When you need to connect a new gadget to your home wireless network, but the password itself is forgotten or lost, it is one of the most common problems of modern smartphone users. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the question of how to quickly and safely restore access to network settings without having a router or other already connected computer at hand. Fortunately, the Android operating system, especially in the shells of MIUI and HyperOS, provides built-in mechanisms to manage stored network profiles.
However, it is important to immediately mark the boundaries of the possible: it is impossible and illegal to access the neighbor’s network without his knowledge or hack someone else’s Wi-Fi using magical applications. This article is devoted exclusively to legal methods of viewing passwords from networks to which your phone has already been connected, or to which you have physical access through the admin panel of the router. QR-Codes and advanced methods for experienced users.
Recovering your own network is not just a matter of convenience, but also a basic element of cyber hygiene. Knowing your password, you can control who connects to your Internet and change access keys in a timely manner to improve security. Below we will take a detailed look at all the available methods, from simple visual techniques to working with system files, so you can manage your connections as efficiently as possible.
Use of the public access function through QR-code
The easiest and most affordable way, which does not require additional rights or installing third-party software, is to use the built-in generation function. QR-In modern versions of the shell. MIUI HyperOS is integrated directly into the Wi-Fi settings menu. When a smartphone is already connected to the network (or has been connected in the past), the system stores the access key and can broadcast it as graphical code.
To implement this method, you need to go to the Settings menu. → Wi-Fi. In the list of available networks, find the one you want to know the password from. Click on the arrow or gear icon to the right of the network name. On the connection details screen that opens, you'll see a large, large, large, large number of keys. QR-And underneath it, depending on the firmware version and the region, you can write a text password right away.
If there's no code, don't despair. The password is encrypted inside yourself. QR-You can take a screenshot of the screen with the code, then open the Scanner app (built into Xiaomi) or Google Lens, select the image from the gallery, and the system recognizes the text string where the access key will be specified in the P or Password field.
- 📱 Open your Wi-Fi settings and select the network you want.
- 📸 Take a screenshot of what appears. QR-code.
- 🔍 Scan the image through Google Lens or Code Scanner.
- 📝 Copy the password from the recognized text.
⚠️ Note: Never post screenshots of your own QR-And you can use Wi-Fi codes on social media or open chat rooms, and anyone who has this image can instantly connect to your network without your knowledge.
View saved networks in Android 10 and above settings
Since the tenth version of Android, Google has introduced a more transparent system for managing stored networks. On Xiaomi smartphones, this functionality is often complemented by branded interface improvements. Unlike older versions, where the list of networks was just a list of names, now the user can see the details of each saved profile.
To use this method, go to Settings → Wi-Fi. At the top of the screen or in the option menu (three dots or a hamburger menu), find Save Networks or Network Management. This will show a complete list of all the access points the phone has previously connected to. When you click on a particular network, you often open a "Share" or "View Password" card.
It is worth noting that in some regions or on certain versions of MIUI firmware, the display of a password in text form may be hidden for security purposes, in which case the system will require proof of identity through a face unlock, fingerprint or pattern lock, which is protection from the third party who took your unlocked phone, could not steal passwords.
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If the password field is hidden by asterisks, try clicking on the icon of your eye. If it's not there, use the method with QR-The code described above, as this is the most reliable standard method.
It is important to understand that this feature only works for networks whose profile is successfully saved in the system. If the network was deleted or the phone was reset to factory settings without first synchronizing with a Google account, you will not be able to restore the password through the settings menu.
Using Google Password Manager to Restore
Google’s ecosystem offers a powerful password synchronization tool that is often ignored by Android users: Google Password Manager automatically stores Wi-Fi keys if your device has the appropriate synchronization option enabled, allowing you to access passwords not only from your current phone, but from any other device associated with your account.
To check the saved data, open the Chrome browser or go to the general settings of your phone by finding the "Google" section. Then select the "Autocomplete" tab and go to "Password Manager." In the list of services and applications, find the "Wi-Fi" section or search by the name of your network. When you log in, the system will show the saved password in an open form.
