The situation when you need to connect a new gadget to your home network, but you have forgotten the password, occurs quite often. Fortunately, modern smartphones store this information, and there are several legal ways to retrieve it. In this article we will analyze in detail the methods for different versions Android operating system, ranging from standard functions to the use of special applications.
The method of restoring access directly depends on the firmware version and the availability of rights superuser (Root). On devices with Android 10 and higher, the procedure is simplified as much as possible thanks to the built-in QR code generator, while on older versions you will need to use specific software or access to system files.
Before taking active steps, make sure that your smartphone is already connected to the desired network or has been connected to it previously. Without first authorizing the device on the network, it is impossible to find out the security key using software methods, since Android does not store passwords from networks to which the phone has never been connected.
Using the built-in QR code on Android 10+
Starting with the tenth version of the mobile operating system from Google, developers have introduced a convenient function for sharing network access via QR code. This is the fastest and safest method that does not require installing additional software or obtaining extended access rights. The function is available in the standard Wi-Fi settings menu of most modern smartphones, including Xiaomi, Samsung and Pixel.
First, you need to go to the wireless network settings. Find item Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi. In the list that opens, select the network from which you are currently connected, or click on the gear icon next to the network name in the list of saved connections. Detailed information about the connection will open on the screen.
At the bottom of the screen or under the network name you will see a button Share or icon QR code. When you click on it, the system will ask you to confirm your identity using a fingerprint, Face ID or pattern. This is a security measure that prevents strangers from accessing your data.
After successful authentication, a unique code will appear on the display. Below it is often a text string with the password in clear text. If the text is hidden by asterisks or is missing, you will need a second smartphone with a camera.
- 📷 Open the Camera app on the second device.
- 🔍 Point the lens at the generated QR code on the first phone.
- 🔓 A link like this will appear in the notification or pop-up window.
WIFI:S:MyNetwork;T:WPA;P:MyPassword;;. - 📝 Copy the value after the symbol P: —this is your password.
If there is no text password under the QR code, use the standard Google Lens application or any QR code scanner to read the encrypted string.
It is worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on from the shell manufacturer. For example, on MIUI from Xiaomi the code is generated immediately when you click on the network, and on pure Android you may need to additionally press the “Share” button. In any case, the logic of the process remains the same for the entire ecosystem.
The built-in QR code generator is a standard feature of Android 10+, working without root access and third-party applications.
Viewing the password through the router settings
If the built-in functions of the smartphone are unavailable for some reason or you are using an old version of the OS, you can try to find out the password through the router's web interface. This method is universal and works with any device that has a browser and access to the local network.
To log into the control panel, you will need the gateway IP address. It is usually indicated on a sticker on the bottom of the router or in the documentation. Most often these are addresses 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Enter this address into the address bar of your browser on a phone that is connected to Wi-Fi.
The system will ask for the administrator's login and password. If you have not changed them, try standard combinations: admin/admin or admin/password. If the data has been changed and forgotten, you may have to reset the router to factory settings, which will lead to a temporary disconnection of the Internet.
| Manufacturer | Standard IP | Default login | Default password |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | admin |
| ASUS | 192.168.1.1 | admin | admin |
| D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | admin | (empty) |
| Zyxel | 192.168.1.1 | admin | 1234 |
After successfully logging into the control panel, find the section responsible for the wireless network. It may be called Wireless, Wi-Fi or Wireless mode. Inside this section, look for the subsection Security (Security). It is there that your password is stored in the PSK Password or Wireless network key field.
Often the password field is hidden by asterisks. To see it, click on the eye icon or check the box Show Password. After this, you can copy the combination of characters and use it to connect other devices.
Using applications without root access
In the store Google Play there are many utilities that promise to show saved passwords. However, it is important to understand the limitations: without root access, most such applications cannot read system files directly. They work either as QR code scanners or use special APIs to create an access point for the purpose of analyzing traffic.
One of the popular solutions is an application WiFi Password Viewer or similar tools from trusted developers. The way they work often comes down to the fact that they try to generate the same QR code as the system, but in a more convenient interface, or use an accessibility service to read data from the settings menu.
