When you first launch Wireshark, you may think that there isn't much on the welcome screen, as shown here:

While it is a streamlined interface, you will find that there is everything you need to begin capturing packets and analyzing traffic.

Across the top, you will find the menu choices. If you don't have a capture file loaded, you will see the menu choices that are all available; however, the icons may be dimmed. The icons will become active once you have a packet capture open or are actively capturing packets.

One of the first things you will do while in Wireshark is open a capture. The next section explains the many options available when opening a packet capture.