It's a common situation to need to connect a new device to an existing wireless network, but the password is lost or forgotten. Fortunately, modern mobile operating systems, in particular Android, store data about previously used networks in secure storage. This allows the smartphone owner to easily restore access and share the access key with guests or another device.
In older versions of the operating system, access to this data was closed to regular users without rights. rootHowever, with the release of Android 10 and subsequent versions, Google has implemented a native and convenient mechanism for viewing and sharing passwords via QR codes. You no longer need to delve into system files or use complex console commands to perform a simple task.
In this article, we'll detail all the current methods for retrieving a saved security key, explore the features of different shells from Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei, and touch on advanced methods for experienced users. A key feature of modern methods is the ability to view the password in clear text without having to reconnect the router or reset its settings.
Native Android 10 and later
Starting with OS X, Google standardized the Wi-Fi settings interface, making network management more transparent. Viewing passwords no longer requires third-party apps or command line access. All you need is physical access to a device that's already connected to the desired network or has previously connected to it.
The process begins by going to the settings menu. You need to open the section responsible for wireless connections. Depending on your smartphone manufacturer, the path may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same: look for "Wi-Fi" or "Wireless Networks." This displays a list of available networks and your current connection.
Click the gear or arrow next to the active network name to open its properties. In the menu that opens, look for the "Share" button or QR code icon. The system will require you to verify your identity using a fingerprint scanner, Face ID, or your screen unlock PIN. This is a standard security measure. Android, preventing data theft by unauthorized persons.
After successful authentication, a QR code will appear on the screen for quick connection to other devices. Below this code, the actual text password is usually written in small print. If the text is too small or missing, you can simply take a screenshot and open the image in Google Lens or any other QR code scanner that recognizes text in an image.
⚠️ Attention: On some smartphones (for example, Xiaomi with MIUI or Huawei with EMUI), the password may not be displayed as text under the QR code by default. In this case, a screenshot and OCR are the only standard way to view the character combination.
Features of the Samsung, Xiaomi, and Huawei interfaces
Electronics manufacturers often modify the standard Android interface, adding their own unique features and changing the layout of controls. This can be confusing for users accustomed to stock Android. Let's break down the specifics of popular brands so you can quickly find the option you need.
In devices Samsung With One UI, the process is incredibly simplified. After entering Wi-Fi settings and selecting a network, the QR code icon is located at the very top or bottom of the network properties screen. Tapping it immediately generates a code, and the password is often written directly below it as "Password: ...." If there is no password, use the Smart Camera feature to scan your screen.
Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi And Poco MIUI or HyperOS interfaces have their own peculiarity. When you tap the QR code icon, the system may prompt you to immediately send the settings card via Mi Share. To view the password, you sometimes need to tap the special "eye" icon next to the input field or use a screenshot. In newer versions of MIUI, the password text is often hidden behind asterisks until you tap the eye icon.
Devices Huawei And Honor Phones with EMUI or Magic UI also follow this trend. The QR code icon is usually located in the center of the network settings screen. A unique feature of some models is the ability to share a password via NFC by simply holding a friend's phone close to yours, but a screen scan is still required to view the text version of the key.
Using Google Lens to decipher
The visual search method is one of the most versatile and works even when the system doesn't display the password in plain text. Google Lens is a powerful artificial intelligence tool built into most Android smartphones that can recognize text and codes in images.
The method involves creating a digital duplicate of your screen with a QR code. You need to take a screenshot of the screen where the connection code is displayed. Then, open the Google app (or the separate Google Lens app), tap the camera icon, and select the screenshot you took from your gallery. The system will analyze the image.
After processing, the AI will highlight areas containing text and codes. If a password was written under the QR code, it will be highlighted as plain text, allowing you to copy it. If there was no text, Lens may attempt to decode the QR code itself and display the string it contains, which is often in the format WIFI:S:MyNetwork;T:WPA;P:MyPassword;;, where after P: and the sought-after key is hidden.
- 📸 Take a screenshot of the network's QR code.
- 🔍 Open Google Lens and upload an image.
- 📋 Find the line with the prefix “P:” or just the text under the code.
- 📝 Copy the password and use it to connect.
This method is especially useful if you have a "Chinese" firmware version, where the password text display in the settings is completely absent. It doesn't require any additional software and operates at the system level, guaranteeing data security.
