How to find out the password for a Wi-Fi connection on an Android phone that is already connected

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, but your phone is connected to the network? This situation is familiar to many: a neighbor configured the router, your ISP set a complex code, or you simply forgot to write down the combination when you first connected. Luckily, Android saves passwords for all networks, which have ever been connected, and they can be extracted without special software. This article provides proven methods for different operating systems and smartphone brands.

The main rule: if the phone actively connected to Wi-Fi If you've logged into this network at least once, your chances of recovering your password are close to 100%. In newer versions of Android (10+), manufacturers have made accessing this information more difficult, but workarounds remain. We'll cover methods from the simplest (for beginners) to the most technically complex (for experienced users), and explain why some methods stopped working after system updates.

1. The standard method via Android settings (not available on all models)

On some smartphones (mostly up to Android 9) You can view the password for the current network directly in the Wi-Fi menu. This method does not require root rights and takes less than a minute, but with each system update, fewer and fewer devices support it.

To check if this method is available on your phone:

• 📱 Open Settings → Wi-Fi (or Network and Internet → Wi-Fi).
• 🔍 Find the current network in the list and tap on its name (not on the switch!).
• 🔑 If the item appears Password or Show password — You're in luck! Tap it and enter your phone's PIN/pattern.

On Samsung Galaxy (One UI) and Xiaomi (MIUI) this method often works even on new versions of Android, but on "clean" Android (for example, Google Pixel) or Huawei (EMUI) The password option is usually hidden.

2. View your password via QR code (universal method for Android 10+)

WITH Android 10 Google has added a QR code generation feature for connecting to Wi-Fi. This code contains encrypted password, which can be decrypted using third-party apps. The method works on 90% of modern smartphones, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme and others.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi and tap on the name of the current network.
2. Select an item Share (or QR code, Share). The system will ask for PIN code confirmation.
3. Take a photo of the QR code that appears with another phone or save it as an image.
4. Use a QR scanning app (eg. WiFi Password QR Scanner from Google Play) to extract the password.

If you don't have a second device, you can download the QR code to your computer and decrypt it using online services like zxing.org (look for the line WPA:... in the scan results).

Access to your phone's Wi-Fi settings|A second device (or computer) for scanning|A QR code reader (if you don't have one built in)|Your phone's PIN/pattern

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3. Using a file manager (for advanced users)

Android stores Wi-Fi passwords in a system file wpa_supplicant.confAccess to it is possible. only with root rights or via ADB (developer tool). If your phone has root, follow these steps:

1. Install a file manager with root support (e.g. Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Follow the path:

   /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore

   Or (on older versions of Android):

   /data/misc/wifi/

3. Find the file wpa_supplicant.conf and open it with a text editor.
4. Look for blocks like:

   network={
   ssid="Network_Name"
   psk="network_password"
   ...
   }

On Android 10+, the file may be encrypted or not present in this location. In this case, only an ADB command will help (see the next section).

4. Extracting the password via ADB (without root, but with a computer)

If you don't have root rights, but you have access to your computer, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool. The method works on most devices, but requires enabling Developer mode And USB debugging.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download ADB Tools to the computer (for example, official package from Google).
2. On your phone, enable:
   • 🔧 Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times to activate Developer mode).
   • 🔌 Settings → System → Developer options → USB debugging.

adb shell
su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore/ConfigStore" | grep "psk"

adb pull /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore/ConfigStore

If the command returns an error Permission denied, then your Android version is blocking access. In this case, only root or alternative methods (see Section 5) will help.

5. Alternative methods for specific brands

Smartphone manufacturers sometimes add unique password viewing features. Here's what works on popular brands:

On Realme, Oppo And Vivo Standard methods often don't work - you'll have to use a QR code or ADB.

6. If nothing helps: reset the router and other radical measures

When all methods have been exhausted, there are two options left:

• 🔄 Reset the router to factory settingsTo do this, press and hold the button Reset Press and hold the reset button on the back of the router for 10–15 seconds. After the reset, the network name and password will return to the default values ​​(usually found on the router's sticker).
• 📞 Contact your providerIf your router was provided by your ISP, call support and ask for a password reminder. You'll need to provide your contract details or the owner's full name.

Warning: Resetting the router will disconnect all users from the network and return all settings (including the Wi-Fi password, IP binding, and port forwarding) to factory defaults. This is a last resort if other methods fail.

⚠️ Attention: On some routers (for example, from Rostelecom or BeelineThe factory password is generated automatically and is not indicated on the sticker. After reset, it can be found in your provider's personal account or on the connection receipt.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about viewing your Wi-Fi password on Android