How to get wifi password with cmd

How to get wifi password with cmd
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Finding WiFi passwords through Command Prompt is a useful method for people who enjoy using the command line, who are using SSH to remotely access a computer or device with windows shell, or who are on a computer they don't own and want to get the WiFi password without using the system password.

  1. How to get wifi password with cmd

    1

    Open CMD with administrator permissions (as an admin) on the connected device.

    • Press Win+R or go to your search bar, type cmd, right click and then select Run as administrator. Using this option requires being on the admin account on the device or at least having the admin password.

  2. How to get wifi password with cmd

    2

    Type netsh wlan show profiles to get a list of networks.

    • This command returns a list of networks that the device has previously connected to.

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  3. How to get wifi password with cmd

    3

    Choose the WiFi profile you’d like to get the password of.

  4. How to get wifi password with cmd

    4

    Type "netsh wlan show profiles (profile-name) key=clear".

    • Replace with the name of the profile you’d like the password of (if the profile is two words long put quotes around the name). This command is what returns the password along with a lot of other info.

  5. How to get wifi password with cmd

    5

    Find "Security Key" within the list, It's usually under the "Security settings" header.

    • The password is either "Security Key" or "Key content". If not visible re-check if the WiFi connection is a WPA,WPA2, or WEP; you can find that in the first set of information paired with "Type". If it's not any of those types, then the WiFi password either varies based on user or has an extra set of protection blocking public access.

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  1. How to get wifi password with cmd

    1

    Open Terminal. Hover the mouse near the top of the desktop or screen. Find and click on the search icon you should see a pop up with greyed out text saying "Spotlight Search". An alternative way of opening Spotlight is Cmd+Space.

  2. How to get wifi password with cmd

    2

    Once Spotlight comes up, type terminal in place of the greyed out text.

  3. How to get wifi password with cmd

    3

    Type the command security find-generic-password -wa your-wifi. Make sure to replace "your-wifi" with your WI name.[1]

    • You may have to enter your admin username and password.
    • This command should return the WiFi password of the WiFi you're currently connected to, as long as you replace "your-wifi" with the WiFi you're already connected to.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    What if I get the message "key content is not available"?

    How to get wifi password with cmd

    That message usually appears if you aren't running CMD as an administrator. To run CMD as an administrator, right-click on it and select the option "Run as Administrator" (type in the admin password if it asks for one), and voila. Now retype the netsh command and you'll have the key content.

  • Question

    What do I do if it shows "present" as the security key?

    How to get wifi password with cmd

    Ezekiel Akinyelu

    Community Answer

    The word present means the password is the current password of the WiFi. Just follow the instructions and you will get what you are looking for.

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  • This usually only works for WPA, WPA2, sometimes WEP Wi-Fi connections. Most WiFi are WPA2 unless they are broadcasted by a school, business, or government building.

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Is this article up to date?

How do I find my router password using CMD?

Type and search [Command Prompt] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②..
In the Command Prompt window, type the command [Netsh wlan show profile name=”Wi-F name” key=clear]③, and then press Enter key. ... .
You can find the Wi-Fi password in the [Key Content] field in the Security settings category④..

How do I find my Wi

Search for Command Prompt (or PowerShell), right-click the result and select the Run as an Administrator option. The password will the displayed in the Key Content field under “Security settings.” In the command, replace Wi-Fi-Profile for the name of your current or saved network to see the password in with CMD.

How can I show my Wi

In Network and Sharing Center, next to Connections, select your Wi-Fi network name. In Wi-Fi Status, select Wireless Properties. In Wireless Network Properties, select the Security tab, then select the Show characters check box. Your Wi-Fi network password is displayed in the Network security key box.

How do I connect to Wi

Use Command Prompt to Connect to a Network.
Search for Command Prompt using any method you prefer. ... .
Under Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator. ... .
To locate the name of the network to connect to, type netsh wlan show profiles and press Enter on the keyboard..