How to view your Wi-Fi password on a Xiaomi smartphone: step-by-step instructions

Forgot your home Wi-Fi password, but your connected devices are working fine? It's a familiar situation: your router was set up years ago, the password sticker is long gone, and your new phone or laptop requires you to enter the access code. If you have a smartphone, Xiaomi (including sub-brands Redmi And POCO), you can extract the saved password from the current network in several ways - from standard functions MIUI to hidden possibilities Android.

In this article we will look at all the current methods: from simple viewing through the settings to using ADB For advanced users. Important: Not all methods work on the latest versions of MIUI. — The manufacturer regularly tightens its security policy. We will identify the limitations for each option and offer alternatives.

Before you begin, please check two things: 1) Make sure your smartphone is connected to the target Wi-Fi network (the signal icon is active in the notification bar). 2) Please note: Some methods require administrator rights or USB debugging - they will have to be activated in advance.

1. Standard method: view the password in MIUI settings

The most obvious method is to look into the Wi-Fi menu. However, Xiaomi hides passwords by default, and their display depends on the version MIUI and device models. On some firmware versions (for example, MIUI 13/14 (for the global version) the function is available out of the box, on others it is blocked.

Instructions for verification:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on the name of the current network (not on the switch!).
3. Scroll down to the block Password or Share (on English firmware).
4. The system may ask PIN code, pattern or fingerprint for confirmation.

If there's no password field, your MIUI version doesn't display it. In this case, proceed to the next steps.

⚠️ Attention: On smartphones with MIUI for China (versions CN) This method is often blocked even after unlocking the bootloader. Check the firmware region in Settings → About phone → MIUI version.

Connect to the desired Wi-Fi network|MIUI version (global or Chinese)|Presence of the "Password" section in the network settings|Activation of biometrics for verification-->

2. Using a network QR code (MIUI 12 and later)

Modern versions MIUI allow you to share the network via QR code, which contains an encrypted password. This method works on most devices. Xiaomi, Redmi And POCO with firmware MIUI 12+.

How to extract the password:

• 📱 Open Settings → Wi-Fi and tap on the connected network.
• 🔗 Select an option Share or Share (authentication may be required).
• 🖼️ A QR code will appear on the screen. Below it will be a line Password with a visible password (sometimes hidden under asterisks - tap on it to display).
• 📋 Copy the password or scan the QR code with another device to automatically connect.

If the password in the QR code is hidden by asterisks and doesn't appear when tapped, try taking a screenshot—sometimes this works to reveal the characters. You can also use third-party tools. QR scanners (For example, Google Lens), which recognize the password from the code.

What to do if the QR code is not generated?

If the "Share" option is missing or the QR code is not generated, this may mean:

1) You have an outdated version of MIUI (update the firmware in Settings → About phone → System update).

2) The network uses Enterprise authentication (for example, in offices or universities) - such passwords cannot be extracted using standard means.

3) Security policies are activated on the device (for example, through Knox or corporate MDM) that block the function.

3. Viewing the password via the configuration file (root required)

For users with obtained root rights There is a reliable way - extracting the password from the system file wpa_supplicant.confThis file stores all saved Wi-Fi networks in unencrypted form.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Install any file manager with root support (For example, Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Follow the path:

   /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore/

   On some Android versions the path may differ:

   /data/misc/wifi/

3. Find the file wpa_supplicant.conf and open it with a text editor.
4. Inside there will be blocks of the following type:

   network={
   ssid="Network_Name"
   psk="wifi_password"
   key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
   }

   Copy the value psk for the required network.

⚠️ Attention: Editing or deleting files in /data/misc/wifi/ may lead to loss of all saved networks or a Wi-Fi module failure. Back up the file before making changes!

If you don't have root but have access to custom recovery (For example, TWRP), you can extract the file through it:

• 🔧 Boot into TWRP (hold Power + Volume Up when turned on).
• 📁 Choose Advanced → File Manager.
• 🔍 Go to /data/misc/wifi/ and copy wpa_supplicant.conf to the SD card.

4. Extracting the password via ADB (without root)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — a debugging tool that allows you to execute commands on a device from a computer. It can be used to extract the Wi-Fi password. without root, but some preliminary setup will be required.

