---
name: "wifi"
section: "7"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/networking"
---

# wifi(7)

quickstart guide to connecting to a network

Part of [networking(7)](/networking/7.md).

## NAME

**networking**, **wifi** – quickstart guide to connecting to a network

## DESCRIPTION

In the following examples, it is assumed that we are connecting to Ethernet with the first interface found by the [ix(4)](/ix/4.md) driver, and Wi-Fi with the first interface found by the [iwlwifi(4)](/iwlwifi/4.md) driver, though your hardware will vary.

## EXAMPLES

- **Example** **1:** **Connecting** **to** **an** **Ethernet** **network** **with** **DHCP**

  Ask for a DHCP lease on the first Intel 10Gb Ethernet interface:

  ```
  # dhclient ix0
  ```

- **Example** **2:** **Connecting** **to** **a** **cellular** **network** **with** **USB** **tethering**

  Ask for a DHCP lease on the first USB tethering interface:

  ```
  # dhclient ue0
  ```

- **Example** **3:** **Connecting** **to** **a** **Wi-Fi** **network**

  Identify your Wi-Fi hardware:

  ```
  % sysctl net.wlan.devices
  ```

  Create the **wlan0** interface with the first Intel Wi-Fi adapter:

  ```
  # sysrc wlans_iwlwifi0="wlan0"
  ```

  Set that interface to ask for a DHCP lease with [wpa\_supplicant(8)](/wpa_supplicant/8.md):

  ```
  # sysrc ifconfig_wlan0="WPA SYNCDHCP"
  ```

  Enter the details of the Wi-Fi network:

  ```
  # cd /etc/
  # wpa_passphrase "myssid" "mypassphrase" >> wpa_supplicant.conf
  ```

  Restart the Wi-Fi interface:

  ```
  # service netif restart wlan0
  ```

- **Example** **4:** **Scanning** **for** **Wi-Fi** **networks**

  ```
  % ifconfig wlan0 scan
  ```

- **Example** **5:** **Airplane** **mode**

  ```
  # service netif stop wlan0
  ```

## SEE ALSO

[bsdconfig(8)](/bsdconfig/8.md), [dhclient(8)](/dhclient/8.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), [wpa\_passphrase(8)](/wpa_passphrase/8.md)

The Advanced Networking chapter of the FreeBSD Handbook.

## CAVEATS

Shell Special Characters in the *SSID* or *passphrase* will need to be escaped for [wpa\_passphrase(8)](/wpa_passphrase/8.md), commonly using ‘\\’. See the manual page for your shell for more details.

Stopping the network interface service also stops internal networking.