---
name: "wifi-menu"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "netctl"
version: "1.29-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wifi-menu"
---

# wifi-menu(1)

Interactively connect to a wireless network

## NAME

wifi-menu - Interactively connect to a wireless network

## SYNOPSIS

**wifi-menu** \[-o \| --obscure\] \[INTERFACE\]

**wifi-menu** \[-h \| --help\]

## DESCRIPTION

**wifi-menu** allows to interactively connect to a wireless network on INTERFACE using a netctl profile. In case no netctl profile is available, one can be generated. If only one wireless interface is available, INTERFACE can be omitted.

**wifi-menu** is only able to generate netctl profiles for simple network configurations. Profiles for more complex configurations must be set up manually. See [**netctl.profile**(5)](/netctl.profile/5.md) for more information.

## OPTIONS

- \-h, --help

  Print a short help text and exit.

- \-o, --obscure

  Show asterisks for the characters of the password and store the password as a hexadecimal pre-shared key.

INTERFACE

The wireless network interface to use for connecting.

## EXIT STATUS

0

The interface connected to the wireless network successfully.

1

The connection attempt was canceled.

2

The connection attempt failed.

3

No wireless networks were found.

4

Invalid passphrase length (WEP keys must be between 8 and 63 characters in length).

7

An unexpected error code was received.

255

The command was invalid or the connection attempt was aborted.

## NOTES

Establishing a connection may take a minute. While establishing a connection, nothing is shown on screen.

Starting a connection on an interface that is controlled by **netctl-auto** will cause **wifi-menu** to switch to the selected network. The interface will continue to be controlled by **netctl-auto**.

## ENVIRONMENT

*$NETCTL\_DEBUG*

If set to "yes", debugging output is generated.

## FILES

*/etc/netctl*

Directory where generated profiles are stored.

## SEE ALSO

[**netctl**(1)](/netctl/1.md), [**netctl-auto**(1)](/netctl-auto/1.md)