---
name: "pw-inspector"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "hydra"
version: "9.7-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pw-inspector"
---

# pw-inspector(1)

A tool to reduce the password list

## NAME

pw-inspector - A tool to reduce the password list

## SYNOPSIS

**pw-inspector** \[-i FILE\] \[-o FILE\] \[-m MINLEN\] \[-M MAXLEN\] \[-c MINSETS\] -l -u -n -p -s\

## DESCRIPTION

PW-Inspector reads passwords in and prints those which meet the requirements. The return code is the number of valid passwords found, 0 if none was found. Use for security: check passwords, if 0 is returned, reject password choice. Use for hacking: trim your dictionary file to the pw requirements of the target. Usage only allowed for legal purposes.

## OPTIONS

- **-i FILE**

  file to read passwords from (default: stdin)

- **-o FILE**

  file to write valid passwords to (default: stdout)

- **-m MINLEN**

  minimum length of a valid password

- **-M MAXLEN**

  maximum length of a valid password

- **-c MINSETS**

  the minimum number of sets required (default: all given)

- **-h, --help**

  Show summary of options.

## SETS

- **-l**

  lowcase characters (a,b,c,d, etc.)

- **-u**

  upcase characters (A,B,C,D, etc.)

- **-n**

  numbers (1,2,3,4, etc.)

- **-p**

  printable characters (which are not -l/-n/-n, e.g. $,!,/,(,\*, etc.)

- **-s**

  special characters - all others not withint the sets above

## SEE ALSO

[**hydra**(1)](/hydra/1.md), [**xhydra**(1)](/xhydra/1.md).\

## AUTHOR

hydra was written by van Hauser / THC \<vh@thc.org\> and co-maintained by David Maciejak \<david.maciejak@gmail.com\>.

This manual page was written by Daniel Echeverry \<epsilon77@gmail.com\>, for the Debian project (and may be used by others).