Where to find a password from Xiaomi WiFi router: the complete guide

The situation when you urgently need to connect a new device to a wireless network, and the access key is safely forgotten or lost, is familiar to many users of smart equipment. Xiaomi equipment owners often face the need to quickly restore access, especially if there are many gadgets in the house that require connection. Fortunately, the MIUI Router architecture provides several levels of protection and convenience, allowing you to solve this problem without deep technical knowledge.

There are many reasons why you may need to figure out the current encryption key, from the banal forgetfulness to having to set up guest access or connect a smart light bulb that does not support complex authorization methods. It is important to understand that Xiaomi routers store this data in a secure partition of memory, which can be accessed in different ways depending on your current situation and the availability of connected devices.

In this article, we will take a look at all possible scenarios, from the simplest visual inspection of the device to the use of specialized utilities, learn how to distinguish between factory and custom settings, and understand where resetting will help and where you can do without losing network configuration. The security of your home network depends on understanding how these parameters are managed.

Search for a password on the factory case sticker

The most obvious and often ignored way to find out the data to access is by physically inspecting the router itself. Virtually all Xiaomi Mi Router models, including popular versions of 3G, 4A, 4C and AX3600, have an information sticker on the bottom panel, which contains the standard information necessary for initial configuration, including SSID (network name) and factory password.

But here's an important caveat: the code on the sticker is only relevant if you've never changed your wireless settings after you've purchased it. If the router has been set up before and the password has been changed through a web interface or application, the data on the sticker will no longer be valid for the connection, remaining valid only for the full reset procedure.

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If the sticker is worn or faded, try to gently wipe it with an alcohol napkin - often the text becomes read again, which will save time to find other ways.

For devices released in different years, the layout of the elements may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. Look for a field labeled as Wireless Password, PWD or simply Password. This combination of characters is register-independent, but case-sensitive, so type it as accurately as possible, paying attention to capital letters.

Use of the Mi WiFi mobile application

The most convenient and functional tool for managing the Xiaomi ecosystem is the official Mi WiFi app (formerly known as Mi Router).If your smartphone is already connected to the router network or you have access to the Mi Account through which the device was associated, password recovery will take seconds.

Once you log in, select your router from the list of available devices. The main control menu, usually at the top of the screen or in the WiFi settings section, displays the current network name and hidden password. To view it, just click on the eye icon or the corresponding concealment icon. The system can request identity verification through a fingerprint or Face ID, which provides an additional layer of protection.

It is important to note that the application allows you not only to view, but also instantly change the password to a more complex one if you suspect that outsiders have connected to your network.Mi Home and Mi WiFi functionality often overlap, so make sure you use the router profile, not just a smart lamp or vacuum cleaner.

Viewing the saved password on the connected computer

If you have a Windows computer that is already connected to the WiFi network you want, you can find out the password through system settings. This method does not require knowledge of the router's current credentials, since it uses authorization of the operating system itself, and this is especially useful when the mobile application is unavailable or buggy.

To start, open the Network Control Panel. In Windows 10 and 11, you can do this by right-clicking the network icon in the tray and selecting Network and Internet Settings. Go to Network and Sharing Center and click on your wireless connection name. In the status window that opens, select the Wireless Network Properties button.

In the new window, switch to Security, and that's where the Network Security Key field is. The default characters are hidden by asterisks. To see them, you have to tick the box against Display Typed Signs. The system can request administrator permissions to do this. Once confirmed, you'll see the code you're looking for in plain view.

Log in to the web interface of the Xiaomi router

The universal way to manage any network equipment is access through the browser. For Xiaomi routers, the default address most often looks like 192.168.31.1 or miwifi.com. By entering this address into the address bar of any browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox), you will be taken to the authorization page.

Here, users often face a challenge: they need an administrator password to log in to the control panel. Often it matches the WiFi password if the option was selected when setting up, but that's not always the case. If you haven't changed the administrator password, try standard options or sticker data. In the interface, look for WiFi settings or Wireless Settings.

If you are successful in logging in, go to the Common Settings menu -> WiFi Settings. This will display the current network name (SSID) and password field. In some versions of the firmware, the password can be copied to the clipboard, which eliminates errors when manually entering on other devices. Remember to save the changes if you decide to modify them.

Resetting Xiaomi router to factory settings

When none of the above methods worked (you don't remember the administrator password, the application doesn't connect, and there's no access on the PC), the last radical but effective method is a complete reset, which will return the router to the state it was in right after leaving the assembly line of the plant.

To do the reset, find a hole on the case that says Reset. It's usually buried deep to prevent accidental pressing. You'll need a thin object, such as a paper clip or a toothpick. When the router is powered on, press the button inside the hole and hold it for 5-10 seconds until the system indicator starts flashing orange or the router emits a characteristic beep.

Once you reboot, the device will create an open network with the name on the sticker, and once you connect to it, you can reset the initial setup procedure by setting new passwords that you know, which is a great reason to also update your firmware to the latest version through the Status -> Upgrade menu to address possible security vulnerabilities.

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Resetting is the only guaranteed way to regain full control of your router if you lose access to your administrator account.

Common errors and problems in recovery

When searching for or changing a password, users often face a number of typical problems that are easily solved if they know the cause. One of the most common mistakes is confusion between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Some Xiaomi routers by default combine them into a single network with the same name but different encryption, which can cause conflicts on older devices.

Another common problem is blocking access due to entering the wrong password too many times. Xiaomi security system can temporarily block attempts to connect with a specific user. MAC-In this case, waiting for the address helps. 5-10 Minutes or temporary WiFi shutdown on the client device, and it's also worth checking the keyboard layout when entering complex characters.

⚠️ Note: If you changed your password through the web interface but forgot to apply the changes (Save or Apply button), the router may reboot with the old settings and your computer will lose the connection as it will try to use a new, not yet activated key.

Remember, password length matters. WPA2-PSK, the default standard, requires a minimum of 8 characters. If you try to install a code that is too short, the system will produce an error that the user does not always understand. Use combinations of letters of different registers, numbers and special characters for maximum protection.

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Use password managers on your smartphone or computer to save complex access keys, which will save you from having to memorize long strings of characters or write them down on paper.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

⚠️ Warning: Never use simple passwords like "12345678" or "password." Xiaomi routers are connected to the Internet all the time, and weak protection will allow attackers not only to steal traffic, but also to use your device to attack other servers.