WinFi Lite is a powerful WiFi Analyzer for Windows

Martin Brinkmann
Sep 3, 2019
Updated • Apr 21, 2023
Windows
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46

WinFi Lite is a new networking program and app for Microsoft Windows devices designed to monitor, analyze, and manage wireless networks. The application is available as a Microsoft Store application and as a classic desktop application.

The desktop application is available on OneDrive and not signed at the time of writing. The author plans to sign it soon though.

The program is listed as beta currently but it works really well already. For this test, I have checked out the desktop version of the application. Both versions share the same functionality.

Tip: check out NetSpot WiFi Analyzer for Android if you want a mobile analyzer. Also, make sure to secure your wireless router. If you use Windows, use WifiHistoryView to display past wireless connections the PC made and this tutorial to remove old wireless networks in Windows 10.

WinFi Lite

winfi lite wireless network windows

The interface of the application provides a wealth of information but in a very organized fashion thanks to the use of colors and tabs. It may still be overwhelming at first as you find lots of buttons, tabs and menus placed in the interface to change what is displayed on the screen.

The program displays the list of wireless networks that it discovered during an initial scan; the list is updated automatically by default but you may click on the pause button in the top left corner next to the wireless network adapter to pause the scans.

Each wireless network is listed with its BSSID, network name, vendor name, RSSI, beacon, rates, bands, channels, amendments, channel utilization, security, uptime, last seen date and a lot more.

A click on any network displays details in the lower panel. The lower panel uses tabs to divide details, signals, spectrum, parameter, and notes.

The application displays graphs when you click on network details that highlights the strength of the selected network. Signals and Spectrum provide a comparison with other networks. The program color codes each network that it found during the scan and all of them are displayed in the graphs so that you can check the use of channels or the signal strength effectively.

winfi lite manage wireless networks

The Parameters tab finally lists details networking parameters such as the supported rates, capability information, or timestamps. There is also a notes tab to add custom text notes.

WinFi Lite supports lots of filtering options to display a subset of networks or information only. You can sort the network table using the program and switch to another supported view mode using the view menu.

The application supports basic and pro view modes, a security report view mode, or network capability and nearby network lists views. Basic, as the name suggests, lists fewer parameters and focuses on important metrics such as signal quality, band, or channel.

wireless networks security

Pro displays more information, and security report changes the layout of the table by grouping networks into security categories. It lists open networks and networks sorted into groups that use encryption for easier identification.

You can create custom profiles using the program's capabilities; ideal if you need an overview of a subset of information only.

A right-click on a network displays options to copy the information or save/open as Pcap.,

The developer added handy features to the application that improves how you use it. You find 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz toggles at the top to quickly display or hide these networks in the listing. There is an option to save the data to JSON files, and to change zounds of parameters in the settings. To name just a few: scan interval in seconds, when unreachable networks are removed from the table, how graphs are displayed, and a lot more.

WinFi Lite keeps track of networks in an archive that you may open at any time. A click on a session  provides an option to replay it in its entirety. The program switches to the table view then and you may use the session slider to go back and forward in time, or play it instead.

Closing Words

WinFi Lite may still be a beta application but it is well designed very powerful wireless network monitor, analyzer, and manager. Cautious users may want to wait until the program is out of beta and signed properly.

Now You: do you use network monitoring applications? (via Deskmodder)

Summary
software image
Author Rating
1star1star1star1star1star
3.5 based on 12 votes
Software Name
WinFi Lite
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
Network
Landing Page
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Comments

  1. Gavin said on April 21, 2023 at 12:26 pm
    Reply

    still stuck on loading, is that app trying to call home to allow itself to start ?

  2. Gavin said on April 21, 2023 at 10:53 am
    Reply

    This is no longer on the MS store, please update your website
    Please can you post a new link as to where this can be downloaded ?

  3. luxarmell said on October 20, 2020 at 4:58 pm
    Reply

    thank you

  4. Anusha said on May 13, 2020 at 3:30 pm
    Reply

    Hi Team,

    I am using WinFI Lite 1.0.13.0 for windows 10. I observed wrong data for my SSID means, my SSID is showing 2.4GHz, channel 13, 20MHz band and 802.11ac.

    Am using default view profile.

