3 Ways to Back Up & Restore Your Wi-Fi Passwords
Exporting and Transferring Saved Wi-Fi Passwords
The Windows operating system conveniently stores Wi-Fi passwords for quick and easy connections. However, you can further streamline your workflow by exporting these saved credentials and transferring them to other devices.
Several methods are available for backing up your wireless passwords, including utilizing LastPass, employing the WirelessKeyView utility, or leveraging the built-in capabilities of Windows itself.
Backup and Transfer Options
LastPass and Windows both provide functionality to import saved settings onto other computers. This allows for a seamless transfer of your Wi-Fi credentials.
Alternatively, WirelessKeyView generates a simple text file containing all the necessary information. This file can then be used to manually configure Wi-Fi connections on other systems.
Utilizing Each Method
- LastPass: Offers password management and secure transfer capabilities.
- WirelessKeyView: Creates a readily accessible text file with network details.
- Windows: Enables direct import and export of Wi-Fi profiles.
By choosing the method that best suits your needs, you can efficiently manage and transfer your saved Wi-Fi passwords, saving valuable time and effort.
LastPass
As previously detailed in our coverage, the LastPass password manager has recently introduced functionality for importing and exporting Wi-Fi passphrases. For users of LastPass, this allows for secure storage of Wi-Fi credentials within their vault.
Automatic synchronization of these passphrases across multiple computers is also enabled through this feature.
Importing Wi-Fi Passwords
To access this capability, users should click the LastPass icon, navigate to "Import From," and then select "Wi-Fi Passwords."
If the "Wi-Fi Passwords" option isn't visible, an update to the latest version of LastPass may be required. This feature necessitates LastPass version 1.90 or a subsequent release.
An error message may appear upon selection; in such cases, running the LastPass Universal Installer is necessary to install the required Wi-Fi utility on your system.
Clicking the "Import" button within the new tab initiates the import process for saved Wi-Fi passwords and settings from your computer.
Selective import is possible; checkboxes allow users to choose specific networks from which to import settings.
Exporting Wi-Fi Passwords
On another computer, passphrases can be exported by utilizing the "Export To" menu and choosing the "Wi-Fi Passwords" option.
LastPass will then restore the saved networks, enabling connection to Wi-Fi access points without the need for manual passphrase entry.
Windows
The Windows operating system provides a built-in method for backing up Wi-Fi settings, as previously detailed. However, a limitation of this approach is its inability to import settings for multiple Wi-Fi networks simultaneously.
To begin, access the Network and Sharing Center from the available list of Wi-Fi Networks.
From the left-hand side of the window, select the "Manage Wireless Networks" option to display your stored Wi-Fi network profiles.
Right-click on the desired network and choose the Properties option to access its settings.
Within the properties menu, click the link labeled "Copy this network profile to a USB flash drive." Windows will then request insertion of a compatible flash drive.
Once the process concludes, connect the USB flash drive to another computer. A double-click on the "setupSNK.exe" file located on the drive will initiate the import of your saved network configurations.
Alternatively, you can navigate to the Security tab within a network’s properties. Selecting the "Show characters" checkbox will reveal the network password.
WirelessKeyView
For users with numerous saved Wi-Fi passwords, NirSoft’s WirelessKeyView provides a complimentary utility to simultaneously view all credentials.
These passwords can then be exported for record-keeping in either text or HTML format.
Accessing Saved Passwords
The process begins with downloading the utility. Simply double-click the executable (.exe) file contained within the downloaded .zip archive.
Upon execution, a comprehensive list of all stored wireless passwords on your computer will be displayed.
Exporting Wireless Credentials
To preserve your Wi-Fi passwords, select the specific networks you wish to back up.
Navigate to the File menu and choose the "Save Selected Items" function to export the chosen networks to a text file.
Alternatively, the "HTML Report" option, found under the View menu, allows you to view the password list directly within a web browser.
Comparison of Methods
Each method for managing Wi-Fi passwords presents unique advantages and disadvantages.
- LastPass is particularly suitable for existing LastPass users.
- The built-in Windows functionality excels at sharing Wi-Fi network configurations with others nearby.
- WirelessKeyView generates passwords in a straightforward text file, making it convenient for printing.
Consider your specific needs when selecting the most appropriate method.
This utility offers a simple solution for retrieving and saving your wireless network passwords.
It’s a valuable tool for maintaining a record of your Wi-Fi access details.