You need to see the Wi-Fi password of a saved network on an Android phone. This article will show you how to display your Wi-Fi password on Android.
Image Credit: Ditty_about_summer/Shutterstock
Perhaps you are connected to a network and forgot your password. Or maybe you want to verify the password of a friend’s network to connect to another device.
We’ll show how to locate saved Wi-Fi passwords for Android, regardless of the reason. These only allow you to see passwords for networks that you have previously connected to. These can’t be used to locate the Wi-Fi password of a network that you have never joined. You’ll need to ask the administrator for the password.
How to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android without root
Android 10 allows you to see Wi-Fi passwords of saved networks. Let’s take a look at how you can do this with stock Android 11 on a Pixel phone. The process might look slightly different depending upon your phone’s Android version.
Open Settings to view Wi-Fi passwords on Android 10 and later. Next, go to Network. Tap WiFi on Android 10 and 11. Android 12 will require you to choose Internet.
The list will now show your current Wi-Fi network at its top. To view the options for your network, select it. You can connect to another network by selecting it from the list or checking the Saved Networks entry at bottom of the page.
MAKEUSEOF VIDEO DURING THE DAY Close
Select the Share link from the Wi-Fi network’s overview. To proceed, you will need to confirm your identity (fingerprint or face) and enter your PIN code. After you have done that, you will see the Wi-Fi password for your network listed below a QR code.
3 Images
You now have access to your Wi-Fi password.
This QR code makes it even easier to join the network. This improves network security and eliminates the frustration of entering the password wrongly.
To share your password with an Android phone, tap the QR code icon right next to Add network. If the other person is using an iPhone, scan the code with the Camera app and then tap the prompt for joining.
You’ll see the Nearby option in Android 12. This button allows you to share your password with other Android devices. This uses Nearby Share and eliminates the need to scan the QR code on your device’s screen.
You may wish to take a screenshot of the QR code to make it easier to send to others. Remember that anyone can use that code to join your Wi Fi network.
How to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android 9 or Older
You will need to use other methods to reveal your Wi Fi password if you are running Android 9 or older. These methods require that your Android device be rooted.
The file that contains the Wi-Fi credentials to saved networks is located in a protected directory on your phone’s storage. Unless you are rooted, you don’t have permissions to view the folder or any file within it.
You can view your Wi-Fi password from Android on a rooted device by going to /data/misc/wifi with , a file explorer that supports root browsing. You can now open WPA_supplicant.conf to see your network name ( SID) as well as its password ( PSK).
If this fails, or you prefer to try another method you can use an Android Wi-Fi password reader app such as WiFi Password Reader. These allow you to select a network that you want to view the password.
These apps require root and have mixed reviews. Your mileage may vary. There aren’t many apps that can handle Wi-Fi passwords if your phone encrypts them.
View Wi-Fi passwords on another device
These are the main ways to see saved Wi-Fi passwords for Android. You can check your Wi-Fi passwords on a desktop computer if you aren’t rooted and have Android 9 or older. These make it much easier. For more information, see how do I find Wi-Fi passwords for Windows 10 or how can I view Wi-Fi passwords for a Mac.
You might also consider using a password manager in the future. This will allow you to keep track of your Wi-Fi passwords, and not have to resort to workarounds. Also, ensure that your Wi-Fi network is secure against attacks.
