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

Have you forgotten the password for your home Wi-Fi, but the connection to this network is saved on your phone? The situation is familiar to many: the router was set up by someone else, the password was written down on a piece of paper that was lost a long time ago, and now you need to connect a new gadget. Fortunately, on Android there are several ways to retrieve a saved password - and this does not always require superuser rights (root).

In this article we will look at all the current methods: from standard system functions to specialized applications. Important: some methods only work on certain versions Android or models of smartphones (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel).If your phone does not support built-in display of passwords, do not worry - there are alternative solutions for any case.

We warn you right away: retrieving a password from the phone's memory is only possible for networks to which the device has already connected before. If the network is new or the phone has never connected to it, these methods will not work. Also remember that accessing other people's networks without the owner's permission may violate the law.

1. Standard method: viewing the password in the Android settings (without root)

Starting from Android 10, some manufacturers have added the ability to view saved Wi-Fi passwords directly in system settings. This is the simplest method, but it does not work on all devices. For example, the function is available on smartphones Google Pixel, OnePlus (with OxygenOS 11+), as well as on some models Samsung and Xiaomi with the latest updates.

To check whether your phone supports this method, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings phone.
2. Go to section Network and Internet (or Connections to Samsung).
3. Select Wi-Fi, then click on the name of the desired network (it must be connected or saved).
4. Tap on the button Share (or Share in English firmware).
5. The system will request confirmation using PIN code, fingerprint or graphic key.
6. After confirmation, a QR code and a text password will appear below it.

If there is no item in your settings Share, it means that the manufacturer has blocked this function. In this case, proceed to the following methods.

2. Using the file manager (only for root users)

If your phone has superuser rights (root), you can manually extract the password from the system file, where Android stores data about Wi-Fi networks. This method is universal and works on any version of the system, but requires caution - incorrect actions can disrupt the operation of the phone.

Instructions:

1. Install any file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Open the manager and follow the path:

   /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml

   On some firmware the file may be located here:

   /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStoreSoftAp.xml

3. Find in the file a block with the name of your network (parameter SSID).
4. There will be a line nearby PreSharedKey —this is the password in encrypted form.
5. Copy the value between the tags and use online Base64 decoder (for example, this) to decrypt it.

Make sure that root access is activated (check through an application like Root Checker)

Make a backup copy of the file WifiConfigStore.xml before editing

Use a reliable file manager with root support

Do not change other parameters in the file so as not to break Wi-Fi-->

⚠️ Attention: Changing system files without a backup can lead to the loss of all saved Wi-Fi networks. If after editing the phone no longer connects to networks, delete the file WifiConfigStore.xml — the system will create it again the next time you connect.

3. Applications for viewing Wi-Fi passwords (without root)

If standard methods do not work, and root is missing, you can use third-party applications. They are not guaranteed. 100% result (due to restrictions Android), but often help to extract passwords on devices with firmware from Xiaomi, Huawei or Samsung.

The best applications for this task:

• 🔍 WiFi Password Viewer — works on many devices without root, shows saved passwords in a convenient list.
• 📱 WiFi Key Recovery — specializes in retrieving passwords from backups Titanium Backup (if any).
• 🛠️ WiFi Password (Root) — requires superuser rights, but supports exporting passwords to file.
• 🔐 Router Keygen —does not show saved passwords, but can pick up a standard key from the router using an algorithm (works for some models TP-Link, D-Link).

How to use:

1. Download one of the applications from Google Play (or from the official website if it is removed from store).
2. Run it and provide the necessary permissions.
3. In the list of networks, find the one you need and copy the password.

⚠️ Attention: Some antiviruses (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) can block such applications as “potentially dangerous”. This is a false positive - the apps simply read system data. However, download them only from trusted sources!

4. View password via backup (ADB)

If your phone has USB debuggingenabled, you can retrieve the password using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) - a tool for managing the device via a computer. This method does not require root, but. minimal command line skills are required.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB drivers on your computer.
2. Connect your phone via USB and enable debugging (in the developer settings).
3. Open the command line (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and enter:

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

4. The file will be copied to your computer. Open it with any text editor (for example, Notepad++) and find the line PreSharedKey for your network.

If the command did not work, try an alternative way:

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

What to do if ADB does not see the device?

Make sure that the option is enabled in the developer settings USB debugging.

Check whether the drivers for your phone model are installed (for example, for Samsung needed Samsung USB Drivers).

Try a different USB cable (preferably original).

Restart your phone and computer.

5. Alternative methods (if all else fails)

If none of the above methods worked, there are less universal, but sometimes effective options:

Method	When it works	Limitations
Resetting the router	If you have physical access to the router	All settings will be reset, including network name and password
View on another device	If a laptop or another phone is connected to the network	On Windows, the password can be viewed in the "Network Control Center"
Contact your provider	If the router was issued by the Internet provider	The password can be specified in the contract or on the sticker of the router
Using WPS	If the router supports WPS and the function is not disabled	Many modern routers disable WPS by default

⚠️ Attention: Resetting the router to factory settings (using the Resetbutton) will delete all user settings, including the network name (SSID) and password. After the reset, the login information will be the same as on the sticker on the back of the device (usually a combination like admin/admin or 12345678).

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to extract a password, users often encounter typical problems. Here are the most common of them and how to solve them:

• 🚫 WifiConfigStore.xml file not found → Check the path for your version of Android (on new firmware it may be different, for example, /data/vendor/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf).
• 🔒 No permission to read the file → Without root or ADB some files are not available. Try the method with applications.
• 📱 The application does not show passwords → Update it to the latest version or try another (for example, WiFi Password Viewer instead WiFi Key Recovery).
• 🔄 After extraction, the password does not work → Make sure you copied it completely (sometimes there are spaces or invisible characters at the end).

If you use custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the paths to the password files may differ. In such cases, searching the developer forums (for example, XDA Developers) for your specific firmware.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to find out the password for Wi-Fi to which the phone cannot connect? connected?

No, all the described methods only work for networks to which the device has already connected before. If the network is new, the only options are to find out the password from the owner of the router, look it up on the device sticker, or reset the router to factory settings.

Why is there no “Share” button for Wi-Fi in the settings?

This function depends on the manufacturer and firmware version. For example, on Samsung c One UI 4.0+ has it, but on older versions MIUI from Xiaomi —no. Also, some mobile operators block this option on proprietary firmware.

Is it safe to use applications to view passwords?

Yes, if you download them from official sources (for example, Google Play). These apps do not send your data to the Internet - they simply read locally stored passwords. However, avoid applications that ask for unnecessary permissions (for example, access to SMS or contacts).

Is it possible to find out the Wi-Fi password on an iPhone?

On iPhone it is impossible without jailbreak - iOS does not provide access to saved data passwords. The only option is to look at the password on another device (Mac or Windows-PC) that connected to this network.

What to do if none of the methods worked?

There are two reliable methods:

1. Reset the router to factory settings (using the button Reset on the back panel).
2. Connect the router to the computer via cable and enter its web interface (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), where you can see or change the password.