iw-dev

subcommand of iw for manipulating wireless network interfaces

TLDR

Set device to monitor mode (interface must be down)

$ sudo iw dev [wlp] set type monitor

Set device to managed mode (interface must be down)

$ sudo iw dev [wlp] set type managed

Set device channel

$ sudo iw dev [wlp] set channel [channel_number]

Set device frequency in MHz

$ sudo iw dev [wlp] set freq [freq_in_mhz]

Show all station information

$ iw dev [wlp] station dump

Create virtual interface in monitor mode

$ sudo iw dev [wlp] interface add "[vif_name]" type monitor addr [12:34:56:aa:bb:cc]

Delete virtual interface

$ sudo iw dev "[vif_name]" del

SYNOPSIS

iw dev interface command [parameters]

iw dev is a subcommand of iw for manipulating wireless network interfaces. It controls interface modes, channels, frequencies, and manages virtual interfaces.
Monitor mode allows passive packet capture. Managed mode is for normal client connections. The interface typically must be brought down (ip link set down) before changing modes.

PARAMETERS

set type MODE

Set interface mode: managed, monitor, ibss, mesh, etc.

set channel NUM

Set wireless channel number

set freq MHZ

Set wireless frequency in MHz

station dump

Show connected station information

interface add NAME type MODE

Create virtual interface

del

Delete interface

scan

Trigger scan for networks

CAVEATS

Requires root privileges for most operations. Interface must be down before changing type. Not all wireless drivers support all modes. Monitor mode capabilities vary by hardware.

HISTORY

iw is the modern replacement for the deprecated wireless-tools (iwconfig, iwlist). It was developed to support the nl80211/cfg80211 wireless stack introduced in Linux kernel 2.6.22 (2007).