⚠️ Attention: Be extremely careful when installing applications from unverified sources. Many apps with big names like "WiFi Hacker" or "Password Revealer" are fraudulent and can steal your personal data or infect your device with malware.
Some applications require permission to access your location. This is due to the fact that in Android, scanning Wi-Fi networks is tied to geolocation. Without turning on GPS and granting the appropriate rights, the application simply will not see the list of available networks.
The effectiveness of such utilities on new versions of Android (11, 12, 13) is significantly reduced due to the tightening of Google's security policies. The system isolates the data of each app, preventing them from reading the configuration files of other applications or system settings without the explicit consent of the user.
Why did old applications stop working?
Starting with Android 10, access to the wpa_supplicant.conf file, where passwords were stored, was completely closed to regular applications. Now you can read it only with root access or using system APIs for sharing.
Methods for devices with root access
If your smartphone has an unlocked bootloader and installed Root access (via Magisk, SuperSU or analogues), the process of obtaining a password becomes trivial. You get full control over the file system and can read any configuration files.
All saved Wi-Fi passwords in Android are stored in a special system file. The path to it usually looks like /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf. In newer firmware versions, the path may differ slightly, but the essence remains the same.
To view the contents of this file, you will need a file manager with support for root access, for example Root Explorer or Solid Explorer. Give the application superuser rights when you first launch it and follow the specified path.
network={ssid="Home_Network"
psk="SuperSecretPassword123"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}
In the file that opens, you will see a list of all networks to which the phone has ever connected. Find the block network with the desired name (ssid) and look at the value of the parameter psk. It is the string in quotes after psk= that is the required password.
- 📂 Open the file manager with Root access.
- 📁 Go to the directory
/data/misc/wifi/. - 📄 Open the file
wpa_supplicant.confin a text editor. - 🔑 Find the line psk next to the desired network name.
An alternative method for advanced users is to use a terminal. Install the terminal application, enter the command su to obtain superuser rights, and then use the command cat /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf to display the contents of the file on the screen.
☑️ Requirements for the Root method
Recovery via backup Google
If you have Google account synchronization and data backup enabled, passwords from Wi-Fi networks can be saved in the cloud. This method will not allow you to see the password in text on the phone screen, but will help you automatically connect your new device to the network.
When setting up a new Android smartphone, simply sign in to your Google account. The system will offer to restore data from a backup copy. During the recovery process, not only contacts and applications will be transferred, but also Wi-Fi settings, including access keys.
This method is convenient when migrating to a new device, but is useless if you urgently need to find out the password for connecting a laptop or tablet of a different operating system. Google encrypts this data and it is not intended to be manually retrieved by the user as text.
⚠️ Attention: Restoring from a backup can take a long time and requires a stable Internet connection. Make sure that there is enough space on your new device to download all the data.
It is also worth considering that Wi-Fi password backup is not available in all regions and depends on the policy of the device manufacturer. Some brands use their own cloud services to synchronize settings, ignoring the standard Google mechanism.
Frequently asked questions and problems (FAQ)
Why don’t I see the “Share” button or QR code in the settings?
Most likely, you have a version of Android lower than 10. On Android 9 (Pie) and older versions do not have this feature at the system level. Also, the button may be hidden by the shell manufacturer. Try updating the software or using methods with root access.
Is it possible to find out the password from someone else's Wi-Fi network if I am not connected to it?
No, this is impossible using legal methods. Android doesn't store passwords for networks that the device has never connected to. Attempts to hack into other people's networks are illegal and violate computer security laws.
Is it safe to use applications to view passwords?
Applications from the official Google Play store that have high ratings and many reviews are usually safe. However, avoid apps that require strange permissions or are downloaded from third-party sites. The best way is to use the built-in functionality of the system.
What to do if the wpa_supplicant.conf file is empty?
This may mean that no networks are saved on the device, or the file is located in a different location (depending on the custom firmware). It is also possible that the system encrypts this file differently, and requires a specific decoder to read it.
Will resetting the phone reset the password?
Yes, performing a hard reset will remove all saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords from the device's memory. After the reset, you will have to enter the access keys again or restore them from a backup.