Connecting Multiple Wi-Fi Interfaces to Different Networks on Linux (Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi OS)

This article explains how to connect multiple Wi-Fi interfaces to different Wi-Fi networks on Linux - useful when you want Speedify to bond two or more separate Wi-Fi connections for faster upload and download speeds.

What You’ll Need

• A Linux device
• Two or more Wi-Fi interfaces (for example, wlan0    and wlan1   )
• Access to the desktop GUI or command line
• Speedify installed on your device

Let's Get Started

There are two ways to connect each Wi-Fi interface to a different network: through the desktop GUI (graphical user interface) or through the command line. Use whichever method fits your setup.

Option 1: Using the GUI

Step 1

Click the network icon in the top-right corner of your screen. You'll see a list of your available Wi-Fi interfaces. Select a different Wi-Fi network for each one.

Once each interface is connected to its own network, Speedify will detect both internet connections and start using them automatically.

Option 2: Using the Command Line

If your device is running headless (without a monitor), or you prefer the command line, you can configure each Wi-Fi interface using wpa_cli    - a tool for managing wireless connections on Linux.

Step 1

Open a terminal and launch wpa_cli    for the first interface. Use the -i    argument to specify which interface you want to configure. For example, to configure wlan0   :

wpa_cli -i wlan0

This opens an interactive session where you can manage that interface's network settings.

Step 2

Confirm that the interface is scanning for available networks by running:

scan
scan_results

You should see a list of available Wi-Fi networks. If you see networks in the output, the interface is working correctly.

Step 3

Check whether any existing network configurations are already saved by running:

list_networks

If a network you want to use is already listed, note its ID and skip to Step 5 to modify it. Otherwise, continue to Step 4 to add a new one.

Step 4

Add a new network and take note of the ID that gets assigned to it:

add_network

Step 5

Configure the network using the ID from Step 3 or Step 4. Replace <ID>    with the actual network ID, and fill in your Wi-Fi network name (SSID (Service Set Identifier)) and password:

set_network <ID> ssid "Your Network Name"
set_network <ID> psk "Your Password"
enable_network <ID>

If you have multiple saved networks and need to choose one specifically, run:

select_network <ID>

For most standard home or office Wi-Fi networks, these commands are enough to get the interface connected.

Step 6

Save your configuration so it persists after a reboot:

save_config

Step 7

Type quit    to exit the wpa_cli    session, then repeat Steps 1 through 6 for your next interface (for example, wlan1   ), connecting it to a different Wi-Fi network.

Once all wireless interfaces are connected to their respective networks, Speedify will detect and combine them.