The Andowl wireless adapter is a generic USB WiFi dongle whose driver is determined solely by its internal chipset. By extracting the Hardware ID from Device Manager and matching it to a Realtek, Ralink, or MediaTek driver, users can reliably restore functionality without relying on the included CD or risky third-party sites.
Next step: If the chipset remains unknown after following section 2, use a tool like USBDeview or lsusb -v (Linux) to capture the full device descriptor.
1. Speed & Standards Most Andowl adapters you find on the market are N150 or N300 standards (2.4GHz band only).
2. Reliability Users report mixed results. Some plug it in and it works for years; others experience "dropouts" where the internet disconnects randomly, requiring the adapter to be unplugged and plugged back in. This is often due to the adapter entering a "sleep mode" to save power or overheating. andowl wireless usb adapter driver
3. The "Driver Free" Claim Andowl markets these as "Driver Free," which is slightly misleading. It usually means Windows has a generic driver built-in that might work. If you plug it in and it doesn't work immediately, you will likely have to hunt for the driver on a third-party site, which can be a hassle for non-tech-savvy users.
Linux handles drivers differently. Most Andowl adapters require dkms (Dynamic Kernel Module Support).
For Realtek chipsets: Open a terminal and run: The Andowl wireless adapter is a generic USB
sudo apt update
sudo apt install git dkms build-essential
git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au.git
cd rtl8812au
sudo make dkms_install
Reboot. Your Andowl adapter should now appear in network manager.
For Ralink chipsets (legacy):
The rt2800usb driver is included in the Linux kernel. Run sudo modprobe rt2800usb.
✅ Pros:
❌ Cons:
Solution: Windows sometimes installs a generic Microsoft driver that doesn’t function. Force a driver change: