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William-Boyd-Jr
User level: Level 6 (10,614 points)

How to report iPhone WiFi signal strength in dBm?

Is there an iPhone app (ideally free or with a low one-time cost) that will report the strength of the WiFi signal in dBm that my iPhone sees? An article I found recommended the app SpeedSmart (which I have), but that app seems only capable of reporting data transfer rates, which isn’t what I want. Is there a Terminal command that can display the strength of the WiFi signal? Thanks for any advice.

Posted on Oct 22, 2026 8:08 PM

6 replies

MrHoffman
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)

Oct 22, 2026 8:24 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

No. No access to Wi-Fi connection metadata. No Terminal is provided in iOS, either.


Apple doesn’t provide the necessary controller-level access for third-party developers, and none of the built-in displays show Wi-Fi signal strength.


I use one of these: Ubiquiti UniFi WiFiMan Wizard to collect that and other Wi-Fi data.


2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, but no 6 GHz.

MrHoffman
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)

Oct 23, 2026 1:51 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

William-Boyd-Jr wrote:
Another post suggested using AirPort Utility, which does what I wanted.

I saw that. Handy.


It’d be nice if Apple incorporated that and other Wi-Fi details directly into iOS akin to how the Phone app can show cellular connection data in its Field Test mode.

Regarding Terminal, I have the “iSH” app on my phone. It supports the running of Terminal commands. I don’t know how extensive the support is. About all I’ve tried to run in it is the “uptime” command.

iSH brings along its own Linux install, and accessing most anything outside of its own iSH app sandbox is not permitted.


Check with the app vendor certainly, but I’d not expect it provides any access to iOS-specific Wi-Fi data.


iSH is conceptually akin to Fabrice Bellard’s JavaScript Linux: <https://bellard.org/jslinux/>. That downloads and boots Linux in a web browser.





Here’s the WiFiMan app:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ubiquiti-wifiman/id1385561119’


Here’s an SSID client scan (with the displayed MAC addresses and channels expurgated) using the connected scanner:


Unlike iOS, Android can get at this Wi-Fi data directly.

William-Boyd-Jr Author
User level: Level 6 (10,614 points)

Oct 23, 2026 10:35 AM in response to MrHoffman

Another post suggested using AirPort Utility, which does what I wanted.


Regarding Terminal, I have the “iSH” app on my phone. It supports the running of Terminal commands. I don’t know how extensive the support is. About all I’ve tried to run in it is the “uptime” command.

William-Boyd-Jr Author
User level: Level 6 (10,614 points)

Oct 23, 2026 10:32 AM in response to brbo

Thanks. I still have AirPort Utility on my iPhone. It does what I wanted. That’s a good enough reason to keep it, even though I no longer have any AirPort equipment.

brbo
User level: Level 8 (45,179 points)

Oct 22, 2026 8:28 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

Re: "How to report iPhone WiFi signal strength in dBm?"


Another discussion thread provides relevant info. that may help:

Eg: explains how to use "the free AirPort Utility app".

Is there a reliable app to measure Wi-Fi … - Apple Community

brbo
User level: Level 8 (45,179 points)

Oct 23, 2026 6:51 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

Thank you for taking the time to reply and to let us know.

Good to read that you found a simple way that works for you. Cheers :-)


Grateful to Mr Hoffman too, for sharing such thorough knowledge. and expertise.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256381255