Android Wifi Scanning Tutorial with Examples

Android Wi-Fi
Example of WifiManager

1. Android Wi-Fi

In Android, Wi-Fi is known as a Wireless Network Protocol. It permits devices to get connected to the Internet or devices connected to each other for data exchange.

Specifically, Android provides the Wi-Fi API that applications can use the API to manage all aspects related to Wifi connectivity, such as searching for current Wifi networks, adding, saving, deleting Wifi connections, as well as managing data exchanged among devices.

In case you use the Wi-Fi API in your application, you can perform the following functions:

Scan to search for available Wifi networks in a range.
Allow devices to get connected to the Internet.
Connect to other devices via Service Discovery.
Manage a list of the configured networks.
Manage multiple connections.

Since Android 10.0 (API Level 29), you cannot use the Wi-Fi API in order to enable/disable the WiFi of thesystem,. It means that if you want to enable/disable Wifi, you have to use the available function of the operating system.

The privacy policy for using the Wi-Fi API to enable/disable Wifi has changed a few times over different versions of Android. More spercifically:

Android Level	Privacy policy
Level 1 ==> Level 22 (Android < 6.0)	Android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE needs to be added to AndroidManifest.xml.
Level 23 ==> Level 28 (Android 6.0 - 9.x)	Android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE needs to be added to AndroidManifest.xml. Simultaneously, the application must ask the user to allow it to enable/ disable the Wifi of the system.
Level 29+ (Android 10.0+)	Wi-Fi API is not permitted to enable/ disable the Wifi of the system.

* AndroidManifest.xml *

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE" />

WifiManager wifiManager = (WifiManager)getApplicationContext().getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);

wifiManager.setWifiEnabled(true); // Enable Wifi

wifiManager.setWifiEnabled(false); // Disable Wifi

In Android 10+ (API Level 29+), setWifiEnabled(boolean) is not in use anymore.
https://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/wifi/WifiManager.html#setWifiEnabled(boolean)

To get the Wifi status, you need to add android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE to AndroidManifest.xml:

* AndroidManifest.xml *

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />

WifiManager wifiManager = (WifiManager)getApplicationContext().getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
int state = wifiManager.getWifiState();
String statusInfo = "Unknown";

switch (state)  {
    case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_DISABLING:
        statusInfo = "Disabling";
        break;
    case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_DISABLED:
        statusInfo = "Disabled";
        break;
    case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_ENABLING:
        statusInfo = "Enabling";
        break;
    case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_ENABLED:
        statusInfo = "Enabled";
        break;
    case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_UNKNOWN:
        statusInfo = "Unknown";
        break;
    default:
        statusInfo = "Unknown";
        break;
}

Scan to search for the current networks:

WifiManager wifiManager = (WifiManager)getApplicationContext().getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
// Get List of Available Wifi Networks
List<ScanResult> availNetworks = wifiManager.getScanResults();

if (availNetworks.size() > 0) {
    
    // Get Each network detail
    for (int i=0; i< availNetworks.size();i++) {
        // ...
    }
}

The privacy policy for scanning current networks has changed a few times to different Android versions:

Android API Level	Privacy policy
Level 1 ==> Level 2	Android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION needs to be added to AndroidManifest.xml.
Level 23+ (Android 6.0+)	Android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION needs to be added to AndroidManifest.xml. And your application must ask the user for permission to scan (current) networks.

* AndroidManifest.xml *

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />

Android Wifi Direct P2P

2. Example of WifiManager

In this example, I'm going to show you how to use WifiManager to retrieve the status of the Wifi, scan the current networks, write down the details of each found network, and finally, connect to a certain network in the list.

Example preview:

First, on Android Studio, create a new project:

File > New > New Project > Empty Activity
- Name: WifiManagerExample
- Package name: org.o7planning.wifimanagerexample
- Language: Java

Then add the permissions to the application:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

AndroidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="org.o7planning.wifimanagerexample">

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
        <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>

And here is the example interface of the application:

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button_state"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="Show Wifi State"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button_scan"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="Scan Wifi"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toEndOf="@+id/button_state"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText_password"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:ems="10"
        android:inputType="textPersonName"
        android:text="12345678"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/button_state" />

    <ScrollView
        android:id="@+id/scrollView"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="143dp"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:background="#F3F4EB"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/editText_password">

