The situation when a new gadget arrives at home and the wireless network password is forgotten is familiar to many smartphone owners. In the ecosystem Xiaomi, Redmi And POCO This issue is solved quite elegantly thanks to the built-in shell functions MIUI or new HyperOSYou don't need to be a hacker or have advanced programming knowledge to restore access to key data on your local network.
Modern versions of the operating system Android (starting with 10) store the configurations of connected networks in a secure section, access to which was previously closed to ordinary users. However, engineers Xiaomi implemented a convenient mechanism for viewing this data through generation QR codeThis allows you to instantly transfer data to another device or simply visually read the symbol code, if the system allows it.
In this article, we will look at all the current methods for retrieving a forgotten password: from standard interface settings to advanced methods using ADB and right RootWe'll also discuss security considerations and explain why some methods may not work on certain firmware versions. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid errors.
⚠️ Note: The menu interface and layout may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version (Global, China, Russia) and your smartphone model. If you can't find the item you're looking for, try searching through the settings.
The standard method is via QR code in the settings
The easiest and safest method, which does not require installing additional software, is available on most modern devices. XiaomiThe process is extremely simple and takes less than a minute. Go to the settings menu and select Wi-FiA list of available networks will be displayed here, and the currently active one will be marked with an icon or color.
Click the name of the network you're connected to or the arrow next to it. A window with detailed connection information will open. This can be found at the bottom of the screen or in the center (depending on the version). Android) you will see a square QR codeA text password is often, but not always, displayed underneath. If there is no text, the code must be scanned.
To read the code, you can use a second smartphone with a camera or a built-in scanner. Many shells MIUI have a built-in recognition function: just point the camera at the screen, and the system will offer to copy the password or connect. This works thanks to the standard Wi-Fi Easy Connect.
Using the Share feature to view data
An alternative way to access the same information is through the "Share" menu. This method is useful if directly clicking the QR code doesn't produce the expected response or the interface looks different. Go to Settings, then select Wi-Fi and click on the gear or the name of the active network.
In the menu that opens, find the button Share (icon with three dots or an arrow). The system will ask you to confirm your identity using the screen unlock, fingerprint, or Face IDThis is a security measure. Android, preventing data theft by unauthorized persons.
After confirmation, the same QR code will appear on the screen. In some firmware versions HyperOS Clicking the "Share" button immediately opens a menu to select the app to which you can send the link. If you select "Save as Image" or "Send to Notes," you'll receive a file containing the unlock pattern.
- 📱 Click the network icon in the status bar for quick access.
- 🔐 Complete biometric or PIN code authorization.
- 📸 Take a screenshot of the QR code that appears.
- 👁️ Use the gallery or scanner to decipher.
View saved networks via ADB (without root)
For more advanced users who want to see a list of all networks ever saved, not just the active one, there's a method using USB debugging. This method requires connecting your smartphone to a computer and installing a utility. ADB (Android Debug Bridge). It allows you to extract system configuration files.
First, you need to enable developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly press the item seven times MIUI version (or OS version). The message "You are now a developer" will appear. Next, go to Additional → For developers and turn on the toggle switch USB debugging.
Connect your phone to your PC using a cable. On your computer, enter the command to list networks in the command line. Please note that on Android 10 and above, access to the file is restricted. wpa_supplicant.conf Without root access, it is often closed, but sometimes it is possible to retrieve data through a backup or specific ADB requests if the firmware does not have strict limitations.
adb shell dumpsys wifi | grep -i "mConfiguredNetworks"This command will output a detailed Wi-Fi configuration log. Look for the lines SSID (network name) and PreSharedKey (access key). If the key is hidden by asterisks or missing in the log, then the security policy of your version Android Blocks direct viewing without superuser rights.
⚠️ Caution: When connecting to a computer in debug mode, always check the RSA key certificate on the smartphone screen. Do not connect to unknown public charging stations with debugging enabled.
