Android 9: Show WLAN password - how it works

In previous Android versions, you can find the WLAN password in plain text on your smartphone. So it was always possible to read it out without any problems. Since Android 4.4, however, this is no longer possible. Only Android 10 is supposed to bring back a function with which you can get access to your WLAN password.

How to view your WLAN password on Android 9

If you forgot your WLAN password or want to share it, it was possible to look it up on your smartphone until Android version 4.4. Android stores all WLAN passwords in a file that could previously be read without any problems. Now, however, the file is encrypted and can no longer be read. The disadvantage of this is that you can no longer access your password via your smartphone. In order to still read out the password, you need root rights. However, rooting your smartphone can lead to a loss of warranty. If you are not very familiar with the software, you can also cause unintentional software damage that makes the device unusable. For this reason, it is usually not advisable. If you still want to view your WLAN password, it is recommended to do so via the user interface of your router in your browser.

How to view the WLAN password via your router

You set the WLAN password in the user interface of your router. For this reason, it is recommended to read it out via it.

1. Open a browser of your choice and enter the IP of your router.
2. Then log in with your user data.
3. Go here under "WLAN" to "Security".
4. Here you will find your WLAN password.