However, for those of you still stuck in the dark ages of Android 9 and below, despite having a more than decent phone and wanting to see their saved Wi-Fi passwords, we’re pleased to tell you that you can do so with relative ease. So for anyone wondering how to view their WiFi password on their Android phone, this guide’s for you.
Why Would You Need to View Your WiFi Password?
Usually, your ISP sets the WiFi password the same as the one written on the back of the router they provide. The password on the back of the router is hard to memorize, to say the least. Everyone’s seen the memes targeting the password on the back of the router. Also, not to mention how much of a pain it is to view the back of the router, as it somehow ends up being placed at the most obscure places, where the wires all get tangled up. So when a guest or someone who got a new phone, needs the WiFi and you don’t have it at hand, it can be a little awkward. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Ways to View Your WiFi Password
1. Generating a QR code and scanning it [Android 10 and above]
This is the feature that Google added that lets you view and share your WiFi password. First, you’ll need a QR code scanner. There are countless apps on the Google Play Store that allow you to scan QR codes. Here is the link to one such app, but you are free to choose whatever one you want. After installing a QR code scanning app, follow these instructions:
2. Contact your ISP or visit your ISP’s website
For those of you that are deprived of Android 10 and above versions, the real solutions start from here. First, try contacting your ISP and asking them to tell you the password. Or simply hop on over to their site and navigate to your WiFi settings there to view your password. Use a password manager or note it down somewhere to keep a record of it.
3. Using a file manager [Root only]
This method requires your device to be rooted. If your phone is not rooted you can scroll down. If you’re unsure of how to root your phone, we got you covered here. But if you’re still not sure, head on over to the XDA Developer Forums, your one stop to know everything there is about rooting and, generally, the Android OS. Anyhow, those who have rooted devices should have a file explorer with root privileges installed. An example of such file explorers include MiXplorer, Root Browser, etc. For the purpose of this guide, I will be using ES File Manager.
4. Wi-Fi Password Recovery [Root Only]
Again, this method requires your device to be rooted. It also requires to download a third-party app from the Google Play Store. Look up ‘WiFi Password Recovery’. Select any app to your liking and install it. We will be using this app for the sake of this guide. Follow these steps:
5. Using ADB
This is a method for those that are averse to rooting their phones. The Android Debug Bridge (ADB), is an extremely handy tool that allows you take control of your Android device to a great extent and carry out many essential processes, with or without root. To set up ADB on your computer, follow this guide. Although this is a lengthy process, it gets the job done. You’re going to need a PC or laptop with Windows on it and several other apps which we will mention as we move onwards.
Winding Up
There you have it! This is the comprehensive guide to viewing your WiFi password on an Android device. Most of the methods require root privileges but there is one way that does not require root. Make sure to use a password manager to keep a record of the password after using this guide, or at least note it down somewhere safe; either on your phone or on a notepad. Enter this command to start ADB and check whether your device is connected properly to recieve access: A panel should appear on your device’s screen, asking for confirmation to create a backup. Select ‘Back up my data‘ to begin the backup process. The backup should be present in your ‘platform-tools’ folder and should be named ‘backup.ab‘