What you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 Enabled USB debugging on smartphone (Settings → About phone → MIUI version → Tap the build number 7 times, then go back to Settings → Advanced → Developer options → USB debugging).
• 🔌 Cable USB-Type C (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Utility ADB (download Platform Tools from Google).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm debugging permission on the device screen.
2. Open command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Run the command to check the connection:

   adb devices

   Your serial number should be displayed. Xiaomi.

4. Enter the command to extract the password:

   adb pull /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore/wpa_supplicant.conf

   If the path is incorrect, try:

   adb pull /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf

5. The file will be copied to the folder with ADB. Open it and find the line psk="...".

On some versions MIUI 14+ File access may be blocked even through ADB. In this case, an alternative command will help:

adb shell su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore/wpa_supplicant.conf"

But it requires temporary root access (for example, via Magisk in "MagiskHide" mode).

5. Password Viewer Apps (with caveats)

IN Google Play There are dozens of apps that promise to reveal saved Wi-Fi passwords. However, most of them either don't work Xiaomi due to restrictions MIUI, or require root. We tested several options and identified those that at least somewhat cope with the task.

Important: Even if the application does not require root, it may not show the password on Xiaomi because of:

• 🔒 MIUI Security Policy (blocking access to system files).
• 🛡️ Android 10+ Data Protection (section reading restriction /data).
• 📱 Regional firmware (on Chinese versions of MIUI many functions are disabled).

⚠️ Attention: Don't install apps that ask for illogical permissions (such as access to SMS or contacts) to view Wi-Fi passwords. This could be fraudulent software.

6. Alternative methods (if nothing helps)

If none of the methods work, there are radical or workaround options:

• 🔄 Resetting the router. Click the button Reset on the back of the router (hold for 10-15 seconds). After the reset, connect to the default network (the name and password are on the device sticker). Minus: You will have to configure the router again.
• 📡 Connection via WPS. If the router supports WPS, press the button WPS on it, then on your smartphone select More → WPS in the Wi-Fi settings. Minus: Not all Xiaomi devices support WPS in the latest versions of MIUI.
• 💻 View 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 → Properties → Security (check the box) Show entered characters).
• 📞 Contacting the provider. If the router is provided by an Internet service provider (for example, Rostelecom or Beeline), the password can be written in your personal account or on the device box.

For owners Xiaomi With unlocked bootloader There is another option - custom firmware recovery (For example, OrangeFox) and file extraction wpa_supplicant.conf through it. However, this is risky: incorrect actions can lead to "briku" devices.

How to avoid losing your password in the future?

1. Save the password in Google Password Manager (automatically synchronizes with your account).

2. Take a photo of the sticker from the router and save the photo to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).

3. Use password managers (Bitwarden, 1Password) for storing network data.

4. Set up a backup of your router settings (if your model supports configuration export).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi passwords on Xiaomi

❓ Is it possible to find out the password for a Wi-Fi network that my smartphone has connected to before but is not connected to now?

Without root - unlikely. MIUI doesn't store passwords of previous networks in an accessible form. With root access, you can extract them from wpa_supplicant.conf, but only if the network is saved in the device memory (not deleted manually).

❓ Why is the Wi-Fi password no longer displayed in the Wi-Fi settings after updating MIUI?

Xiaomi regularly tightens its security policy. Starting with MIUI 13, the password display feature may be disabled for some regions (especially on Chinese firmware). Try changing the device's region to India or Global through Settings → Advanced → Region (reboot required).

❓ Does the ADB method work on Xiaomi with a locked bootloader?

Yes, but with reservations. ADB does not require unlocking the bootloader to read some files, however, Xiaomi access to /data/misc/wifi/ often limited. If the team adb pull returns an error Permission denied, which means the path is blocked. In this case, only temporary root will help.

❓ Is it possible to find out the password for public Wi-Fi (cafe, airport) using a smartphone?

No. Public networks usually use Enterprise authentication (WPA2-Enterprise, 802.1X) or portal access (captive portal), where the password is either absent or generated dynamically. Such data is not stored in wpa_supplicant.conf and cannot be extracted by standard methods.

❓ What should I do if after extracting the password it is not suitable for connection?

Possible reasons:

• The password has been changed on the router (check in the web interface at the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
• The network uses hidden SSID (manually add the network on the new device by specifying the name and password).
• There is in the password non-printing characters (spaces, tabs) - try entering it manually.
• It's enabled on the router. MAC filtering (add the MAC address of the new device to the allowed list).