Find WiFi Password on Android: A few years ago, Android lacked the ability to show passwords of saved WiFi networks on phones. It means that if you forgot the credentials to log into your WiFi while setting up a new device, then reset your modem or ask your network provider to reconfigure the network.
This changed recently when Google launched Android 10 and brought an amazing feature that was missing on the mobile OS – viewing WiFi passwords. However, there were some tricks to see saved WiFi passwords, also some required root access for the device that you’re using.
How to view WiFi password on Android 10
On Android 10, it’s quite easy to view and share the credentials of your WiFi network. Also, you can generate a QR code to enable users to scan and gain access to your WiFi without needing to install a third-party app. However, the inbuilt setting shows your password for easily entering it on a phone through which you cannot scan the code.
Step 1:
Firstly, Open Settings.
Step 2:
Then choose Network and Internet.
Step 3:
Click on the WiFi section.
Step 4:
Press the cogwheel icon adjacent to the WiFi network you’re connected to.
Step 5:
Also, click on the Share button with a small QR code logo.
Step 6:
Input your PIN, pattern, password or fingerprint.
Another window will show you a QR code particular to the WiFi network you choose. You may also scan this code through another smartphone that will connect that device to the network. You can also see the password under the QR code for signing in on devices that can’t log in to WiFi using QR codes.
How to view WiFi password on Android 9 or older
Finding WiFi passwords on older Android phones can’t be easy as it would be on Android 10. You can still do it within a certain time interval. Just need root access to find and share the WiFi password on Android 9 Pie, Android 8.0 Oreo, and other older devices.
Using Solid Explorer File Manager (requires Root)
Make sure this method needs your device to be rooted.
Step 1:
Firstly, download and install Solid Explorer File Manager from Google Play.
Step 2:
Then open Solid Explorer.
Step 3:
Click the hamburger icon at the top left.
Step 4:
Then click on Root under the Storages section. Solid Explorer will prompt you to allow root access.
Step 5:
Click on Grant.
Step 6:
Choose the folder named data.
Step 7:
Click on the Misc folder.
Step 8:
Then choose the folder named wifi.
Step 9:
Locate the file – wpa_supplicant.conf and click on it.
Step 10:
When asked, open the file using Solid Explorer’s own SE Text Editor.
Step 11:
Then navigate to the Network block (a line with a code “network={“).
Step 12:
Under this block, you’ll find a line that starts with “psk=“. The password will be mentioned after the equal “=” mark.
Using Termux (requires Root)
Same as mentioned above, this method needs root access to your Android to work. Here’s how you find WiFi passwords on Android 9 and older devices with root.
Step 1:
Firstly, download and install Termux from Google Play.
- As it is a popular terminal emulator on Android with a rating of 4.4 having over 5 million downloads.
Step 2:
Then open Termux.
Step 3:
Enter the following command once the application loads up.
$ pkg install termux-tools
Step 4:
Then grant Termux root privileges by typing the command below:
$ su
Step 5:
Click on Grant.
Step 6:
Input this command to locate the device’s WiFi configuration file:
# cat /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf
Step 7:
Now navigate to the Network block.
Step 8:
Under the block, you’ll find a line starting with “psk=”. The password mentioned after the equal “=” mark.
Using ADB (requires Root)
In this method, your device is to be rooted.
Step 1:
At first, Enable USB debugging on your Android device.
Step 2:
Setup ADB on your PC with Google Platform tools for Mac and Windows.
- Windows: Right-click inside the extracted folder that is created from the platform-tools zip file. Also, Select the terminal window as a choice from the menu.
- Mac: Once you unzip the zip file, open Terminal on your Mac and drag the platform-tools folder inside this window.
Step 3:
Connect your Android device via USB cable.
Step 4:
Also, Input the following command to check whether the ads tool has recognized your device on a computer.
$ adb devices
Step 5:
Input the following command to locate the device’s WiFi configuration file:
$ adb shell $ su # cat /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf
Step 6:
The Copy (Ctrl+C) this configuration file in your PC after entering the command below:
# cp /data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf /sdcard/ # exit $ exit $ adb pull /sdcard/wpa_supplicant.conf ~/Downloads/
Step 7:
Then navigate to the Downloads folder on your PC and open the wpa_supplicant.conf file.
Step 8:
You can now find the Network block. Under this block, you’ll find a line starting with “psk=” (same as above).
Like the above-mentioned password for the WiFi network will be mentioned after the equal “=” mark.
Conclusion:
For further queries and questions let us know in the comment section below!
Till then! Keep Smiling 🙂
Also Read: How to Print Text Messages from Android [User Guide]