wpa_cli

Scan for available networks

$ sudo wpa_cli scan

$ sudo wpa_cli scan_results

$ sudo wpa_cli add_network

$ sudo wpa_cli set_network 0 ssid "MyNetwork"

$ sudo wpa_cli set_network 0 psk "password"

$ sudo wpa_cli enable_network 0

$ sudo wpa_cli save_config

$ sudo wpa_cli status

wpa_cli [-p path] [-g socket] [-i ifname] [-hvB] [-a file] [command]

wpa_cli is a text-based frontend for interacting with wpa_supplicant. It can query network status, modify configuration, and handle authentication requests. It operates in interactive mode with a prompt or command-line mode with arguments.

-p PATH

Specify path to control sockets

Select network interface

Run in daemon mode with action file for events

Run as background daemon

Set ping interval in seconds

Show current connection status

Initiate a network scan

Display scan results

List configured networks

Add a new network (returns network ID)

Set network parameter

Enable a network

Disable a network

Select and enable a network, disabling others

Save current configuration to file

Reload configuration file

Force reconnection

Stop wpa_supplicant

Requires root privileges or proper group membership for the control interface. The control interface can be configured to allow non-root access through the ctrlinterface GROUP parameter in wpasupplicant.conf.

wpa_cli is part of wpa_supplicant, a WPA and WPA2 supplicant for Linux, BSD, and Windows, commonly used for wireless network authentication.

wpa_supplicant(8), wpa_supplicant.conf(5), iwconfig(8)