Managing Wireless Networks

Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft removed the Manage Wireless Networks option
in the Network and Sharing Center. Windows Server TutorialsThus you cant see a
list of all the wireless profiles saved in Windows, nor easily remove or change them.

In Windows 8 you can remove or change wireless profiles by right-clicking the Wi-Fi
network from the list of nearby networks, but only when youre within range of that
particular network. In Windows 8.1 this right-clicking ability was removed, leaving
you without any way to remove or modify network settings via the GUI.

Thankfully there are at least the followring Netsh, or network shell, commands that
allow you to access the Wi-Fi profiles:

Show the list of wireless profiles:

netsh wlan show profiles

Retrieve the stored key (WPA, WEP, etc) of a profile:

netsh wlan show profiles name=[profile name] key=clear

Delete a wireless profile:

netsh wlan delete profile name=[profile name]

Set a networks priority:

netsh wlan set profileorder name=[profile name]interface=[interface_name]
priority=1

Stop automatically connecting to a network:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name=[profile name] connectionmode=manual

Though you cant actually make changes to the network profiles themselves, you
can export a desired profile, make changes to the XML file, and then import the
profile back onto the same machine or another one.
In Windows 8, Microsoft also removed the ability to save/export the network profiles
from the GUI in the Wireless Network Properties box under the Connection tab.
However, its still possible via Netsh commands:

Export a wireless network profile:

netsh wlan export profile name=[profile name]

Import a network profile:

netsh wlan add profile filename=[path_and_filename.xml]
interface=[interface_name]

Creating an Ad Hoc Wireless Connection

Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft also removed the ability to create ad hoc or peer-
to-peer wireless networks. You wont find the "Set up a wireless ad hoc option"
under "Set up a new connection or network" anymore in the GUI. However, you can
utilize what Microsoft calls Wireless Hosted Networks via Netsh commands:

Configure the Wireless Hosted Network:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=[your_virtual_network_name]
key=[your_network_password]

Enable the Wireless Hosted Network:

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

Disable the Wireless Hosted Network:

netsh wlan stop hostednetwork

Retrieve the Wireless Hosted Network details:

netsh wlan show hostednetwork
Change the password:
netsh wlan refresh hostednetwork YourNewNetworkPassword

Before users on the ad hoc network can access the Internet via the Wireless Hosted
Network, you must enable Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Open the Network and
Sharing Center, open the Network Connections, right-click the network adapter
thats connected to the Internet, and select Properties.

Then select the Sharing tab, check Allow other network users to connect through
this computers Internet connection, and then choose the Wireless Hosted Network
Connection from the drop-down listbox, and click OK.