The advantage of this method is that it is independent of a particular phone model or MIUI version. Even if you switched from Xiaomi to another brand, your passwords will remain available through a Google account. This is especially true for those who often change devices or use multiple smartphones at the same time.
- 🔐 Go to Google Settings on your device.
- 🗂 Select the section "Autocomplete" →"Password manager".
- 🔎 Find the right Wi-Fi network in the list.
- 👁 Click on the eye icon and confirm the identity to view.
⚠️ Note: This method requires active synchronization with your Google account, and if you have previously disabled password saving in the cloud, you will not be able to restore them through this service.
Access through AdB and root rights
For advanced users with Superuser (Root) rights on a Xiaomi device, access to system configuration files is provided. This is where all network connection parameters are stored in secure memory as a plain text file, and this is the only way to see a password if the GUI doesn't display it for some reason.
The file containing the information sought is usually located along the path. /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf or /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml It requires a root-enabled file manager, such as Root Explorer or MiXplorer, to access it. /data/ closed-in.
When you open a file in a text editor, you'll see a data structure where each ssid corresponds to a psk field, which is your password. Be very careful when editing this file: any syntax error can cause the Wi-Fi module to stop working properly.
network={
ssid="Home_Network"
psk="MySuperSecretPassword123"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}An alternative to manual search is to use an emulator terminal (e.g., Termux) with root rights. by executing the su command to obtain superuser rights, and then cat /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf, You'll display the contents of the file directly to the console, which is a quick way for those who are used to the command line.
Risks of obtaining Root rights
Entrance to the router control panel
If none of the software methods worked, there's always a hardware way to log in to the router's web interface, and it's universal and works no matter what phone you have, Xiaomi, Samsung or iPhone. To do this, you need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network (even without the Internet) or connect to a router via a router. LAN-cable.
The login address is usually written on a sticker at the bottom of the device (often 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or a domain name like tplinkwifi.net). By entering the username and administrator password (often admin/admin by default), you will be taken to the control panel. There, in the "Wireless" or "Wireless Network" section → "Security", you can not only see the current password, but also change it to a new one.
| Router brand | Standard IP | Login by default | Password default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi / Mi | 192.168.31.1 | admin | (Not/set when setting up) |
| TP-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
| ASUS | 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
| Keenetic | 192.168.1.1 | admin | 1234 |
To do this, there's a small hole on the router's case with a button that you need to hold for 10-15 seconds when power is on, and then the router will reconfigure, and you can set a new password.
☑️ Actions in resetting a router
Password recovery apps and hacking myths
Google Play offers a variety of apps that promise to “hack” or “show” passwords from neighborhood networks, and it’s important to clearly separate tools to recover your forgotten passwords (which require root permissions to read system files) from programs that hack into other people’s networks, which are usually either frauds or use password databases stolen from other users.
Apps like WiFi Password Viewer only work on root-enabled devices and just read the same file. wpa_supplicant.conf, They can't do miracles, and they can't magically learn the password from a network that the phone has never connected to, and they're completely duplicated by the Android tools that are in the Android system, with root access.
There is also a category of applications that exploit protocol vulnerabilities. WPS. However, on modern routers and newer versions of Android (starting with version 9), access to Wi-Fi features for third-party applications is severely limited. The system blocks scanning and connection attempts without the user’s knowledge, making such programs almost useless on modern Xiaomi smartphones.
- 🚫 Don’t believe apps that promise hacking in 5 seconds".
- 📲 Password Viewing Programs Require Root Rights.
- 🛡 Modern security protocols (WPA3) practically invulnerable.
- ⚖️ Hacking someone else’s network is a violation of the law.
⚠️ Note: Install applications from unverified sources (APK-Files from sites "for hacking" carries a high risk of infection of the phone with viruses-stylers that can steal your banking data and passwords from social networks.