Complete Guide to iwctl — Managing Wi-Fi on Linux the Modern Way

iwctl (IWD Control Utility) is a command-line tool and interactive shell used to manage the iNet Wireless Daemon (iwd).
It’s a modern, lightweight alternative to the traditional wpa_supplicant, built by Intel for speed and simplicity.

📘 1. What Are iwd and iwctl?

• iwd (iNet Wireless Daemon) is a wireless daemon developed by Intel to replace wpa_supplicant.
• iwctl is its front-end tool for user interaction via D-Bus (interactive shell or direct commands).
• Together, they allow you to:
  • Scan and connect to Wi-Fi networks
  • Manage known networks
  • Configure devices
  • Automate network connections

🧩 1.1 Advantages over wpa_supplicant

• Lightweight and modern architecture
• Integrates tightly with systemd and networkd
• Easier to configure and debug
• Automatically manages profiles and connections
• Requires fewer dependencies

⚙️ 2. Installation and Setup

2.1 Installing IWD

Use your package manager to install iwd:

sudo pacman -S iwd           # Arch-based systems
sudo apt install iwd         # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install iwd         # Fedora

Then enable the service:

sudo systemctl enable --now iwd.service

2.2 Enabling Network Configuration

Edit (or create) the file /etc/iwd/main.conf:

[General]
EnableNetworkConfiguration = true
RoutePriorityOffset = 300

This lets iwd handle IP assignment and routing (like DHCP). Restart the service to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart iwd

💡 3. Using iwctl

iwctl can be used in interactive mode or via direct commands.

3.1 Interactive Mode

Start the shell:

sudo iwctl

You’ll see the prompt:

[iwd]#

List available commands:

[iwd]# help

Common Commands

Example session:

[iwd]# device list
[iwd]# station wlan0 scan
[iwd]# station wlan0 get-networks
[iwd]# station wlan0 connect MyWiFiNetwork

3.2 Non-interactive Mode

You can also run single commands without entering the shell:

iwctl device list
iwctl station wlan0 scan
iwctl station wlan0 get-networks
iwctl station wlan0 connect "MySSID"

If the network requires a password:

iwctl --passphrase="MySecretPass" station wlan0 connect "MySSID"

🧠 4. Full Connection Workflow

Below is a step-by-step example to connect from scratch:

sudo systemctl enable --now iwd

# Start iwctl
sudo iwctl

[iwd]# device list
[iwd]# station wlan0 scan
[iwd]# station wlan0 get-networks
[iwd]# station wlan0 connect MyWiFiSSID
[iwd]# exit

Then verify the connection:

ip addr show wlan0
ping google.com

If you don’t get an IP address, check your DHCP or enable network configuration in /etc/iwd/main.conf.

🛠️ 5. Advanced Tips

5.1 Disable Auto-Connect

To stop auto-connecting to a network:

[iwd]# known-networks MyWiFi set-property AutoConnect no

Or edit the profile file /var/lib/iwd/MyWiFi.psk:

[Settings]
AutoConnect = false

5.2 Set a Static IP

Edit the same .psk profile:

[IPv4]
Address = 192.168.1.50
Netmask = 255.255.255.0
Gateway = 192.168.1.1
DNS = 8.8.8.8

Then restart the iwd service.

5.3 Combine with systemd-networkd

While iwd handles Wi-Fi connections, you can delegate IP configuration to:

• systemd-networkd (for DHCP/static IP)
• systemd-resolved (for DNS)
• GUI front-ends like iwgtk (optional)

🧩 6. Troubleshooting

✅ 7. Conclusion

iwctl is a fast, lightweight, and reliable way to manage Wi-Fi connections in Linux systems — especially those using systemd. It’s ideal for users who prefer simplicity over heavy GUI tools.

For further reading:

• man iwctl
• ArchWiki: iwd
• Switching from netctl to iwd + networkd