Checking through the router settings
If you don't have a device already connected to the network, or the above methods don't work, the most reliable method is to connect to the signal source—the router. To do this, you'll need any device (smartphone, tablet, laptop) connected to the router's Wi-Fi network, or a computer connected to it via cable.
You need to find out the gateway IP address. On Android, you can do this by going to the Wi-Fi connection properties and finding the "Gateway" or "Router" field. This is usually an address like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1Enter this address into your browser's address bar. This will open the router administrator login page.
If you haven't changed the factory settings, your login and password are often found on a sticker on the bottom of the router (standard pairs: admin/admin, admin/password). Once you're in the control panel, find the section Wireless or "Wireless," then "Wireless Security." Your PSK Password field will display your key in clear text.
| Router brand | 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) |
| Xiaomi | 192.168.31.1 | admin | admin |
| Zyxel | 192.168.1.1 | admin | 1234 |
⚠️ Attention: Router interfaces are subject to manufacturer updates. The location of the "Wireless Security" menu may change. If you can't find the tab you need, consult the official instructions for your specific router model on the manufacturer's website.
What should I do if my router admin password has been changed and forgotten?
In this case, the only way to access the settings is to perform a hard reset of the router. To do this, locate the small reset button on the device, press it with a paperclip, and hold it for 10-15 seconds while the power is on. The router will reboot with the factory passwords (indicated on the sticker), but all your internet and Wi-Fi settings will be reset, and you'll have to reconfigure them.
Advanced Method: ADB Without Root
For users who aren't afraid of the command line and want to access system data without installing third-party apps or gaining root privileges, there's a method using USB debugging (ADB). This method works on Android 10 and above, but requires a computer.
First, you need to enable developer mode on your smartphone. Go to "Settings" → "About phone" and quickly tap "Build number" seven times. Then, in the "Developer options" menu that appears, enable "USB debugging." Connect your phone to your PC using a cable.
On the computer where it is installed ADB (Android Debug Bridge), run the command to get a list of saved networks. Please note that in modern versions of Android, access to the file wpa_supplicant.conf closed, but you can try to extract data through shell commands if the manufacturer left such a loophole, or use specialized ADB scripts.
adb shell dumpsys wifi | grep "mConfiguredNetworks" -A 50This command will output a detailed Wi-Fi service log. It may contain network SSIDs and, in some cases (depending on the Android version and security patch), passwords. However, it's worth noting that Google is gradually closing these features, and on the latest Android versions (13-14), this method can only show SSIDs without passwords.
- 💻 Install drivers and ADB on your computer.
- 📱 Enable USB debugging on your phone.
- 🔌 Connect the device to the PC using a cable.
- ⌨️ Enter the command in the terminal to dump Wi-Fi settings.
Password recovery apps
There are many apps on the Google Play Market that promise to reveal saved passwords. However, there's a significant security and functionality caveat. Apps without root access don't have direct access to the system password storage due to Android's security policy (sandboxing).
Most of these programs (for example, WiFi Password Viewer, WiFi Key Recovery) operate in one of two ways. They either require root access to read system files, or they simply create a shortcut to quickly access the QR code generation menu we mentioned at the beginning of the article, disguising it as "hacking" or "recovery."
Using apps with questionable reputations can be dangerous. They may request excessive permissions, collect data about your connections, or display aggressive advertising. Safer and it is more effective to use the built-in system tools or the Google Lens method than to install unknown software.
☑️ App Security Check
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to find out someone else's Wi-Fi password if I'm not connected to it?
No, this is not possible using legal Android tools. The password is transmitted only upon connection and is stored encrypted. Attempting to hack other people's networks is illegal. This article describes methods for recovering only your saved data.
Why is there no QR code button on my Android 11?
This depends on your smartphone's manufacturer. Some brands (for example, older versions of the operating system) may not have implemented this feature right away or may have hidden it deeper in the menu. Try tapping the network name instead of the toggle, or update the system to the latest version.
Is it safe to scan your own QR code?
Yes, absolutely. The QR code only contains the connection information (SSID and password) in plain text. Scanning it with a camera or Google Lens simply captures this data. There's no risk to your device.
What should I do if my password contains special characters and doesn't work?
When copying a password using a QR code scanner, make sure there are no extra spaces at the beginning or end of the line. Also, check the case of letters in Wi-Fi passwords. upper and lower case are important. If the problem persists, try entering the password manually, paying close attention to the characters.