Why Wi-Fi Passwords May Be Needed by Redmi Note 7 Owner
Have you ever faced a situation where you need to connect a new device to your home network, but the password from Wi-Fi has long been forgotten? Or a guest asks for Internet access and you do not remember the combination of characters introduced years earlier? With the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, this problem is solvable - the smartphone stores all the saved passwords in its memory, but does not show them in plain sight.
Unlike Windows computers, where passwords can be seen in two clicks, MIUI hides this information for security reasons, but there are several legal ways to extract it, from simple (through backup) to advanced (using ADB or root rights).
In this article, weβll look at all the current ways Redmi Note 7 (including the Redmi Note 7 Pro models) run on MIUI 10β14, how to proceed without losing data, what tools youβll need, and where to look for a password if your smartphone is not already on, and start with the safest method.
Method 1: Viewing passwords through MIUI backup (without root)
This method is suitable for all versions of MIUI and does not require superuser rights, the essence is to back up system data, where Wi-Fi passwords are stored in encrypted form, but can be extracted using third-party software.
You'll need:
- π± Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 with Mi Account
- π» Computer with an installed archiver (e.g, 7-Zip WinRAR)
- π Programme Mi PC Suite (optional, for convenience)
- π Text editor (for example, Notepad)++)
Step-by-step:
- Open Settings β About Phone β Backup (or Settings β Additional β Backup and Reset in Older versions of MIUI).
- Click Local Backup and select System Settings (be sure to tick the box opposite Wi-Fi).
- Start the process and wait until it is completed. The backup file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on internal memory.
- Connect your phone to your PC and copy the file with the.mbk extension (for example, backup_20260515.mbk).
- Rename the file extension from.mbk to.zip and unpack the archive.
- In a file. backup/files/system/wpa_supplicant find the file wpa_supplicant.conf. Open it in the text editor.
- Find the psk="your password" line, which is the saved key to the network.
β οΈ Attention: If in the file wpa_supplicant.conf Instead of a password, random symbols are displayed, so MIUI It uses additional encryption. In this case, try the method. 2 or 3.
Backup file successfully created and copied to PC
The archive is unpacked without errors (check the integrity of the ZIP).
In a file. wpa_supplicant file wpa_supplicant.conf
Text editor opens file without hieroglyphics (use UTF-8)
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Method 2: Use ADB (without root but with USB debugging)
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a tool for interacting with Android devices via the command line, which can be used to extract Wi-Fi passwords if the smartphone is enabled debugging over USB.
Advantages of the method:
- π Doesn't require root rights
- πΆ Works on MIUI 10β14 (including the Redmi Note 7/7 Pro)
- π Does not affect user data
Instructions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings β About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version bar until the notification βYouβve become a developerβ appears.
- Turn on USB debugging: Go to Settings β Additional β For developers. Activate the USB debugging switch.
- Connect Redmi Note 7 to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
- Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder.
- Open the command line (Win + R β cmd) and go to the folder with ADB: cd C:\platform-tools
- Enter the command to extract Wi-Fi data: adb pull /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml
- Open the downloaded WifiConfigStore.xml file in the text editor and find the <string name="PreSharedKey">Password</string> tag.
β οΈ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12+ file WifiConfigStore.xml It can be encrypted. If instead of a password, you see a set of characters like a1b2c3d4e5, Use the method 3 or 4.
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If the adb pull command doesnβt work, try rooting first through a temporary exploit (e.g., DirtyCOW for MIUI 10β11).
Method 3: Viewing Passwords with Root Rights (for Advanced)
If you have root rights installed on your Redmi Note 7 (for example, via Magisk or SuperSU), you can read the Wi-Fi configuration file directly. This method provides a 100% guarantee of obtaining a password, but requires an unlocked bootloader and installed recovery (for example, TWRP).
Step-by-step:
- Install any file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
- Go to /data/misc/wifi/ or (for newer Android versions): /data/vendor/wifi/WifiConfigStore/
- Find the file. WifiConfigStore.xml or wpa_supplicant.conf and open it.
- In the file wpa_supplicant.conf Look for blocks of the form: network={ ssid="Name network" psk="password" key_mgmt=WPA-PSK }
- Copy the value of the psk parameter β this is the password.
If the file is encrypted, try an alternative path:
- π Use Terminal Emulator and type: su cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep psk
- π Or install the WiFi Password Viewer app from the Play Market (requires root).
β οΈ Attention: MIUI 13/14 Android 12+ The path to Wi-Fi files may be different. If the standard paths don't work, check the folders. /data/misc_ce/ or /data/misc_de/.
What if root rights are revoked after the update?
Method 4: Retrieving Passwords with Third-Party Apps
If the previous methods seem complicated, you can use specialized utilities, which automate the process, but require root rights or access to backup.
Top.-3 apps for Redmi Note 7:
| Annex | Requirements | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi Password Viewer | Root | Shows all saved passwords, export to file | It doesnβt work on Android 10+ without Magisk. |
| WiFi Key Recovery | Backup copy of MIUI | It works without root, supports MIUI 10-12 | Not updated since 2021 |
| Root Browser | Root | Full access to system files, editing | A complex interface for beginners |
How to use WiFi Password Viewer:
- Download and install the app from the Play Market.
- Provide root access when requested.
- In the main window, you'll see a list of all the networks you saved, and tap the right one, and the password will show up in the Password field.
- To export, click Menu β Export to SD.
β οΈ Note: Some applications (such as WiFi Key Recovery) may not work on the Internet. MIUI 13/14 Because of changes in backup structure, check reviews from the last month before using.
Backup of MIUI
ADB (no root)
Root-access applications
Another method
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What to do if your phone is not switched on or locked
This is even more complicated if the Redmi Note 7 does not respond to the power button or is locked with a pattern lock, in which case the Wi-Fi password can only be extracted if:
- π Mi Account and data synchronization were enabled on the phone.
- πΎ There is a backup in the cloud or on PC.
- π§ Custom recovery (e.g., custom recovery, TWRP).
Options for action:
- Recovery via Mi Cloud: Go to i.mi.com and log in. Under Devices β Backups, find the latest copy of Redmi Note 7. Download the archive and retrieve the password from Method 1.
- Connect via TWRP: Load your phone in Recovery mode (press Power + Volume up). Connect to your PC and use ADB to retrieve /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml file.
- Contact the service center: If the phone is physically damaged (for example, a broken screen), specialists can extract data through a chip-off (direct memory reading).
If none of these methods worked, the last option is to reset the router to factory settings (usually the Reset button on the back), and you have to reconfigure the network after that.
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On a locked phone, you can only extract your Wi-Fi password if you have a backup or custom recovery, and without them, the chances are minimal.
How to protect Wi-Fi passwords on Xiaomi
Now that you know how to extract a password, it's important to understand how to prevent it from leaking.Here are the key security measures for the Redmi Note 7:
- π Turn off automatic connection to open networks: go to Settings β Wi-Fi β Additionally. β Auto-connection to open networks.
- π‘οΈ Use it. VPN on social networks (e.g. Xiaomi) VPN or ProtonVPN).
- π Update your firmware regularly MIUI β New versions eliminate vulnerabilities that allow you to extract passwords without root.
- π± Set up application lock (for example, through Second Space or Settings) β Annexes β Application lockdown).
- π Change the password from Mi Account β this will protect backups from unauthorized access.
If you share Wi-Fi with guests frequently, consider alternative ways to:
- π² QR-Code: Generate it through Settings β Wi-Fi β [tap the net] β Share.
- π Guest network on the router: limits the speed and time of access.