        <LinearLayout
            android:id="@+id/linearLayout_scanResults"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_marginLeft="5sp"
            android:layout_marginTop="5sp"
            android:layout_marginRight="5sp"
            android:layout_marginBottom="5sp"
            android:orientation="vertical" />
    </ScrollView>

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView_scanResults"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="0dp"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:layout_marginBottom="16dp"
        android:background="#F1F3E7"
        android:inputType="textMultiLine"
        app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/scrollView" />

</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

MainActivity.java

package org.o7planning.wifimanagerexample;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat;
import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat;

import android.Manifest;
import android.content.BroadcastReceiver;
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.IntentFilter;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import android.net.wifi.ScanResult;
import android.net.wifi.WifiConfiguration;
import android.net.wifi.WifiManager;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;

import java.util.List;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private static final String LOG_TAG = "AndroidExample";

    private static final int MY_REQUEST_CODE = 123;

    private WifiManager wifiManager;

    private Button buttonState;
    private Button buttonScan;

    private EditText editTextPassword;
    private LinearLayout linearLayoutScanResults;
    private TextView textViewScanResults;

    private WifiBroadcastReceiver wifiReceiver;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        this.wifiManager = (WifiManager) this.getApplicationContext().getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);

        // Instantiate broadcast receiver
        this.wifiReceiver = new WifiBroadcastReceiver();

        // Register the receiver
        registerReceiver(wifiReceiver, new IntentFilter(WifiManager.SCAN_RESULTS_AVAILABLE_ACTION));

        //
        this.buttonState = (Button) this.findViewById(R.id.button_state);
        this.buttonScan = (Button) this.findViewById(R.id.button_scan);

        this.editTextPassword = (EditText) this.findViewById(R.id.editText_password);
        this.textViewScanResults = (TextView) this.findViewById(R.id.textView_scanResults);
        this.linearLayoutScanResults = (LinearLayout) this.findViewById(R.id.linearLayout_scanResults);

        this.buttonState.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener(){

            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                showWifiState();
            }
        });

        this.buttonScan.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                askAndStartScanWifi();
            }
        });
    }


    private void askAndStartScanWifi()  {

        // With Android Level >= 23, you have to ask the user
        // for permission to Call.
        if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.M) { // 23
            int permission1 = ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION);

            // Check for permissions
            if (permission1 != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {

                Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Requesting Permissions");

                // Request permissions
                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this,
                        new String[] {
                                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION,
                                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
                                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE,
                                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
                        }, MY_REQUEST_CODE);
                return;
            }
            Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Permissions Already Granted");
        }
        this.doStartScanWifi();
    }

    private void doStartScanWifi()  {
        this.wifiManager.startScan();
    }

    @Override
    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, String permissions[], int[] grantResults)  {
        Log.d(LOG_TAG, "onRequestPermissionsResult");

        switch (requestCode)  {
            case MY_REQUEST_CODE:  {
                // If request is cancelled, the result arrays are empty.
                if (grantResults.length > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED)  {
                    // permission was granted
                    Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Permission Granted: " + permissions[0]);

                    // Start Scan Wifi.
                    this.doStartScanWifi();
                }  else   {
                    // Permission denied, boo! Disable the
                    // functionality that depends on this permission.
                    Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Permission Denied: " + permissions[0]);
                }
                break;
            }
            // Other 'case' lines to check for other
            // permissions this app might request.
        }
    }

    private void showWifiState()  {
        int state = this.wifiManager.getWifiState();
        String statusInfo = "Unknown";

        switch (state)  {
            case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_DISABLING:
                statusInfo = "Disabling";
                break;
            case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_DISABLED:
                statusInfo = "Disabled";
                break;
            case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_ENABLING:
                statusInfo = "Enabling";
                break;
            case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_ENABLED:
                statusInfo = "Enabled";
                break;
            case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_UNKNOWN:
                statusInfo = "Unknown";
                break;
            default:
                statusInfo = "Unknown";
                break;
        }
        Toast.makeText(this, "Wifi Status: " + statusInfo, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onStop()  {
        this.unregisterReceiver(this.wifiReceiver);
        super.onStop();
    }


    // Define class to listen to broadcasts
    class WifiBroadcastReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver  {
        @Override
        public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent)   {
            Log.d(LOG_TAG, "onReceive()");

            Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Scan Complete!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            boolean ok = intent.getBooleanExtra(WifiManager.EXTRA_RESULTS_UPDATED, false);

            if (ok)  {
                Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Scan OK");

                List<ScanResult> list = wifiManager.getScanResults();

                MainActivity.this.showNetworks(list);
                MainActivity.this.showNetworksDetails(list);
            }  else {
                Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Scan not OK");
            }

        }
    }

    private void showNetworks(List<ScanResult> results) {
        this.linearLayoutScanResults.removeAllViews();

        for( final ScanResult result: results)  {
            final String networkCapabilities = result.capabilities;
            final String networkSSID = result.SSID; // Network Name.
            //
            Button button = new Button(this );

            button.setText(networkSSID + " ("+networkCapabilities+")");
            this.linearLayoutScanResults.addView(button);

            button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
                @Override
                public void onClick(View v) {
                    String networkCapabilities = result.capabilities;
                    connectToNetwork(networkCapabilities, networkSSID);
                }
            });
        }
    }

    private void showNetworksDetails(List<ScanResult> results)  {

        this.textViewScanResults.setText("");
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        sb.append("Result Count: " + results.size());

        for(int i = 0; i < results.size(); i++ )  {
            ScanResult result = results.get(i);
            sb.append("\n\n  --------- Network " + i + "/" + results.size() + " ---------");

            sb.append("\n result.capabilities: " + result.capabilities);
            sb.append("\n result.SSID: " + result.SSID); // Network Name.

            sb.append("\n result.BSSID: " + result.BSSID);
            sb.append("\n result.frequency: " + result.frequency);
            sb.append("\n result.level: " + result.level);

            sb.append("\n result.describeContents(): " + result.describeContents());

            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN_MR1) { // Level 17, Android 4.2
                sb.append("\n result.timestamp: " + result.timestamp);
            }

            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) { // Level 23, Android 6.0
                sb.append("\n result.centerFreq0: " + result.centerFreq0);
                sb.append("\n result.centerFreq1: " + result.centerFreq1);
                sb.append("\n result.venueName: " + result.venueName);
                sb.append("\n result.operatorFriendlyName: " + result.operatorFriendlyName);
                sb.append("\n result.channelWidth: " + result.channelWidth);
                sb.append("\n result.is80211mcResponder(): " + result.is80211mcResponder());
                sb.append("\n result.isPasspointNetwork(): " + result.isPasspointNetwork() );
            }
        }
        this.textViewScanResults.setText(sb.toString());
    }

    private void connectToNetwork(String networkCapabilities, String networkSSID)  {
        Toast.makeText(this, "Connecting to network: "+ networkSSID, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

        String networkPass = this.editTextPassword.getText().toString();
        //
        WifiConfiguration wifiConfig = new WifiConfiguration();
        wifiConfig.SSID =  "\"" + networkSSID + "\"";

        if(networkCapabilities.toUpperCase().contains("WEP")) { // WEP Network.
            Toast.makeText(this, "WEP Network", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            wifiConfig.wepKeys[0] = "\"" + networkPass + "\"";
            wifiConfig.wepTxKeyIndex = 0;
            wifiConfig.allowedKeyManagement.set(WifiConfiguration.KeyMgmt.NONE);
            wifiConfig.allowedGroupCiphers.set(WifiConfiguration.GroupCipher.WEP40);
        } else if(networkCapabilities.toUpperCase().contains("WPA")) { // WPA Network
            Toast.makeText(this, "WPA Network", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            wifiConfig.preSharedKey = "\""+ networkPass +"\"";
        } else  { // OPEN Network.
            Toast.makeText(this, "OPEN Network", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            wifiConfig.allowedKeyManagement.set(WifiConfiguration.KeyMgmt.NONE);
        }

        this.wifiManager.addNetwork(wifiConfig);

        List<WifiConfiguration> list = this.wifiManager.getConfiguredNetworks();
        for( WifiConfiguration config : list ) {
            if(config.SSID != null && config.SSID.equals("\"" + networkSSID + "\"")) {
                this.wifiManager.disconnect();
                this. wifiManager.enableNetwork(config.networkId, true);
                this.wifiManager.reconnect();
                break;
            }
        }
    }
}

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Android Wifi Scanning Tutorial with Examples

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