Where passwords are stored on Xiaomi: how to find and restore stored data

Lost access to an important account or forgotten the password from your home Wi-Fi? On Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, you can restore saved passwords — if you know where to look for them. Unlike the iPhone, where data is securely encrypted on a key chain, the Android platform (especially with a MIUI shell) leaves several loopholes to extract passwords. But there are nuances: some methods work without superuser rights, and others will require unlocking the bootloader or root access.

In this article, the current methods for devices on MIUI 12–14 HyperOS, including Xiaomi models 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5. We'll learn how to get passwords from Wi-Fi networks, apps (Vkontakte, Instagram, banking services), Mi accounts, even archived data from your browser. Importantly, some methods can only work if you've previously logged in under your account and haven't reset your settings.

1. Wi-Fi passwords: how to watch without root

The easiest way is to extract the password from your current or previously connected Wi-Fi network through system settings, which is hidden in MIUI but is available through a developer menu or third-party utilities.

If you have Android 10+ and MIUI 12+, follow these steps:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi and tap on the current network name.
• 🔍 In the network information window, find the Share button (or Share in English firmware).
• 🔐 The system will request confirmation by PIN-code, print or pattern lock – enter it.
• 📝 After the authorization will appear QR-code and text password underneath.

⚠️ Note: This method only works for the current network, and to see passwords from all the saved networks, you need to root or ADB-teams (see section 3).

2. Application passwords: where are stored in MIUI

Apps like VKontakte, Instagram or Tinkoff Bank often offer to save a username and password in the Android password manager. In MIUI, this data is synchronized with a Mi or Google account, but it can be extracted manually.

Method 1: Through Google Settings

• 🔗 Open the Settings. → Google → Managing a Google Account.
• 🔑 Go to the Security tab. → Password manager.
• 🔍 Find the desired application in the list and tap it – the password will appear after confirmation by biometrics.

Method 2: Through MIUI settings (for synchronized data only)

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account.
• 🔄 Make sure that password synchronization and login data are enabled.
• 🔓 Open the Security app (shield icon) → Password manager.

⚠️ Note: If you are not logged in to Mi Account or have disabled sync, passwords will not be displayed in this menu, in which case only root access or backup will help (see section 5).

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If the password is not displayed in the Google manager, try to log in to your computer account via the Chrome browser – there the stored data is synchronized faster.

3. Retrieving passwords via ADB (without root)

For advanced users, there’s a way to get passwords from Wi-Fi and some apps through Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require root, but requires debugging bridge and access to the USB-debugging.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Activate. USB-debugging → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the command line:

adb shell


su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml"

In the output, find the lines with <string name="PreSharedKey">... - these are the passwords from Wi-Fi networks.

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 and HyperOS may have different paths to the Wi-Fi base. If the command didn't work, try it:

adb shell "cmd wifi list_networks"

Install ADB-PC drivers

Enable the developer mode on Xiaomi

Activate USB-debugging

Connect your phone to USB (file transfer mode)

Download the Android SDK-->

4.Root access passwords: full control

If your Xiaomi has Magisk or another root manager installed, you can extract all the saved passwords, including data from banking applications, instant messengers and even system accounts.

Where to look:

To decrypt databases, use utilities like SQLite Browser or DB Browser for SQLite. Note: passwords in Login Data are encrypted using an Android encryption key that can only be extracted through specialized scripts (for example, ChromePass from NirSoft).

On HyperOS devices, the path to Wi-Fi passwords has changed: they are now stored in /data/vendor/wifi/hostapd/hostapd.conf, but require additional read rights.

5. Recover passwords from backup

If you've ever done a backup through Mi Cloud or Google Drive, there's a chance to recover passwords from the archive.

• ☁️ Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account. → Cloud. → Backup.
• 🔄 Find the latest backup and select Restore.
• 🔑 Make sure there is a password and Wi-Fi settings in the list.

For manual extraction from the local backup:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and find the /MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.
2. Copy the file with the.bak extension and rename it to.tar.
3. Unclarify with help 7-Zip WinRAR – Passwords can be stored in files wifi_config.xml or accounts.db.

⚠️ Note: Backup recovery will overwrite your current settings. If you change your passwords after you backup, they will be lost.

6. Specific cases: Mi Account, banking applications, games

Some passwords (such as those from Mi Accounts or banking applications) are stored in encrypted form and are not extracted by standard methods.

Mi Account:

• 🔐 If you have forgotten the password from the Mi Account, restore it through the official website (you will need a linked email or phone number).
• 📧 On devices with HyperOS, account data is stored in /data/system/mi_account.xml, But without rooting, you can't read them.

Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB):

• 🏦 These apps use secure storage and biometric binding, and even with root, it's almost impossible to extract a password.
• 🔄 The only way is to restore access through the bank’s personal account (by passport or in a branch).

Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail (Genshin Impact)

• 🎮 Passwords from miHoYo or other gaming accounts are stored in the /data/data/com.miHoYo.*/shared_prefs.
• 🔑 You need root to extract. + decompilation APK (for example, through JADX).

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Bank application passwords and Mi Accounts cannot be extracted without the help of a developer, and use official recovery channels to ensure that you do not lose access to services.

7. Alternative methods: if nothing has worked

If the standard methods don’t work, try:

• 🔧 Reset the pattern lock via Fastboot (if the screen is locked but you need access to settings). Commands: fastboot flashing unlock fastboot erase frp
• 🖥️ PC usage: Connect your phone to your computer and scan your memory with programs like EaseUS Mobisafe or Dr.Fone (not all models).
• 📱 Flashing: Install custom firmware (like LineageOS) – sometimes it resets the restrictions on reading system files.

⚠️ Note: Flashing or resetting via Fastboot deletes all data from the device. Use these methods only if other options are exhausted and you have a backup.

If you need to restore access to deleted data (for example, after a reset), contact the Xiaomi service center with proof of ownership of the device (check or box). EDL-mode (emergency loading).

FAQ: Frequent questions about passwords on Xiaomi