iwd fails to connect to hidden SSID
Vignesh Raman <[email protected]> Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:48:07 +0530
| Newsgroups | dev.linux.lists.iwd |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
Hi,
iwd (version: 3.9) fails to connect to a hidden SSID both standalone and
when used as the wifi backend for NetworkManager. The same AP connects
successfully using wpa_supplicant. This issue was reproduced in steamdeck.
More details in,
https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/NetworkManager/NetworkManager/-/work_items/1013
Steps (without NetworkManager):
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ systemctl is-active NetworkManager
inactive
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl device wlan0 set-property Powered on
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl device list
Devices
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Address Powered Adapter
Mode
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wlan0 b0:0c:9d:95:46:37 on phy0
station
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl station wlan0 disconnect
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl known-networks list
Known Networks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Security Hidden Last
connected
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl station wlan0 show
Station: wlan0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Settable Property Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scanning no
State disconnected
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl station wlan0 scan
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl station wlan0 get-networks
Available networks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network name Security Signal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vicky_Asus_5G psk ****
Vicky_Asus psk ****
(deck@steamdeck ~)$ iwctl --passphrase 'xxxx' station wlan0
connect-hidden Vicky_Jio
Object not found
Logs:
Without NM:
```
Jun 04 07:52:01.302680 steamdeck iwd[1191]:
src/station.c:station_add_seen_bss() BSS has hidden SSID
Jun 04 07:52:02.128478 steamdeck iwd[1191]:
src/station.c:station_add_seen_bss() BSS has hidden SSID
Jun 04 07:52:02.132183 steamdeck iwd[1191]:
src/scan.c:scan_request_triggered() Active scan triggered for wdev 2
Jun 04 07:52:05.935535 steamdeck iwd[1191]:
src/station.c:station_add_seen_bss() BSS has hidden SSID
Jun 04 16:16:57.950590 steamdeck iwd[1235]:
src/station.c:station_dbus_connect_hidden_network()
Jun 04 16:16:57.971723 steamdeck iwd[1235]:
src/scan.c:scan_request_triggered() Active scan triggered for wdev 2
Jun 04 16:16:57.971723 steamdeck iwd[1235]:
src/station.c:station_hidden_network_scan_triggered()
Jun 04 16:17:01.770657 steamdeck iwd[1235]: src/scan.c:scan_notify()
Scan notification New Scan Results(34)
Jun 04 16:17:01.771150 steamdeck iwd[1235]:
src/station.c:station_hidden_network_scan_results()
Jun 04 16:17:01.771150 steamdeck iwd[1235]:
src/wiphy.c:wiphy_radio_work_done() Work item 9 done
```
With NM (iwd backend):
```
Jun 04 07:52:02.298619 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <info> device
(wlan0): Activation: starting connection 'Vicky_Jio'
Jun 04 07:52:02.299870 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <info> device
(wlan0): state change: prepare -> failed (reason 'none', managed-type:
'full')
Jun 04 07:52:02.300280 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <warn> device
(wlan0): Activation: failed for connection 'Vicky_Jio'
Jun 04 07:52:04.307425 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <info> device
(wlan0): Activation: starting connection 'Vicky_Jio'
Jun 04 07:52:04.308025 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <info> device
(wlan0): state change: prepare -> failed (reason 'none', managed-type:
'full')
Jun 04 07:52:04.308389 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <warn> device
(wlan0): Activation: failed for connection 'Vicky_Jio'
...
Jun 04 07:52:08.325069 steamdeck NetworkManager[1184]: <debug> policy:
autoconnect: connection[...] (Vicky_Jio): failed to autoconnect; 0 tries
left
```
The same AP connects successfully with wpa_supplicant as the wifi backend.
Regards,
Vignesh