MacOS – How to make OSX scan for available WiFi networks now

macoswifi

Here is some background:

When I'm on the move, I often have to use my mobile phone as a hotspot. Usually I will realise that after having woken up my MacBook, otherwise how would I see that no WiFi networks are available.

However, OSX does not seem to rescan too often, I don't know the interval, but I usually end up turning off WiFi and turn it on again.

A much better solution for me would be a button / service / … that I can nudge and that will then Search for available WiFi networks NOW

Any solutions?


WiFi log of a scan:
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.475 Info: <airportd[33]> QUERY SCAN CACHE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.481 Info: <airportd[33]> GET CURRENT TETHER DEVICE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.482 Info: <airportd[33]> QUERY GAS CACHE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.484 Info: <airportd[33]> GET CURRENT TETHER DEVICE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.523 Info: <airportd[33]> START BROWSING TETHER DEVICES request received from pid 413 (com.apple.wifi.proxy)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.524 Info: <WiFiAgent[565]> START BROWSING TETHER DEVICES request received
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.632 Info: <airportd[33]> QUERY SCAN CACHE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.638 Info: <airportd[33]> GET CURRENT TETHER DEVICE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.640 Info: <airportd[33]> QUERY GAS CACHE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:05.642 Info: <airportd[33]> GET CURRENT TETHER DEVICE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:08.660 Info: <airportd[33]> QUERY SCAN CACHE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:08.666 Info: <airportd[33]> GET CURRENT TETHER DEVICE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:08.668 Info: <airportd[33]> QUERY GAS CACHE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:08.669 Info: <airportd[33]> GET CURRENT TETHER DEVICE request received from pid 407 (SystemUIServer)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:08.681 Info: <airportd[33]> START BROWSING TETHER DEVICES request received from pid 413 (com.apple.wifi.proxy)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:08.681 Info: <WiFiAgent[565]> START BROWSING TETHER DEVICES request received
Fri Dec  5 00:52:09.194 Info: <airportd[33]> STOP BROWSING TETHER DEVICES request received from pid 413 (com.apple.wifi.proxy)
Fri Dec  5 00:52:09.195 Info: <WiFiAgent[565]> STOP BROWSING TETHER DEVICES request received

Best Answer

Clicking the AirPort Wi-Fi icon on the menu bar will do a rescan of available networks.