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Asked: 2024-09-26T19:36:19+05:30 In:

How can I adjust the priority of available wireless networks on my Ubuntu system?

I’ve been trying to get my Ubuntu laptop to connect to the right Wi-Fi network without constantly bouncing between different networks, and it’s driving me a little nuts! I thought I’d be able to just choose my favorite one and have it stick, but no luck so far. I usually have a couple of networks available: my home Wi-Fi, a neighbor’s occasional open network, and some random coffee shop Wi-Fi that I never use but somehow keeps popping up.

It seems like every time I open my laptop, it gets confused about which network it should prioritize. I really want my Ubuntu system to connect to my home Wi-Fi first whenever it’s available. But every time I open up my laptop, it tries to connect to that random coffee shop Wi-Fi instead. I’m not sure if it’s just a matter of settings or if there’s some hidden priority list that I need to manipulate.

I’ve glanced through the Network settings, and I can see all the networks listed, but there isn’t a super obvious way to rearrange them or set specific priorities. I mean, I can connect to my home Wi-Fi manually, but who has time for that every time I start up? Also, if I forget to check which network it’s connected to, I could be on that slow neighbor’s network instead of my faster, reliable home network.

Has anyone figured out how to do this? Is there some command line wizardry I need to try, or does it involve diving into some configuration files? I just want something simple – like a drag-and-drop list or a way to set the networks’ priority. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I’m starting to feel a bit like a novice with all this network stuff, and I know there must be a way to streamline it. Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers



    1. Ubuntu Wi-Fi Network Priority Fix

      How to Set Wi-Fi Network Priority on Ubuntu

      If your Ubuntu laptop keeps bouncing between networks and you’re tired of connecting to the wrong one, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Here are some steps to help you prioritize your home Wi-Fi over others:

      Using the Network Settings GUI

      1. Click on the network icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
      2. Select “Settings” or “Wi-Fi Settings”.
      3. In the “Wi-Fi” tab, you should see a list of available networks. Note: The priority isn’t straightforward here, but you can try to ensure your home Wi-Fi is connected and saved.
      4. Make sure to toggle the “Connect automatically” option for your home network if available.

      Using Terminal Commands

      If that doesn’t work, we can try some command line magic! Open your terminal and run the following commands:

      1. To see your network connections, type: nmcli connection show and hit Enter.
      2. Find your home Wi-Fi SSID in the list.
      3. To set a higher priority, use: nmcli connection modify "Your_Home_Network" connection.autoconnect-priority 10 (you can replace “10” with a higher number if needed).

      Edit Configuration Files (If Needed)

      If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also edit configuration files directly:

      1. Open the terminal and run: sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Your_Home_Network
      2. Look for the line that says autoconnect=true and ensure it’s there.
      3. Check the [connection] section to see if there’s a priority entry; if not, you can add it (higher number = higher priority).
      4. Save and exit (CTRL + X, then Y, then Enter).

      Reboot

      After making these changes, reboot your laptop and see if it connects to the right network first!

      Hopefully, this will help settle your network woes. Just remember that sometimes, systems can be quirky, so be patient and try different settings until you find what works best for your setup!



    2. To prioritize your home Wi-Fi network in Ubuntu and prevent your laptop from connecting to less desired networks, you can manage the connection settings using either the graphical interface or the command line. If you prefer the graphical interface, go to “Settings” > “Wi-Fi,” then click on the gear icon next to your home Wi-Fi network. In the settings for that network, ensure that the “Connect automatically” option is enabled. You may also uncheck the “Connect to hidden networks” option if it’s available, which helps to avoid connecting to unintended networks. Unfortunately, Ubuntu doesn’t provide a straightforward drag-and-drop method to rearrange Wi-Fi priorities within the GUI, but manually setting your home network to connect automatically usually does the trick.

      If you want a more controlled way to set the priority using the command line, you can edit the netplan configuration files. Open a terminal and type sudo nano /etc/netplan/01-netcfg.yaml. Locate the section regarding your Wi-Fi connections, and you can specify priority with the “priority” setting, using a higher number for your home network. For example, you can set it to 100 for your home Wi-Fi and lower numbers for the other networks. After making your changes, save the file and run sudo netplan apply to enforce the new settings. This way, your laptop should consistently connect to your preferred home network first whenever it’s in range, minimizing the annoyance of jumping between other networks.


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