How to Add a Wi-Fi Network Profile without Connecting in Windows 11 When setting up workstations, especially for remote offices or onboarding new users, pre-configuring Wi-Fi profiles saves time and prevents on-site headaches. In this video, we’ll show you how to add a Wi-Fi network profile in Windows 11 without connecting to it. You’ll learn how to do this using the command line, XML configurations, and PowerShell automation, so you can use the best method for your deployment workflow. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. How to Add a Wi-Fi Network Without Connecting To It Method 1: Add a Wi-Fi Profile Using netsh and XML This method is perfect for onboarding workflows. You can include pre-built Wi-Fi XML files as part of your provisioning scripts or deployment images. Here are the steps: Open Notepad and paste a Wi-Fi XML configuration template. The XML defines your network’s SSID, authentication type, encryption, and key. Replace the example SSID and password with your own. Save the file as something like wifi.xml in an accessible location. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, then run this command: Replace the path with where your XML file is stored. Once added, Windows will automatically connect to the network when it’s in range. For the full XML example, check the blog post linked below. Method 2: Add a Hidden Network Profile Hidden networks don’t broadcast their SSID, so Windows won’t detect them automatically. You can add them manually using a similar XML configuration with one key modification. In the XML file, set: Then, import it using: This ensures your system recognizes and connects to the hidden network as soon as it’s detected, provided the correct SSID and security settings are configured. Method 3: Verify Saved Wi-Fi Profiles Once you’ve added your profiles, it’s a good idea to verify that Windows stored them correctly. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, and run these commands: To list all saved profiles: To check a specific profile: This displays the network’s configuration details, including the SSID, authentication, and any saved keys. You can use this for troubleshooting, or when exporting and restoring Wi-Fi profiles across devices. Method 4: Use PowerShell for Automation If you’re deploying multiple devices, PowerShell lets you automate Wi-Fi profile installation across systems. First, save your Wi-Fi XML profile as done in Method 1. Open PowerShell as an administrator, then run this command: The XML will be imported just like before, but now you can integrate this into provisioning scripts, Windows Autopilot deployments, MDT task sequences, or Intune onboarding workflows. The full XML examples and all command references are available in the blog post for easy copy-and-paste use. Pre-configuring Wi-Fi profiles is a small step with a big payoff. It reduces onboarding friction and ensures users stay productive from the moment they log in. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to add a Wi-Fi network profile without connecting in Windows 11, linked in the description below.