Smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy M21 are often faced with the need to restore access to a forgotten account or check the saved login data on various sites. In the ecosystem Android the authentication process is automated, and the system offers to save credentials during the first authorization. However, the physical location of these records is not always obvious to the user, especially if you need to find them outside the standard browser interface.
The main storage of secrets in your device is tied to your account Google, but the manufacturer also implements its own solutions, such as Samsung Pass. Understanding storage architecture is critical not only for convenience, but also for ensuring the digital security of your smartphone. In this article, we will look in detail at where exactly your logins are located and how to access them using legal methods.
Some users mistakenly believe that passwords are stored as a simple text file in the phone’s memory, which can be opened through any file manager. In fact, modern encryption systems such as Android Keystoremake direct reading of such files impossible without root access and deep technical knowledge. We'll focus on standard, secure ways to view information.
Google system storage on Samsung M21
The most common place where your credentials are stored is a cloud service Google Password Manager. This feature syncs with your account and is available on any device you're signed in to. On Samsung M21 access to this section is carried out through the system settings, regardless of what browser you use.
To get to the desired section, you need to follow the path Settings → Google → Autofill → Autofill from Google. Here you will find a complete list of all sites and applications for which data has been saved. The system uses biometric protection, so to view a specific password you will need a fingerprint or enter PIN code.
The password manager interface allows you not only to view, but also to edit or delete outdated ones records. This is especially useful if you have changed the password on some resource, but the phone continues to substitute the old combination. A regular audience of this list helps maintain order in your digital life.
- 🔐 Access to the list is protected by biometrics or a lock screen.
- ☁️ Data is synchronized in real time via the Google cloud.
- ✏️ Ability to manually add new entries for sites without autofill.
It is worth noting that if you disable synchronization in your account settings, new passwords will not be saved in the cloud, but will remain only locally on the device until the next authorization. This is an important nuance when changing a phone or resetting the settings to factory settings.
⚠️ Attention: When resetting the settings to factory settings (Factory Reset), all locally saved passwords that have not yet been synchronized with the Google cloud will be irretrievably lost. Always check the sync status before formatting.
Using Samsung Pass for biometrics
The company Samsung has developed its own add-on to the autofill system, known as Samsung Pass. On the model Galaxy M21 this service is deeply integrated into the shell One UI and allows you to use a fingerprint or facial recognition to enter applications and websites instead of entering complex combinations of characters.
Unlike the standard Google manager, Samsung Pass can store not only passwords, but also data bank cards, as well as identity cards (in supported regions). This data is accessed through a separate application or through the security settings in the menu Biometrics and Security.
A unique feature is the ability to use Secure Folder (Secure Folder) in conjunction with Samsung Pass. You can put shortcuts to frequently used applications in a protected area and open them with one touch. The system will automatically insert the saved credentials upon startup.
If you use Samsung Pass, regularly update your biometric data (fingerprints) in the settings, as recognition accuracy may decrease over time due to changes in the skin of your fingers.
When switching from another brand to Samsung users often wonder about the transfer passwords. Unfortunately, there is no direct migration from third-party managers to Samsung Pass, but you can import data from a CSV file if you have previously exported it from the Chrome browser on your computer.
| Function | Google Manager | Samsung Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronization | Cross-platform (iOS, Windows, Android) | Samsung ecosystem only |
| Biometrics | Supported | Deep integration with sensors |
| Bank cards | Basic support | Advanced management |
| Access without a network | Cache required | Full local operation |
The choice between these two systems depends on your habits. If you often change devices and use Windows or iPhone computers, the solution from Google will be more universal. If you are completely immersed in the ecosystem Galaxythen Samsung Pass will offer a smoother user experience.
Local browser databases
In addition to system solutions, each browser has its own isolated storage. It is Samsung M21 preinstalled Samsung Internet, but many users install Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera. Passwords saved within a specific browser may not be displayed in the general phone settings if system synchronization is not enabled.
In the browser Chrome data is located in the Settings → Passwordssection. A convenient search by site names is implemented here. If you use incognito mode, passwords are never saved, which is an important privacy feature to keep in mind when logging into sensitive accounts.
Browser Samsung Internet stores data in a secure section, access to which also requires identity verification. The advantage of this browser is the "Secret Mode" function, which allows you to hide tabs and data behind a separate password, different from the main screen unlock code.
☑️ Checking the security of browsers
Technically, inside the file system Android this data lies in encrypted databases format SQLite in the directory /data/data/browser_package_name/. Without superuser rights (root), it is impossible to directly access these files, since access rights are limited at the system kernel level.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to obtain root access to extract password databases may lead to to trigger the protection mechanism Knox. This will permanently change the security status of the device and disable some banking applications and Samsung Pay permanently.
