Why Xiaomi can’t just copy your password from your settings
Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO or Black Shark smartphones often face the paradox of having a phone connected to Wi-Fi, but the password itself is not displayed anywhere. Unlike Windows or macOS, where the stored networks are visible in text, Android (including MIUI) hides default passwords with asterisks ().
However, there are times when a password is legally required: connect a new device, share a network with a guest, or restore access after a router is reset. Fortunately, there are several ways to extract a password from simple ones (through settings). MIUI) It is important: not all methods work on newer versions of Android. 13/14 Due to Google’s tightening security policy.
In this article, we will discuss 7 current ways, including:
- 🔍 View through the menu "Shared Wi-Fi access" (works on the MIUI 12–14)
- 📱 Use of the QR-Password code (without manual input)
- 📁 Reading the file wpa_supplicant.conf (requires rooting ADB)
- 🖥️ Connecting to PC and analyzing via WiFi Password Viewer
Method 1: Sharing Wi-Fi via QR-code (MIUI 12–14)
The simplest and most formal method is to generate QR-It contains an encrypted password that another Xiaomi phone can decrypt automatically. MIUI 12 and newer, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO F4 Xiaomi 13.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
- Tap the current network name (not the switch!).
- Select the option Sharing or Share password.
- Confirm the action with a fingerprint/pattern lock.
- It'll appear on screen. QR-Scan it with Xiaomi's second phone, it'll automatically connect to the network without entering a password.
🔹 Limitation: QR-The code can only be scanned by devices on MIUI. If you need to find out a text password, use method 2 or 3.
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If you don’t have a second Xiaomi phone, take a picture. QR-code and upload the photo to an online decoder (e.g., ZXing Decoder) and the decrypted data will have a string P: your password.
Method 2: Viewing the password in the router settings
If you have access to a router's web interface, this is the most reliable way, and the password is stored in the open, and you can see it even without your phone, and it's suitable for all router models: Xiaomi Mi Router, TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, etc.
Step-by-step:
- Find out. IP-The router's address is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (see the sticker on the case).
- Open the browser on your phone/PC and enter the address in the address bar.
- Enter the login and password to log in (often admin/admin or see the sticker by default).
- Go to the Wi-Fi (or Wireless Network) section.
- Find the Password (or Wireless Key) field and the current key will be displayed there.
| Mark the router | The path to the password in the settings | Default login/password |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Router | Settings → Wi-Fi → Password | admin/password from the sticker |
| TP-Link | Wireless mode → Wireless protection | admin/admin |
| Keenetic | Wi-Fi → Access point → Password. | admin/1234 |
⚠️ Note: If you have not changed the router’s standard password, anyone connected to your network can go to its settings and see the Wi-Fi key. Always change the default login / password to unique ones!
Method 3: Reading the file wpa_supplicant.conf (requires rooting ADB)
Android Stores All Saved Wi-Fi Passwords in a System File /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml (on new versions) or /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf (It's limited, but there are two ways around it:
Option A: Root rights
If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk or other root manager installed:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Go to /data/misc/wifi/.
- Find the WifiConfigStore.xml file and open it with a text editor.
- Look for lines of view: <string name="PreSharedKey">"password"</string> Here " — it HTML-The code of the quotation marks () and between them will be the password itself.
Option B: No root through ADB (Android 8-10)
On Android 8-10 devices, you can extract a file through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), even without root.
Enable debugging on USB developer-setting|Install ADB PC (download from the official website)|Connect the phone to the PC by USB and allow debugging|Open the command line in the folder with ADB-->
Next, execute the commands:
adb shell
su
cat /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.confIn the conclusion, look for blocks of the form:
network={
ssid="Network name"
psk="your password"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}⚠️ Attention: Starting with Android 11, Google has blocked access to the wpa_supplicant.conf even ADB If you have a Xiaomi, you have a root. 12/13 or Redmi Note 11/12 On fresh firmware, this method will not work – use methods 1, 2 or 4.
Why Google has banned access to Wi-Fi passwords?
Method 4: Password Viewing Apps (without root)
There are apps on Google Play that promise to show stored Wi-Fi passwords without root, but 90 percent of them are fraudulent (whether they ask for payment, show ads or don't work at all), and we tested the current solutions and found two reliable options:
1. WiFi Password Viewer (only for older versions of Android)
SimoneDev’s WiFi Password Viewer App Works on Devices Before Android 9 It reads data from the data. wpa_supplicant.conf And it displays them in a convenient way. MIUI 12+ It is not functioning due to Xiaomi restrictions.
2. Router Setup Page (alternative)
The Router Setup Page app doesn’t show the password directly, but opens your router’s web interface with 1 click. Next, you can log in and see the password in the settings (as in method 2).
🔹 Warning: Do not install apps with names like "WiFi Password Hack" or "Show Password" - they either don't work or contain malicious code!
Method 5: Resetting the router to factory settings
If you lose access to both your phone and your router, the radical method is to reset your router, which will delete all settings, including your Wi-Fi password, and return your factory login/password (as indicated on the router sticker).
How to reset:
- Find the Reset button on the router’s body (usually recessed in the case).
- Take a paperclip or toothpick, press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds.
- Wait for the reboot (all indicators will light up / blink).
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network with a factory name (for example, Xiaomi_XXXX) and a password on the sticker.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting the router will shut down all connected devices, including smart appliances (cameras, light bulbs, speakers), and after resetting, they will have to be reconfigured!
Method 6: Using another device previously connected to the network
If you have another phone, tablet or PC that has ever connected to this Wi-Fi network, you can extract the password from there.
📱 On Android (with root or without)
- 🔄 If your device is on Android 9 or older, use method 3 (ADB root).
- 📱 Samsung or Huawei sometimes have a built-in “Share Password” feature (similar to “Share Password”). QR-Xiaomi code).
💻 Windows.
Open Control Panel → Network Control Center → Change Adapter Settings. Right-click on your current connection, select Wireless Network Properties → Security, and tick Display Typed Signs.
🍎 Nana macOS/iOS
On Mac: open the Keychain Application → System → Find the network name → Show the password.
On iPhone: go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Tap on the network → Copy password (works on iOS 16+).
Method 7: Contact the provider (if the router is from an Internet company)
If your router was installed by a provider (e.g., Rostelecom, MTS, Beeline), it often has a standard password tied to the contract number.
- Call the support provider (the number is usually listed on the router sticker).
- Name the data from the contract (name, address, account number).
- Ask to provide the factory Wi-Fi password or reset it before defaulting.
🔹 Note: Some providers (for example, Dom.ru) allow you to view the password in your personal account on the site in the "Equipment" or "Wi-Fi" section».
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If the router is rented from the provider, a self-reset may disrupt its settings for connecting to the operator's network, in which case it is better to request support.