Backup and Restore Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 8 and 8.1
InformationA wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the SSID (network name), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.
This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore one or all wireless network profiles in Windows 8 and 8.1.
This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore one or all wireless network profiles in Windows 8 and 8.1.
OPTION ONE
To Back Up Wireless Network Profiles
1. Open a command prompt, and do step 2, 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Back Up All Wireless Network Profiles on All Interfaces
A) In the command prompt, copy and paste the command you want to use below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below.
(To not include security key (password))
netsh wlan export profile folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
(To include security key (password))
netsh wlan export profile key=clear folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
3. To Back Up All Wireless Profiles on a Specific Interface
A) In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter to see show all wireless network profiles on the PC. (see screenshot below step 4A)
netsh wlan show profiles
B) In the command prompt, type the command you want to use below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below.
(To not include security key (password))
netsh wlan export profile interface="interface name" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
(To include security key (password))
netsh wlan export profile key=clear interface="interface name" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
NoteSubstitute interface name in the command with the actual name of the interface that the wireless network is on that you want to export as a backup.
For example:
netsh wlan export profile interface="Wi-Fi" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"]
For example:
netsh wlan export profile interface="Wi-Fi" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"]
4. To Back Up a Specific Wireless Profile on All Interfaces
A) In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter to see show all wireless network profiles on the PC.
netsh wlan show profiles
B) In the command prompt, type the command you want to use below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below.
(To not include security key (password))
netsh wlan export profile "profile name" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
(To include security key (password))
netsh wlan export profile "profile name" key=clear folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
NoteSubstitute profile name (SSID) in the command with the actual SSID network profile name that you want to export as a backup.
For example:
netsh wlan export profile "Brink-Router2" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
For example:
netsh wlan export profile "Brink-Router2" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
5. To Back Up a Specific Wireless Profile on a Specific Interface
A) In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter to see show all wireless network profiles on the PC. (see screenshot below step 4A)
netsh wlan show profiles
B) In the command prompt, type the command you want to use below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below.
(To not include security key (password))
Code:
netsh wlan export profile "[B][COLOR=#ff0000]profile name[/COLOR][/B]" interface="[B][COLOR=#ff0000]interface name[/COLOR][/B]" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"(To include security key (password))
Code:
netsh wlan export profile "[B][COLOR=#ff0000]profile name[/COLOR][/B]" key=clear interface="[B][COLOR=#ff0000]interface name[/COLOR][/B]" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"Substitute profile name (SSID) in the command with the actual SSID network profile name that you want to export as a backup.
Substitute interface name in the command with the actual name of the interface that the wireless network is on that you want to export as a backup.
For example:
netsh wlan export profile "Brink-Router2" interface="Wi-Fi" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
Substitute interface name in the command with the actual name of the interface that the wireless network is on that you want to export as a backup.
For example:
netsh wlan export profile "Brink-Router2" interface="Wi-Fi" folder="%UserProfile%\Desktop"
6. Each .xml file exported to your desktop is a backup of a wireless network profile.
7. When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.
OPTION TWO
To Restore Wireless Network Profiles
1. Open a command prompt, and do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Restore a Wireless Network Profile for Current User Only
A) In the command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.
netsh wlan add profile filename="full path of .xml file" user=current
3. To Restore a Wireless Network Profile for All Users on PC
A) In the command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.
netsh wlan add profile filename="full path of .xml file" user=all
NoteSubstitute full path of .xml file in the commands above with the actual full path of where you have the .xml file exported from OPTION ONE above saved at.
For example:
netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\Users\Brink\Desktop\Wi-Fi-Brink-Router2.xml" user=all
For example:
netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\Users\Brink\Desktop\Wi-Fi-Brink-Router2.xml" user=all
4. Repeat step 2 or 3 above if you would like to restore any other wireless network profiles.
5. When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
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