain
3. Clang/LLVM (for modern Android kernels)
4. GCC cross-compiler (for linking)

Environment Setup

Export these environment variables (adjust paths to match your system):

export ARCH=arm64
export SUBARCH=arm64
export CC=~/toolchains/android_prebuilts_clang_host_linux-x86_clang-r416183b/bin/clang
export CLANG_TRIPLE=aarch64-linux-gnu-
export CROSS_COMPILE=~/toolchains/aarch64-linux-android-4.9/bin/aarch64-linux-android-
export HOSTCC=gcc-12
export HOSTCXX=g++-12

Build Configuration

Edit the Makefile to match your environment:

# Kernel configuration
KVER ?= $(shell uname -r)
KSRC ?= /path/to/your/android/kernel/source
KBUILD_OUTPUT ?= $(KSRC)/out

# Android paths (for installation)
ANDROID_PRODUCT_OUT ?= /path/to/android/out/target/product/yourdevice

Compile Drivers

# Clone this repository
git clone https://github.com/ShorterKing/RTW88-Android-Drivers.git
cd RTW88-Android-Drivers

# Show current configuration
make config

# Build all modules
make -j$(nproc)

# Check built modules
ls -lh *.ko

Build Targets

make              # Build all modules
make clean        # Clean build artifacts
make prepare      # Prepare kernel headers
make config       # Show current configuration
make install      # Install to Android product output
make install_fw   # Install firmware files
make install_device # Push directly to device via ADB

---

📲 Installation

Method 1: Manual Installation (Recommended)

# Enable root and remount system
adb root
adb remount

# Create directories
adb shell mkdir -p /vendor/lib/modules
adb shell mkdir -p /vendor/firmware/rtw88

# Push modules
adb push *.ko /vendor/lib/modules/

# Push firmware (if available)
adb push firmware/*.bin /vendor/firmware/rtw88/

# Reboot device
adb reboot

Method 2: Automated Installation

# Install directly to connected device
make install_device

Method 3: Include in ROM Build

Copy modules to your Android build tree:

# Copy to vendor modules
cp *.ko $ANDROID_PRODUCT_OUT/vendor/lib/modules/

# Copy firmware
cp firmware/*.bin $ANDROID_PRODUCT_OUT/vendor/firmware/rtw88/

---

🔌 Loading Modules

⚠️ CRITICAL: Module Loading Order

RTW88 modules MUST be loaded in the correct dependency order. Loading modules out of order will result in insmod: failed to load: No such file or directory errors, even though the file exists. This misleading error actually means "missing dependency symbols".

Understanding Module Dependencies

Each RTW88 module has dependencies that must be loaded first. You can check any module's dependencies with:

modinfo /path/to/module.ko | grep depends

Example:

# Check what rtw_8822bu depends on
modinfo /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822bu.ko | grep depends
# Output: depends: rtw_usb,rtw_8822b

# This means you must load rtw_core, rtw_usb, and rtw_8822b BEFORE rtw_8822bu

Module Dependency Hierarchy

rtw_core.ko                    # Base module (ALWAYS LOAD FIRST!)
├── rtw_usb.ko                 # USB bus interface
├── rtw_sdio.ko                # SDIO bus interface
├── rtw_pci.ko                 # PCI bus interface
├── rtw_8723x.ko               # Common code for 8723 series
├── rtw_88xxa.ko               # Common code for 88xx series
├── rtw_8703b.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core, rtw_8723x
│   └── rtw_8723cs.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8703b, rtw_sdio
├── rtw_8723d.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core, rtw_8723x
│   ├── rtw_8723ds.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8723d, rtw_sdio
│   └── rtw_8723du.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8723d, rtw_usb
├── rtw_8812a.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core, rtw_88xxa
│   └── rtw_8812au.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8812a, rtw_usb
├── rtw_8814a.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core, rtw_88xxa
│   └── rtw_8814au.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8814a, rtw_usb
├── rtw_8821a.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core, rtw_88xxa
│   └── rtw_8821au.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8821a, rtw_usb
├── rtw_8821c.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core
│   ├── rtw_8821cs.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8821c, rtw_sdio
│   └── rtw_8821cu.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8821c, rtw_usb
├── rtw_8822b.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core
│   ├── rtw_8822bs.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8822b, rtw_sdio
│   └── rtw_8822bu.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8822b, rtw_usb
└── rtw_8822c.ko               # Depends on: rtw_core
    ├── rtw_8822cs.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8822c, rtw_sdio
    └── rtw_8822cu.ko          # Depends on: rtw_8822c, rtw_usb

