How to find the Wi-Fi password on Android 10: A step-by-step guide

Have you forgotten your home Wi-Fi password, and the sticker on your router has worn off or never been there? Or do you need to connect a new device but can't remember the combination? Android 10 offers several ways to retrieve the saved password for your current network—and most of them don't require root access.root).

In this article we will look at three working methods for devices with Android 10 (including firmware from Xiaomi, Samsung One UI, Huawei EMUI (and stock Android). Some methods are suitable for all smartphones, while others are specific to certain brands. You'll also learn why some online instructions stopped working after security updates and how to bypass these restrictions.

⚠️ Important: If you're trying to get someone else's network password (for example, at a cafe or at your neighbor's), it violates personal data laws and may result in liability. All methods in this article are intended only to restore access to your networks, from which you previously had permission to connect.

1. View password through Android settings (without root)

The easiest way is to use the system's built-in tools. Starting with Android 10Google has added a feature to view passwords for saved networks, but its implementation varies by manufacturer. On some devices (for example, Google Pixel or Sony Xperia) the option is available by default, and on Xiaomi or Samsung may be hidden.

Here's how it works on stock Android and most ROMs:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
2. Find the current network in the list (there will be an inscription next to it) Connected) and tap on its name.
3. In the window that opens, select Share (or Share (on English firmware).
4. The system will ask for confirmation. PIN code, fingerprint or pattern.
5. After authentication, you will see QR code and a text password underneath it.

❌ Problems and limitations:

• 🔹 On Samsung With One UI Instead of a password, only a QR code may be displayed. To view the text key, you need to scan this code with another device.
• 🔹 On Xiaomi (MIUI 12 and later) the feature may be disabled by default. In this case, the following method will help ADB (described below).
• 🔹 On some versions Huawei EMUI option Share is absent altogether.

If your device does not show the password through settings, proceed to the next method.

2. Using ADB (without root, but from a PC)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) — is a debugging tool that allows you to control your smartphone via a computer. It can be used to extract the Wi-Fi password, even if the manufacturer has hidden this option in the interface. The method works on Android 10 and does not require rights root, but you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Enabled USB debugging on a smartphone.

Step-by-step instructions:

Enable developer mode (tap the build number 7 times in Settings → About phone)

Enable USB Debugging in Settings → System → Developer Options

Download ADB Tools on your PC (for example, from the official Android website)

Connect your phone to your computer and trust the device-->

1. Download and unzip Platform Tools from Google (weighs ~5 MB).
2. Open Command Prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and go to the folder with adb:

cd folder_path\platform-tools

3. Connect your phone via USB and enter the command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, proceed. If not, check the drivers or cable.

4. Enter the command to view all saved networks:

adb shell cmd -w wifi list_networks

5. Find your network in the list (it will be marked as CURRENT) and copy it networkId (For example, 0 or 1).
6. Enter the command to extract the password (replace X to yours networkId):

adb shell cmd -w wifi get_password X

✅ Done! The password will be displayed in the command line in the following format: password: your_password.

1. Enter adb pull /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml.
2. Open the downloaded file in any text editor.
3. Find the line <string name="PreSharedKey">... — there will be a password inside it.

This method works on some firmwares where standard ADB commands are blocked.-->

3. Specific methods for Xiaomi, Samsung, and Huawei

Manufacturers often customize Android to suit their needs, so universal solutions may not work. Below are instructions for popular brands.

📱 For Xiaomi (MIUI 11–14)

On smartphones Xiaomi The password can be viewed through the hidden engineering settings menu:

1. Open the app Telephone and enter ##4636##.
2. Go to Wi-Fi Information (or Wi-Fi information).
3. Find your network in the list and tap it. The password will be in the line Password.

⚠️ Attention: On newer versions of MIUI (13+), this method may not work due to security restrictions. In this case, use ADB.

📱 For Samsung (One UI 2.0–4.0)

On Samsung The password is hidden behind the QR code, but it can be retrieved through Smart Switch:

1. Install Samsung Smart Switch on PC.
2. Connect your phone via USB and make a backup (select only Wi-Fi settings).
3. Open the backup file using an archiver (for example, 7-Zip) and find wifiWpaConfig.xml.
4. There will be a line in the file <password>your_password</password>.

