Like almost everyone across the globe, you probably have connected to countless Wi-Fi networks over the years, 99% of which you can’t remember their passwords. But thanks to the Android OS for remembering these networks and connecting you automatically when in range. However, things go beyond that. Sometimes you may need to connect another device to the network. Or perhaps, give a friend the login details. So… what would you do in those cases? That’s where our guide on how to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android comes in!
Finding and sharing your Wi-Fi network on Android requires no extraordinary tactics. Just follow our step-by-step guide below to learn how to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android now and forever.
How to See Wi-Fi Password on Android
Before we walk you through how to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android devices, let's inform you this guide isn’t a “hacking” system that’ll grant you unauthorized access to Wi-Fi networks near you. It’ll only help you fetch the Wi-Fi password of the networks you’ve ever connected to on your Android device.
With that out of the way, we’re also glad to tell you finding and sharing your passwords on devices running Android 10 and later is almost effortless. It only requires a few clicks.
On the other hand, finding and sharing a Wi-Fi password on Android 9 and below can be tedious, as it requires digging into the system files via root access. Either way, you’ll still get to see and share the Wi-Fi password.
How to see your Wi-Fi password on Android 10 and up
“Wi-Fi Share” was one of the notable features Google introduced on Android 10. Since then, Android folks could share their Wi-Fi networks with other Android users without typing and retyping ridiculous passwords. By introducing QR codes instead, sharing Wi-Fi passwords gets a lot better.
The same goes for finding Wi-Fi passwords, too, since the QR codes don't introduce any form of End-To-End encryption.
So, if you’ve got a phone running Android 10, 11, 12, or later, here’s how to view saved Wi-Fi passwords.
- Navigate to the Wi-Fi section in your phone's Settings app. (Usually by going to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi or Connection Wi-Fi on some devices)
- You’ll see the network you’re currently connected to at the top of the list. If not, tap “Saved Networks” to see all the Wi-Fi networks you've ever used.
- Right there, select a network you wish to view its password.
- Find the “Share” button (with a QR code icon) on the page and tap it.
- Verify your identity with biometrics or enter your PIN.
- When verified, the network’s password will show as a QR code on your screen.
On stock Android devices, you may see the password underneath the QR code. But on most devices, you’ll need to scan the QR code first to fetch the password.
Usually, I would take a screenshot of the QR code, and then scan it using Google Lens on my Android phone.
Better still, you can ask your friend (or the person trying to connect) to scan the QR code on their phone to connect instantly.
How to find Wi-Fi passwords on Android 9 and older phones
Finding and sharing a Wi-Fi password on Android 9 Pie and older devices is tricky and, sometimes, impossible for most people. The reason is you have to root your phone to get started.
If you have a rooted Android phone, then that should be pretty simple. Many apps on the Play Store can help you fetch your Wi-Fi password from the root folders. Or, if you're tech-inclined and want to sort out things on your own, you can access the root folders manually to fetch the Wi-Fi keys.
Once again, being rooted doesn't mean you'd be able to get or hack into Wi-Fi networks without proper authorization. These steps will only help you view saved Wi-Fi passwords on your phone in case you need it.
That said, you can get any Wi-Fi Password Viewer app on the Play Store and try it on your rooted phone. Otherwise, you can navigate to /data/misc/wifi from your root file explorer to view the Wi-Fi password.
However, if you’ve not rooted your phone, you shouldn't do so because of several consequences that might follow. First, you may end up turning your phone into a piece of useless brick since you don’t know how rooting works.
How to view Wi-Fi passwords on another device
If you’re trying to connect to a friend’s Mobile Hotspot, but he doesn't know its password, you can get it effortlessly. All you'll need is to dig into the hotspot settings on his phone and fetch the password manually.
Here’s how to do it on an Android phone:
- Open the Settings app
- Go to the Hotspot & Tethering (Usually Network Internet → Mobile Hotspot or something similar)
- Click on Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Select Hotspot settings
- Click on the Hotspot password
- You'll see a text box containing the hotspot password.
- You can now join the network on your phone using the keys.
If you’re using a Wi-Fi router instead, you can check its admin page to access the password and other information. Many Wi-Fi routers have mobile apps you can use to check these details on your phone. If you're aware of such an app, you can use it to get the network’s details. Just open your router Android app and navigate to Settings → Wi-Fi Security to fetch the password.
If that still didn't work, check our comprehensive guide on "How to Share Wi-Fi Passwords" to find the password for your saved network on Android, iPhone, Windows, and MAC.
Should you try Android Wi-Fi password reveal apps?
As said earlier, there are many “Wi-Fi Password Viewer” apps on the Google Play Store boasting to help you on how to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android. But can you trust them entirely?
The major downside of these apps is their need for root access. Usually, that shouldn't be a problem if you've rooted your phone. If it's the other way around, then it's not recommended to get them.
Before you even install any of them, keep in mind that these apps can't help you fetch the password for Wi-Fi networks you've never connected to and may introduce some security concerns.
Still can't recover the Wi-Fi password?
If you own a Wi-Fi network, you should break no sweat in learning how to see Wi-Fi passwords on Android. And if your phone is running Android 10 and later, you already know that finding and sharing Wi-Fi passwords is one of the simplest things. You can do it in minutes.
If you're yet to find the Wi-Fi password and you have no access to the router itself, the best you can do is to ask the owner. Otherwise, there’s probably nothing you can do anymore.
