How to find the Wi-Fi network security key on a Samsung phone: all working methods

You connected your phone Samsung Galaxy to a Wi-Fi network a month ago, and now you need to remember the password - for example, to connect a laptop or TV. The problem is that Android by default hides saved network security keys (Wi-Fi passwords) for security purposes. But there are several ways to extract them - both through standard settings and using hidden system functions.

In this article we will analyze all the current methods for smartphones Samsung based on Android 10–14 (including models Galaxy S23/S22, A54/A34, Note 20 i others). Important: some methods require root access, but most work without them. Also note that on phones with corporate profiles or encryption, data may not be available.

If you urgently need a password for the current network, start from the first section. If you want to find out all saved networks (for example, guest Wi-Fi in a cafe), proceed to methods using ADB or a file manager.

1. How to view the password of the current Wi-Fi network through settings (Android 10 and later)

The easiest way is to use the built-in password viewing function in the settings Samsung. It works on all devices with Android 10 and higher, but only for the current connected network.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the application Settings (gear icon).
• 🔗 Go to section Connections → Wi-Fi.
• 🔍 Click on the name of your network (next to it will be Connected).
• 🔐 In the window that opens, tap on the icon QR code or Share (depending on the firmware version).
• 👁️ Under the confirmation by PIN code, fingerprint or password a QR code and a text password will appear.

Limitation: this method shows the password only for an active network. If you need data from other saved networks, proceed to the following methods.

2. Extracting passwords through a file wpa_supplicant.conf (without root, but with ADB)

All saved Wi-Fi networks (including passwords) are stored in a system file wpa_supplicant.conf. You can access it through Android debugging bridge (ADB) —without superuser rights, but with connection to a computer.

What you will need:

• 💻 Computer with installed drivers Samsung and tool ADB (you can download from official Android website).
• 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).
• ⚙️ Enabled USB debugging on the phone (how to enable - see below).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Enable USB debugging:

   • Go to Settings → About phone → Software information.
   • Click 7 times per Build numberuntil a notification appears You have become a developer!.
   • Go back to Settings → Developer options and activate USB debugging.

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

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

On phones with Android 12+, the path to the file may differ. If the command did not work, try:

adb shell su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml"

Install ADB on your computer|Enable USB debugging on your phone|Connect your phone with an original cable|Allow access to data on the smartphone screen|Download the Wi-Fi configuration file-->

3. Viewing passwords using a file manager (requires root)

If your Samsung has root access, you can directly open the file with passwords through any file manager that supports access to system partitions (for example, Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and follow the path:

   /data/misc/wifi/

   Or for new versions of Android:

   /data/vendor/wifi/wpa_supplicant/

2. Find the file wpa_supplicant.conf (or WifiConfigStore.xml) and open it with a text editor.
3. Passwords will be indicated in lines like:

   psk="your_password"

Warning: editing system files can lead to Wi-Fi malfunctions. Do not change the contents of the file!

What to do if the file wpa_supplicant.conf is empty?

On some firmware Samsung passwords are stored in encrypted form. In this case, only specialized software like WiFi Key Recovery (requires root) or the method from ADB from the previous section will help.

4. Using applications to recover passwords (with and without root)

There are applications that make it easier to retrieve Wi-Fi passwords. However, their capabilities depend on the version of Android and the presence of root access. Google Play There are apps that make it easy to retrieve Wi-Fi passwords. However, their capabilities depend on the version of Android and the presence of root access.

Application	Requires root?	Supported Android versions	Features
WiFi Password Viewer	❌ No	10–12	Shows only the current network
WiFi Key Recovery	✅ Yes	5–14	Recovers all saved passwords
WiFi Password (ROOT)	✅ Yes	7–13	Export passwords to file
Network Info II	❌ No	9–14	Shows the current network data, but not the password

⚠️ Attention: applications without root often do not show all networks or are unstable. Before installing, check the reviews - some apps may contain advertising or collect data.

Through the phone settings|Using ADB|Via the file manager (root)|Special applications|I don’t know, I haven’t tried it yet-->

5. Alternative methods: backup and reset

If none of the methods worked, you can try recover the password from a backup or resetting the network settings (but this will delete all saved Wi-Fi).

Method 1: Backup via Samsung Smart Switch

• 📲 Install Samsung Smart Switch on your computer.
• 🔄 Create a backup copy of your phone data (including Wi-Fi settings).
• 🔍 In a backup file (usually in a folder SmartSwitchBackup) find the section with networks. Passwords are stored there in encrypted form, but they can be retrieved using third-party tools.

Method 2: Reset network settings (extreme case!)

• ⚠️ This will delete all saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices!
• Go to Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings.
• After resetting, you will have to re-enter passwords, but if you connect to the network from another device, the phone will remember it again.
💡

Backup copying via Smart Switch saves Wi-Fi passwords, but they are stored in encrypted form. Additional tools will be required for decryption.

6. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you try to extract your password, you may encounter errors. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🚫 "File not found" when using ADB:

  On new versions Android the path to the password file has changed. Try:

  adb shell su -c "ls /data/vendor/wifi/"

  Look for files with the extension .conf or .xml.

• 🔒 "Access denied" without root:

  Without superuser rights, you will not be able to read system files. Use the method with ADB or applications from Google Play.

• 📵 The phone is not detected by the computer:

  Install the drivers Samsung USB Driver and check the cable. Also try a different USB port.

• 🔄 The password in the file is encrypted:

  On some firmware Samsung passwords are encrypted. In this case, only specialized software like WiFi Key Recovery (requires root) will help.

⚠️ Attention: if your phone was released after 2022 (for example, Galaxy S23 or A54), the manufacturer could tighten the protection of system files. In this case, the only reliable way is to use ADB or applications with root.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I find out the Wi-Fi password without root and a computer?

Yes, but only for currently connected network. Open Settings → Wi-Fi, click on the network name and select Share (confirmation by PIN code or fingerprint will be required). To view all saved networks without root, you will need a computer and ADB.

Why in the file wpa_supplicant.conf no passwords?

You probably have a new version Android (12+), where passwords are stored in a different location or in encrypted form. Try the path /data/vendor/wifi/wpa_supplicant/ or use ADB with the command:

adb shell "su -c 'cat /data/misc/wifi/*'"

Is it safe to use applications to extract passwords?
Applications from Google Play (for example, WiFi Password Viewer) are usually safe, but:
• Check reviews and ratings.
• Do not install software from third-party sources.
• Applications without root have limited functionality.

To be absolutely sure, use the method with ADB.