Using the networksetup command (with examples)

The networksetup command is a powerful tool for managing network settings on a macOS system. It allows you to list available network service providers, retrieve network settings for specific devices, and perform various network-related actions such as connecting to Wi-Fi networks. In this article, we will explore different use cases of the networksetup command with code examples, explanations, and example outputs.

Use case 1: List available network service providers

Code:

networksetup -listallnetworkservices

Motivation:

• You want to retrieve a list of all the available network service providers on your macOS system, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.

Explanation:

• The “-listallnetworkservices” option is used to list all the network service providers available on the system.

Example output:

An asterisk (*) denotes that a network service is disabled.
en0
en1
en2

Use case 2: Show network settings for a particular networking device

Code:

networksetup -getinfo "Wi-Fi"

Motivation:

• You want to retrieve the network settings for a specific networking device on your macOS system, such as Wi-Fi.

Explanation:

• The “-getinfo” option is used to retrieve the network settings for a specific networking device. In this example, we are retrieving the network settings for the “Wi-Fi” device.

Example output:

DHCP Configuration
IP address: 192.168.1.100
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Router: 192.168.1.1
...

Use case 3: Get currently connected Wi-Fi network name

Code:

networksetup -getairportnetwork en0

Motivation:

• You want to retrieve the name of the currently connected Wi-Fi network on your macOS system.

Explanation:

• The “-getairportnetwork” option is used to retrieve the name of the currently connected Wi-Fi network. In this example, we are using the “en0” Wi-Fi device.

Example output:

Current Wi-Fi Network: MyHomeNetwork

Use case 4: Connect to a particular Wi-Fi network

Code:

networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 MyWi-Fi-Network password

Motivation:

• You want to connect to a particular Wi-Fi network on your macOS system using the networksetup command.

Explanation:

• The “-setairportnetwork” option is used to connect to a particular Wi-Fi network. In this example, we are connecting to the Wi-Fi network with the SSID “MyWi-Fi-Network” using the “en0” Wi-Fi device. Replace “password” with the actual password for the Wi-Fi network.

Example output:

Connected to Wi-Fi network: MyWi-Fi-Network

These examples demonstrate how the networksetup command can be used to manage network settings on macOS systems. Whether you need to list available network service providers, retrieve network settings, or connect to Wi-Fi networks, the networksetup command provides a convenient way to accomplish these tasks.