Cisco Packet Tracer Activity Wizard Password May 2026

Cisco Packet Tracer: Understanding the Activity Wizard Password

Method C: The "Delete Scoring" Bypass (No password needed)

Sometimes you don't need the password at all – you just want to see the answer network. The answer network is stored inside the .pka but hidden.

Steps to extract the answer network:

1. Open the .pka file in Packet Tracer as a student.
2. Click on a router or switch. The CLI shows the current (student) config – which is incomplete.
3. Go to File > Save As and save a copy as a Packet Tracer Activity (.pka) again, but with a new name. (This doesn't help).
4. Instead, use the ZIP extraction method (Method A) again, but this time look for a file named instructor_network.pkt or answer_network.pkt.
5. If found, extract that .pkt file into a separate folder.
6. Open that .pkt file directly in Packet Tracer (File > Open).
7. Success! You are now looking at the instructor's intended final configuration. You can inspect every device's running config, even though you never entered the Activity Wizard password.

Note: In newer Packet Tracer versions (8.2+), Cisco started encrypting the answer network more strongly. This method may fail for very recent files.

If you are a student:

• You are not supposed to bypass the password. Follow your instructor’s guidelines. If you need to re‑attempt an activity, ask your instructor to provide an unlocked copy or a new attempt.
• Some instructors set the password so that students can exit Assessment Mode to check configurations — but only if the instructor gives you that password. Never try to crack it.

Summary

| Question | Answer | |----------|--------| | Is there a default Activity Wizard password? | No. The creator sets it. | | Can I bypass it without the password? | No legitimate way. | | Can Cisco or an instructor recover it? | No. Backups are the only solution. | | What should students do? | Ask the instructor for help. | | What should instructors do? | Keep unlocked backups. | cisco packet tracer activity wizard password

If you need a general tutorial on using the Activity Wizard to create activities (without password recovery), I can provide that — just let me know.

3. Assessment Security

In a testing environment, the password prevents unauthorized access to the master answer key embedded within the .pka file.

Step 8: Test the Lock

Close the file and reopen it. Try accessing Extensions > Activity Wizard. Packet Tracer will immediately prompt: "Enter the Activity Wizard password to edit this activity." Open the

You have successfully password-protected your assignment.

Part 5: Step-by-Step Case Study – Recovering a Classic .pka Password

Let’s walk through a realistic example using a typical .pka file from Packet Tracer 7.3.

Scenario: You have CCNA2_Routing_Lab.pka. The instructor is unavailable. You need the password to see why OSPF routing is scoring only 60%. Note: In newer Packet Tracer versions (8

Actions:

1. Copy the file to CCNA2_Routing_Lab.zip.
2. Extract with 7-Zip.
3. Inside, you see folders: media, scoring, and files: activity.xml, activity_instructions.html, initial.pkt, final.pkt.
4. Open activity.xml in Notepad++.
5. Search for <InstructorPassword>. Result: <InstructorPassword encoding="base64">U3R1ZGVudDEyMw==</InstructorPassword>
6. Copy the string U3R1ZGVudDEyMw==.
7. Go to base64decode.org and paste.
8. Decoded text: Student123.
9. Return to Packet Tracer, click Ctrl+Shift+I (or Activity Wizard > Unlock), enter Student123.
10. The activity unlocks. You can now click on any device and see the correct configuration.

The password was never meant to be secure – just to deter casual peeking.

Part 6: Recovering or Bypassing the Password (Ethical & Legal Considerations)

Disclaimer: This section is for educational purposes and legitimate recovery of your own activities. Bypassing passwords on proprietary or exam files (e.g., Cisco NetAcad exams) violates Cisco’s terms of use.

If you are the activity owner and have lost the password, there is no official "reset password" button. However, advanced users have found a workaround using a hex editor.