iwctl (iwd control) is a command-line tool for controlling the iwd (Internet Wireless Daemon) network supplicant. iwd is a daemon that handles wireless connections on Linux systems. It is designed to be lightweight and fast, with a minimal set of dependencies, and it is meant to replace traditional wireless management utilities such as wpa_supplicant and NetworkManager.
Iwctl allows the user to manage iwd’s wireless connections, networks, and devices, by providing a simple and consistent interface. The user can use iwctl to list available wireless devices, scan for available wireless networks, connect to a wireless network, disconnect from a wireless network, and get the status of the current wireless connection. It also allows the user to manage the network settings, like setting a static IP address, configure a proxy and configure a custom DNS server.
It can also be used to troubleshoot wireless connectivity issues, allowing to see the wireless device status, the connected network details and the connection status. Iwctl is available on Linux systems and can be used with minimal setup and configuration.
If you encounter the below error while running the command iwctl:
iwctl: command not found
you may try installing the below package as per your choice of distribution:
| Distribution | Command |
|---|---|
| Debian | apt-get install iwd |
| Ubuntu | apt-get install iwd |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S iwd |
| Kali Linux | apt-get install iwd |
| Fedora | dnf install iwd |
iwctl Command Examples
1. Start the interactive mode, in this mode you can enter the commands directly, with autocompletion:
# iwctl
2. Call general help:
# iwctl --help
3. Display your Wi-Fi stations:
# iwctl station list
4. Start looking for networks with a station:
# iwctl station station scan
5. Display the networks found by a station:
# iwctl station station get-networks
6. Connect to a network with a station, if credentials are needed they will be asked:
# iwctl station station connect network_name