Method with root rights and file managers
If your smartphone Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and installed rights Root (for example, through Magisk), then viewing passwords becomes a trivial task. You gain full access to the system partition, where all network configurations are stored in clear text.
You will need a file manager with root access support, such as Root Explorer, Solid Explorer or MT ManagerAfter installing the app, grant it superuser privileges when you first launch it. Go to this path: /data/misc/wifi/.
There is a file in this directory WifiConfigStore.xml (on new Androids) or wpa_supplicant.conf (on older versions before Android 10). Open this file with a text editor. Inside, you'll find XML markup or a plain-text list, each with its own SSID matches the field PreSharedKey or password with your password.
| Parameter | Description | Where to find |
|---|---|---|
| SSID | Wireless network name | Tag<SSID> |
| PreSharedKey | The password itself (security key) | Tag<PreSharedKey> |
| KeyMgmt | Encryption type (WPA2, WPA3) | Tag<KeyMgmt> |
| Priority | Connection priority | The priority attribute |
Risks of Rooting
Unlocking the bootloader and gaining root access will void the device's warranty. Furthermore, banking apps and some games with anti-cheat software may stop working or require complex manipulations (like Magisk Hide) to hide the fact that the system has been modified.
Why a password may be hidden or inaccessible
Users often encounter situations where the methods described above don't work. This is due to stricter security policies. Google in the latest versions AndroidStarting with version 11, access to Wi-Fi configuration files for regular applications and even through some system requests was completely blocked.
In addition, on devices Xiaomi with the Chinese version of the firmware (China ROM) Some features may behave differently due to local regulatory requirements. In such cases, a QR code may be generated, but the text underneath is often missing by default.
It is also worth considering that if the phone was reset to factory settings (Hard Reset), all saved passwords are permanently deleted. Restore them from a backup. Google Account This is only possible during the initial setup of the device, but you cannot view them in text form through your account.
- 🚫 On Android 12+, direct reading of system files is prohibited.
- 📱 On some Redmi models, the text password is hidden by the interface.
- 🔄 Resetting network settings deletes all saved keys.
- 🔒 Guest mode restricts access to Wi-Fi settings.
Alternative ways to restore access
If your phone can't remember the password, it's logical to turn to the source of the signal—the router. If you have physical access to the router, look at the sticker on the bottom. Factory passwords are often listed there unless you've changed them manually.
The second option is to log into the router's web interface. Connect to the network (you don't need a password if your phone is already connected, or use a LAN cable). Enter the gateway address in your browser, usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1The login and password for accessing the admin panel are often standard: admin/admin.
In the router interface (whether it be TP-Link, Asus, Keenetic or Mikrotik) find the section Wireless or Wi-FiThere in the field WPA Pre-Shared Key The current password will be displayed. You can copy it or change it to something more memorable.
☑️ Checking router settings
Is it possible to find out a neighbor's Wi-Fi password using Xiaomi?
No, this is impossible to do using standard Android and MIUI tools. OS security features block viewing encryption keys of other networks. Apps that claim to "hack" Wi-Fi are most often viruses or simply generate random character sets, lacking the technical ability to bypass WPA2/WPA3 protocols.
What to do if the QR code does not scan?
Try increasing your smartphone's screen brightness to maximum. Make sure there's no screen protector that's distorting the image or cracks on the screen. If the built-in camera can't detect the code, install an app. Google Lens or any third-party QR scanner from Play Market, they often have more sensitive recognition algorithms.
Where are Wi-Fi passwords stored on the phone memory?
On modern devices with Android 10 and above, passwords are stored in encrypted form in the system partition. /data/misc/wifi/. The files are protected by the Linux kernel permissions, so without superuser rights (Root) it is not possible to read them directly through the file manager.
Why did saved networks disappear after updating MIUI?
Sometimes, when performing a major firmware update (for example, upgrading from MIUI 12 to 13) or changing the region, network settings may reset due to a configuration file conflict. This can also happen if you cleared the data in the Settings or System Services app. In this case, you'll have to reconnect to the network.