Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the situation when you need to connect to your home wireless network a new device, such as a laptop or tablet, but the password from the router has long been forgotten. Fortunately, the Android operating system, as well as the proprietary shell MIUI or the new HyperOS, provide convenient tools to recover forgotten access data. You do not need to search for a piece of paper with records or climb into the settings of the router through the browser, if your phone is already successfully connected to this network.
There are several proven methods for finding out the stored security key, ranging from standard system features available to every user to more complex methods that require root rights or special file managers, and the choice of the specific method depends on the version of the operating system and the level of access that you currently have.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current solutions to the problem. QR-code for fast guest connectivity, how to find the text version of a password in your system settings, and what nuances exist for different firmware versions, and we will also address security issues and explain why some methods may not be available on new devices without additional manipulation.
Use of the function QR-code in the Wi-Fi settings
The easiest and fastest way that works on the vast majority of modern Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI 12 and later, and on HyperOS, is to use the built-in generation function. QR-This option was originally designed to make it easy to connect guests, but it also allows the device owner to see the password itself in text form.
Click on the Wi-Fi icon or go on the Settings path → Wi-Fi. In the list of available networks, find the one you're currently connected to, or the one you want to know your password from. Click on the arrow to the right of the network name or the network icon itself to open additional settings. On the screen will open a card with connection information, where at the bottom will be displayed QR-code.
To see the password itself, pay attention to the area under QR-On many firmware versions, the password is hidden with asterisks or dots, but if you take a screenshot or just look closely (depending on the version). MIUI), You can see a text bar. If the password is hidden, the system will prompt you to click the "Share" or similar button, and then under the "Share" button. QR-The code may contain a text line with the access key.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI The password text may not appear immediately below the code, in which case, take a screenshot of the screen from the code. QR-code, open it in the Gallery app and use the Google Lens function or the built-in scanner QR-codes to read the encoded string where the password will be visible in plain form after the characters "P:".
This is the most secure method, because it doesn't require third-party software installation or advanced system access permissions, and it's ideal for those who want to quickly learn a forgotten key and don't want to risk the stability of their device, and it works even if you don't have access to the router's admin panel.
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QR-Code is a standard Android feature that encrypts SSID and network password, allowing them to be easily transferred between devices without manual input.
View through system settings and Google Passwords
Starting with Android 10 and in newer versions, including Android 12, 13 and 14, which are installed on top Xiaomi models, Wi-Fi passwords sync with your Google account.This means you can find saved keys not only in your phone settings, but also in Google's cloud password store.This is especially handy if you need to find out the password on a device that is not currently connected to the network but has access to the Internet through mobile data.
To view the stored data, go to the basic Settings of your smartphone. Find the Google section and select Autocomplete. Next click on Autocomplete from Google and select Google Passwords or Password Manager. In the list that opens, you need to find the tab or section responsible for the Wi-Fi network. Sometimes it can be hidden within the general list of saved passwords from sites and applications, so use a search by your network name.
Once you find the network you want, click on it. The system will require you to verify your identity by unlocking your screen, fingerprint or face ID. Once you have successfully authenticated, you will see the network name (SSID) and the password field. To see the characters, click on the eye icon. Here you can copy the password to the clipboard for later use.
- 🔑 This method requires active synchronization with your Google account at the time of initial connection to the network.
- 📱 You can access passwords from any other device by logging into your Google account via your browser.
- 🛡️ Data is transmitted over a secure channel and stored in encrypted form on the company’s servers.
Using Google's password manager is a modern security standard, and even if you reset your phone to factory settings, restore it from a backup, or just log in, all of your stored Wi-Fi networks will be accessible, eliminating the need to remember complex character combinations.
Use of file managers with Root access
Users who have superuser rights (root) can access system files directly, where Android stores the configuration of every network ever connected, a method that is most universal for older versions of Android or for cases where standard interfaces do not display a password, but requires root rights obtained through, for example, Magisk.
You’ll need a root-enabled file manager like Root Explorer, MT Manager or MiXplorer. Once you install the application and grant it superuser rights, you’ll need to go to the root directory. The path to the configuration file is usually: /data/misc/wifi/. In this folder, you’re interested in a file called WpaSupplicant.conf (or sometimes WifiConfigStore.xml on newer versions of Android).
/data/misc/wifi/WpaSupplicant.confOpen this file with the built-in text editor. Inside, you'll see a list of all the networks your phone has ever connected to. Each network is described by a block containing an SSID (net name) and a psk (pre-shared key), which is your password. Look for a line that starts with sssid="Your network," and just below the line psk="your password."
