How to find the Wi-Fi password on Android if the Samsung phone is already connected to the network

You forgot the password for your home or work Wi-Fi, but Is your Samsung Galaxy successfully connected to this network? The situation is familiar to many: the router was set up a long time ago, the password was written down on a piece of paper that was lost long ago, and now you need to connect a new device. Fortunately, on Android (including smartphones Samsung) there are several ways to retrieve the saved password - and most of them do not require root access.

In this article we will look at 5 working methodsincluding official tools Samsung and universal solutions for all Android devices. You will learn how to view the password through Settings, file wpa_supplicant.conf, ADB, as well as using third-party applications. Let us separately dwell on the nuances for different versions One UI and models Galaxy (from S21 to A54).

⚠️ Important: All methods work only for networks to which phone already connected. If your smartphone has never connected to the desired Wi-Fi, you will not be able to extract the password. Also remember that distributing passwords without the permission of the network owner may violate local laws.

1. Official method: view the password in Samsung settings (One UI 5.0 and later)

Starting from One UI 5.0 (based on Android 13), Samsung added a built-in function for viewing Wi-Fi passwords. This is the simplest and safest method, but it does not work on all devices. Here's how to do it use:

1. Open the application Settings (gear on the main screen or in the notification panel).
2. Go to section Connections → Wi-Fi.
3. Click on the name of the current network (under the word Connected).
4. Tap on the icon Gear (or Network management in some firmware).
5. Select Show password (can be called View or Share).
6. Confirm the action using PIN code, fingerprint or pattern key.

If item Show password no - it means your version One UI does not support this function. In this case, proceed to the following methods.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, for corporate devices or custom ROMs), the option to view the password can be disabled by the administrator. In this case, try alternative methods.

2. Retrieving the password through the wpa_supplicant.conf file (without root)

On all Android devices (including Samsung), Wi-Fi passwords are stored in the system file wpa_supplicant.conf. Access to it usually requires root access, but on some models Galaxy it can be read through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) even without root. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Enable USB debugging

• 📱 Open Settings → About phone → Software information.
• 🔧 Click 7 times on Build numberuntil the notification appears You have become a developer!.
• 🔙 Return to Settings → Developer options.
• 🔘 Turn on the switch USB debugging and confirm the action.

Step 2. Connect the phone to the PC and use ADB

• 🖥️ Install ADB Tools on your computer (Windows/macOS/Linux).
• 🔌 Connect Samsung to your PC via USB (select mode File transfer).
• 🐍 Open the command line (or Terminal) and enter:

adb shell
su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep -A 1 ssid"

If the command returns an error, try the alternative path:

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

🔍 In the resulting file, find the line with the name of your network (ssid="Name_WiFi") - there will be a field next to it preSharedKey="your_password".

Install ADB Tools on PC

Enable USB debugging on your phone

Connect Samsung to computer

Run command line as administrator-->

⚠️ Attention: On new models Samsung (for example, Galaxy S23 c One UI 6.0) path to the file configuration may vary. If the commands do not work, try /data/vendor/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml.

3. Using third-party applications (without root)

If the previous methods did not work, you can use specialized utilities. For example, the application WiFi Password Viewer (available in Google Play) can retrieve passwords on some devices Samsung without root. However, there are nuances:

• 📌 The application does not work on all firmware (especially on One UI 5.1+).
• 🛡️ Some antiviruses may block it as “potentially dangerous.”
• 🔄 After updating Android, the application may stop functioning.

Instructions:

1. Download WiFi Password Viewer from Google Play.
2. Open the application and provide access to Wi-Fi Settings.
3. In the list of networks, find the one you need and click for it - the password will be displayed in the field Password.

💡 Alternative: Application WiFi Key Recovery (requires root) is guaranteed to show all saved passwords, but is only suitable for unlocked devices.

4. Viewing the password through a Samsung Smart Switch backup

Little known life hack: Samsung Smart Switch when creating a backup, it also saves Wi-Fi passwords. If you have a backup made through this application, you can extract the necessary data from it:

Step 1. Create a backup

• 📲 Install Smart Switch to your phone.
• 💾 Connect an external drive or select saving to Internal memory.
• 🔄 Press Backup and wait for completion.

Step 2. Extract the password from the backup

• 🖥️ Connect your phone to the PC and find the backup file copies (usually in a folder SmartSwitchBackup).
• 🔍 Use an archiver (for example, 7-Zip) to open the file with the extension .sbk.
• 📄 Inside, find the folder com.android.providers.settings → databases → settings.db.
• 🔎 Open the database via SQLite Browser i run the request:

SELECT * FROM wifi WHERE ssid='Name_of_your_network';

As a result, you will see a field pre_shared_key with a password.

