View and Delete Old Wi-Fi Passwords Using CMD

Your computer automatically stores Wi-Fi networks you’ve connected to, including their passwords. Whether you need to retrieve or delete Old Wi-Fi Passwords, remove old networks, or improve security, these simple CMD commands will help you take control of your saved Wi-Fi profiles with ease.

How to Find Saved Wi-Fi Passwords Using CMD

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

1. Click the Start Menu and type CMD.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.

Step 2: List All Saved Wi-Fi Networks

Type the following command and press Enter:

netsh wlan show profile

This will display a list of all Wi-Fi networks your computer has saved.

Step 3: Retrieve the Password of a Specific Wi-Fi Network

1. Find the Wi-Fi name (SSID) from the list.
2. Run the following command, replacing “WiFi-Name” with the actual name:

netsh wlan show profile "WiFi-Name" key=clear

Example: If your Wi-Fi name is HomeWiFi, type:

netsh wlan show profile "HomeWiFi" key=clear

Look for:

Key Content        : mysecretpassword123

This is the saved password for the network.

How to Delete Old Wi-Fi Profiles

Over time, your computer stores multiple network credentials, some of which may no longer be needed. Deleting old Wi-Fi passwords helps improve security, prevent unwanted connections, and keep your system organized. Follow these steps to remove outdated Wi-Fi profiles using CMD.

Step 1: Find the Network Name

Run:

netsh wlan show profile

Identify the Wi-Fi network name you want to delete.

Step 2: Delete the Wi-Fi Profile

Use this command, replacing “WiFi-Name” with the actual name:

netsh wlan delete profile name="WiFi-Name"

Example: To delete CoffeeShop_FreeWiFi, type:

netsh wlan delete profile name="CoffeeShop_FreeWiFi"

The network will be removed from your saved list.

Why You Should Delete Old Wi-Fi Profiles

• Deleting old Profiles will also delete Old Wi-Fi Passwords.
• Improves security by preventing automatic connections to old networks.
• Frees up system storage from unnecessary saved data.
• Stops your device from attempting to connect to weak or unknown networks.

Now you know how to retrieve Wi-Fi passwords and delete old networks from your computer using CMD. This is a great way to manage your saved networks and keep your device secure.

Other Uses for the Saved Wi-Fi Networks List in CMD

Besides deleting old networks, the list of saved Wi-Fi profiles can be useful for various purposes, including security, troubleshooting, and network management. Here are some key uses:

1. Recover Forgotten Wi-Fi Passwords

• If you’ve previously connected to a Wi-Fi network but forgot the password, you can retrieve it using: netsh wlan show profile "WiFi-Name" key=clear
• This is especially helpful when reconnecting devices or sharing access with others.

2. Check Which Networks Your PC Has Connected To

• Running netsh wlan show profile gives a history of Wi-Fi networks your computer has connected to.
• This can help identify if your device has connected to unknown or suspicious networks without your knowledge. This allows you to Delete Old Wi-Fi Passwords and profiles.

3. Improve Network Security and Delete Old Wi-Fi Passwords

• By reviewing saved Wi-Fi profiles, you can identify old or unsecured networks and remove them to prevent accidental connections. This is an easy way to Delete Old Wi-Fi Passwords and Profiles.
• This is especially useful in public places where rogue networks can pose security risks.

4. Speed Up Wi-Fi Connections

• Windows automatically tries to connect to saved Wi-Fi networks based on priority.
• If you frequently connect to the wrong Wi-Fi network, you can remove it or set preferred networks for faster, seamless connections. Also see 5 problems that cause a slow internet.

5. Troubleshoot Network Issues

• If you’re having trouble connecting to a network, reviewing saved profiles can help.
• Deleting and re-adding a Wi-Fi profile can often resolve connection problems.

6. Transfer Wi-Fi Profiles to Another Computer

• Instead of deleting Old Wi-Fi Passwords you might want to transfer saved Wi-Fi settings to another PC, you can export and import profiles using:
  • Export: netsh wlan export profile name="WiFi-Name" folder=C:\backup key=clear
  • Import on another PC: netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\backup\WiFi-Name.xml"
• This is useful when setting up multiple devices with the same Wi-Fi settings.

7. Detect Unwanted Access Points

• If you notice unknown networks in your saved list, it may indicate that someone else used your computer to connect to an unfamiliar Wi-Fi network.
• Reviewing and deleting unknown networks can help keep your device secure.

Video about how to view and delete network profiles from your computer

Final Thoughts

The saved Wi-Fi network list is more than just a record of past connections. It’s a powerful tool for network security, troubleshooting, and management. By knowing how to use it, you can enhance your device’s security and performance.