⚠️ Note: Editing system files without understanding their structure can cause Wi-Fi modules to malfunction. Never delete or change other settings in the WpaSupplicant.conf file other than those you absolutely need to view.
The good thing about this is that it shows passwords even from networks that your phone isn't currently connected to, but has been connected to in the past, which makes it a powerful tool for recovering lost information if you have full control of your device.
What if the WpaSupplicant.conf file is not available?
Restoring access through the router’s web interface
If the phone cannot show a password (for example, due to system limitations or lack of root rights), the most reliable way is to access the source of the Internet distribution - the router. Virtually all modern routers, whether it is Xiaomi Mi Router, TP-Link, Asus or Keenetic, have a web-based interface accessible through a browser. To log in, you will need to connect to a Wi-Fi network (even without knowing the password, if the phone already remembers it) or connect to a router via cable.
Open any browser on your smartphone and enter in the address bar IP-The router's address. 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.31.1 (The address can also be displayed on a sticker at the bottom of the router. Once you enter the address, the system will ask you to enter the username and administrator password. If you haven't changed them, they are also indicated on the sticker (often this is the case). admin/admin).
Once you're in the settings menu, you'll find the wireless section, which can be called Wireless, Wi-Fi, Wireless, or WLAN Settings. Inside this section, under the Basic Settings or Security subsection, you'll find the Wireless Password/Key field, and you can see it in plain form or change it to a new one that you know for sure.
The table below shows the standard addresses for entering the settings of popular router brands, which can save you time when searching:
| Router brand | Standard. IP-address | Standard login | Standard password |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi / Mi | 192.168.31.1 | admin | (indicated when setting) |
| TP-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
| Asus | 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
| Keenetic | 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | (empty) |
This method guarantees 100% results, since you access the device that controls access directly, and while in the control panel, you can not only look at the password, but also strengthen the network protection by changing the type of encryption to more reliable WPA2/WPA3.
Third-party applications for password recovery
There are many apps in the Play Market that promise to show saved Wi-Fi passwords, but it's important to be extremely careful. Most of these apps without root rights can only show you the right to use the right password. QR-code (which we already know how to do with built-in tools), and those that require root often contain ads or collect user data.
One popular solution is the WiFi Password Viewer app, or analogues, which works the same way as manual file manager searches, which reads the contents of the configuration system file and outputs it in a convenient, structured way, eliminating the need to search for the right lines of code manually, and simply shows the list of networks and the "Copy Password" button.
Another class of applications is Wi-Fi managers, which allow you to back up your network settings. Programs like WiFi Analyzer (in advanced versions) or specialized backup utilities can export connection profiles, which is useful if you're planning to flash your phone and want to save all your passwords so you can quickly restore them.
- 📲 Applications are convenient in that they provide a one-click interface, but require trust of the developer.
- ⚠️ Many Wi-Fi “hackers” are fakes and simply show random passwords from a database.
- 🔒 Using third-party software to access system files always carries a potential risk of data leakage.
It is recommended to use such applications only from known developers and only in cases where the built-in methods are not available for some reason. Always check the permissions that the application requests when installing.
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Before installing any Wi-Fi application, read the reviews carefully and check the number of downloads. Programs with fewer than 10,000 installations and a low rating are best avoided to avoid viruses.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users may encounter various technical difficulties in searching for a password, such as a button that may be inactive, QR-The code is not read, or the configuration file is empty, often due to the specifics of the particular version. MIUI Google’s security policies, which are constantly tightening.
If QR-The code doesn't show up, try to reboot your smartphone. Sometimes a temporary system interface failure will block the security keys from being displayed, and make sure you're trying to look at the password from the network that your phone is currently connected to or previously connected to. If the network was “Forgotten” in the settings, it will not be possible to restore its password using standard methods without root rights.
Another common problem is that you can't open system files even with root rights, which may be because the file has special access attributes, which may require you to use a terminal (command line emulator) and enter commands to change access rights (chmod), but this is the level of advanced users.
⚠️ Note: If your phone is warranty-free, getting root rights will result in a loss of warranty from the manufacturer. Use root access methods only if you are aware of the risks and the device you do not need for official service support.
Understanding the causes of errors helps to find an alternative solution faster: If the software methods do not work, there is always physical access to the router or resetting its settings with the Reset button, which returns the factory password specified on the sticker.