Standard Loading Sequence

cd /vendor/lib/modules

# Step 1: Load core module (REQUIRED - must be first!)
insmod ./rtw_core.ko

# Step 2: Load bus interfaces
insmod ./rtw_sdio.ko   # For SDIO devices
insmod ./rtw_usb.ko    # For USB devices
# insmod ./rtw_pci.ko  # For PCI devices (if needed)

# Step 3: Load common code modules (if using related chipsets)
insmod ./rtw_8723x.ko  # Required for 8703B and 8723D series
insmod ./rtw_88xxa.ko  # Required for 8812/8814/8821A series

# Step 4: Load chipset base modules (for your specific hardware)
# Example for RTL8822BU (USB):
insmod ./rtw_8822b.ko   # Load base chipset module
insmod ./rtw_8822bu.ko  # Load USB interface module

# Example for RTL8821CU (USB):
insmod ./rtw_8821c.ko
insmod ./rtw_8821cu.ko

# Example for RTL8723DS (SDIO):
insmod ./rtw_8723x.ko   # Common code
insmod ./rtw_8723d.ko   # Chipset base
insmod ./rtw_8723ds.ko  # SDIO interface

Loading All Modules (Complete Script)

If you want to load support for all chipsets:

#!/system/bin/sh
# RTW88 Complete Module Loading Script

cd /vendor/lib/modules

echo "Loading RTW88 WiFi drivers..."

# Core module (MUST be first)
insmod ./rtw_core.ko || { echo "Failed to load rtw_core!"; exit 1; }

# Bus interfaces
insmod ./rtw_sdio.ko
insmod ./rtw_usb.ko
# insmod ./rtw_pci.ko  # Uncomment if PCI support needed

# Common code modules
insmod ./rtw_88xxa.ko
insmod ./rtw_8723x.ko

# Chipset base modules
insmod ./rtw_8703b.ko
insmod ./rtw_8723d.ko
insmod ./rtw_8812a.ko
insmod ./rtw_8814a.ko
insmod ./rtw_8821a.ko
insmod ./rtw_8821c.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822b.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822c.ko

# Interface-specific modules (SDIO)
insmod ./rtw_8723cs.ko
insmod ./rtw_8723ds.ko
insmod ./rtw_8821cs.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822bs.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822cs.ko

# Interface-specific modules (USB)
insmod ./rtw_8723du.ko
insmod ./rtw_8812au.ko
insmod ./rtw_8814au.ko
insmod ./rtw_8821au.ko
insmod ./rtw_8821cu.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822bu.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822cu.ko

echo "Modules loaded successfully!"
lsmod | grep rtw

Save this as /vendor/bin/load_rtw88.sh, make it executable with chmod +x, and run it.

Automatic Loading on Boot

Create /vendor/etc/init/rtw88-wifi.rc:

on boot
    # RTW88 WiFi Driver Loading
    # Load in strict dependency order
    
    # Core (required)
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_core.ko
    
    # Bus interfaces
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_sdio.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_usb.ko
    
    # Common code
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_88xxa.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8723x.ko
    
    # Chipset bases
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8703b.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8723d.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8812a.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8814a.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8821a.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8821c.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822b.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822c.ko
    
    # Interface modules
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8723cs.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8723ds.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8723du.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8812au.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8814au.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8821au.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8821cs.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8821cu.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822bs.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822bu.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822cs.ko
    insmod /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822cu.ko

For Kali NetHunter Users

If using Kali NetHunter, create a custom script at /sdcard/nh_files/modules/rtw88_loader.sh:

#!/system/bin/sh
# NetHunter RTW88 Module Loader

MODULE_DIR="/vendor/lib/modules"

# Check dependencies before loading
check_dependency() {
    local module=$1
    local deps=$(modinfo ${MODULE_DIR}/${module}.ko 2>/dev/null | grep "depends:" | cut -d: -f2 | tr -d ' ')
    
    if [ -n "$deps" ]; then
        echo "Module $module depends on: $deps"
        IFS=',' read -ra DEP_ARRAY <<< "$deps"
        for dep in "${DEP_ARRAY[@]}"; do
            if ! lsmod | grep -q "^${dep} "; then
                echo "Loading dependency: $dep"
                insmod ${MODULE_DIR}/${dep}.ko || return 1
            fi
        done
    fi
}

# Load module with dependency checking
load_module() {
    local module=$1
    if lsmod | grep -q "^${module} "; then
        echo "✓ $module already loaded"
        return 0
    fi
    
    check_dependency $module
    insmod ${MODULE_DIR}/${module}.ko
    
    if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
        echo "✓ $module loaded successfully"
        return 0
    else
        echo "✗ Failed to load $module"
        return 1
    fi
}

# Main loading sequence
load_module rtw_core || exit 1
load_module rtw_usb
load_module rtw_sdio
load_module rtw_88xxa
load_module rtw_8723x

# Load your specific chipset here
# Example: load_module rtw_8822b && load_module rtw_8822bu

echo ""
echo "Loaded modules:"
lsmod | grep rtw

---

🔍 Verification

Check Module Loading

# List loaded modules
lsmod | grep rtw

# Check dmesg for driver messages
dmesg | grep rtw88

# Verify WiFi interface
ip link show
# OR
ifconfig -a

Check Module Info

modinfo /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_core.ko

Check Module Dependencies

# Check dependencies for any module
modinfo /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_8822bu.ko | grep depends

# Check all module dependencies at once
for ko in /vendor/lib/modules/rtw_*.ko; do 
    echo "$(basename $ko): $(modinfo $ko 2>/dev/null | grep depends | cut -d: -f2)"
done

---

🐛 Troubleshooting

Module Won't Load - "No such file or directory"

Error: insmod: failed to load ./rtw_8822bu.ko: No such file or directory

This error is misleading! The file exists, but the module can't load because:

1. Missing dependencies - Required modules not loaded yet
2. Unresolved symbols - Functions from other modules not available

Solution:

# Check what the module depends on
modinfo ./rtw_8822bu.ko | grep depends
# Output: depends: rtw_usb,rtw_8822b

# Load dependencies first
insmod ./rtw_core.ko    # Always load core first
insmod ./rtw_usb.ko     # Load USB bus interface
insmod ./rtw_8822b.ko   # Load chipset base
insmod ./rtw_8822bu.ko  # Now this will work!

Module Won't Load - "Unknown symbol"

Error: rtw_8822c: Unknown symbol rtw_power_off (err -2)

Cause: Core module (rtw_core.ko) not loaded or loaded after the chipset module.

Solution:

# Unload the failed module
rmmod rtw_8822c

# Load core first, then reload
insmod ./rtw_core.ko
insmod ./rtw_8822c.ko

Module Won't Load - "Invalid module format"

Error: Invalid module format or version mismatch

Solution:

1. Check kernel version matches:

   uname -r  # Your kernel version
   modinfo ./rtw_core.ko | grep vermagic  # Module's kernel version

2. If versions don't match, rebuild modules with correct kernel source
3. Ensure module architecture matches (ARM64 modules for ARM64 kernel)

Firmware Not Found

Error: rtw88: firmware request failed

Solution:

1. Verify firmware files are in /vendor/firmware/rtw88/
2. Check SELinux permissions: restorecon -R /vendor/firmware/rtw88
3. Download firmware from linux-firmware repository

WiFi Interface Not Appearing

Solution:

1. Check if modules loaded: lsmod | grep rtw
2. Check dmesg for errors: dmesg | grep -i rtw
3. Verify hardware is detected: lsusb or lspci
4. Ensure correct modules loaded for your hardware (USB vs SDIO vs PCI)

Build Errors

Error: __nonstring undeclared or RX_FLAG_NO_PSDU undeclared

Solution: This repo is already patched! If you see this, you might have the wrong branch. Use the main branch.

---

📝 Compatibility Notes

Tested Kernels

• ✅ Linux 4.14 (Android common kernel)
• ✅ Linux 4.19 (GKI base)
• ✅ Linux 5.4 (LTS)
• ✅ Linux 5.10 (LTS)

Known Limitations

• PCI modules require CONFIG_PCI=y in kernel config
• SDIO modules require CONFIG_MMC support
• Some chipsets may require additional firmware files
• Module loading order is critical - see Loading Modules section

---

📚 Documentation

• Changelog - Detailed change history and patch descriptions
• Android Kernel Docs - Android kernel guide
• Upstream RTW88 Docs - Kernel.org documentation

---

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:

1. Report bugs - Open an issue with device details and logs
2. Test on new devices - Share compatibility results
3. Improve patches - Submit PRs with better compatibility fixes
4. Add firmware - Help locate and document required firmware files
5. Documentation - Improve setup instructions

Contribution Guidelines

• Test changes on real hardware before submitting
• Maintain compatibility with both old and new kernels
• Keep patches minimal and well-documented
• Follow kernel coding style

---

⚖️ License

This project maintains the original driver licenses:

• Driver code: GPL-2.0 OR BSD-3-Clause
• Build scripts: GPL-3.0 (this repository)

See LICENSE for full details.

---

🙏 Credits

• Upstream RTW88 drivers - Linux kernel wireless maintainers
• Realtek - Original driver development
• Android kernel team - Kernel infrastructure
• Community contributors - Testing and bug reports

---

📞 Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: Use GitHub Discussions for questions

---

🌟 Star History

If this project helped you, consider giving it a ⭐ star!

---

Built with ❤️ for the Android modding community

Report Bug • Request Feature • Contribute