nmcli-connection

manages NetworkManager connection profiles

TLDR

List all NetworkManager connections

$ nmcli connection

Activate a connection

$ nmcli connection up uuid

Deactivate a connection

$ nmcli connection down uuid

Create an auto-configured connection

$ nmcli connection add ifname eth0 type ethernet ipv4.method auto ipv6.method auto

Create a static IPv4 connection

$ nmcli connection add ifname eth0 type ethernet ip4 10.0.0.7/8 gw4 10.0.0.1 ipv4.dns 10.0.0.1

Create a static IPv6 connection

$ nmcli connection add ifname eth0 type ethernet ip6 2001:db8::2/64 gw6 2001:db8::1

Import a VPN connection from file

$ nmcli connection import type openvpn file vpn_config.ovpn

SYNOPSIS

nmcli connection {show|up|down|add|edit|modify|clone|delete|monitor|reload|load|migrate|import|export} [ARGUMENTS]

nmcli connection manages NetworkManager connection profiles. It can list, activate, deactivate, create, modify, and delete network connection configurations including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VPN, and other connection types.

COMMANDS

show [id]

List connections or show details of a specific connection

up id|uuid

Activate a connection

down id|uuid

Deactivate a connection

add

Create a new connection profile

edit [id|uuid]

Launch the interactive connection editor

modify id|uuid

Change connection properties. Property values support `+`/`-` prefixes to append or remove list items

clone id|uuid NEW_NAME

Duplicate an existing profile under a new name

delete id|uuid

Remove a connection profile

monitor [id|uuid]

Watch activity changes for all or a specific profile in real time

reload

Reload all connection files from disk

load filename

Load a single connection file on disk into NetworkManager

migrate

Migrate profiles from legacy keyfile/ifcfg locations into the default store

import type TYPE file FILE

Import an external connection (e.g., VPN)

export id

Export a connection profile

COMMON ADD OPTIONS

ifname: Interface name to bind the connectiontype: Connection type (ethernet, wifi, vpn, bridge, etc.)con-name: Custom connection nameip4: IPv4 address with prefixgw4: IPv4 gateway addressip6: IPv6 address with prefixgw6: IPv6 gateway addressipv4.method: auto, manual, or disabledipv6.method: auto, manual, or ignoreipv4.dns: DNS server addresses

COMMON GLOBAL OPTIONS

--ask

Interactively prompt for any required but missing argument. Not suitable for scripts.

--wait seconds

Override the default timeout when waiting on an operation such as up.

--active

On show, list only currently active connections.

--offline

Edit connection files without going through the running NetworkManager daemon.

--temporary

On modify, keep the change in memory only — discarded at daemon restart.

CAVEATS

Connection names with spaces require quoting. Use UUIDs when multiple connections share the same name. Changes made with modify take effect on the next activation unless --temporary is used.

HISTORY

Part of the nmcli command-line interface for NetworkManager. Provides scriptable network configuration management.