Have you ever connected to a Wi-Fi network on your Android phone or tablet, only to forget the password later when you need to connect another device? It’s a frustrating situation, but luckily there are a few ways you can recover a forgotten Wi-Fi password right from your Android device. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to view saved Wi-Fi passwords and reconnect to networks without needing to ask for the password again.
1. Check Your Android’s Settings for Saved Passwords
The first place to check for a forgotten Wi-Fi password is in your Android’s Settings app:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device
- Tap on Network & Internet or Connections, depending on your device
- Select Wi-Fi from the list of options
- Find the Wi-Fi network you want the password for and tap on it
- Select Share or QR code (on some devices, you may need to tap Advanced first)
- You’ll be prompted to scan your fingerprint, enter your PIN, or use face recognition to view the password
- The Wi-Fi password will be displayed on the screen
This method works for viewing Wi-Fi passwords saved on your device that you’ve connected to before. However, it won’t help if you’ve never actually connected to that network on your current phone or tablet.
2. Use a Root-Enabled Wi-Fi Password Viewer App
If your Android device is rooted, you can use a Wi-Fi password viewer app to see passwords for all nearby networks, even if you haven’t connected to them before. Rooting gives you admin-level access to your device’s operating system. Here’s how to view Wi-Fi passwords on a rooted Android:
- Download a Wi-Fi password viewer app from the Google Play Store (e.g. WiFi Password Viewer)
- Open the app and grant it root access when prompted
- The app will scan and display a list of nearby Wi-Fi networks along with their passwords
Keep in mind that rooting your Android device can void the warranty and potentially cause issues if not done properly. Only attempt this if you’re comfortable with the process.
3. See Wi-Fi Passwords in Android’s Backup Text File
Android actually stores a backup of your Wi-Fi passwords in a text file on the device. You can access this file if you have a file explorer app:
- Connect your Android device to your computer with a USB cable
- On the Android, pull down the notification shade and tap Charging this device via USB
- Under Use USB for, select File Transfer
- Use your computer’s file explorer to browse the files on the Android device
- Navigate to /data/misc/wifi
- Look for a file named wpa_supplicant.conf and open it with a text editor
- The Wi-Fi network names and passwords will be listed in plain text
This method requires a bit more technical know-how but it allows you to view all saved Wi-Fi passwords in one place. Just be careful not to edit or delete anything in the wpa_supplicant.conf file or you could cause issues with your Wi-Fi connections.
4. Reset the Wi-Fi Password by Contacting Your ISP or Network Admin
If you’re trying to recover the password for your home Wi-Fi network and none of the above methods work, you may need to reset the password altogether:
- Contact your internet service provider (ISP) and request a password reset
- If you have access to the admin settings on your Wi-Fi router, you can log in and change the password yourself
- Some routers have a physical reset button you can press to restore the default password
- If you’re trying to connect to a workplace or school network, contact your IT department to request the password
Resetting the Wi-Fi password will restore connectivity, but you’ll need to re-enter the new password on all your previously connected devices. Be sure to create a strong password you can remember to avoid this situation in the future.
Conclusion
Forgetting a Wi-Fi password is never fun, but with the methods outlined above, you should be able to recover it right from your Android device. Start by checking your Android’s network settings to see if the password is saved there. If you have a rooted device, a Wi-Fi password viewer app can reveal passwords for nearby networks. You can also poke around in Android’s system files to find a backup text file containing Wi-Fi passwords. And if all else fails, resetting the password on your router or contacting your ISP can get you back online. Hopefully these tips help you avoid Wi-Fi password woes in the future!
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