Android: Show WiFi password - how it works

The WiFi password can be viewed on Android if you forget it. However, this no longer works for all versions. Here we show you where to find the password and how to read it.

Real display of the WiFi password on Android only with root rights

If you are just entering a password, you can activate the "Show password" field at any time - this is how you see your entry when typing and not the usual asterisks. However, if you have already saved your WLAN network in your cell phone, you can only display the password with root access to the smartphone.

• In this practical tip, we unlocked the smartphone with the free "KingRoot" app.
• Please note that the unlocking of the cell phone is at your own risk and your warranty may be voided by the process.

Use router software

Your internet router normally has software that you can use to make settings for your WiFi network. The user interface can be displayed both on the PC and on the smartphone. The procedure differs slightly depending on the router.

• Enter the address of the user interface in your internet browser. You can find this in the documents that you received with your router. Usually the page also opens without an internet connection, since only a connection to the router itself has to exist.
• You can usually find the WLAN password under a menu item "WLAN" or "Security".

Android: How to display the password files

Your smartphone stores all WiFi passwords in a file that you can read out with root rights. To find this, you need a root-capable file explorer, such as the "ES File Explorer". Please note that the WiFi passwords are only saved in plain text up to Android 4.4.2 . In versions beyond this, the files are encrypted and can no longer be easily read out. In addition, some manufacturers have previously secured the WLAN passwords using various security features.

1. Open the menu in the ES File Explorer and activate the option "Root Explorer" below.
2. First navigate to the system view. In our sample app, click on the tab with the "/ device" in the menu.
3. Here you look for the folder "Data" and in this "misc".
4. Here is the folder "wifi", which you also open.
5. Now you will find the file "wpa_supplicant.conf". This can be opened with the "ES File Explorer" itself.
6. The file contains all the WLAN networks stored on the device in text form, including the associated passwords.

Have the WiFi password displayed via the app

There are also some apps available for root users that can read the file just described and present the content to you in a more visually appealing way.

• The free tool "WiFi Key Recovery" would be mentioned here.
• After opening the app, you grant it superuser rights and you are already looking for saved WLAN networks.
• However, this app also only shows the passwords that are in plain text. If they are encrypted, you will only see cryptic strings.

As a Huawei user, read out WiFi passwords with Android 5 or higher

If you own a Huawei smartphone, you can still read your WiFi password in a detour.

• Open the settings of the smartphone and go to the point "WLAN".
• Find the network you want to know the password from in the list.
• Now a QR code appears, which contains all the necessary information from the network to be able to register.
• You can photograph this QR code with a screenshot, print it and then scan it with a QR reader. The WLAN key is then displayed in the app.

This practical tip refers to Android 4 on the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Android 7 on the Huawei Mate 8, ES File Explorer 4.1.6 and KingRoot 5.0.3. Also worth reading: How to use your Android smartphone as a WiFi repeater.

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