---
name: "wpa_passphrase"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wpa_passphrase/8"
---

# wpa\_passphrase(8)

utility for generating a 256-bit pre-shared WPA key from an ASCII passphrase

## NAME

**wpa\_passphrase** – utility for generating a 256-bit pre-shared WPA key from an ASCII passphrase

## SYNOPSIS

**wpa\_passphrase** ⟨*ssid*⟩ \[*passphrase*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **wpa\_passphrase** utility is a small program for generating a 256-bit pre-shared WPA key from an ASCII passphrase and a given SSID. The output is formatted for inclusion in [wpa\_supplicant.conf(5)](/wpa_supplicant.conf/5.md).

If **wpa\_passphrase** is called with only an SSID as argument it will prompt for a passphrase on standard input.

## SEE ALSO

[wpa\_supplicant.conf(5)](/wpa_supplicant.conf/5.md), [wpa\_supplicant(8)](/wpa_supplicant/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **wpa\_passphrase** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 6.3.

## AUTHORS

The **wpa\_passphrase** utility was written by Jouni Malinen ⟨*j@w1.fi*⟩.

This manual page was written by Henrik Brix Andersen ⟨*henrik@brixandersen.dk*⟩.