How to view the password for a connected Wi-Fi network on your smartphone: instructions for Android and iOS

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, and the sticker on your router has worn off? Or need to connect a new device but can't remember the password? This situation is familiar to many people—especially if the network was set up a long time ago or someone else created the password. Luckily, You can view your saved Wi-Fi password directly on your smartphone., if it's already connected to the network. No router, computer, or complex software is required.

In this article - 5 working methods For Android (including Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor) And iPhone (including the latest models on iOS 17). Let's look at the options. without root rights and jailbreak, using standard tools and third-party apps. We'll also explain why some methods no longer work in newer operating system versions and how to bypass restrictions.

⚠️ Important: All methods only work for networks that your smartphone is connected to. already connectedIf the device has never connected to the desired Wi-Fi network, you won't be able to see its password. You'll need access to the router or help from a network administrator.

1. The standard method on Android: via network settings (without root)

On most modern smartphones with Android 10 and newer versions, you can view your Wi-Fi password through the settings menu—without installing any additional software. The interface may differ slightly depending on the operating system (MIUI, One UI, EMUI), but the general principle is the same.

Here's how to do it with an example Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 And Samsung Galaxy S23:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Find the network whose password you need to know in the list and tap on its name.
3. In the window that opens, select Share (or Share (on English firmware).
4. Confirm the action with PIN code, fingerprint or graphic key.
5. A line will appear below the field with the QR code. Password - this is the desired combination.

⚠️ Attention: on some devices (eg Google Pixel or Motorola with pure Android) option Share may be missing. In this case, try alternative methods from the following sections.

Update your firmware to the latest version

Check if you are connected to the correct Wi-Fi network

Make sure you have administrator rights on the device (on corporate phones, access may be limited)

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2. Alternative method for Android: via QR code

If your smartphone settings do not directly display the password, you can extract it from the QR code, which the system generates to quickly connect other devices. This method works on most devices, including Realme, Oppo And Nokia.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open Settings → Wi-Fi and tap on the name of the current network.
• 🔗 Select an option QR code or Share via QR.
• 📷 Take a screenshot of the received QR code (or take a photo of it with another device).
• 🔍 Use any online or offline QR reader app (For example, QR & Barcode Scanner for Android).
• 🔑 Find the line in the decrypted data WPA:... or P:... - this is the password.

Example of QR code decoding:

WIFI:S:MyWiFiName;T:WPA;P:MySuperPassword123;;

Here P:MySuperPassword123 - this is the network password MyWiFiName.

3. For advanced users: using ADB (without root)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool that allows you to extract a Wi-Fi password via the command line. This method doesn't require root access, but it does require connecting your smartphone to a computer.

⚠️ Attention: the method only works on Android 10 and older. On newer versions (for example, Android 13) Google has restricted access to passwords via ADB for security reasons.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download and install ADB Tools to your computer (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. Turn it on on your smartphone Developer mode (go to Settings → About phone → Build number and tap on it 7 times).
3. Activate USB debugging in the developer menu.
4. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm debugging permission.
5. Open Command Prompt (or Terminal) and type:

adb shell
su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep 'SSID' -A 2"

In the output, find the block with the name of your network (SSID) - there will be a line next to it PreSharedKey with an encrypted password. To decrypt it, use online services like WiFi Password Decrypt.

Why ADB May Not Work on Newer Android Devices

Starting with Android 11, Google tightened its security policy, prohibiting reading Wi-Fi password files even via ADB without root access. On some firmware versions (such as MIUI 14), access is blocked completely, even for system apps.

4. Apps for viewing Wi-Fi passwords (root only)

If your device has root rights, the task is simplified—you can use specialized applications that extract all saved passwords in seconds. Among the most reliable are:

• 🛠️ WiFi Password Viewer — displays all networks and passwords in a convenient list, supports export.
• 🔐 WiFi Key Recovery — works even on older versions of Android, recovers passwords from system files.
• 📡 Root Browser — a file manager with access to system folders where passwords are stored (path: /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml).

⚠️ Warning: installing root rights voids the device's warranty and may lead to system instability. In addition, some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online or Tinkoff) refuse to work on rooted phones for security reasons.

If you don't have root access but only need it to view your Wi-Fi password, consider the alternative methods in this article—the risks aren't justified in this case.

5. How to find the Wi-Fi password on iPhone (iOS)

On iPhone And iPad With iOS The situation is more complicated than on Android. Apple strictly limits access to system data, so It is not possible to view the password for the current network directly — neither through settings nor through apps. However, there are workarounds:

Method 1: Via iCloud Keychain (if you have a Mac)

• 🖥️ On Mac, open Spotlight (combination Cmd + Space) and enter Keychain Access.
• 🔍 Enter the name of your Wi-Fi network in the search bar.
• 🔑 Double-click on the found entry and check the box Show password and enter your Mac account password.

Method 2: Using an iTunes backup (for Windows)

If you have a backup iPhone on a computer with Windows, you can extract the password using the program iBackup Viewer or iMazingThese utilities scan backups and display saved Wi-Fi passwords.

⚠️ Attention: on iOS 16 Apple encrypts backups by default on newer versions. Without the backup password, you won't be able to retrieve the data.

Android (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google, etc.)

iPhone (any model)

Other (specify in comments)

I don't know the brand of my phone-->

6. If nothing works: resetting the router and alternative solutions

If none of the above methods work, there are radical measures left:

1. Resetting the router to factory settings. Press and hold the button Reset on the back of the router for 10-15 seconds. After rebooting, connect to the network with the default name (indicated on the sticker) and password (usually admin or 12345678).
2. View password on another device. If a laptop is connected to the network Windows, the password can be found out through Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Wireless Network → Wireless Network Properties → Security.
3. Contacting the provider. If the router was provided by an Internet provider (for example, Rostelecom or MTS), the password can be specified in your personal account or contract.

⚠️ Important: resetting the router deletes all user settings, including the network name, password, linked devices, and parental control rules. After the reset, you'll need to reconfigure your internet connection (the details for this are usually included in your contract with your provider).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about viewing Wi-Fi passwords

Is it possible to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network that my phone was previously connected to but is not currently connected to?

On Android Without root access—no. The system only stores passwords for current connections. If the network is saved but inactive, try connecting to it again (even without internet access) and use the methods in this article.

On iPhone passwords of previous networks are stored in iCloud Keychain, but they can only be accessed via a Mac.

Why isn't there a "Share" button in the Wi-Fi settings on my Xiaomi?

Possible reasons:

• Outdated firmware version (MIUI 11 and below). Update your phone.
• Corporate policy restrictions (if the phone was issued by work).
• Regional settings (on some versions for China this option is disabled).

Solution: Try the QR code method or connect to the network from another device.

Are Wi-Fi hacking apps safe to use?

No. Most of these programs (for example, WiFi WPS WPA Tester or Aircrack-ng):

• Requires root access, which voids the warranty.
• May contain malicious code (especially from unverified sources).
• Illegal - hacking other people's networks is punishable by law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Use only legal methods from this article.

Is it possible to see the Wi-Fi password on a dual SIM phone?

The number of SIM cards doesn't affect the ability to view the password. The only important thing is that the phone is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. If the network is active, use the methods for your model (Android or iOS).

What should I do if my password is displayed as dots or asterisks?

On Android The password is hidden by default in the Share window. Tap the dotted box to reveal the option. Show password (fingerprint or PIN verification will be required).

On iPhone hidden symbols in Keychain Access are revealed after entering the password for the Mac account.