Similar to this question: Activation of network connection failed, but I have the following issue. The machine boots and connects to wifi on bootup, but if the connection drops (for any reason), then the connection does not restart and gives the error message "Activation of network connection failed". I have to reboot the machine for it to reconnect. This also happens if I try to connect to a different network after that first connection.

Nothing I have tried fixes the issue, either manually attempting to connect to the wifi network, nor stopping/restarting network manager via systemctl.

Is there anything else I can try to fix this so I do not need to reboot each time it drops?

I am running Ubuntu 20.04, with kernel version 5.8.0-63-generic, as I have a Realtek RTL8723DE wifi adapter, and there is no updated driver (from here: https://github.com/lwfinger/rtw88) available for later kernel versions (see my previous question here: Realtek wifi driver for RTL8723DE for linux kernel version 5.11.0-26-generic (ubuntu 20.04))

Note that I do not have access to the router for a wired connection, so wifi is my only option for connecting.

EDIT: following the comment below, I've added the output of sudo journalctl -b 0 -u NetworkManager to https://pastebin.ubuntu.com/p/WgTt6KGyyj/, showing the network connecting first time, then failing to connect after I've toggled the wifi off and back on again, the moving through a cycle like:

Jun 14 21:07:40 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237260.5736] sup-iface[0x56336ea5ba10,wlo1]: supports 5 scan SSIDs

Jun 14 21:07:40 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237260.5778] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: starting -> ready

Jun 14 21:07:40 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237260.5780] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): state change: unavailable -> disconnected (reason 'supplicant-available', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:40 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237260.5828] device (wlo1): state change: unavailable -> disconnected (reason 'supplicant-available', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.3582] policy: auto-activating connection 'Top Flat' (6a3647ab-a928-4d36-b895-e6a53f857391)

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.3595] device (wlo1): Activation: starting connection 'Top Flat' (6a3647ab-a928-4d36-b895-e6a53f857391)

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.3599] device (wlo1): state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.3610] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTING

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.6724] device (wlo1): set-hw-addr: reset MAC address to A4:FC:77:7C:A3:0D (preserve)

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.6727] device (wlo1): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.6731] device (wlo1): Activation: (wifi) access point 'Top Flat' has security, but secrets are required.

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.6731] device (wlo1): state change: config -> need-auth (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7303] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: ready -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7303] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: ready -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7304] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> inactive

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7305] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> inactive

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7327] device (wlo1): state change: need-auth -> prepare (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7334] device (wlo1): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7339] device (wlo1): Activation: (wifi) connection 'Top Flat' has security, and secrets exist.  No new secrets needed.

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7340] Config: added 'ssid' value 'Top Flat'

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7340] Config: added 'scan_ssid' value '1'

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7341] Config: added 'bgscan' value 'simple:30:-65:300'

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7341] Config: added 'key_mgmt' value 'WPA-PSK WPA-PSK-SHA256 FT-PSK'

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7341] Config: added 'psk' value '<hidden>'

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7644] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: inactive -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:42 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237262.7645] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: inactive -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:44 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237264.4815] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:44 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237264.4823] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:44 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237264.5860] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:44 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237264.5862] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:45 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237265.9966] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:45 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237265.9966] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:46 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237266.0819] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:46 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237266.0821] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:47 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237267.4902] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:47 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237267.4910] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:47 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237267.9780] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:47 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237267.9782] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:49 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237269.3960] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:49 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237269.3961] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:49 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237269.8740] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:49 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237269.8742] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:51 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237271.2798] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:51 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237271.2798] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:52 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237272.2704] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:52 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237272.2705] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:53 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237273.6836] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:53 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237273.6843] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:54 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237274.6710] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:54 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237274.6712] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:07:56 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237276.0713] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:07:56 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237276.0713] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:08:01 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237281.3994] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:08:01 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237281.3995] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: disconnected -> scanning

Jun 14 21:08:06 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237286.1046] device (wlo1): supplicant interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:08:06 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237286.1046] device (p2p-dev-wlo1): supplicant management interface state: scanning -> disconnected

Jun 14 21:08:07 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <warn>  [1655237287.6290] device (wlo1): Activation: (wifi) association took too long, failing activation

Jun 14 21:08:07 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237287.6291] device (wlo1): state change: config -> failed (reason 'ssid-not-found', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:08:07 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237287.6302] manager: NetworkManager state is now DISCONNECTED

Jun 14 21:08:07 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <warn>  [1655237287.6390] device (wlo1): Activation: failed for connection 'Top Flat'

Jun 14 21:08:07 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237287.6494] device (wlo1): state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none', sys-iface-state: 'managed')

Jun 14 21:08:07 HP-Laptop-15-db0598sa NetworkManager[642]: <info>  [1655237287.6666] device (wlo1): set-hw-addr: set MAC address to 4A:D0:E7:0C:83:44 (scanning)

EDIT2: I also disabled random MAC switching in NetworkManager, which didn't solve the issue either

EDIT3: I have taken snapshots of the wifi config using the script for this question: My wireless/WiFi connection does not work. What information is needed to diagnose the issue? when the wifi is up and when it is not (and fails to reconnect)

Working/connected: https://pastebin.ubuntu.com/p/dTFptYhv8N/

Not working/not connecting: https://pastebin.ubuntu.com/p/PPhHZNWcfd/

EDIT4: I've booted and rebooted into 5.13.0-48 and it seems to be more stable, so watch this space!