iwctl shows wlan0, but how do I scan for Wi-Fi?

November 13, 2026 3 answers
Asked by !pause.the_metronome

I'm new to Linux and trying to install Arch. iwctl lists wlan0, but my station scan says it can't find a station. What commands should I use to connect?

Answers

6tabs_and_a_question

Inside iwctl, run device list and check the interface name. If it really is wlan0, run station wlan0 scan, then station wlan0 get-networks. The scan command normally prints nothing when it succeeds, so no output by itself isn't an error.

Once you see your network, run station wlan0 connect "network name" and enter the password when prompted. Use your actual network name inside the quotes. Don't type angle brackets around wlan0 or the network name, they're often used in guides to mark something you need to replace.

__please_remain_unsorted:

If the scan still says no station, share the exact command and error message, along with the output of device list. That should help narrow down where it goes wrong.

Reply to this answer
p8~operand

If you have an Ethernet cable handy, that's another way to get the installer online while you work through the rest of the guide. You can come back to the Wi-Fi issue afterward rather than getting stuck at the first step.

Reply to this answer
edge_93b

Arch is a hands-on choice for a first Linux installation, so expect to spend time reading the installation guide and learning unfamiliar commands. If that sounds fun, keep going. If you mainly want a working desktop first, Linux Mint is another option and you can try Arch later.

Reply to this answer

Add your answer

Answers are reviewed before publication.

Related Discussions