📱 For Huawei (EMUI 10–12)

On Huawei The easiest way is to use the app WiFi Password Viewer (requires root), but without superuser rights it will only help ADB or reset the router.

4. Why old methods don't work (and what to do)

If you've searched for a solution online, you might have come across tips like "view the password in a file" wpa_supplicant.conf" or "use the app WiFi Key Recovery" On Android 10 and newer these methods stopped working due to changes in Google's security policy:

• 🔒 SELinux (Access Control System) blocks reading of system files without root.
• 🛡️ File wpa_supplicant.conf is now stored in encrypted form and is not accessible through standard file explorers.
• 🚫 Password viewer apps (eg. WiFi Password Show) require root or have not been updated since 2019.

🔹 What to do?

• 🔹 Use ADB - This is the only reliable way without root.
• 🔹 If you have Xiaomi, try the engineering menu (see section above).
• 🔹 On Samsung take a backup copy via Smart Switch.
• 🔹 As a last resort, reset the router settings (button Reset on the back panel).

Why did Google restrict access to passwords?

With Android 10, Google tightened its security policy to prevent data theft through app vulnerabilities. Previously, any software could read the wpa_supplicant.conf file, allowing attackers to create malware to steal Wi-Fi passwords. Now, only system processes or apps with root privileges can access this data.

5. Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If none of the methods worked, here are a few more options:

🔄 Resetting the router to factory settings

There is a small button on the back of the router. Reset (Sometimes it's recessed and requires a paperclip.) Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds until the indicators flash. After reset:

• 🔹 The network name and password will return to the factory settings (indicated on the router sticker).
• 🔹 All settings (including PPPoE, IPTV, Port forwarding) will reset - they will have to be configured again.

⚠️ Attention: if you have provider router (for example, from Rostelecom or Beeline), after the reset, you may need to reactivate through your personal account or call support. For some operators (for example, MTS) the Wi-Fi password is specified in the contract.

📞 Contact your provider

If your router was provided by your ISP, call support and ask:

• 🔹 Provide your Wi-Fi password (if it's a standard one).
• 🔹 Reset your router remotely (not all operators offer this service).
• 🔹 Send a technician for reconfiguration (may be a paid service).

🔧 Connect to the router via cable

If you have physical access to the router, connect to it via Ethernet-cable and:

1. Open your browser and type 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (the address is indicated on the router sticker).
2. Enter login/password (usually admin/admin or admin/password).
3. Go to the section Wi-Fi (or Wireless) and look at the password.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to find a password, users often encounter typical problems. Here are the most common ones and their solutions:

🔹 Additional tips:

• 🔹 If you often forget your passwords, save them in Google Password Manager or 1Password.
• 🔹 Place a sticker with the password on your router (but don't keep it publicly accessible if others have access to the router).
• 🔹 Use WPS-connection (button on the router), if your smartphone supports it.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to find out the Wi-Fi password without rooting or using a computer?

Yes, but only if the manufacturer has not blocked this feature. Google Pixel, Sony Xperia and some other smartphones, you can find the password in Wi-Fi settings → Share. Xiaomi sometimes the engineering menu helps (##4636##). If these methods don't work, you won't be able to do it without a PC or root access.

Why did old password viewer apps stop working after updating to Android 10?

In Android 10, Google introduced Scoped Storage and tightened the rules for accessing system files. Now applications cannot read wpa_supplicant.conf without root rights. Most utilities in Google Play have not been updated since 2018-2019 and have become useless.

Is it possible to find out the password for the Wi-Fi that someone else connected to on my phone?

Technically, yes, if the network is stored in the device's memory. But from a legal standpoint, this is equivalent unauthorized access to other people's information (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Use such methods only to restore access to your own networks.

What should I do if I reset my router and the factory password doesn't work?

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔹 The provider has changed the settings — Call support, they will tell you the current password.
• 🔹 The router did not reset - hold Reset longer (up to 30 seconds).
• 🔹 The sticker has worn off — the standard password is often the same as SSID (network name) or consists of a combination admin + the last digits of the router's MAC address.

Do these methods work on Android 11/12/13?

Yes, most of the ways (especially ADB and the engineering menu on Xiaomi) also work on newer versions of Android. However, on Android 12+ additional confirmation may be required for ADB-commands due to tightening security policies. Android 13 some manufacturers (for example, Samsung) completely removed the ability to view the password through the settings.