How to get a list of all the visible WiFi networks using zsh terminal

sasika288 wrote:

I want to list down all the visible WiFI Networks available using zsh. I know this is possible for linux (Found this interesting discussion here https://askubuntu.com/questions/567006/how-can-i-display-the-list-of-available-wi-fi-networks)

How can I do the same thing for a Macbook with macOS Sequoia?

You don't. This is privacy sensitive information because it could be used to identify a user's precise location. Therefore, it can't be done from a script. You have to use the UI.

Since macOS is a UNIX operating system and not based on Linux, you will not find an equivalent tool such as the nmcli (Network Management CLI) that is part of several Linux distros. Simply click on System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi and look at the Other Networks list. The airport command line solution you will see in older online posts is long since deprecated and no longer usable.

Alternatively, if you want more detail, then you could look in the Mac App Store for a specialized tool that provides the detail you seek. Search for "network scan".

With macOS Sequoia (15.7.1), pressing the option key and clicking on the network symbol in the menu bar no longer displays the list of these other networks.