    Can you please help he how to resolve this issue

  5. Stelios S. said on April 22, 2020 at 7:45 pm
    Reply

    Downloaded and installed again ver. 1.0.13.0 which works fine, like in the past.
    (Thank you Helge for the prompt reply to my email request)

  6. Stelios S. said on April 9, 2020 at 5:01 pm
    Reply

    Thank you Helge! what an amazing application!
    when it worked that is…
    Unfortunately there must be another problem with the perpetual stuck at the Loading bar…
    (windows 10 pro 1909 build 18363 – lenovo X1Yoga laptop 20JD0051GM with Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 wifi card). all current updates.
    Used to work fine last year, now I tried (both version 1.0.12.0 and 1.0.13.0) do not work…
    If you could do something about it would be great!

  7. Thanos B. said on March 31, 2020 at 10:49 am
    Reply

    Version 1.0.12.0 installed and works ok for my Win10 machine, v 1909, build 18363.752.
    Thank you very much

  8. Tom I said on March 3, 2020 at 3:44 pm
    Reply

    I have just downloaded the latest version (1.0.12.0) and still have the same problem, stuck perpetually at the Loading bar (Windows 10, v. 1909, build 18363.628).

  9. Antti L said on February 8, 2020 at 11:08 am
    Reply

    I am a network engineer and I must say WinFi is just awesome. Very informative, I know no other (free) software that comes even close to this. GREAT WORK!

    1. Jopeke said on February 28, 2020 at 4:17 pm
      Reply

      I’ve installed the latest version (WinFi-1.0.12.0.exe) and it is working again
      https://www.helge-keck.com/download.html
      Regards

    2. Jopeke said on February 28, 2020 at 4:12 pm
      Reply

      @Antti L: Is it still working for you?
      WinFi Lite stays in ‘loading’ for ever on Windows 10

  10. Tomas F. said on December 13, 2019 at 7:32 pm
    Reply

    Windows 7 64-bit Pro – WinFi Lite stays in ‘loading …” bar for ever ;-(

    1. Tom I said on January 26, 2020 at 11:37 am
      Reply

      Same problem

      1. Tom I said on January 26, 2020 at 12:51 pm
        Reply

        but in Windows 10

  11. Toon Van Daele said on October 20, 2019 at 6:26 pm
    Reply

    Good news, I just found out where one can still download (exe file) of WinFI lite:

    https://www.helge-keck.com/download.html
    https://www.helge-keck.com/downloads/WinFi-1.0.6.0.exe

    cheers

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on October 21, 2019 at 9:43 am
      Reply

      Thanks, I have added this link to the article.

  12. Sylvain said on October 7, 2019 at 12:02 pm
    Reply

    Hi, i would like to test your program, but i cannot find any OneDrive link working on your twitter account.
    Can you post a new one ?

    I cannot use MS Store on my corporate computer, but i can install app …

    Regards,
    Sylvain.

  13. Anonymous said on October 6, 2019 at 1:52 pm
    Reply

    Winfi Lite won’t launch after installation in windows 10?

  14. Anonymous said on September 21, 2019 at 3:19 pm
    Reply

    Well done, really like it!
    If you set “Auto Hide Unused UNNIs” and have 160MHz bandwith (36-64) it will only show scale 32-48, upper 52-64 is somehow broken and graphs only half visible.

  15. Lawrence Corbett said on September 8, 2019 at 1:46 am
    Reply

    How do I interpret RSSI’s which are positive as much as + 1822 dBm

  16. Max said on September 4, 2019 at 1:45 pm
    Reply

    Looks good. Downloaded and it’s running well here on Windows 8.1.

  17. Anonymous said on September 4, 2019 at 3:08 am
    Reply

    It’s promising but, only Microsoft Store? No way.

    1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 4, 2019 at 9:46 am
      Reply

      If you check my Twitter profile you will find a direct download link. But i highly recommend to use the store version atm, my direct download links to an unsigned version, still waiting for commodo to send me my hardware ev key.

  18. jan said on September 3, 2019 at 9:15 pm
    Reply

    Installed in W7; does not run. Uninstalled it.

    1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 4, 2019 at 9:44 am
      Reply

      this app is made for WiFi Engineers, it just doesnt makes sense to support Windows 7 or 8 since they do not support all WiFi standards properly. Also, Windows 7 and 8 already reached their end of life cycle and do not support the cross platform approach the app follows. There are also some technical reasons why this app only supports Windows 10.

