Forgot one of your WiFi passwords? Do you need access to it right now?
Using Command Prompt (CMD), you can see a list of all wireless networks your computer has ever connected to and their passwords.
This article explains in detail how to find out Wi-Fi password or change Wi-Fi settings using CMD.
We’ve also created a short YouTube video that provides some of the information below, in case you don’t feel like reading a bunch of text. Don’t forget to check it out and subscribe to the YouTube Online Tech Tips channel on our partner site!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMhueltccN4?feature=oembed]
WLAN Profile
There comes a time when users like you forget their own WiFi password. This happens more often than you think. Since Wi-Fi routers run non-stop and Wi-Fi connections are established automatically, there are very few reasons you might remember a complicated Wi-Fi password.
Some users use secure passwords made up of random characters that are very easy to forget. Others just keep using the random one provided by their provider.
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In any case, don’t panic just yet. WLAN profiles are created whenever users enter WiFi credentials and establish a new connection. This Wi-Fi profile includes important information like network name, settings and password.
We are going to connect to these network profiles via the command line. This method will work regardless of whether you are currently connected to the Wi-Fi network you are trying to access or not. However, your computer must have connected to that Wi-Fi network at least once at some point.
Use CMD to find WiFi password
Here’s how to find the WiFi password using the command line:
Open a command prompt by opening Run (Windows + R) and typing CMD. Hit Enter.
Note. Alternatively, you can use search and enter CMD. Right click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
Type the following command line and press Enter:
NETSH WLAN SHOW PROFILE
You will see a list of WLAN profiles stored on your PC. Write down the name of the network you want to explore.
Enter the following command and replace “WIFI†with the network name.
NETSH WLAN SHOW PROFILE WIFI KEY = CLEAR
After successfully completing these steps, the profile of the WLAN network to which you want to connect will open. Scroll down and you will find the password under the Key Content field.
MAC addresses
Every device that connects to a WiFi network has an identification number, commonly referred to as a MAC address. While some networking technologies rely on MACs to work, some use them to track people or restrict access.
This is a more serious problem for mobile users. For example, some use special equipment to register the phone’s MAC address when their victims move from one network to another. This means your steps can be tracked to see where you have been.
This privacy violation can be prevented by changing your MAC address.
Change your MAC address
Take a closer look at your WLAN profile. If MAC randomization is enabled, chances are your MAC address is vulnerable to tracking. Consider changing your MAC address as an additional measure to protect your privacy.
Here’s how to change the MAC address in Windows:
Go to Control Panel Network and Sharing Center Change adapter settings.
Right-click the network you want to configure and select Properties. A new window will appear.
In the new window, click “Configure”.
Go to the Advanced tab. In the Property field, select Network Address or Locally Managed Address.
Note. If you cannot find the Network Address setting, then you can use third-party software to replace the MAC address.
Enter the new MAC address in the Value field. When finished, click OK to exit. Enjoy!
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