---
name: "wpa_supplicant"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wpa_supplicant/8"
---

# wpa\_supplicant(8)

WPA/802.11i Supplicant for wireless network devices

## NAME

**wpa\_supplicant** – WPA/802.11i Supplicant for wireless network devices

## SYNOPSIS

**wpa\_supplicant** \[**-BdhKLqstuvW**\] \[**-b** *br\_ifname*\] **-c** *config-file* \[**-C** *ctrl*\] \[**-D** *driver*\] \[**-f** *debug* *file*\] \[**-g** *global* *ctrl*\] **-i** *ifname* \[**-o** *override* *driver*\] \[**-O** *override* *ctrl*\] \[**-P** *pid* *file*\] \[**-N** **-i** *ifname* **-c** *config-file* \[**-C** *ctrl*\] \[**-D** **-driver**\] \[**-p** *driver\_param*\] \[**-b** *br\_ifname*\] ...\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **wpa\_supplicant** utility is an implementation of the WPA Supplicant component, i.e., the part that runs in the client stations. It implements WPA key negotiation with a WPA Authenticator and EAP authentication with an Authentication Server. In addition, **wpa\_supplicant** controls the roaming and IEEE 802.11 authentication/association support of the [wlan(4)](/wlan/4.md) module and can be used to configure static WEP keys based on identified networks.

The **wpa\_supplicant** utility is designed to be a “daemon” program that runs in the background and acts as the backend component controlling the wireless connection. It supports separate frontend programs such as the text-based [wpa\_cli(8)](/wpa_cli/8.md) program.

The following arguments must be specified on the command line:

- **-i** *ifname*

  Use the specified wireless interface.

- **-c** *config-file*

  Use the settings in the specified configuration file when managing the wireless interface. See [wpa\_supplicant.conf(5)](/wpa_supplicant.conf/5.md) for a description of the configuration file syntax and contents.

  Changes to the configuration file can be reloaded by sending a SIGHUP to the **wpa\_supplicant** process or with the [wpa\_cli(8)](/wpa_cli/8.md) utility, using “wpa\_cli reconfigure”.

## OPTIONS

The following options are available:

- **-b**

  Optional bridge interface name.

- **-B**

  Detach from the controlling terminal and run as a daemon process in the background.

- **-d**

  Enable debugging messages. If this option is supplied twice, more verbose messages are displayed.

- **-D**

  Driver name (can be multiple drivers: nl80211,wext).

- **-f**

  Log output to debug file instead of stdout.

- **-g**

  Global ctrl\_interface.

- **-h**

  Show help text.

- **-K**

  Include key information in debugging output.

- **-L**

  Display the license for this program on the terminal and exit.

- **-N**

  Start describing a new interface.

- **-o**

  Overrides driver parameter for new interfaces.

- **-O**

  Override ctrl\_interface parameter for new interfaces.

- **-p**

  Specify driver parameters.

- **-P**

  File in which to save the process PID.

- **-q**

  Decrease debugging verbosity (i.e., counteract the use of the **-d** flag).

- **-s**

  Send log messages through [syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md) instead of to the terminal.

- **-t**

  Include timestamp in debug messages.

- **-v**

  Display version information on the terminal and exit.

- **-W**

  Wait for a control interface monitor before starting.

## SEE ALSO

[wlan(4)](/wlan/4.md), [wpa\_supplicant.conf(5)](/wpa_supplicant.conf/5.md), [networking(7)](/networking/7.md), [devd(8)](/devd/8.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), [wpa\_cli(8)](/wpa_cli/8.md), [wpa\_passphrase(8)](/wpa_passphrase/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **wpa\_supplicant** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 6.0.

## AUTHORS

The **wpa\_supplicant** utility was written by Jouni Malinen ⟨*j@w1.fi*⟩. This manual page is derived from the *README* file included in the **wpa\_supplicant** distribution.