  19. Matt said on September 3, 2019 at 9:15 pm
    Reply

    Why not leave a link to download it?

  20. John said on September 3, 2019 at 9:01 pm
    Reply

    Program looks nice. I installed it to my computer. I know this is beta,
    Suggestions:
    1) It installed to my C: directory it should install to c:\Program Files (x86) directory.
    2) Created a Shortcut to the public Desktop, should also create a Shortcut entry to the Windows Start Menu (All Programs) area

    Thanks

    1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 4, 2019 at 9:47 am
      Reply

      this will change with the final Version.

  21. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 3, 2019 at 8:08 pm
    Reply

    hmm, i answered all questions here because i take my job very seriously. but for any reason my comments disapeared after just 1 minute.

  22. chesscanoe said on September 3, 2019 at 7:19 pm
    Reply

    I normally connect my laptop to my router through an ethernet – USB convertor, but I switched to WinFi Lite from the US Microsoft Store to try Wi FI out again. I am dazzled by its presentation of the information it gathers. I have not compared it to other tools I have available from the past; I will have to find current versions of them to do so.

  23. Q said on September 3, 2019 at 7:00 pm
    Reply

    My test of the application, WinFi Lite 0.9.7.0, did not go as well. The end software did not work at all. I tested on Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3.

    It should be mentioned that the WinFi Lite software is given to require .NET Framework by its installer.

    Further, after extracting the installer and trying to run the application, it did not run and a not a valid Win32 application error was given.

    1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 3, 2019 at 7:51 pm
      Reply

      im sorry, but this is a Windows 10 only Application. It doesnt make any sense to support a dead OS.

      1. Anonymous said on September 4, 2019 at 12:21 am
        Reply

        Didn’t work on Windows 7 either. It’s not quite dead yet. Just a flesh wound…

      2. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 4, 2019 at 9:44 am
        Reply

        this app is made for WiFi Engineers, it just doesnt makes sense to support Windows 7 or 8 since they do not support all WiFi standards properly. Also, Windows 7 and 8 already reached their end of life cycle and do not support the cross platform approach the app follows. There are also some technical reasons why this app only supports Windows 10.

  24. Dilly Dilly said on September 3, 2019 at 6:30 pm
    Reply

    Pretty UI. Awaiting portable version for tryout. I was an inSSIDer user for years then switched to nirsoft’s wifi tools after it became bloated.

    1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 3, 2019 at 7:52 pm
      Reply

      im sorry, but i have no plans to release a portable Version, for several reasons

  25. Chris said on September 3, 2019 at 2:30 pm
    Reply

    Not on the UK MS App site as far as I can see.

    1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 3, 2019 at 5:42 pm
      Reply

      do not search for it, use the link

  26. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 3, 2019 at 12:22 pm
    Reply

    Hi! Im the Dev of this Programm. Both versions are Win32, even the Version from the Store. They are identical

    1. Johan S said on June 17, 2020 at 4:04 pm
      Reply

      What the heck did you do to get suspended from Twitter??
      (BTW I think that’s eigentlich cool)

    2. Toon Van Daele said on October 20, 2019 at 6:24 pm
      Reply

      Hi, Helge, apparently WinFi Lite is no longer on Microsoft Store, either.
      Also, your download link on OneDrive has expired for quite some time!
      What’s wrong, because I liked the tool A LOT when I downloaded it about 6 weeks ago.
      Can you provide us with a download link please. Thx!

    3. seiferflo said on September 3, 2019 at 3:30 pm
      Reply

      It’s looking great. It makes me want to try it badly…
      Any plan on releasing a portable app?
      Otherwise, I can suggest these guys : https://github.com/portapps or these ones https://portableapps.com/news

      1. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 3, 2019 at 7:50 pm
        Reply

        im sorry, but i have no plans to release a portable Version, for several reasons

      2. Ashley said on September 4, 2019 at 1:55 am
        Reply

        Helge, great program. May I ask what are the reasons for not releasing a portable version?

      3. Helge Magnus Keck said on September 4, 2019 at 9:52 am
        Reply

        mostly for licensing reasons

    4. Martin Brinkmann said on September 3, 2019 at 12:54 pm
      Reply

      Thank you Helge! Promising program.

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