Want to know which Wi-Fi networks your Mac has connected to in the past and when? This guide will show you how to find a comprehensive list of previously connected Wi-Fi networks on your Mac, including connection dates and times, network SSID numbers and names, and security types. With this information, you can troubleshoot network issues, recover forgotten passwords, or analyze data for forensic purposes.
Viewing Wi-Fi network connection history on a Mac
To view the Wi-Fi network connection history on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal application located in /Applications/Utilities/ (you can also use Spotlight and type “Terminal”).
- Type the following command:
defaults read /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences | grep LastConnected -A 7
This command will display a comprehensive list of wireless network connection details, including the date and time of the last connection, network SSID names, and security types.
If you’ve connected to multiple networks, the list may be long. You can redirect the output to a text file on your desktop for easier reading by adding > ~/Desktop/connectionlist.txt to the end of the command:
defaults read /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences | grep LastConnected -A 7 > ~/Desktop/connectionlist.txt
The file connectionlist.txt will then appear on your desktop with the Wi-Fi connection history information.
Note: This method works on modern versions of Mac OS and Mac OS X, including macOS High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, and later. For older versions, such as Mavericks, you can use a slightly modified command to achieve the same result.
Now you have a detailed Wi-Fi connection history at your fingertips!
If you have any other methods for tracking Wi-Fi connection history on a Mac, feel free to share them in the comments below!
Benefits of Finding Detailed Wi-Fi Connection History in Mac OS
- This guide is free and provides step-by-step instructions.
- It helps users easily track their Wi-Fi connection history.
- No need to spend money on third-party apps or tools to retrieve this information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does this guide help in finding Wi-Fi connection history on a Mac?
This guide provides detailed instructions on using the Mac OS command line to find Wi-Fi connection history. It helps users retrieve information such as connection dates and times, network names, and security types.
Which devices and operating systems are supported by this guide?
This guide is specifically for Apple devices running Mac OS or iOS.
