Comfast: Cf-wu713n Driver

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably just unboxed a COMFAST CF-WU713N USB Wi-Fi adapter. On paper, it looks great: 1300Mbps dual-band speeds (2.4GHz and 5GHz), compact design, and external antennas.

But if you’ve plugged it in and gotten nothing but frustration (or a blinking light with no connection), you’ve hit the same wall I did. The driver situation is messy.

Here is the no-BS guide to getting this adapter working, whether you’re on Windows 10/11 or (the tricky one) Linux. comfast cf-wu713n driver

sudo apt update
sudo apt install dkms git build-essential
git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au.git
cd rtl8812au
sudo make dkms_install
sudo modprobe 88XXau

Plug in the adapter. Then check with iwconfig – a new wlanX interface should appear.

Before downloading random .exe files from the internet, let's look under the hood. The CF-WU713N primarily uses the Realtek RTL8812BU chipset. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably just unboxed

Why does that matter? Because Realtek is terrible at providing updated Linux drivers, and Windows sometimes auto-installs a generic driver that causes disconnects.

  • Get appropriate driver repo:
  • Build/install (example for rtl8192cu-fixes):
  • Reboot or reload module:
  • Check with: lsusb and dmesg | grep -i usb

    • Notes:

    | Problem | Likely Cause | Solution | |---------|--------------|----------| | Adapter not recognized (Windows) | Windows Update overwrote driver | Disable automatic driver updates; reinstall from Device Manager | | “Device cannot start” (Code 10) | Chipset mismatch or corrupted install | Uninstall driver, delete software from Device Manager, reinstall | | Low speed / disconnects | Power management enabled | In Device Manager → Properties of the adapter → Power Management → Uncheck “Allow computer to turn off this device” | | Linux – driver compiles but no Wi-Fi | USB mode conflict | Run sudo usb_modeswitch or blacklist r8188eu, rtl8xxxu | | Monitor mode / packet injection fails | Wrong driver branch | Use the aircrack-ng version (supports iwconfig wlan0 mode monitor) |

    For most Windows users, Plug and Play should work for basic functionality. However, if you see "Unknown USB Device" or limited 20Mbps speeds: Plug in the adapter

  • Installation Trick:
  • If speeds are still slow: Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters > Realtek 8812BU > Properties > Advanced. Disable "Power Saving Mode" and set "Preferred Band" to 5GHz.

    • Here is where the COMFAST CF-WU713N becomes a headache. The kernel does not include the driver by default. Do not bother with ndiswrapper.

    After banging my head against the wall for three hours, here is the only method that worked reliably: