The internet has revolutionized the world into a global village where anything and everything is possible. Theoretical innovations like virtual reality have materialized thanks to the internet.
Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets can tap into the power of the internet and develop their artificial intelligence. The limit of what we can do with the internet is unquantifiable.
The internet relies on complex network connections to work. Connection mediums are crucial when creating, managing, and sustaining a reliable internet connection. Wi-Fi is the most preferred connection medium to the internet because of its wireless connectivity feature.
Smart devices connect to the internet to communicate, source information, and provide entertainment. This article provides the ultimate guide on checking Wi-Fi signal strength on any of your smart devices.
View Wi-Fi signal status on Windows
You can follow the following routine to check the Wi-Fi signal strength on any Windows operating system.
Step 1: Start by connecting your Windows PC to a trusted Wi-Fi network.
Step 2: Locate your Windows notification section near the bottom right of your taskbar and click on the Wi-Fi icon.
Step 3: A pop-up list will appear with all available Wi-Fi networks within your range. Look at the top of the list to find your active Wi-Fi connection.
Step 4: Pay close attention to the number of full bars on your Wi-Fi connection. The more bars you see, the better your Wi-Fi connectivity strength.
View Wi-Fi signal status on macOS
The Mac OS offers a more detailed Wi-Fi signal strength report. You can follow the following prompts to check Wi-Fi signal strength on your Mac.
Step 1: Start by connecting your Mac to a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
Step 2: Proceed by clicking and holding the option key on your keyboard while pressing the Wi-Fi icon located at the taskbar.
Step 3: You can check your macOS Wi-Fi strength in decibels (dBm). Your RSSI or received signal indicator is the primary keystone for diagnosing your Wi-Fi strength.
View Wi-Fi signal status on iPhone?
iPhone users can use the following procedure to check the Wi-Fi signal strength on their Apple device.
Step 1: Commence the procedure by turning on your iPhone mobile device.
Step 2: Tap on the settings app and scroll until you find the Airport Utility feature. Tap on the Airport Utility feature and tap on the Wi-Fi scanner option to activate the Wi-Fi scanning feature.
Step 3: Go back and tap on the AirPort Utility feature on your iPhone to commence the scanning process. The scanning option has a bluish highlight in the top-right corner of your screen.
Step 4: The last step requires you to tap on the scan option to see all the available Wi-Fi broadcast signals alongside their respective signal strength.
View Wi-Fi signal status on Android?
Checking for Wi-Fi signal strength on an android device is not complicated. You can use the following procedure to check for Wi-Fi signal strength on your android device.
Step 1: Start by swiping downwards from the top of your android device to access the shortcut icons and options.
Step 2: Locate and long-press the Wi-Fi icon to access your primary Wi-Fi settings.
Step 3: Turn on the Wi-Fi feature by using the switch at the top right of your screen.
Step 4: You will see a list of all available Wi-Fi networks alongside their signal strength. Check how many Wi-Fi bars are present on the right side of your screen. The more bars a Wi-Fi connection has, the stronger it is. Connect to your preferred Wi-Fi connection after analyzing the available network.
View Wi-Fi signal status on Linux
You can use the following procedure to check for the Wi-Fi signal strength on your Linux operating system.
Step 1: Go to your Linux OS and enable your Wi-Fi connection feature. Scan and connect to your preferred Wi-Fi broadcast signal.
Step 2: Open your Linux terminal and run your command Wavemon. Remember to run the command without parameters.
Step 3: Wait for the command to execute, and you will see all the essential and advanced information about the Wi-Fi signal strength connected and active on your device.
Using 3rd Party Wi-Fi Software Applications
You can use 3rd party software applications to get detailed and advanced information about your Wi-Fi connection. Some software applications are complex and mainly used by network specialists to troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks. Other Wi-Fi software applications are ideal for armature users to analyze basic information about their wireless network.
You can opt for simple Wi-Fi software if you are only interested in the signal strength information of your wireless network. Below are some software applications you can use to get detailed information about your Wi-Fi internet connection.
1. Netspot
Netspot is a small yet powerful network analysis and diagnostic tool for network amateurs and professionals. Network specialists use Netspot to conduct Wi-Fi site surveys, network evaluation, and wireless troubleshooting services.
You can use the free Wi-Fi application software to analyze their 802.11 wireless networks. Netspost is a dual-band network diagnostic tool, and you can use it on 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency channels.
Netspot has a user-friendly interface with beautiful graphical layouts to help keep you interested and eager to learn everything about your Wi-Fi network. Netspot software download is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux users.
2. Wireshark
Wireshark is a fantastic protocol analyzer tool used majorly by network professionals. Wireshark has general sniffing capabilities and advanced packet analytical features that set the network utility tool apart from the rest of the pack.
You can use Wireshark to diagnose Wi-Fi network issues and optimize wireless connections on your network. The protocol analyzer tool can monitor network traffic and filter your network traffic.
Other features include advanced decryption tools for protocols like Kerberos, SSL/TLS, WPA/WPA2, and WEP. Wireshark software download is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, NetBSD, FreeBSD, and Solaris users.
FAQs
Q. How can I check the Wi-Fi signal strength on my Android device?
The easiest way to check for Wi-Fi signal strength is to go to your Wi-Fi settings page. Turn on your Wi-Fi connection and wait for your system to search and list available networks. You can check Wi-Fi signal strength by looking at Wi-Fi bars. Strong Wi-Fi networks have full bars, whereas weak networks have fewer bars.
Q. Why should I check my Wi-Fi signal strength?
You should check your Wi-Fi signal strength because you can gain insightful information that can help you optimize your wireless connection. The Wi-Fi signal strength results can help you avoid dead spots.
Q. Is there a free Wi-Fi analysis software application for testing and measuring signal strength?
Yes. Free Wi-Fi analysis software is available, and you can use it to test and measure the signal strength of your wireless signal strength. Netspot is one of the best free Wi-Fi analysis tools that you can use on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms.