How to view Wi-Fi password on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: all working methods

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is connected to the network? The situation is familiar to many: the router configured a neighbor, the provider sent a complex combination of characters, or you just haven't entered the password manually for a long time. Fortunately, on smartphones with MIUI, there are several ways to extract the saved password — both standard means and with additional tools.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including options for users without root rights and for those who are willing to delve into technical details. Importantly, not all methods are universal – their availability depends on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the status of the superuser rights. If you are not sure about your version of the firmware, check it in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

1. Standard method through settings (MIUI 12 and later)

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added the ability to view Wi-Fi passwords directly in the settings interface — but with reservations. This method only works for the networks the phone is currently connected to, and if the network is saved but not active, you will have to use other methods.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the settings on your Redmi Note 8.
• 🌐 Go to the Wi-Fi section.
• 🔍 Find the network you want in the list and tap it by its name.
• 🔑 In the window that opens, click Show Password (it may be necessary to enter). PIN-fingerprint).

If you don't have a Show Password, your version of MIUI doesn't support this feature, so move on to the following methods.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (especially custom) this section may be absent even with the official MIUI 14.If you have previously changed your phone software, the standard method may not work.

2. Viewing the password through a backup (without root)

This is a method that is suitable for anyone who has ever backed up settings through Mi Cloud or locally, and backup files store data about connected Wi-Fi networks, including passwords, but can only be retrieved using third-party utilities.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install on your PC the Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi) or MiXplorer (file manager for Android).
2. Connect Redmi Note 8 to your computer and back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
3. Find a backup file (usually with the.mbk extension) and open it with MiXplorer or specialized tools like MIUI Backup Extractor.
4. In the archive, find the wifi folder - there will be files with network names and passwords in plain view.

The advantage of this is that it doesn't require root rights, but the downside is that the backup has to be created before the password is lost, and if there's no backup, it won't work.

Backup copy MIUI (pre-created)|Computer with Mi PC Suite or MiXplorer|Backup file (.mbk) in an accessible location|10-15 free-time-->

3. Use of ADB (for advanced users)

If you have access to USB debugging (ADB), you can extract the Wi-Fi password using the command line, which works on most versions of MIUI, but requires preparation.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers and Platform Tools (you can download from Google website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Redmi Note 8 (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version number → Go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm the debugging permission on the smartphone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell


su




cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml

If the phone is not rooted, the su command will not work – skip it.

1. In the output, find the block with the name of your network (<string name="SSID">Name WiFi</string>) and the PreSharedKey string - this is the password.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI The path to the configuration file may be different (e.g, /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfig.arxml). If the command doesn’t work, check the current path through the root file manager.

4. Viewing the root-right password

If your Redmi Note 8 has root access, you can extract the Wi-Fi password in seconds, which is the most reliable method, but requires you to unlock the bootloader and install Magisk or another super-user solution.

How to do this:

• 📁 Install any root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 🔍 Cross the path. /data/misc/wifi/.
• 📄 Find the file. WifiConfigStore.xml (WifiConfig.arxml for new versions MIUI) Open it with a text editor.
• 🔑 The file will list all saved networks with passwords in tags. <PreSharedKey>.

An alternative way for rooted devices is to use the WiFi Password Viewer app from Google Play, which automatically scans system files and displays all saved passwords in a user-friendly interface.

💡

If you often forget passwords, create a secure entry in Google Keep or MIUI Notes with logins and passwords from networks. Use the password protection feature in the application itself for security.

5. Alternative methods (if nothing has worked)

If none of the above methods work, radical or workaround solutions remain:

• 🔄 Reset router. Press the Reset button on the back of the router (hold on) 10-15 After reset, the password will become standard (usually indicated on the device sticker.
• 📞 If the router was issued by the provider, call support - they can give a standard password or reset it remotely.
• 🖥️ Connect to the router via cable. If you have access to the router's admin panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1), you can see the password in the Wi-Fi section. → Security settings.

On Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 with MIUI Global firmware, Wi-Fi passwords are more encrypted than on the Chinese versions. If you use custom firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu), the chances of success are higher – many of the restrictions are removed.

How to Protect Wi-Fi Passwords in the Future

To avoid losing your passwords, follow the following simple rules:

• 🔐 Use password managers (such as Bitwarden or KeePassDX) to store data from networks.
• 📝 Take a photo of the sticker from the router (where the standard password is specified) and save the photo to a protected folder.
• 🔄 Regularly update your Wi-Fi passwords (once in a week) 3-6 months) through the router's admin panel.
• 🚫 Don’t use simple passwords like 12345678 or qwerty, they’re easy to pick up.

If you frequently connect to public networks (in cafes, airports), disable the Autoconnection feature in Wi-Fi settings. This will prevent the preservation of unreliable networks, passwords from which can be compromised.

💡

The most reliable way is to use root access or ADB, but these require technical skills, and most users will do with standard browsing through settings (if the network is active) or backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Wi-Fi passwords on Redmi Note 8