Each time you connect to a new wireless (Wi-Fi) network on your Windows 11 or 10 PC, the system automatically creates a profile. This profile encompasses the details of that connection, including the SSID and password. What’s convenient is that once you’ve saved this information, Windows recognizes and automatically connects to that network the next time you’re in its range. This automatic recognition means you don’t need to remember or re-enter complicated passwords every time you turn on your computer. However, there might come a time when you need to move, format your computer, or perhaps install a fresh version of Windows 11 or 10. In such instances, instead of manually configuring each wireless profile all over again, wouldn’t it be efficient to have a backup? Thankfully, Microsoft understands this need and has provided a straightforward method to backup and restore these wireless profiles. In this risewindows guide, we will delve into the steps on how to back up and restore a wireless network profile on a Windows 11/10 system.
How to View Stored Wireless Network Profiles on Windows 11 or 10?
Use these steps to view all stored wireless network profiles:-
Step 1. Open an administrative Command Prompt window.
Step 2. Next, type the following and hit the Enter key to display all wireless profiles on your PC:-
netsh wlan show profiles
Once you complete these above-mentioned steps, the command prompt will display all wireless profiles on your PC.
How to Back Up your Wireless Network Profiles on Windows 11 or 10?
To backup wireless network profiles on Windows 11 or 10, use these steps:-
Step 1. First, open an administrative Command Prompt window.
Step 2. Next, type the following and hit the Enter key:-
netsh wlan export profile key=clear folder=C:\Wireless
Quick Note: Please replace the “C:\Wireless” with the folder location you want to store the backup.
Once you complete the above steps; each wireless profile will be saved in the specified folder in XML file format.
If you want to create a backup without passwords, use this command instead:-
netsh wlan export profile folder=C:\Wireless
How to Back Up Specific Wireless Network Profile on Windows 11 or 10?
To back up a network profile, use these steps:-
Step 1. Open an administrative Command Prompt window.
Step 2. Type the following and hit the Enter key on the keyboard:-
netsh wlan export profile "profile_name" key=clear folder=c:\Wireless
Quick Note: Replace the “profile_name” with the actual profile name for that you want to create a backup. If you create a backup without passwords, use this command:-
netsh wlan export profile "profile_name" folder=c:\Wireless
How to Restore a Wireless Profile from a Backup on Windows 11 or 10?
Use this command to restore a wireless profile in Windows 11 or 10:-
netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\Wireless\profilename.xml" user=current
Quick Note: Please replace “C:\Wireless\profilename.xml” in the above command with an existing wireless profile and repeat the above command for all wireless profiles.
If you need to restore the wireless profile in Windows 11 or 10 for all user accounts, use this command:-
netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\Wireless\profilename.xml" user=all
If you want to see all the wireless profiles on your PC, give the following command in the elevated Command Prompt:-
netsh wlan show profiles
How to Back Up and Restore Network Profiles in Windows 11 or 10 using NetSetMan?
To back up and restore network profiles using NetSetMan, do these steps:-
Step 1. Download NetSetMan and install it on your Windows machine.
Step 2. Double-click on its desktop shortcut icon to launch.
Step 3. Click the Wi-Fi tab on the left side.
Step 4. Then, click the Profiles button.
Step 5. Select a profile for backup and hit the Export button.
Step 6. You will find two options in the drop-down menu: “Password: Encrypted” and “Password: Plaintext.” Select the required option.
Step 7. In the pop-up window, select a location and click the Save button to keep a backup of the desired profile.
Run the NetSetMan to restore the profile on the next computer, and go to WI-Fi > Profile. Now, select the Import button and locate the XML file you exported in the previous steps.
That’s it.
Above are the steps to backup and restore wireless network profiles using NetSetMan.
Download NetSetMan
You can download the NetSetMan software from here if you need to.
Conclusion
To manage wireless network profiles on Windows 10 or 11, users can utilize in-built command-line tools or third-party applications like NetSetMan. The Command Prompt provides a simple way to view, back up, and restore these profiles. Users can either back up all profiles or choose specific ones. NetSetMan offers a more graphical and user-friendly method, allowing users to back up and restore profiles with just a few clicks. Regardless of the chosen method, it’s vital to keep backups of essential wireless profiles, especially when switching computers or updating systems.
