[GH-ISSUE #1744] Get stored SSID before connection is made, to connect to strongest of multiple identical SSIDs #1477

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opened 2026-02-28 01:30:14 +03:00 by kerem · 2 comments

kerem commented

2026-02-28 01:30:14 +03:00

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Originally created by @richardhawthorn on GitHub (Jun 18, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/tzapu/WiFiManager/issues/1744

Hi there

I'm trying to get the SSID of the stored network before the first connection is made (I know I can use WiFi.SSID() once the network is connected, but I don't want to connect first)

Background: I have a network with multiple identical SSIDs (and passwords), and I want to connect to the strongest of those. If I have the SSID I can scan for all networks (matching on SSID), check which is the strongest, and use it's BSSID to connect to that access point specifically, giving me the strongest connection.

Thanks!

Richard

Originally created by @richardhawthorn on GitHub (Jun 18, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/tzapu/WiFiManager/issues/1744 Hi there I'm trying to get the SSID of the stored network before the first connection is made (I know I can use WiFi.SSID() once the network is connected, but I don't want to connect first) Background: I have a network with multiple identical SSIDs (and passwords), and I want to connect to the strongest of those. If I have the SSID I can scan for all networks (matching on SSID), check which is the strongest, and use it's BSSID to connect to that access point specifically, giving me the strongest connection. Thanks! Richard

kerem closed this issue

2026-02-28 01:30:14 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-02-28 01:30:14 +03:00

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@richardhawthorn commented on GitHub (Jun 21, 2024):

For those looking to do the same thing, here are the function you need to access the SSID and password before the connection is made:

ESP8266

String getStoredSSID(){
  struct station_config conf;
  wifi_station_get_config(&conf);
  return (char *) conf.ssid;
}

ESP32

String getStoredSSID(){
  wifi_config_t cachedConfig; 
  esp_err_t configResult = esp_wifi_get_config( (wifi_interface_t)ESP_IF_WIFI_STA, &cachedConfig );
      
  if( configResult == ESP_OK ){
    return (char *) cachedConfig.ap.ssid;
  }
}

With both of these, you can get the saved password by replacing 'ssid' with 'password'.

@richardhawthorn commented on GitHub (Jun 21, 2024): For those looking to do the same thing, here are the function you need to access the SSID and password before the connection is made: ESP8266 ``` String getStoredSSID(){ struct station_config conf; wifi_station_get_config(&conf); return (char *) conf.ssid; } ``` ESP32 ``` String getStoredSSID(){ wifi_config_t cachedConfig; esp_err_t configResult = esp_wifi_get_config( (wifi_interface_t)ESP_IF_WIFI_STA, &cachedConfig ); if( configResult == ESP_OK ){ return (char *) cachedConfig.ap.ssid; } } ``` With both of these, you can get the saved password by replacing 'ssid' with 'password'.

kerem commented

2026-02-28 01:30:14 +03:00

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@tablatronix commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2024):

esp32 cannot obtain ssid until you init wifi.

also already in wm

    // check if the module has a saved ap to connect to
    bool          getWiFiIsSaved();

    // helper to get saved password, if persistent get stored, else get current if connected    
    String        getWiFiPass(bool persistent = true);

    // helper to get saved ssid, if persistent get stored, else get current if connected
    String        getWiFiSSID(bool persistent = true);

Also this is already doable in esp

 WiFi.setScanMethod(WIFI_ALL_CHANNEL_SCAN); // wifi_scan_method_t scanMethod
 WiFi.setSortMethod(WIFI_CONNECT_AP_BY_SIGNAL); // wifi_sort_method_t sortMethod - WIFI_CONNECT_AP_BY_SIGNAL,WIFI_CONNECT_AP_BY_SECURITY

@tablatronix commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2024): esp32 cannot obtain ssid until you init wifi. also already in wm ```C++ // check if the module has a saved ap to connect to bool getWiFiIsSaved(); // helper to get saved password, if persistent get stored, else get current if connected String getWiFiPass(bool persistent = true); // helper to get saved ssid, if persistent get stored, else get current if connected String getWiFiSSID(bool persistent = true); ``` Also this is already doable in esp ```c++ WiFi.setScanMethod(WIFI_ALL_CHANNEL_SCAN); // wifi_scan_method_t scanMethod WiFi.setSortMethod(WIFI_CONNECT_AP_BY_SIGNAL); // wifi_sort_method_t sortMethod - WIFI_CONNECT_AP_BY_SIGNAL,WIFI_CONNECT_AP_BY_SECURITY ```