The situation of connecting a new device to a wireless network and the password is hopelessly forgotten or written in a notebook that is currently unavailable is familiar to many users. Fortunately, owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones running on the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS are in a better position. Modern versions of the Android operating system allow you to view saved security keys directly in the settings without resorting to complex manipulation.
You don't have to be a computer security expert or have a computer on hand to reset your router settings, just unlock your smartphone screen and do a few simple menu actions. However, the process may vary slightly depending on the firmware version installed on your device. In this article, we will discuss in detail all current ways to access forgotten data, including working with the software. QR-codes and system files.
Note that the ability to view a password depends on the level of access to the system. On standard, unmodified devices, Android security restricts direct access to the text display of the encryption key in order to protect user data. However, Xiaomi engineers have provided a convenient mechanism for data exchange through the QR-It's a code that allows you to bypass visual character hiding, and it's an industry standard that works on most of today's gadgets.
Viewing Passwords via Wi-Fi Settings in MIUI 12-14
Let's start with the most common and simple method, which works on the vast majority of current smartphones brand. If you previously connected to the right network and the phone saved data for automatic login, it is easy to extract it. the interface may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same for all devices in the Mi, Redmi Note and Poco F line.
First, you need to go to the wireless connection management menu, click on the gear setting icon or use the notification curtain, find the Wi-Fi section and make sure the module is activated, and in the list of available networks, find the one you already have connected to, or the one you have stored in the device's memory. Usually, the name of the network is marked with a tick or the words "Connected".
Tap the network name or arrow to the right of the network to reveal additional parameters. In the window that opens, you will see information about connection speed, frequency and frequency. IP-Address: At the bottom of the screen or next to the network name, a button or icon should be placed. QR-Clicking on it, the system generates a graphical code containing encrypted login information.
โ ๏ธ Attention: For viewing QR-The system will require proof of your identity, you will need to pass biometric authorization (face or fingerprint scanning) or enter a digital password to unlock the screen.
Once you've signed in, you'll have a square code on the screen. Many versions of MIUI can have the password written right under that code in fine print. If you don't have the text, don't worry, take a screenshot of the screen or just remember the image, because we're using it in the next step, and it's a regular security mechanism that prevents unauthorized people from seeing it inadvertently.
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If under QR-If you have a password that's not written in text, just take a screenshot of the screen. Then open this screenshot through the standard Gallery or Camera app, and the system recognizes the text from the image.
Use of the scanner QR-code-decryption
If you saw only a graphic image in the previous section without a text bar with an access key, we'll need a built-in camera functionality or a third-party scanner. This is the most versatile method that works even on older versions of Android, where direct browsing was blocked by manufacturers.
Take a screenshot of the screen with QR-Then open the standard Camera app or a special code scanner built into Xiaomi's system. Point the lens to the screen of another device or open the screenshot taken through the gallery and select the recognition function QR. The camera will analyze the image and give the result in the form of a text line.
The format of the resulting string is usually as follows: WIFI:S:MyNetwork;T:WPA;P:MyPassword123;;;;;. Here we are interested in the part after the symbol P:. Everything that is between P: and the subsequent semicolon; is your desired password. The remaining characters are service data of the protocol.
- ๐ฑ Open the camera app and point to QR-The phone number of the other phone, if you have it on hand.
- ๐ผ๏ธ Use the โRecognize Textโ function in the Gallery app in a screenshot of the code.
- ๐ฅ Install any third-party QR-Google Play scanner if the built-in tools donโt work.
- ๐ Copy characters carefully, avoiding unnecessary spaces at the beginning or end of the line.
It is important to understand that this type of string format is the IEEE 802.11 standard. The letter S represents the network name (SSID), T is the type of encryption (usually WPA or WPA2), and P is the password itself (Password). Knowing this structure, you can easily find the data you need even in long text. Some scanners immediately allocate the password as a separate line for user convenience.
