# Scripts to manage Wi-Fi network settings on macOS devices The [Execute Custom Script](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-run-scripts-on-mac-using-hexnode-mdm/) action provides an easy way to push customized settings and configurations to the devices over the air. This document includes different scripts for enabling, managing and modifying Wi-Fi connections and associated network settings for macOS devices. How to add a preferred Wi-Fi network? -------------------------------------- The command **networksetup –addpreferredwirelessnetworkatindex** adds a given network to the list of preferred networks at the specified index. It takes the following form: `networksetup -addpreferredwirelessnetworkatindex en0 Network_SSID Index_Number Network_Security_Type Network_Password ` **en0** – Corresponds to the hardware port for Wi-Fi **Network\_SSID** – Network Name **Index\_Number** – The preferred network index to be assigned to the network. It can take the integer values 0, 1, 2, etc. **Network\_Security\_Type** – The network security type for the network such as WEP, WPA/WPA2, etc. **Network\_Password** – Specifies the network password. Sample script to add a preferred Wi-Fi network on Mac \#!/bin/sh #!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -addpreferredwirelessnetworkatindex en0 Dex 0 WPA/WPA2 @Spe!jknwjkqf!sd 1 2 3 4 5 \#!/bin/sh \#!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -addpreferredwirelessnetworkatindex en0 Dex 0 WPA/WPA2 @Spe!jknwjkqf!sd How to join a given Wi-Fi network? ----------------------------------- You can configure a device to join a given network by embedding the network credentials along with the **networksetup** command. `networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 Network_SSID Network_Password ` If the specified network credentials are correct, the device connects to the given network instantly. Sample script to join a Wi-Fi network \#!/bin/sh #!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 Dex @Spe!jknwjkqf!sd 1 2 3 4 5 \#!/bin/sh \#!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 Dex @Spe!jknwjkqf!sd How to remove a preferred Wi-Fi network? ---------------------------------------- Suppose you want to remove a given network from the list of the preferred networks. You can use the **networksetup –removepreferredwirelessnetwork** command to do it. The command takes the following form: `networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 Network_SSID ` Sample Script to remove a preferred Wi-Fi network \#!/bin/sh #!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 Dex 1 2 3 4 5 \#!/bin/sh \#!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 Dex How to secure Wi-Fi settings? ------------------------------ You can restrict modification of Wi-Fi network settings to Administrator users using airport commands such as `RequireAdminIBSS=YES/NO ` `RequireAdminPowerToggle=YES/NO ` `RequireAdminNetworkChange=YES/NO` These commands mandate admin authentication to change the specified Wi-Fi settings on the device. You can modify the parameter values (YES or NO) for these commands to suit your requirements. Script to mandate Admin credentials to change Wi-Fi network preferences \#!/bin/zsh #!/usr/local/bin/airport sudo ln -s /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport /usr/local/bin/airport /usr/local/bin/airport -s sudo /usr/local/bin/airport prefs JoinMode=Preferred RequireAdminIBSS=YES RequireAdminPowerToggle=YES RequireAdminNetworkChange=YES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 \#!/bin/zsh \#!/usr/local/bin/airport sudo ln -s /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport /usr/local/bin/airport /usr/local/bin/airport -s sudo /usr/local/bin/airport prefs JoinMode=Preferred RequireAdminIBSS=YES RequireAdminPowerToggle=YES RequireAdminNetworkChange=YES How to disable/enable Wi-Fi? ----------------------------- You can execute the following script when you want to disable the Wi-Fi network connections to the device completely. Script to disable Wi-Fi \#!/bin/sh #!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -setairportpower en0 off 1 2 3 4 5 \#!/bin/sh \#!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -setairportpower en0 off Note: While you disable Wi-Fi, make sure the device has a connection to other interfaces such as Ethernet. Otherwise, the device loses its connectivity. The Wi-Fi icon on the menu bar will be disabled, and the user cannot turn it on. The wireless network connectivity is disconnected until it is re-enabled. To enable Wi-Fi, Script to enable Wi-Fi \#!/bin/sh #!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -setairportpower en0 on 1 2 3 4 5 \#!/bin/sh \#!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -setairportpower en0 on How to turn on/off Wi-Fi? -------------------------- To turn off Wi-Fi, Script to turn off Wi-Fi \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi off 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi off Note: Executing this script toggles off the Wi-Fi network at the menu bar. However, the user can toggle it on from the device to regain network connectivity. To turn on Wi-Fi, Script to turn on Wi-Fi \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi on 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi on How to retrieve the name of the current Wi-Fi network connected to the device? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suppose you want to identify the Wi-Fi network to which the device is connected. The following script helps to retrieve the SSID of the current Wi-Fi network connected to the device. Script to retrieve the current Wi-Fi network \#!/bin/bash networksetup -getairportnetwork en0 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -getairportnetwork en0 How to get Wi-Fi network info? ------------------------------- You can obtain the DHCP configuration for the Wi-Fi interface using the following script. It retrieves all the information such as IP address, subnet mask, router, Wi-Fi ID etc. Script to obtain the Wi-Fi network info \#!/bin/sh #!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi 1 2 3 4 5 \#!/bin/sh \#!usr/bin/env bash networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi How to identify if Wi-Fi network service is enabled? ----------------------------------------------------- For a device that can connect to one or more network interfaces, this script helps the admin determine if the Wi-Fi network is enabled. Script to identify if Wi-Fi network service is enabled \#!/bin/bash networksetup -getnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -getnetworkserviceenabled Wi-Fi How to set up search domains for the Wi-Fi interface? ------------------------------------------------------ Specifying the search domains helps the user to redirect to the websites and servers automatically without entering the complete address. Script to set up search domains for Wi-Fi \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setsearchdomains Wi-Fi apple.com hexnode.com 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setsearchdomains Wi-Fi apple.com hexnode.com How to configure proxy settings for Wi-Fi? ------------------------------------------ Proxy server settings that can be configured using scripts include: ### Set up automatic proxy Sample script to set automatic proxy \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setautoproxyurl Wi-Fi 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setautoproxyurl Wi-Fi ### Configure domains that can bypass proxy Sample script to domains that can bypass proxy \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setproxybypassdomains Wi-Fi Hexnode.com apple.com 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setproxybypassdomains Wi-Fi Hexnode.com apple.com Note: You can specify any number of domains. Each of them should be separated using a space. ### Set DNS servers for Wi-Fi Sample script to set DNS servers for Wi-Fi \#!/bin/bash networksetup –setdnsservers Wi-Fi \[dns2\] 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup –setdnsservers Wi-Fi \[dns2\] ### Set up web proxy Sample script to set up web proxy \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setwebproxy Wi-Fi 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setwebproxy Wi-Fi In place of `authenticated`, you can specify either ON/OFF to enable or disable authenticated proxy support. You must specify the username and password if authentication is enabled. ### Set up web proxy state Sample script to set up web proxy state \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setwebproxystate Wi-Fi On\[/Off\] 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup -setwebproxystate Wi-Fi On\[/Off\] ### Retrieve the web proxy state Sample script to retrieve the web proxy state \#!/bin/bash networksetup –getwebproxy Wi-Fi 1 2 3 \#!/bin/bash networksetup –getwebproxy Wi-Fi