Modern users often face a situation where you need to connect a new device to a wireless network, but the password itself has long been forgotten or lost. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones are in a better position than users of many other brands, since the branded shell MIUI and the new HyperOS provide built-in tools to manage stored networks. You do not need to install dubious applications from third-party sources or obtain super-user rights to access this information.
Android operating system since version 10, implemented a security mechanism that hides passwords in the open, but allows you to share them through the Internet. QR-This is the primary and most secure way to restore access to your network data. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from standard scanning. QR-code prior to using advanced debugging tools to extract password text.
Understanding how network settings work in MIUI will not only help you recover forgotten character combinations, but also help you protect your home network from unauthorized access. We will look at the nuances of working with the clipboard, the features of displaying data in different versions of the firmware and the methods that are guaranteed to work even in the latest security updates.
Use of the QR-password-code
The easiest and fastest way to find out the wireless network access key is to use the Share function that generates the key. QR-This method works on all modern Xiaomi smartphones with an installed shell. MIUI 11 and later. You don't need any additional software, because the functionality is built directly into the system settings.
To start, open your device's settings and go to the Wi-Fi section. Find the network you're currently connected to or have used before. Click on the arrow next to the network name or the network icon itself to open up details. In the menu you will see the Share button or icon. QR-When you press it, the system will ask you to verify your identity by unlocking your screen, fingerprinting or scanning your face.
⚠️ Attention: QR-The code contains complete network information, including the password in plain form. Never take screenshots of the code or send it to outsiders, as this is equivalent to passing a password from your network.
After successful authentication, the screen will appear QR-It usually shows a line like WIFI:S:MyNetwork;T:WPA;P:MyPassword;;. Here, MyPassword is your password you want. If the code is hidden by asterisks or ellipsis, you'll need a second smartphone with a camera and scanning feature. QR-Hover the second device's camera over the code and the pop-up prompt will show the full password text.
Method through clipboard and system messages
In some versions of the firmware MIUI And HyperOS has a useful clipboard feature that allows you to pull out a password without using a second device. QR-code to share the network, the system often automatically copies the connection string to the clipboard, which is invisible to the user, but the data remains available.
Just after you showed me QR-If you open any application where you can type in text, like Notes or a browser search box, click and hold your finger in the input field to call the insert menu, and if you have a connection bar in the clipboard, you'll see it in the list of recent buffer elements. The line will have a format WIFI:T:WPA;S:Name;P:Password;;;. You just need to find the symbol P: and copy the text to the next character;.
- 📱 Open the Wi-Fi menu and click "Share" on the desired network.
- 📋 Not closing the window with QR-code, fold the settings app.
- 📝 Open the Notes app and create a new file.
- 📌 Click "Insert" and look for a line that begins with WIFI:.
This method is especially convenient when there is no second phone on hand to scan the code. However, it is worth considering that for security reasons in the latest updates of Android 13 and 14, access to the clipboard can be limited or cleared immediately after closing the window with the help of the clipboard. QR-So we need to act fast.
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If the line in the clipboard does not appear immediately, try clicking the button "Save image" under QR-code, then open it through the Gallery and use the "Google Lens" function right in the screenshot.
Using ADB to retrieve stored networks
For advanced users who need to get a list of all the networks ever saved and their passwords, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting the smartphone to the computer through USB-cable and availability of installed Xiaomi driver USB Drivers. It allows you to access system configuration files directly.
Before starting the procedure, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI Version (or OS Version) seven times. After the message “You became a developer”, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For developers and turn on Debugging over USB.
adb shell dumpsys wifi | grep "ConfigKey"By executing a command in the command line of the computer, you will receive a output of data, among which will be contained SSID However, to get a text password, you often need deeper access to the file. wpa_supplicant.conf, The root-rights command is hidden on modern versions of Android, but the use of the adb shell cmd wifi list-networks command (available on Android) 11+) can show a list of known networks, although it does not always display passwords in plain form without additional manipulations.
What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Checking through router and web interface
If you have forgotten your password and your phone can’t show it (for example, due to the limitations of the Android version), you can always view the settings directly on the router. LAN-This method is universal and does not depend on the model of the smartphone.
Open the browser on the phone and enter in the address bar IP-The router's address. 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. The exact address is often written on a sticker at the bottom of the router. Enter the login and administrator password (often by default). admin/admin). In the router interface, go to the Wireless section or WLAN. The Wireless Password or Pre-Shared Key will be listed in the current password.
| Router brand | Typical IP address | Login by default | Password default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi / Redmi | 192.168.31.1 | admin | (no password/set when setting up) |
| TP-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
| ASUS | 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | (empty field) |
Once you log in, you can not only see the password, but also change it to a more complex one to improve network security. Remember to save the changes by clicking the Save or Apply button, after which all devices will need to connect again.
Limitations of Android 10 and Newer
It's important to understand that Google's security policies are tightening, and since Android 10, applications and even system functions have had limited access to files that store Wi-Fi passwords, to protect users from malware that could steal network data.
On Xiaomi smartphones with Android 11, 12, 13 and above, you can't just go to the file manager and find a file with passwords without Root permissions. QR-The code has become a de facto standard, the only legitimate way for a user to export a password.
- 🔒 File system is protected from reading by third-party applications.
- 📱 The clipboard can be cleaned by the system in the background.
- ⚙️ Screenshots from the screen QR-Code can be blocked by security policies.
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On modern versions of Android, viewing the password is possible only through the system QR-router code or web interface. Direct access to system files is closed.
Restoring access without connecting to the network
The problem of finding out the password from a network that the phone is not currently connected to but has previously connected to is more complicated. In the standard MIUI interface, the list of "saved" networks often hides details if the device is not within range of the router.
Try turning on Wi-Fi and finding the network you want on the list of available networks. If the phone "recognizes" it (it appears "Save" or similar), click on it. In some versions of the shell, this will immediately suggest connecting, but sometimes (rarely) allows you to open the sharing menu. If the network is not available (the router is off), the standard means to see the password will not work, the system will not open the network card for editing.
⚠️ Note: Apps from Play Market that promise to “show all WiFi passwords” are 99% fraudulent or contain ads. On devices without Root rights, they are technically unable to access the system password store due to Android restrictions.
The only reliable option is to access the router’s account via the mobile Internet (if the router supports remote control) or physically access another device that remembers that network and can generate the router’s data. QR-code.