Finding passwords for Wi-Fi networks through some CMD commands (I will also show you how to do it graphically) is very simple. These commands work even when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network or not. The use of commands also allows us, among other tasks: to optimize the network through other features such as randomly assigning MAC addresses, among others. When we connect to a WiFi network and enter the password to connect to that network, what actually happens is that a WLAN profile of that WiFi network is created. That profile is stored inside our computer, along with the other necessary data from the Wi-Fi profile.
Instead of using a graphical user interface to find individual passwords, we can also look up the Wi-Fi password for that network using CMD. These steps work even when you are totally offline or not connected to that Wi-Fi network you are looking for the password for.
How to find the password for a Wi-Fi network using CMD?
- Open the command prompt and run it as administrator. First of all, you need to open the Run dialog box with the Windows + R keyboard shortcut.
Once it opens, you need to type cmd in the text box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the privileged command prompt directly.
- In the next step we will know about all the profiles that are stored on our computer. So, write the following command:
netsh wlan show profile
This command will show all the Wi-Fi profiles to which we have ever connected.
In the image above I have intentionally deleted some of the names of my Wi-Fi networks. As you can see, there are 4 Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, I am going to find out the password for the Wi-Fi connection “TURBONETT_9AE640”.
- Next, you have to type the following command to see the password of any Wi-Fi network:
netsh wlan show profile Wi-Fi Name key = clear
- Note that in the “Key content” part is the password for that particular network.
In addition to knowing the password for the Wi-Fi network, you can also use this result to further optimize the network. For example, depending on the profile information, the MAC scrambling can be changed. You can enable the MAC scrambling function to avoid location tracking based on the device’s MAC address.
Graphics mode
Because with the previous method some cannot see the password, let me share this other method with you.
How to find your Wi-Fi passwords stored on a Windows 10 computer
1. Using a PC that regularly connects to the Wi-Fi network for which you are trying to locate the password, select the home button in the lower left corner of your screen. This button appears as four 2×2 stacked white square boxes.
2. Select the Settings button, which looks like a little gear.
3. On the Settings screen, click on the Network and Internet option.
4. In the Network and Internet menu, click to select the Status option on the left side of your screen.
5. Scroll down until you see the Network and Sharing Center option and click on it. A new pop-up window will open.
6. In the Network and Sharing Center, select the Wi-Fi network for which you are trying to locate the password. It will be located next to the Connections menu.
7. Under Wi-Fi Status, click Wireless Properties.
8. In the Wireless Network Properties menu, click the Security tab to select it.
9. Next to “Show characters”, click the small box to check it. The password for the selected Wi-Fi network will be displayed.
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How to repair a corrupted USB stick or SD memory Source: Fossbytes / Business Insider