Export and backup data
To transfer passwords to a new phone or create a backup copy on your computer, there is an export function. In the password manager Google on Samsung M21 you can download all data to a file format CSV. This file is a regular table that can be opened in Excel or Google Sheets.
The export process is as follows: go to the password settings, select "Export passwords" and confirm the action with biometrics. The system will warn you that the file will be unencrypted. This means that anyone who gains access to this file will be able to see all your logins and passwords in clear text.
Export path: Settings → Google → Autofill → Export passwordsAfter creating the file, it is recommended to immediately transfer it to a secure medium or upload it to an encrypted storage, and then delete it from the phone. Do not leave CSV files in your Downloads folder for too long, as this creates a serious security vulnerability.
What to do if the export button is grayed out?
If the export option is not available, check whether password synchronization is turned on in your Google Account. Also, the function may be blocked by corporate security policies if the phone is registered in a work domain.
For users Samsung Pass the backup procedure occurs automatically through a cloud account Samsung Cloud. There is no separate file for manual unloading; recovery occurs only when you log into the same Samsung account on a compatible device.
Searching for passwords through application settings
Some applications, especially instant messengers and social networks, have their own security settings, where information about sessions can be displayed, but rarely the passwords themselves. However, in the settings itself Android there is a section "Applications" where you can clear the data of a specific service.
If you have forgotten the password for an application and cannot find it in the manager, try going to the settings of this application on the website via a computer. Often there is a “Show password” function, subject to re-authorization. On the phone itself in the menu Settings → Applications you can only reset the cache, which will force the application to request data entry again.
It is important to distinguish between the password for logging into the application and the password for the account Googlethat is linked to the phone. Resetting your Google account password through the phone's settings menu is not possible; this can only be done through the account's web interface. Local device settings only control access to already saved keys.
- 📱 Application settings do not store password texts in clear text.
- 🔄 Resetting application data deletes local sessions, but not passwords from the cloud.
- 🔍 Searching your phone settings helps you find which application is saving data.
Sometimes users confuse the screen unlock password with application passwords. On Samsung M21 these concepts are separated. The screen password (pattern, PIN) is used as a master key to decrypt the password storage, but is not the site password itself.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version One UI. If you do not find the item, use the search inside the settings menu by entering the word "Passwords" or "Autofill".
Access problems and solutions
The most common problem on Samsung M21 is the refusal of the autofill system to offer a saved password. This is usually due to the fact that the browser or application did not recognize the site's domain correctly. Check the address bar: if the site is opened through http instead of https, the password manager may block data substitution for security purposes.
Another common situation is account desync. If you changed your Google Account password on another device, you may need to sign in again on your phone to update your access tokens. Without this, old passwords may no longer be substituted or displayed in the list.
In rare cases, clearing the cache of the Google Autofill service helps. This is done through the menu Settings → Applications → (show system ones) → Autofill from Google → Storage → Clear cache. This action will not delete your passwords since they are stored in the cloud, but it will restart the service.
If autofill stops working, first check for an update for the Google app and service Android System WebView, since they are responsible for the correct operation of input forms.
It is also worth considering that some banking applications and secure corporate portals deliberately block the work of password managers. In such cases, the site's security system prevents the browser from automatically entering data, requiring manual input each time to confirm the user's identity.
Is it possible to recover passwords after a full phone reset?
Yes, if synchronization with a Google or Samsung Cloud account was enabled before the reset. After the initial setup of the phone and logging into the same account, all saved passwords will be automatically downloaded from the cloud within a few minutes.
Where is the password file physically located in the Samsung M21 memory?
Database files are located in a protected memory section /data/, access to which is closed to ordinary users and applications. Direct access is only possible if you have root access, which is not recommended due to the risk of compromising the Knox security system.
Is it safe to store passwords in the phone's browser?
Storing them in the browser is safe enough for the average user due to encryption and linking to the lock screen. However, for maximum protection of financial data, it is recommended to use specialized password managers with a master password or the Samsung Pass feature.
Why doesn't Samsung Pass offer to save a new password?
This may happen if the site uses non-standard login forms, if the "Save passwords" option is disabled in the Samsung Pass settings, or if you have already saved data for this site in the Google manager, and system conflict.
How to view the Wi-Fi password on Samsung M21?
On modern versions of Android (10 and above) with the One UI shell, you can view the password for the current Wi-Fi network. Go to Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi, click on the gear next to the active network and select "QR code". The password is often displayed in text form under the QR code.