Windows
Linux
Networking
Windows netsh wlan show profiles equivalent in Linux
Lists, connects to, and manages wireless network profiles.
Windows
→
netsh wlan show profiles
Linux equivalents
nmcli
nmcli
nmcli
Overview
What this command does
Lists, connects to, and manages wireless network profiles.
Migration tip:
nmcli is the command-line interface for NetworkManager, which most desktop Linux distros use. It handles both Wi-Fi and wired connections.Practical tasks
Common use cases
Manage Wi-Fi connections
Lists, connects to, and manages wireless network profiles.
nmcli dev wifi list
Show available Wi-Fi networks
nmcli dev wifi connect SSID password PASS
Connect to Wi-Fi
nmcli connection show
List saved connections
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
nmcli dev wifi list
nmcli connection show
nmcli dev wifi connect "MyNetwork" password "mypassword"
nmcli dev disconnect wlan0
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows: netsh wlan show profiles
nmcli dev wifi list # scan for networks
nmcli connection show # saved profiles
# Connect to a network:
nmcli dev wifi connect "MyNetwork" password "mypassword"
# Disconnect:
nmcli dev disconnect wlan0Reference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
nmcli dev wifi list | Show available Wi-Fi networks |
nmcli dev wifi connect SSID password PASS | Connect to Wi-Fi |
nmcli connection show | List saved connections |
nmcli device status | Show all network devices |
iwconfig | Older Wi-Fi info command (may be installed) |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
This command is the same on Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux when the relevant tool is installed.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | nmcli |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | nmcli |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | nmcli |
Same command on this distribution. |
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