Wifi is not available on the emulator if you are using below of API level 25.

When using an AVD with API level 25 or higher, the emulator provides a simulated Wi-Fi access point ("AndroidWifi"), and Android automatically connects to it.

More Information: https://developer.android.com/studio/run/emulator.html#wifi


Apparently it does not and I didn't quite expect it would. HOWEVER Ivan brings up a good possibility that has escaped Android people.

What is the purpose of an emulator? to EMULATE, right? I don't see why for testing purposes -provided the tester understands the limitations- the emulator might not add a Wifi emulator.

It could for example emulate WiFi access by using the underlying internet connection of the host. Obviously testing WPA/WEP differencess would not make sense but at least it could toggle access via WiFi.

Or some sort of emulator plugin where there would be a base WiFi emulator that would emulate WiFi access via the underlying connection but then via configuration it could emulate WPA/WEP by providing a list of fake WiFi networks and their corresponding fake passwords that would be matched against a configurable list of credentials.

After all the idea is to do initial testing on the emulator and then move on to the actual device.