How to Connect to Wi-Fi from the Terminal in Ubuntu Using nmcli

Connecting to a wireless network from the terminal is an essential capability when configuring Ubuntu Server, troubleshooting broken desktop display managers, or managing headless single-board computers over serial consoles. Ubuntu utilises NetworkManager as its default network daemon, and its command-line companion, nmcli, provides full control over network adapters, wireless scanning, and secure credential caching.

Verifying Your Wireless Network Interface

Before attempting to scan or connect, ensure your system detects a functioning wireless network card:

nmcli device status

Look for an interface listed with the TYPE wifi (frequently named wlan0, wlp2s0, or wlp3s0). Ensure its status is not set to unmanaged.

If the Wi-Fi radio is currently disabled, turn it on with:

nmcli radio wifi on

Scanning for Available Wireless Networks

To view all wireless networks within range along with their signal strength, channel, and security protocols, execute:

nmcli device wifi list

If you suspect an access point was recently powered on and does not appear immediately, trigger an active rescan:

nmcli device wifi rescan
nmcli device wifi list

Take note of the target network’s SSID (network name) and SECURITY protocol (such as WPA2, WPA3, or Open).

Connecting to a Password-Protected Wi-Fi Network

To connect to a standard WPA2/WPA3 Personal network, run the following command, replacing MyNetworkSSID and MySecretPassword with your actual network credentials:

sudo nmcli device wifi connect "MyNetworkSSID" password "MySecretPassword"

Upon successful authentication, NetworkManager outputs confirmation:

Device 'wlp2s0' successfully activated with '7b4e2f18-d703-45a1-9a73-95cf8282da1f'.

Connecting to a Hidden Wi-Fi Network

If your router does not broadcast its SSID, specify the hidden yes flag during connection:

sudo nmcli device wifi connect "HiddenSSID" password "MySecretPassword" hidden yes

Verifying IP Assignment and Internet Connectivity

Once connected, verify your dynamically assigned IP address and routing table:

ip -4 addr show dev wlp2s0
ping -c 4 1.1.1.1

NetworkManager automatically creates a persistent connection profile in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/, ensuring your Ubuntu machine automatically reconnects to the network upon every reboot.