โ๏ธ Pre-copying check
Features of work in HyperOS and Android 14
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, based on Android 14, Xiaomi has made a number of changes to the interface and logic of the security system. Owners of flagship models such as Xiaomi 14 or Poco F6 may notice that the process has become even more intuitive, but new privacy requirements have also appeared.
In the latest updates, Google has introduced the โCopy Passwordโ feature directly in the menu. QR-Now, once you've generated the code and verified your identity, you can have a Copy button or an eye icon underneath the image, and clicking on it instantly copies the clipboard access key, and you don't have to mess with the scanners and parse the lines.
However, if you use a global firmware version with strong security settings, the system may require re-authorization through a Google account or confirmation through a trusted device, this is done to protect against physical access by attackers to your unlocked phone, and HyperOS has improved the work with shared passwords in the ecosystem, allowing you to automatically transfer keys to Mi Pad devices or brand laptops.
| MIUI/HyperOS version | Method of viewing | I need a scanner. | Requires authorization |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12 (Android 10-11) | Only QR-code | Yes (for decryption) | Yeah (Face ID/Finger) |
| MIUI 13 / 14 (Android 12-13) | QR-code + Text (sometimes) | Depends on the model. | Yeah (Face ID/Finger) |
| HyperOS (Android 14+) | Copy button | No. | Yeah (Face ID/Finger) |
| Android One (Mi A) | Standard Android | Yes. | Yes (Pin code) |
If youโve recently upgraded and canโt find the usual buttons, check for system updates. Often, functional improvements come with security patches. Also, consider that some custom builds or Chinese versions of firmware (CN Version) without a global location, the interface may not be Russified at some menu points.
What to do if the button QR-code doesn't appear?
Alternative methods through the Mi Router app
For users who are in the Xiaomi smart home ecosystem, there is another powerful tool, the Mi Wi-Fi app (or Mi Router), which is relevant if you have a Xiaomi or Redmi router installed in your home, in which case the phone can interact with the router at a deeper level, allowing you not only to see the password, but also to change it.
Once you connect to the router via the app, go to the wireless settings section, which shows the current SSID settings and security key, you can change your password to a more complex one at any time, or just copy the current one, which is especially convenient for administering your home network and monitoring who is connected to your Internet.
It's worth noting that this method requires that the phone be connected to the network of this router, or you have remote access to the device. If you are visiting or in a public place, this method, alas, will not help, since it is tied to the administration of specific hardware, not the system settings of Android.
- ๐ก Allows you to manage router settings remotely from anywhere in the world.
- ๐ It allows you to change your Wi-Fi password in real time for all devices.
- ๐ฅ Shows a list of all connected customers and allows them to be blocked.
- โ๏ธ Provides access to advanced settings not available in the web interface.
โ ๏ธ Note: Using third-party apps to โhackโ or view passwords of other networks without the ownerโs permission is illegal.This instruction is intended solely to restore access to your personal stored data.
Access via ADB (for advanced users)
There's a more sophisticated technical approach that doesn't require root rights, but requires a computer and minimal command line knowledge, and it uses USB debugging (ADB), which allows you to pull out a system file where Android stores all known networks, including passwords, in plaintext.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings โ About phone and quickly press the build number seven times (MIUI Version). Then in the advanced settings, you will see a paragraph For developers. Inside you need to find and activate the debugging switch over USB. Connect the phone to the PC with a cable and confirm the request for debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
On the computer where the ADB drivers are installed, open the command line and enter the following command to obtain read rights to the system file:
adb shell content insert --uri content://settings/system --bind name:s:wifi_credentials --bind value:s:1Then you have to extract the configuration file. In older versions of Android, this is a file. wpa_supplicant.conf, in new โ data can be stored in encrypted form in the database WifiConfigStore.xml. The command to copy a file to a computer looks like this:
adb pull /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.confWhen you open the file with any text editor (Notepad++), you will find blocks called network. Each block will have an ssid field (network name) and a psk field (password) that works on 100% of devices, but requires careful input. A syntax error can cause the command to fail.
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Method ADB It is the most reliable version of Android where there is no function. QR-code, but requires a PC and basic command line skills.