The situation of connecting a new device to the network and the password is forgotten is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. Often it happens that the gadget is already connected to the router, but the access code is lost, and there is nothing to enter it again on the tablet or laptop. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS operating system provide built-in tools to solve this problem without having to get into the complex settings of the router.
There are several proven methods to restore access to wireless data. You can use the generation function. QR-It is important to understand that each method has its own features and requirements for the firmware version or access rights, and that each method has its own features and requirements for the firmware version or access rights.
In this article, we will discuss all the current options for recovering a forgotten password. We will look at the regular system tools, cloud services and specific methods for Mi Router equipment. Follow the instructions carefully to quickly return access to the Internet.
Use of the QR-password-code
The easiest and most affordable way that works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones with the current version of MIUI is to use the Share feature.This method does not require obtaining superuser rights or connecting to a computer.
First, you need to open your Wi-Fi settings on a device that is already connected to the network you want to use. Find an active connection in the list and click on the arrow to the right of the name or on the gear icon to go into the detailed settings. In the menu that opens, you will see a large menu. QR-code under which a text password is often hidden.
⚠️ Note: Some versions of firmware may have asterisks in their passwords, so click on the eye icon or take a screenshot to then recognize the text through Google Lens.
If the text does not appear immediately, take a screenshot of the screen with QR-Then open the Camera or Gallery app, select the picture you took, and click on the "More" or "Google Lens" button, and the system automatically recognizes the encrypted data and shows the password in text.
This is ideal for fast data transfer to guests or connecting a second device, so you don't have to remember or write anything, just scan the code with another phone's camera.
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If QR-code is not generated, try to disable and turn on Wi-Fi again on your smartphone, then re-enter the access point settings.
View saved networks in the developer menu
For more advanced users who are not afraid to experiment with system settings, there is access to a hidden developer menu, which allows you to see a list of all previously used networks and, in some cases, recover passwords without third-party software.
To activate the developer mode, go to About Phone and find either MIUI Version or OS Version. You need to quickly click on this item 7-10 times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer, and then a new section “Extended Settings” or “Additional” will appear in the main settings menu.
- 📱 Go to the “Developers” menu and find the “Data Backup” option».
- 💾 Select the option to create a new backup of the system.
- 🔒 In the list of data to save be sure to tick the item "Wi-Fi».
- 📝 Set a password to encrypt your backup to protect your data.
Once you back up the file, it's stored in the device's memory, but you can't just open it because it's a specific format, and you'll need to plug your smartphone into your computer to extract the password and use special utilities or scripts to decrypt the backup.
Where the backup file is stored
This may seem complicated for a beginner, but it is one of the few legal methods to gain access to connection history at the system level without installing dubious applications from unverified sources.
Resetting the settings of the Xiaomi and Redmi router
If you need to learn the password from your own router Xiaomi or Redmi, and it is impossible to remember it, the most radical but effective method is to completely reset the device to factory settings.
To perform the reset, find a small hole on the back of the router that says Reset. The device on must gently press the button inside the hole with a paper clip or toothpick and hold for 5-10 seconds. The indicators on the case must blink, signaling the beginning of the recovery process.
| Model router | Positioning of the button | Retention time | Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Router 4A | Back, near the ports | 5-7 seconds | Blink blue |
| Mi WiFi 3G | At the bottom of the hull | 10 seconds. | Orange color |
| Redmi Router AC2100 | Back, combined. | 5 seconds | Fast blinking. |
| Mi Router Pro | On the back panel. | 10 seconds. | System indicator |
Once you restart, the router will create an open network with the name on the label, and you'll need to connect to it, go to 192.168.31.1 or miwifi.com in your browser, and set new security settings. Remember to write the new password to a safe place.
☑️ Checklist before router reset
Use of the Mi Wi-Fi application
The official Mi Wi-Fi app (or Xiaomi Home) provides a user-friendly interface for managing the brand’s routers. If your smartphone has ever been connected to the router’s admin panel, you can access wireless network settings directly from your phone’s screen.
Download the app from Google Play or GetApps and log in through your Mi Account. If the router is linked to your account, it will automatically appear in the list of devices. Once you go to the router's settings, select the "Wi-Fi settings" section.
Not only will you see your current password here, but you can change it to a more complex or easy to remember password, and the app also allows you to create a restricted guest network, which increases the security of your main network.
⚠️ Note: To operate the application, the router and smartphone must be on the same network or the router must be linked to the Mi Cloud.
The app’s functionality is constantly updated, with new traffic monitoring and connected device management capabilities added, and this is the best way to keep the network under control without having to remember complex character combinations.
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The Mi Wi-Fi app allows you to manage router settings from anywhere in the world if the device is connected to the Internet.
Recovery through Google account and sync
The Android operating system has a built-in Wi-Fi password sync function through a Google account. If your Xiaomi smartphone has this option enabled, then all saved networks are automatically saved in the search giant's cloud.
To check for stored data, go to passwords.google.com from any computer or other device, logging in under the same Gmail account. In the Passwords section, you can find stored data, sorted by network names.
This method is especially useful if a smartphone is lost, smashed or reset to factory settings and cannot be accessed directly.Google's cloud reserve is often the only lifeline in such situations.
- 🌐 Open your browser on your PC and go to the Google Account Management Site.
- 🔐 Go to the Security section and select Password Manager».
- 🔍 In the search, enter the name of your Wi-Fi network.
- 👁️ Click on the eye icon and enter the password from the account to view the data.
It’s worth noting that sync only works if it’s been pre-activated in your smartphone settings. Check the Settings path → Google → Autocomplete → Autocomplete from Google to make sure the feature works correctly.
Alternative methods and ADB command line
For techies and enthusiasts, there is a method of getting passwords through USB debugging and the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utility, which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having drivers, but gives deep access to system files.
The method is to execute a command to read the system file, where network configurations are stored. However, on modern versions of Android, access to this file (/data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml) is closed to ordinary applications and requires Root rights.
adb shell cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xmlIf the superuser rights are obtained, the command output can be found with the PreSharedKey tag, which contains the desired password. Without Root access, this method, alas, will not work on current versions of firmware for security reasons.
⚠️ Note: Getting Root rights can result in a loss of warranty on the device and disrupt banking applications. Use this method only if you fully understand the risks.
Using the command line is a powerful tool in the hands of an experienced user to diagnose connection problems and extract hidden information, but for the average user it can be unnecessarily complex.