How to view the WiFi password on a Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

The situation of needing to connect a new device to the network but losing or forgetting the password is familiar to many users. Smartphone owners Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 People often encounter this question, as the model released in 2018 is still actively used due to its reliability. If your phone is already connected to the router, restore access to security key You can do this directly through the Android operating system interface.

However, the process may differ depending on the firmware version. MIUI, installed on your device. In older versions of the shell, access to the text password display was hidden, requiring root access. Recent updates have significantly simplified this process, making it accessible to the average user without the need to jailbreak the system.

It's important to understand that standard tools can only reveal the password for the network to which your phone is currently connected or has previously connected and saved data. If you've never connected to the router from this device, you'll need to use alternative methods, which we'll also discuss below.

Built-in MIUI features for viewing passwords

Starting with certain versions of the shell MIUI (usually version 12 and above, as well as global stable builds), Xiaomi has implemented a native QR code generation feature for Wi-Fi sharing. This code contains an encrypted password that can be easily scanned.

First, you need to go to your wireless network settings. Find the item Settings → Wi-Fi and click on the name of the active network or the arrow to the right of it. A large QR code will appear on the screen that opens.

If the password text is written below the code, the task is solved. If only a graphic code is displayed, you will need a second smartphone or tablet with a camera. Point the camera of either device at the screen. Redmi Note 5The system will automatically detect the network and prompt you to connect, often displaying the password in a notification.

This method is the safest, as it doesn't require installing third-party software. However, it only works if the phone "remembers" the network. In some cases, especially on custom firmware, this feature may be disabled by developers.

Using third-party scanner apps

If the built-in functionality MIUI If your password doesn't display in plain text, you can use specialized utilities from the Google Play Market. These apps read and decode saved system configurations.

A popular solution is the app WiFi Password Viewer or similar apps. After installation, the app will request extended permissions. On Android 10 and above, without root access, such apps may only display asterisks instead of symbols, but some can copy data to the clipboard.

• 📱 Download the app WiFi Password Viewer or WiFi Map from the official store.
• 🔐 Grant the program the necessary access rights to network settings.
• 👁️ Find your network in the list and click the "Show" or "Copy" button.
• 📋 Paste the copied text into any text field to see the characters.

⚠️ Attention: Be careful when installing apps with questionable reviews. They may request excessive permissions and collect data about your location and connected devices.

It's worth noting that on recent versions of Android, Google's security policy strictly limits app access to system files where passwords are stored. Therefore, older utilities may simply not work. Redmi Note 5 with updated Android.

Browsing through the file system (requires Root)

For users who previously received root rights On your device, password recovery becomes trivial. All wireless network data is stored in the system configuration file.

You will need a file manager that supports superuser rights, for example, Root Explorer or ES File Explorer (old versions). Follow the path /data/misc/wifi/. Here you are interested in the file wpa_supplicant.conf.

network={
ssid="Name_of_Network"
psk="Your_Password_Here"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

By opening this file with a text editor, you will see a list of all the networks the phone has ever connected to. Parameter psk Contains the desired password in cleartext. This is the most secure method, regardless of the MIUI version.

Where can I get root rights?

For the Redmi Note 5, the most stable method is to unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock and install Magisk. However, this will void the warranty and may cause banking apps to stop working.

Resetting your router as a last resort

If none of the software methods work, the only remaining option is physical access to the hardware. You can find the password on the sticker located on the bottom or back of the router. The standard passwords are listed there. SSID and a security key.

If the default password was changed earlier and you don't remember it, resetting the router to factory settings will help. To do this, find the button Reset (often recessed into the body) and hold it for 10-15 seconds with the power on.

After the reset, the router will begin distributing the network with the factory name and password. You will need to reconfigure your internet connection by entering your provider information (PPPoE login and password or Dynamic IP connection type).

⚠️ Attention: Before resetting your router, make sure you have your contract with your provider or login information. Without these, your internet connection will not work even after a successful reset.

Checking via the router's web interface

Another way to find out the password without resetting the settings is to log into the router control panel from a phone that is already connected to the network. To do this, open a browser on Redmi Note 5 and enter the gateway address, usually it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.

Enter your administrator username and password. If you haven't changed them, try the default combinations: admin/admin or admin/passwordThis information is also often found on the device's sticker.

In the router interface (TP-Link, ASUS, D-Link, Xiaomi) you need to find the section Wireless or Wireless modeThere in the field Wireless Password or Security key The current password will be displayed. You can copy it or change it to a more convenient one.

Interfaces vary between manufacturers, but the logic remains the same. If the router belongs to a provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), access to the admin panel may be blocked or require special credentials, which can be found in the customer's personal account.

Common problems and errors during recovery

Users Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 may encounter a number of specific issues. For example, after updating MIUI, old saved networks may no longer appear in the list of available networks for sharing.

You might also see the "Saved, Protected" error when your phone sees the network but can't connect. This often indicates that the password has been changed on the router, and the phone is trying to use the old key stored in memory.

• 🔄 IP conflict: Try forgetting the network and connecting again.
• 📡 Frequency range: Make sure your phone supports your router's frequency (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).
• 🔒 Encryption type: Older phones may not be able to see networks with WPA3 encryption.

In some cases, simply restarting the Wi-Fi module helps. Turn it on Airplane mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off. This will restart the device's network drivers.

⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and menu item layouts may change with software updates. If you don't see the options described, check the official MIUI documentation for your Android version.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)

Is it possible to find out the Wi-Fi password without rooting Android 10?

Yes, this is possible if your MIUI version supports the QR code feature for network sharing. In this case, the password is displayed below the code or captured by the other device's camera. Third-party apps without root access on Android 10+ most often display a masked password (asterisks).

Where can I find the wpa_supplicant.conf file on the Redmi Note 5?

The file is located at the path /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf. Access to the folder /data This is only possible with superuser (Root) rights. Without them, the system will not allow opening this directory.

What should I do if my router won't let me access the settings using the admin password?

If the default password doesn't work, it was previously changed. If you don't remember the new password, you'll have to reset the router using the reset button. Reset to factory settings, which will require re-configuring the Internet.

Why doesn't Xiaomi have a QR code for Wi-Fi?

This feature was introduced in newer versions of MIUI. If you're running an older version of MIUI (for example, MIUI 9 or 10 based on Android 8), the native QR code generator with a password may not be available. In this case, only root access or logging into the router will help.