Where to find a password from the Xiaomi router: all ways to restore access

Forgot your Wi-Fi password on your Xiaomi router and can't connect your new gadget? Or lost access to the admin panel after reset? This is a familiar situation — according to statistics, one in three users has at least once experienced a loss of login data. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to restore the password, and most of them do not require technical skills.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways that you can store your password on Xiaomi routers, from the standard sticker on the case to the hidden settings in the mobile app, how to find data to connect to Wi-Fi, how to restore access to the admin 192.168.31.1, and what to do if the router does not respond to authorization attempts at all, and for complex cases, we have a unique instruction for resetting via SSH — this method works even on locked devices.

Importantly, the password algorithm depends on the router model. For example, on Xiaomi Mi Router 4A and AX3600, you can see the data in the MiWiFi app, and on older versions like Mi Router 3 you will have to use a web interface, and we took all the nuances into account and distributed the methods by difficulty levels, from the simplest to the advanced.

1. Password on the router sticker: where to look and what the symbols mean

The most obvious but often ignored way is to check the factory sticker on the device's case. on all Xiaomi routers (except some of the most expensive ones). OEM-version) is located on the bottom panel and contains key information:

• 🔑 SSID (Network name – usually starts with Xiaomi_ or MiWiFi_, followed by a unique set of numbers/letters.
• 🔒 Password/Key (password - combination of 8–12 symbols, often includes capital letters and numbers (e.g, 12345678A).
• 🌐 IP-address – usually 192.168.31.1 or 192.168.0.1 for entering the admin panel.
• 📡 MAC-Address – may be required to link to the provider.

⚠️ Warning: If the sticker is erased or painted over, try to light it up with a flashlight at an angle - often the symbols become visible. 4C and 4Q sticker is sometimes located under the removable cover (carefully tuck it with a plastic card).

If the password on the sticker is not suitable, it can mean:

1. You have previously changed it in the router settings.
2. The device was reset to factory settings (then the sticker is relevant again).
3. The router was flashed with custom software (for example, Padavan), which reset factory data.

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Take a photo of the sticker and save the photo to the cloud (such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud), so you can always quickly find the password, even if you lose access to the router.

2. Wi-Fi password in the web interface: step-by-step instructions

If the sticker doesn't work, the next step is to go to the router's admin panel through the browser.

1. Connect your computer or smartphone to the router via cable (via LAN port) or Wi-Fi (if you remember the old password).
2. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.31.1 or miwifi.com.
3. Enter the login login and password. By default, it's: Login: admin Password: admin or the one on the sticker.

If the authorization is successful, go to Settings → Wi-Fi (or Advanced → Wireless in English).

• 📛 Name of the network (SSID) — Current name of your Wi-Fi.
• 🔐 Password – displayed as dots, but it can be viewed by clicking on the eye icon (👁️).
• 🔄 Type of security - usually WPA2-PSK or WPA3.

⚠️ Note: On routers with Padavan or OpenWRT firmware, the path to Wi-Fi settings may be different: → If the interface is in Chinese, use the translator in the browser (right-click). → Translate to Russian).

Connect to the router via cable|Check it out. IP-address|Use a browser Chrome/Firefox (Edge!)|Shut down. VPN/proxy

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If you can't get in,

3. Password recovery via MiWiFi app

The official MiWiFi app (available for Android and iOS) is the most convenient way to manage a Xiaomi router if you have access to the network, and it not only allows you to find your current password, but also to change it without going to the web interface.

Instructions:

1. Download MiWiFi from Google Play or App Store.
2. Connect your smartphone to the Wi-Fi router (if you do not remember the password, use the cable) LAN adapter USB-C/OTG).
3. Run the app and wait for it to find your router. Click on its name.
4. Enter the password from the admin panel (by default admin, or the one on the sticker).
5. Go to the Wi-Fi section – the current password will be displayed here (hide it by clicking on the eye icon).

⚠️ Warning: If the app asks you to update your firmware before you sign in, don't agree if you're not sure if the power is stable. An interrupted update can turn the router into a brick.

Advantages of the method:

• 📱 Don't remember. IP-Addresses – the application automatically finds the router.
• 🔄 You can change your password in 2 clicks without digging into the settings.
• 📊 Additional features available: parental control, guest Wi-Fi, device priority.

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 It does not work on custom firmware (Padavan, OpenWRT).
• 🔒 Requires authorization in the Xiaomi account (if the router is linked to the account).

4. Resetting the router to factory settings: when necessary

If none of the previous methods worked, the radical solution is resetting, which will return the router to the "out of the box" state, including the factory password from the sticker, but keep in mind that all your settings (including associated devices, ports, PPPoE) will be erased.

How to reset:

1. Find a small Reset button on the back of the router (usually recessed in the case).
2. Take a paperclip or toothpick, press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds until the indicators start flashing.
3. Release the button and wait for the reboot (1-2 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Connect to Wi-Fi with a name Xiaomi_XXXX (password - from the sticker).
• 🌐 Go to the admin panel on 192.168.31.1 (login: admin/admin).
• ⚙️ Set up your internet connection again (enter data from the provider if PPPoE is used).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) AX3600, RA75) Reset may not work because of protection against accidental pressing:

1. Turn off the router.
2. Press Reset and, without letting go, turn on the power.
3. Hold the button for another 20 to 30 seconds until the indicators blink orange.

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Factory resets are the last chance to retrieve your router if you have forgotten both your Wi-Fi password and your admin login data, but only use it as a last resort, as all settings will be lost.

5. Advanced methods: SSH and config backups

If the router is blocked and the reset does not help (for example, due to a damaged firmware), you can try to restore the password through the SSH-This method is suitable for advanced users and requires basic command line knowledge.

Instructions for routers on standard firmware MiWiFi:

1. Connect the router to the computer via LAN cable.
2. Install a program for SSH-Connections: PuTTY (Windows) or use the terminal (macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the command to connect: ssh root@192.168.31.1 Default password: admin (or the one on the sticker).
4. Run the command to view the Wi-Fi configuration: nvram show | grep wl0_ssid nvram show | grep wl0_passphrase Here. wl0_ssid — name of the network, and wl0_passphrase — password.

⚠️ Note: On routers with firmware Padavan, the team will be different:

cat /etc/config/wireless | grep 'key='

Also note that incorrect commands in SSH can disrupt the router. If you are not sure, you should consult a specialist.

An alternative way is to restore from a backup:

• 💾 If you previously saved a backup of your router settings (via Advanced) → Backup in the web interface, download it back.
• 🔧 To do this, go to the admin panel to Advanced → Restore and select a file with the.cfg extension.
• ⚠️ After recovery, the router will restart, and all current settings will be replaced by saved ones.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you restore your password, you often have typical problems, and we've collected some of the most common ones and how to solve them:

Here are some tips to avoid problems in the future:

• 📝 Save passwords in your password manager (like Bitwarden or KeePass).
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware, but only through stable power (not during a thunderstorm!).
• 🔌 Use UPS for router – it will save from failures when power outages.
• 📋 Keep a change log: Write down when and what settings you changed.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions