How to find out the password from Wi-Fi on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: all working methods

Have you forgotten your home Wi-Fi password, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is already connected to the network? The situation is familiar to many: the router is configured long ago, the password sticker is lost, and guests or a new device need to connect. Fortunately, on Xiaomi smartphones there are several ways to extract the saved password — both standard MIUI tools and additional tools.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven methods, including root-free and root-enabled options. Importantly, not all methods work on the latest versions of MIUI 14 due to tightening security policies. We will point out the relevance of each method and warn against common errors that can block access to the network.

If your Redmi Note 8 runs MIUI 12 or later, start with the first three ways — they don’t require technical skills.

1. Viewing password through MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, but it only works on MIUI 11 and older (up to version 12.0.3).In the new firmware, Xiaomi has removed the ability to view the password in plain form due to security requirements.

To check if the method is available on your Redmi Note 8:

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Find your network in the list and tap it by its name.
3. If you have the option to share your password or show your password, you're in luck, otherwise you'll move on to the next one.

Nana MIUI 12/13/14 Instead of a password, you will only see QR-It's a connection code. It's a root-based restriction, but there's a workaround through a developer menu that runs on some firmware:

Enable Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone)

Activate debugging over USB in Settings → Additional → For developers

Connect your phone to a PC with ADB installed

Adb shell settings get global wifi_display_password-->

Warning! the adb shell command may not work on the latest versions of MIUI due to security changes.Do not use third-party apps from the Play Market that promise to show a password - most of them are fraudulent.

2.Use of QR-password-code

If the Redmi Note 8 settings display only a text password instead of a text one QR-It's code, it can be used to extract data. It works on all versions. MIUI, but requires a second device (smartphone, tablet or PC) with a camera.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi on Redmi Note 8 and tap on your network name.
• 🔗 Click Share or QR-code (in the upper right corner icon).
• 📸 Scan the code with another device through a standard camera app or Google Lens.
• 🔑 The connection window that appears will display the network name (SSID) password.

If the scan doesn’t show the password, try specialized reading apps. QR-Wi-Fi codes, for example:

• WiFi Key Recovery (requires root)
• QR & Barcode Scanner (by Gamma Play)
• WiFi Password Viewer (works on some firmware)

QR-code|ADB-team|Root access|Apps from Play Market|Manual connection to the router-->

On the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 13+ QR-The code contains encrypted data that can't be decrypted without special software. ADB or physical access to the router.

3. Removing password through ADB (without root)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is Google’s official tool that lets you control your device via the command line. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12-14 via ADB, you can extract saved Wi-Fi passwords if USB debugging is enabled.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Platform Tools from the Android Developers website and unpack the archive.
2. Enable Developer Mode on your phone (7 taps on the MIUI version in Settings → About phone).
3. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Connect Redmi Note 8 to your PC and confirm debugging permission.
5. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with Platform Tools and type:

adb shell


su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep '<string name="PreSharedKey">'"

If the team returns a line of form:

<string name="PreSharedKey">your_password_here</string>

If you have a Permission Denied error, you will need root rights.

adb shell settings get global wifi_display_password

or (for older versions of MIUI):

adb pull /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml

4. Viewing passwords with root access

If your Redmi Note 8 has root rights installed (e.g., via Magisk), you can extract the Wi-Fi password directly from system files, which works on any version of MIUI, but you need to be careful that the wrong actions can disrupt the system.

Instructions:

1. Install a root-enabled file manager, such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer.
2. Go to /data/misc/wifi/ or /data/misc/apexdata/com.android.wifi/ (for MIUI 13+).
3. Find the WifiConfigStore.xml file and open it with a text editor.
4. Look for lines with tags: <string name="SSID">... (network name) <string name="PreSharedKey">... (password).

Alternatively, the Terminal Emulator is:

su


cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep -A 1 "string name=\"PreSharedKey\""

Warning! Modifying or deleting files in /data/misc/wifi/ may cause the Wi-Fi module to crash.

5. Alternative methods (without telephone)

If none of these things worked, you can get the password without the phone, and here are the most reliable options.

⚠️ Attention! If you reset your router to factory settings, all connected devices (including smart appliances, TVs, speakers) will lose access to the network. Before reset, make a list of connected gadgets and prepare to reconfigure them.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to find out the Wi-Fi password on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔌 No "Show Password" option: Reason: MIUI 12+ It hides this function. The solution is to use it. ADB root-methods.
• 🚫 ADB Permission denied: Reason: not enough rights; the decision is to root or use alternative commands (see section 3).
• 🔍 File. WifiConfigStore.xml Not found: Reason: MIUI 13/14 It changed the way we store it. /data/misc/apexdata/com.android.wifi/.
• 📵 QR-code does not contain a password: Reason: encrypted format on new firmware. The solution is to scan the code with a device on Android 9 or older.
• 🔒 Router does not allow in the settings: Reason: changed the standard IP Or the web interface is disabled. The solution is to reset the router with the Reset button.

If you use public Wi-Fi (in a cafe, hotel, airport), you can’t extract your password through your phone – such networks often use port locks or browser authorization.

💡

On the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 14, the only reliable way to do this without root is to physically access the router or use the ADB with superuser rights. All other methods may not work due to security updates.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions