wireless compatibility - vanilla-wiiu/vanilla GitHub Wiki
While most modern wireless hardware is theoretically capable of connecting to the Wii U, there are factors that can complicate or make this impossible.
Firstly, the hardware must support 5GHz 802.11n. It is possible for some hardware to support the 802.11n (and newer) standard, but still only support 2.4GHz. These are fundamentally incompatible with the Wii U's gamepad access point.
Secondly, Wii U gamepad communication is based on a slightly obfuscated variant of 802.11n. While the modifications are very minor, they require direct low-level access to implement them. If the hardware is "SoftMAC", then the 802.11 communication is handled by software on the CPU, giving us the full control that we need to implement the minor obfuscations. However, if the hardware is "FullMAC", then the 802.11 communication is handled on the hardware itself, and any modifications we attempt to make will be overridden without modification to the firmware.
Due to these factors, the community maintains a list of hardware that is known to work or not work, as well as steps that can make incompatible hardware work.
✅ Working -- All major communication between console and device is functional (video, audio, and input).
❌ Not Working -- Unable to sync or connect.
| Manufacturer | Chipset | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom | BCM4324 | ❌ Not Working | |
| Broadcom | BCM43224 | ✅ Working | Used in the 2011 MacBook Air |
| Broadcom | BCM43241 | ❌ Not Working | Used in the Acer Aspire Switch 10 |
| Broadcom | BCM4331 | ❌ Not Working | Used in 2011 MacBook Pro |
| Broadcom | BCM4350 | ❌ Not Working | Used in the Dell DW1820A card |
| Broadcom | BCM4356 | ✅ Working | Requires these patches - Used in Nintendo Switch |
| Broadcom | BCM4360 | ❌ Not Working | Used in the Late 2015 MacBook Air |
| Broadcom | BCM4378 | ❌ Not Working | Used in all Macs with M1 chipset |
| Infineon | CYW43455 | ❌ Not Working | Used in the Raspberry Pi 5 |
| Intel | AC 3165 | ✅ Working | |
| Intel | AC 3168 | ✅ Working | |
| Intel | AC 7265 | ✅ Working | |
| Intel | AC 8260 | ✅ Working | Used in Thinkpad T470(s) (depending on configuration) |
| Intel | AC 8265 | ✅ Working | Used in Thinkpad T470(s) (depending on configuration), Thinkpad X280 and T480(s) |
| Intel | AC 9260 | ✅ Working | Should in theory work |
| Intel | AC 9462 | ✅ Working | Used in Samsung Book (2021) |
| Intel | AC 9560 | ✅ Working | Used in Lenovo 500e Chromebook 2nd Gen |
| Intel | AX 200 | ✅ Working | |
| Intel | AX 201 | ✅ Working | Used in gen 2 Thinkpad E14 (Intel) |
| Intel | AX 210 | ✅ Working | Used in Samsung Book Pro (2021) |
| Intel | AX 211 | ✅ Working | Used in Surface Pro 9 (2023) |
| Intel | Advanced-N 6205 | ✅ Working | Used in Thinkpad T430 |
| Intel | Advanced-N 6235 | ✅ Working | Used in Toshiba Satellite R945-P440 |
| Intel | WiFi Link 5100 AGN | ✅ Working | |
| MediaTek | MT76x0 | ✅ Working | Used in TP-Link Archer T2UH AC600 and TP-Link Archer T3U Plus AC1300 |
| MediaTek | MT7610U | ✅ Working | Used in ASUSTek Computer, Inc. USB-AC50 Wireless Adapter |
| MediaTek | MT7921 | ✅ Working | |
| MediaTek | MT7922 | ❌ Not Working | Used in ASUS ROG Ally (2023). Also known as AMD RZ616 on some laptops |
| Qualcomm | Atheros AR9462 | ✅ Working | |
| Qualcomm | QCA206X | ✅ Working | Used in the Steam Deck OLED |
| Qualcomm | QCA6174 | Used in the 1st Gen Surface Go - working audio and input but no video, as below | |
| Qualcomm | QCA9377 | Same as above, but disconnects after ~45 seconds | |
| Qualcomm | QCNFA765 | ✅ Working | |
| Ralink | RT5572 | ✅ Working | Used in TP-Link TL-WDN3200 |
| Realtek | RTL8723BU | ❌ Not Working | Used in the Gateway GWTC116-1X Laptop |
| Realtek | RTL8811AU | ✅ Working | Requires this driver |
| Realtek | RTL8812AU | ✅ Working | Requires this driver |
| Realtek | RTL8821AU | ✅ Working | Requires this driver |
| Realtek | RTL8821CE | ✅ Working | Most likely working, though results are currently unconfirmed. Used in many HP devices. Might require this driver. |
| Realtek | RTL8821CU | ✅ Working | |
| Realtek | RTL8822BE | ✅ Working | |
| Realtek | RTL8822C | ✅ Working | Used in the Steam Deck |
| Realtek | RTL8822CE | ✅ Working | Used in HP Chromebook 14A |
| Realtek | RTL8852BE | ✅ Working | Used in Tuf Gaming B650 Plus Wifi and TP-Link Archer TX20E |
| Realtek | RTL8852AE | ✅ Working | |
| Realtek | RTW8821CU | ✅ Working | Used in TP-Link Archer T600UB Nano |