The situation of connecting a new gadget to the home network and the Wi-Fi password is hopelessly forgotten is common. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often find themselves in a vicious circle: the device is already connected, but the access code is lost. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS shell provides built-in tools to solve this problem without having to hack the router.
Unlike earlier versions of Android, modern security systems allow you to legally view stored access keys if you have physical access to an already connected device. QR-We'll look at all the current methods, from regular tools to advanced techniques for power users.
There are several scenarios: you have a phone that already remembers the network, or you need to know the code in the router, and data security is still a priority, so most methods require an authorized user to unlock the screen, and let's look at each of the options available.
Use of the QR-code-setting MIUI
The easiest and fastest way available on all modern smartphones of the brand is generation. QR-Android version 10 and above, and shells MIUI, This allows you to visualize your connection data, and you go to the settings menu and select the Wi-Fi section, and you'll see the list of available networks, and the current active one will be marked with an icon or a color.
Click on the name of the network you are connected to, or the arrow next to it. The screen will open a card with detailed information, where the bottom part is usually located. QR-It often says "Tap to share password" or a similar phrase, and when you click on that code, the system may require proof of identity through a fingerprint scanner, Face. ID or.
After successful authorization on the screen will appear enlarged QR-The secret is that passwords are often written in small print right below the graphic, and if the text is hidden, you can take a screenshot of the screen and open it in Google Lens or any other scanner. QR-The camera reads the image and gives you a text string with the access key.
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi on a connected device.
- 🔍 Click on the active network or icon QR-code.
- 🔒 Pass biometric or graphical authorization.
- 📸 Take a screenshot or look at the text under the code.
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If the password text is not displayed under QR-code, be sure to take a screenshot and scan it through Google Lens – this is guaranteed to show a hidden string of characters.
Viewing through router settings
If you don't have a connected smartphone, but you have a computer or a tablet, you can try to log into the router control panel, and for this, the device must be connected to the router's network (even without the Internet), or connected to it via a cable. IP-Gateway address, which is often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 by default.
The system will ask for a login and password to log into the admin panel, which is often listed on a sticker at the bottom of the router. If you've changed it before and forgotten it, you'll have to reset the router to factory settings, which will break all current connections. When you log in, look for Wireless, WLAN or Wireless.
Inside the section, find the Wireless Password or "Wireless Password" field. In some router models, the key is hidden with asterisks, so you can click the "Show" button or temporarily change the password to the one you know, saving the settings, and then all the devices will need to reconnect with the new code.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the password in your router settings will instantly turn off all devices in your home. Make sure you're ready to reconfigure your guests' TVs, lamps and phones.
Use of Google Password Manager
Google’s ecosystem automatically synchronizes stored passwords between devices if the feature is enabled.This is one of the most reliable ways to find lost data, since the information is stored in a secure cloud account. To check this, open your smartphone settings and go to Google → Autocomplete → Autocomplete from Google.
Select Google Password Manager. From the list of saved data, find the name of your Wi-Fi network. The list is sorted by alphabetical or last use date. Click on the desired entry. The system will ask you to confirm the identity of the owner again.
The screen will display the username (usually a network SSID) and the password field hidden by the dots. There is always an "eye" icon next to the password field. Clicking on it will open the text bar of the access key, which works even if you changed your phone but used the same Google account.
☑️ Verification of password synchronization
Table: Comparison of recovery methods
To make it easier to choose the best way, it is worth comparing them in terms of complexity and requirements. Some methods require an already connected device, others allow you to act independently.
| Method | We need a connected phone. | Difficulty | Root presence |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR-code MIUI | Yes. | Low. | No. |
| Router settings | No (PC/tablet needed) | Medium | No. |
| Google Manager | No (requires an account) | Low. | No. |
| File. wpa_supplicant | Yes. | Tall. | Yes. |
Method for Advanced: File wpa_supplicant.conf
This is a way for users who have SuperUser (Root) rights on their device. In the Android operating system, all saved Wi-Fi passwords are stored in a system file. wpa_supplicant.conf. The path to it usually looks like /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf.
To access this file, you need a file manager with Root rights, such as Root Explorer or MT Manager. Once you grant the superuser permissions, follow the path indicated. Open the file with a text editor. Inside, you will see configuration blocks for each network, where the psk field contains the desired password in plain view.
The method is universal and shows every network ever saved, even those that the phone is not currently connected to. However, obtaining Root rights on Xiaomi requires unlocking the bootloader, which leads to a complete reset of the device, so this method is only relevant for prepared gadgets.
⚠️ Attention: Getting Root-rights cancels the warranty on the smartphone and makes it impossible to use banking applications without additional manipulations to hide the rights.
What to do if the file is empty?
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often find that the menu item is for viewing. QR-The code is missing or inactive, and this may be due to version limitations. MIUI In some cases, switching the region in the smartphone settings to India or Singapore, where the functionality is more widely disclosed, helps.
Another problem is that you can't copy your password from Google Manager, in which case the only solution is to manually reprint the characters or use the Share feature (if available in the password manager interface) that sends the data as a text message to itself.
If the router is owned by the provider and is closed from the user, the standard logins and passwords (admin/admin) may not work, in this situation, only a call to the operator’s technical support or a search for a sticker on the device itself, if there is physical access to it.
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The fastest and safest way for the average user is to scan. QR-code through the settings of the already connected Xiaomi smartphone.