When you need to connect a new gadget to your home wireless network and your password is long forgotten, it’s ubiquitous. Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco smartphone owners often find themselves in this position, because MIUI hides the security key symbols by default. Fortunately, modern versions of the shell offer built-in tools to solve this problem without having to reset the router.
Previously, the data saved required superuser rights or third-party software, but now Android 10 and higher, which run current firmware, allows you to legally retrieve this information through a standard settings menu, which makes life much easier for users who need to share access with guests.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods: from simple scanning. QR-You can quickly find the saved access keys in different versions of the operating system, and the main thing is to act carefully so that you do not get confused in the settings menu.
Use of the QR-code in standard settings
The easiest and fastest way to find out a forgotten access key is to use the generation function. QR-code that is embedded in the shell MIUI. This method does not require the installation of additional applications and works on most modern devices of the company.
To start, go to your gadget's settings menu. Find the Wi-Fi section and click on it. You'll see a list of available networks where your current connection will be labeled with an icon or highlighted with a color. Click on the active network name or the arrow to the right of it to open detailed settings.
In the window that opens, find the “Share” button or icon. QR-The system may require you to confirm the action through a fingerprint scanner or enter a pattern lock to unlock the screen.
⚠️ Warning: Don't screenshot this code and send it to strangers in messengers. Anyone who counts this code will be able to instantly connect to your network without your knowledge.
To see the password itself, just look under the image. QR-In new versions. MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 key text is often written in plain text right below the graphic. If only "Touch to share" is displayed, try taking a screenshot of the screen and opening it through the scanner. QR-codes in a gallery or through a camera of another device – sometimes the text is duplicated during the reading process.
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If under QR-code the password is not written in text, scan it with another phone’s camera – the result bar often displays the full URL with a password after the symbol "P:" or "S:".
View through the menu "Security and privacy"
In some firmware modifications, the path to stored data may differ. Xiaomi engineers periodically change the location of interface elements to improve ergonomics. If the Wi-Fi menu does not have the right option, it is worth checking the security section.
Open the main settings menu and find "Passwords and Security" or "Security" -- often hidden inside this section is a subsection that addresses wireless privacy, and can store connection logs and access control capabilities.
Find an option that's connected to Wi-Fi or network connections. In some cases, the system offers you to view a list of all the networks you've ever used. Choose the right access point from the list. If the system allows, it will give you the ability to copy the key or show it as a text string.
It is worth noting that this method does not work on all versions of Android. In older builds (Android 9 and below), access to this data was strictly limited without ROOT rights.
Using the Mi Router application for management
If you have a Xiaomi or Redmi brand router installed in your home, the situation is simplified by many times. The official Mi Wi-Fi (or Mi Home) application allows you to manage the router settings directly from your smartphone, including viewing and changing your password.
Launch the app and log in to your account. Select your router from the list of devices. In the management menu, find the Wi-Fi Settings section. This displays your current wireless network settings, including your name (SSID) and security key.
The advantage of this method is that you can not just look at, but also instantly change the password if you suspect that it has been compromised. The changes will take effect immediately, and all connected devices will need to be reconnected with new data.
| Function of the annex | Description of the opportunity | The need for ROOT |
|---|---|---|
| Password review | Displaying the current key in text form | No. |
| Guest mode | Creating a temporary network for visitors | No. |
| Blacklist | Blocking of unknown devices | No. |
| Channel change | Optimizing the frequency for better speed | No. |
It's important to understand that to do this, the phone has to be connected to the router, or you have to be authorized as the administrator of the device in the cloud, and without linking the router to the account, remote management is impossible.
Recovery through Google Account and Sync
Google’s ecosystem has a powerful password sync mechanism, and if your Xiaomi has Google account sync enabled, stored Wi-Fi keys can be accessed via a web interface or account security settings.
Go to your phone's settings, select the Google section, and go to account management. Find the Security or Password Manager tab, and it stores all the stored data, including the wireless keys, if the appropriate backup option has been activated.
Find your wireless network address (usually the same as the network name) on the list, and then you click on it and ask for proof of identity (fingerprint, face, or pin), and then you see the username and password in plain view.
⚠️ Note: This method only works if Wi-Fi password sync was previously enabled in Google settings. On new devices, when you first set up, this feature is often offered by default.
This is a versatile way to help even if the Xiaomi phone itself was reset to factory settings, but the Google account remained the same.
☑️ Checking Google Syncs
Third-party applications for access restoration
If standard methods don’t work, Google Play’s specialized utilities come to the rescue, but be careful: many require ROOT rights, which can cancel the warranty on the device.
One of the popular solutions is the WiFi Password Viewer app, which scans the system file. wpa_supplicant.conf, where all the keys ever entered are stored. Without superuser rights, access to this file is blocked by the Android operating system for security reasons.
There are also applications that do not require ROOT, but work on the principle of traffic analysis or exploiting vulnerabilities in the WPS protocol (although modern routers often turn off WPS), an example is WiFi Map, which is more focused on finding open networks, but has analysis functions.
There are risks to using these programs: You give a third-party developer access to sensitive data about your connections, always check app ratings and read reviews before installing.
What is it? ROOT-rights?
Resetting router settings as a last resort
When none of the software methods worked and the password is urgent, you have physical access to the hardware, and if you can go to the router, you can try to find the factory key on the sticker at the bottom of the device.
If the password has been changed before and lost, you have to reset the router to factory settings (Reset), you need to find a small hole on the case, press a clip there and hold 10-15 seconds.
After resetting, the network will be named as indicated on the sticker (e.g, Xiaomi_1234), And the password will also go back to the factory. You'll need to reconfigure the ISP connection (PPPoE, L2TP dynamic IP), If the router is not automatically configured.
This method guarantees 100% results, but takes time to reconfigure the Internet. Make sure you have a contract with the provider on hand to know the type of connection and the data to log in.
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Physical resetting of a router is a radical, but the most reliable way to regain access if the software methods are powerless and the password is not stored anywhere.