⚠️ Attention: Backups Smart Switch are encrypted. If you did not set a password when creating the backup, use the standard key default. On new versions One UI (6.0+), this method may not work due to the changed storage format.

5. Alternative method: resetting the router (if other methods did not help)

If none of the above methods worked, a radical solution remains - reset the router settings return to the default password (indicated on the device sticker), but all personal settings (including the network name, guest). access, etc.) will be lost.

How to reset the router:

1. 🔌 Find the button on the back panel of the router Reset (usually recessed into the case).
2. 📍 Take a paperclip or toothpick and press the button for 10-15 seconds.
3. 🔄 Wait for the reboot (the indicators should blink).
4. 📋 Look at the standard password on the sticker under the router (field Wi-Fi Key or Password).

⚠️ Warning: After the reset, all devices will be disconnected from the network, and you will have to configure the router again (including provider parameters, if required). This method should be used only as a last resort.

What to do if there is no Reset button on the router?

On some models (for example, Keenetic or ASUS RT-AX88U), the reset is performed via the web interface. To do this:

1. Connect to the router via cable.

2. Open in the browser 192.168.1.1 (or other IP indicated on the sticker).

3. Enter your login/password (usually admin/admin).

4. Find section System tools → Reset settings.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to decide, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

Method	Requires root?	Works on One UI 5.0+	Difficulty	Risks
Samsung Settings	❌ No	✅ Yes (only on new models)	⭐ 1/5	No
File wpa_supplicant.conf	⚠️ Partially (ADB required)	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐ 3/5	May not work on new firmware
Third-party applications	❌ No (but you need rights)	❌ No (on One UI 5.1+)	⭐⭐ 2/5	Possible false positives of the antivirus
Smart Switch backup	❌ No	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5	Requires unzipping and SQL queries
Reset router	❌ No	✅ Yes	⭐⭐ 2/5	All network settings are deleted

The most reliable way for modern Samsung (One UI 5.0–6.1) is to view the password through settings or ADB. If the phone is older than 2020, the WiFi Password Viewer application is likely to work.

Common errors and how to avoid them

When trying to retrieve a Wi-Fi password, users often encounter common problems. Here are the most common of them and ways to solve them:

• 🚫 "There is no 'Show password' item in the settings" → Your version One UI does not support this function. Update the firmware or use ADB.
• 🔌 "ADB is not sees the device" → Make sure that it is enabled USB debugging and the drivers are installed Samsung USB Driver on the PC.
• 🔒 "The application is asking for root" → Most utilities for viewing passwords require root access. If they are not there, try the method with Smart Switch.
• 📵 "After resetting the router, the Internet does not work" → Your provider may be using MAC address binding. Call support and report a change of equipment.

💡 Tip: If you often forget passwords, save them in Google Password Manager or Samsung Pass. To do this, when connecting to a new network, click Save to account.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I find out the Wi-Fi password on Samsung without a computer?

Yes, if you have you One UI 5.0+, use the built-in function in the settings (Connections → Wi-Fi → Network name → Show password). On older versions of Android, try the application WiFi Password Viewer (but it does not work on all devices).

Why does ADB not show the password, although debugging is enabled?

Possible reasons:

• On Samsung from Android 12+ the path to the configuration file has changed to /data/vendor/wifi/....
• The firmware blocks access to system files (relevant for corporate devices).
• Not enough rights: try the command adb root before extracting the file.

🔹 Solution: Update ADB to the latest version or use an alternative method.

Will it be visible that I looked at the password through Samsung settings?

No, viewing the password through the official menu Settings leaves no traces in the system. However, if you are using a corporate phone with MDM (device management), the administrator may see attempts to access system files via ADB.

Is it possible to find out the password for someone else's Wi-Fi to which my Samsung is connected?

Technically yes, but this violates the law in most countries (including Russia, under Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Illegal access to computer information”). Use these methods only for networks to which you have the legal right to access (for example, home or work Wi-Fi with the permission of the owner).

Why did all the methods stop working after the One UI update?

Samsung regularly tightens security policies. Starting One UI 5.1 (Android 13), access to system files with passwords is limited even for ADB. If it is critical for you to retrieve the password, try:

1. Roll back the firmware to an older version (risky!).
2. Use Smart Switch to create a backup on the old version of the OS.
3. Contact your network administrator for password.