Today’s Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone users often face a situation where you need to connect a new device to your home network and your password is forgotten. Fortunately, the MIUI shell has a convenient feature that allows you to quickly and securely view stored access keys. You do not need to be an IT specialist or have superuser rights to perform this procedure.
Unlike older versions of Android, which required root rights, modern versions of the operating system allow regular means of the system to display authorization data, which is especially true for owners of devices that have a fresh version of Android installed, the process is as simple as possible and takes only a few seconds if you know where to click.
However, if you are using an older firmware version or you do not have standard viewing, there are alternative methods. In this article, we will discuss all available methods in detail, including the use of the software. QR-You can easily restore access to the network even in the most difficult situation.
Viewing the password through QR-code in standard settings
The easiest and most reliable way to find out a forgotten security key is to use the built-in generation function. QR-This method works on the vast majority of current Xiaomi smartphones with a shell. MIUI 11, 12, 13 and 14. You do not need to install additional applications or connect the device to your computer.
To start, you need to go to the wireless settings menu. Click on the gear icon or find Settings → Wi-Fi in the general list of system settings. You will see a list of available networks, and the current active access point to which your phone is connected will be displayed on the top.
On the right side of the line with your network name, you'll see an arrow or a button that says "More information," and if you click on it, you'll be taken to the extended connectivity configuration menu, and that's where the control we need is hidden.
- 📱 Find the “Share” button or icon QR-code at the bottom of the screen.
- 👁️ The system will ask to confirm the identity using Face ID, fingerprint.
- 🔑 After successful verification on the screen will appear QR-code and text string with a password below it.
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If the password doesn't show up with the text under the code, just point the camera of another phone at the screen. Most modern smartphones automatically recognize the network and offer to connect, or show the data in the notification.
It is important to note that the display of a text string depends on the version of MIUI. In some regions or on older versions of firmware, the text may be hidden, leaving only the code itself, in which case you will have to use the camera of another device to read the data.
Use of third-party applications for data recovery
If your standard settings don't work for some reason, or your MIUI interface is heavily modified, you can use specialized software. There are many utilities in Google Play that can read system network configuration files.
One of the most popular and proven programs is WiFi Password Viewer, which does not require superuser rights on new versions of Android, as it uses special system APIs to access stored data. However, on very old versions of Android (below 10), root rights may still be required.
The way these programs work is simple: they scan a list of saved profiles and display their content in a readable form, and you just need to install the application, run it, and find the name of your home network in the list.
Be careful when choosing an app, many free programs are overloaded with ads or may ask for excessive permissions, and it is recommended to choose software with high ratings and a lot of positive feedback from real users.
Viewing the password through the router’s web interface
A universal method that works on any device, regardless of the phone model or the Android version, is to log in to the settings of the router itself, and since the phone is already connected to the network, it has direct access to the router's administration panel.
To do this, you need to open any browser on your smartphone (Chrome, Yandex.Browser, Mi Browser) and enter in the address bar IP-The address of your router is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. The exact address is usually written on a sticker on the bottom of the device.
Once you enter the address, the system will ask for a login and password to log into the control panel, and if you haven't changed them, they're also listed on the sticker (often admin/admin), and once inside, you'll find the partition associated with the wireless network.
| Router brand | Entrance address | Section | Password field |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link | 192.168.0.1 | Wireless → Wireless Security | Wireless Password |
| ASUS | 192.168.1.1 | Wireless network → General | Authentication method |
| Keenetic | my.keenetic.net | My networks and Wi-Fi. | Network protection |
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | Wi-Fi → Security settings | PSK encryption key |
Inside the corresponding section, you will see a field where the password is hidden (usually with asterisks), and next to it there is often a checkbox called "Show Password" or "Display Password", and if you tick, you will see the desired combination of characters.
What to do if the router password is changed?
Synchronizing passwords through Google account
The Android ecosystem offers another powerful tool: synchronizing Wi-Fi passwords through a Google account, and if your Xiaomi device is synced, network data is stored in the cloud.
You can view saved passwords by going to your Google account settings. Any other Android device that logs in to the same account, or the passwords.google.com web interface, can find saved data. However, direct display of Wi-Fi passwords in Google's web interface is not implemented in all regions and versions.
However, if you have a tablet or a second Android phone with the same account, the password can automatically pull in there.This works thanks to the Google Passwords feature.
- 🔐 Open Google Settings on any device.
- ☁️ Go to the section "Autofillment» → «Autocomplete by Google».
- 📱 Select the passwords and find your Wi-Fi network in the list.
This is especially useful if the phone you want to use to get your password is broken or not turned on, but you remember your account information, and you can still access your security keys in the cloud.
Possible problems and limitations of the system
Despite the simplicity of the methods described, users may encounter certain difficulties, often with the operating system version or specific security settings of corporate networks.
For example, if the network has a security type WPA3 or uses certificates to log in (often found in offices and universities), a simple viewing of the password may not be possible, since it is physically not in text form - a digital certificate is used. QR-codes without third-party applications.
☑️ Checklist troubleshooting
⚠️ Note: If you try to obtain a password from someone else’s Wi-Fi network without the owner’s permission, this may violate data protection laws.
Another common problem is the bug of the shell itself. MIUI, when QR-The code is generated, but the password is not written under it, in which case it helps to clear the cache of the System Framework service or temporarily switch the region in the phone settings.
Security measures for the use of open networks
When you talk about passwords and connectivity, you can't ignore security. When you know your password and share it with your guests, be aware of the risks. Simply voicing a combination of characters is less secure than using a guest mode on a router.
Modern routers allow you to create a guest network, an isolated segment through which guests can access the Internet, but do not have access to your personal files, printers or security cameras on the local network.
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Using a guest network is the best way to share the internet without compromising the security of your personal devices or disclosing your primary password.
It is also recommended to change your Wi-Fi password regularly, especially if you suspect that it may have become known to an outsider.A complex password containing letters of different registers, numbers and special characters will protect you from trying to select the key by brute force.