How to view the WiFi password on a Samsung Galaxy A40: all the methods

Have you forgotten your home WiFi password, and the sticker on your router has worn off or was never there? Samsung Galaxy A40 There are several ways to retrieve a saved password—even if you're not a network administrator. In this article, we'll cover all the relevant methods, from standard Android settings to third-party utilities.

It is important to understand that the phone's capabilities are limited by security policy. Android 9 Pie (or Android 10, if you've updated). Starting with these versions, Google has hidden direct access to WiFi passwords in the interface, but workarounds remain. We tested each method on Galaxy A40 (models SM-A405F, SM-A405FN) - all work without root rights and without losing the warranty.

If you urgently need to connect a new device to the network and don't have access to the router, this guide will help. But remember: extracting passwords from someone else's phone without their permission may violate data privacy laws.

Method 1: Via Android settings (only for connected networks)

The easiest method is to use the built-in password viewer feature that was introduced in Android 10. If your Galaxy A40 updated to this version, follow the instructions:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on the name of the current network (there will be an inscription next to it) Connected).
3. Click on the icon Gear (⚙️) or Network management.
4. Select Show password (may be called Share or QR code on some firmware).
5. Confirm unlocking with PIN code, imprint or graphic key.

If the point Show password No, your phone is working on Android 9 Pie or an earlier version. In this case, proceed to the next methods.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware versions Samsung One UI the option is hidden behind the function QR codeClick on it - the system may display the password in text form under the QR code.

Method 2: via file manager (without ROOT)

Android stores WiFi passwords in an encrypted file wpa_supplicant.confOn . Galaxy A40 Without root rights it cannot be read directly, but you can bypass the restrictions using Explorer with access to system filesThe app will do. FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer (a paid version is required to work with root folders).

Instructions:

• 📱 Install FX File Explorer from Google Play (the free version will do).
• 🔍 Launch the app and go to /data/misc/wifi/.
• 📄 Find the file WifiConfigStore.xml (on newer versions of Android) or wpa_supplicant.conf (on the old ones).
• 📋 Open the file using the built-in text editor.
• 🔑 Look for lines with SSID (network name) and PSK (password).

If the folder /data/ is unavailable - this means you don't have permission to read system files. In this case, only ROOT or the following method.

Install FX File Explorer|Enable display of hidden files|Grant all permissions to the application|Check for the presence of the WifiConfigStore.xml file-->

3. Method: using third-party applications

If the first two methods don't work, try specialized utilities. We tested 5 apps on Galaxy A40 - only two showed stable results:

We recommend starting with WiFi Password Viewer:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and grant access to Wi-Fi And storage.
3. In the list of networks, tap on the one you need - the password will be displayed in the field Password.
4. Copy it or export it to a file.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (eg. WiFi Key Recovery) require ROOT rightsReceiving them will void the warranty. Galaxy A40 and may cause your phone to malfunction. Use this method only if other options have failed.

4. Method: via the router's web interface

If you have access to router (Even without a WiFi password), you can access its settings through your phone's browser. To do this:

1. Connect Galaxy A40 to the router via cable (via OTG adapter) or temporarily use guest network, if it is enabled.
2. Open your browser and enter your router's IP address in the address bar. This is usually:
   • 192.168.0.1 (TP-Link, D-Link)
   • 192.168.1.1 (ASUS, Zyxel)
   • 192.168.8.1 (Huawei)

Enter your login and password to log in (by default, it is often admin/admin or indicated on the router sticker).

Go to the section Wi-Fi → Security (or Wireless Settings).

The password will be in the field PSK password or Wireless Password.

On some routers (for example, Keenetic) the password is hidden behind asterisks, but it can be copied to the clipboard and pasted into any text editor.

What to do if you don’t know the router’s IP?

If standard IP addresses don't work, find out the exact address like this:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi on the phone.

2. Tap on the current network → Network Management → Advanced.

3. Look at the line Gateway - this is the router's IP.

5. Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If all the above methods don’t work, there are radical solutions left:

• 🔄 Resetting the router: Click the button Reset on the back of the router (hold for 10 seconds). After reset, the password will return to the default one (indicated on the sticker). Minus: All network settings will be reset.
• 📱 Using another device: If a laptop is connected to the network Windows, you can see the password through Network and Sharing Center → Wireless network properties → Security.
• 📧 Contacting your providerIf the router was issued by an Internet provider, the password may be specified in the contract or in your personal account on their website.

On Samsung Galaxy A40 you can also try recovery mode, but this is an extreme case:

1. Turn off your phone.
2. Clamp Volume up + Power before the logo appeared Samsung.
3. In the menu Recovery select Wipe cache partition (will not reset data, but sometimes helps reset WiFi cache).
4. Restart your phone and try connecting again.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your router or phone to factory settings will delete all saved data. Galaxy A40 Before doing this, be sure to make a backup copy via Settings → Cloud and accounts → Backup.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to view the WiFi password on Samsung A40 Users often encounter typical problems:

Another common problem is - the phone does not save passwords after reboot. This may be due to:

• 🔋 Saving battery: Turn off the mode Battery optimization for WiFi applications.
• 🔄 System file failure: Update firmware via Settings → Software Update.
• 📲 Application conflict: Uninstall recently installed network management utilities.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to find out the password for a WiFi network to which the phone is not connected?

No, Samsung Galaxy A40 (like any Android smartphone) stores passwords only for saved networks. If the phone has never connected to a network, it's impossible to retrieve its password without access to the router or another device connected to it.

Will the file manager method work on Android 11/12?

Starting from Android 10Google has tightened access to system files. Galaxy A40 with firmware One UI 3.0+ (Android 11) file wpa_supplicant.conf can be completely hidden. In this case, only ROOT or third-party applications with extended rights.

Is it possible to find out a WiFi password without a phone if you only have a MAC address?

No, MAC address The device does not contain information about the WiFi password. The most you can do is find the router on the network by MAC (through applications like Fing) and try standard password combinations (for example, admin, 12345678).

How to protect your WiFi from this type of hack?

To prevent password extraction from connected devices:

• 🔒 Use WPA3 instead of WPA2 (in the router settings).
• 🔄 Change your password regularly (every 3-6 months).
• 📵 Turn off WPS - This protocol is vulnerable to brute force attacks.
• 👤 Set up MAC filtering (allow connection only to trusted devices).

Why did file manager methods stop working after updating Android?

Starting from Android 10Google introduced the concept Scoped Storage, which restricts application access to system folders. Samsung further tightened the policy in One UI, so old methods (like reading wpa_supplicant.conf) stopped working. The alternative is to use ADB (but requires a computer) or specialized utilities.