Bug 424168 - Add the ability to manually refresh the list of WiFi networks in the NetworkManager applet
Summary: Add the ability to manually refresh the list of WiFi networks in the NetworkM...
Status: CLOSED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: plasma-nm
Classification: Plasma
Component: applet (show other bugs)
Version: 5.19.3
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Jan Grulich
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2020-07-13 18:21 UTC by popov895
Modified: 2023-09-28 13:26 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

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Description popov895 2020-07-13 18:21:08 UTC 
SUMMARY

Currently, the NetworkManager applet refreshes the list of WiFi networks every 10200 ms (~10 sec), but sometimes you need to refresh it immediately because you know that a new network has just appeared. I can manually refresh the list using command `sudo iwlist device scan`, but it would be great to be able to do this from the applet. Every mobile device has this feature, also there is an extension that adds this feature to the GNOME.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS

Linux/KDE Plasma: KDE neon 5.19 User Edition
KDE Plasma Version: 5.19.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.72.0
Qt Version: 5.14.2
Comment 1 Jan Grulich 2020-07-14 19:51:05 UTC 
We currently scan right after the applet is opened and if that request fails, then we try every 2 seconds until we get a successful scan and then every 10 seconds, which is the treshold NM allows us to request a scan after previous one. This means there shouldn't be need for the button to refresh the list manually.
Comment 2 Nate Graham 2020-07-14 20:56:34 UTC 
And yet we keep getting user requests for this anyway...
Comment 3 Jan Grulich 2020-07-15 05:27:46 UTC 
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #2)
> And yet we keep getting user requests for this anyway...

I understand why is that. You don't see the scan happening in the background and you want your AP to appear as soon as possible. However, the way it is implemented now, you will actually get it as soon as possible. You might just think it was because you pressed the button.
Comment 4 popov895 2020-07-15 09:00:51 UTC 
I didn't know that the implementation of this feature isn't possible due to the limitations in the NetworkManager. It's sad.

Why don't you scan when the applet isn't open? At least you can check that the user isn't connected and scan even if the applet is closed.
Comment 5 Nate Graham 2020-07-15 13:35:29 UTC 
(In reply to Jan Grulich from comment #3)
> (In reply to Nate Graham from comment #2)
> > And yet we keep getting user requests for this anyway...
> 
> I understand why is that. You don't see the scan happening in the background
> and you want your AP to appear as soon as possible.
Maybe that's something we can communicate to the user? Like perhaps we could add a spinner to the applet while the scan is still happening.
Comment 6 Nate Graham 2020-07-15 13:36:38 UTC 
...As requested in Bug 421370, in fact.
Comment 7 KazuhiroShigeru 2023-09-28 09:09:46 UTC 
I was about to write a new bug tracker about this but anyways.. that button should be there so users can refresh the list, or show a way that it is looking/scanning for networks, making it more intuitive.
Comment 8 Nate Graham 2023-09-28 13:26:41 UTC 
Please do not re-open bug reports marked RESOLVED INTENTIONAL.