scutil - macOS

Overview

scutil is a macOS command-line tool used for configuring and managing network-related settings on Apple devices running macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. It allows administrators and users to modify network interfaces, Wi-Fi connections, and routing tables.

Syntax

scutil [command] [options] [arguments]

Options/Flags

| Option | Description | Default |
|—|—|—|
| -i | Specifies a network interface (e.g., en0) | Required |
| -n | Specifies a network service (e.g., Wi-Fi) | |
| -r | Specifies a routing table (e.g., default) | |
| -v | Verbose mode | |
| -h | Displays help information | |

Commands

Network Interface Configuration

show

Retrieves and displays information about a network interface.

configure

Modifies the configuration of a network interface.

delete

Deletes a network interface.

Wi-Fi Configuration

join

Joins a Wi-Fi network.

leave

Leaves a Wi-Fi network.

start

Starts the Wi-Fi service.

stop

Stops the Wi-Fi service.

Routing Table Management

add

Adds a route to a routing table.

delete

Deletes a route from a routing table.

show

Displays the routes in a routing table.

Examples

Displaying Network Interface Information

scutil -i en0 show

Joining a Wi-Fi Network

scutil -n Wi-Fi join MyNetwork

Adding a Route to the Default Routing Table

scutil -r default add 10.0.0.0/24 192.168.1.1

Common Issues

Network Interface Not Found

If a network interface is not found when using scutil, ensure the interface is active and has been configured correctly.

Unable to Join Wi-Fi Network

If you encounter issues joining a Wi-Fi network, verify the network password and check the signal strength.

Routing Table Manipulation Errors

When manipulating routing tables, ensure that the route you are adding or deleting is valid and does not conflict with existing routes.

Integration

scutil can be integrated with other macOS commands and tools for advanced network management tasks. For example, it can be combined with the networksetup command to create and manage Wi-Fi hotspots.

  • networksetup
  • ifconfig
  • arp
  • route