Where Redmi Note 7 stores your WiFi passwords

Your Redmi Note 7 saves WiFi passwords in a file called wpa_supplicant.conf, which lives in the phone's system storage. Android does not give you a straightforward "show password" button the way some other devices do, so retrieving a saved password requires either accessing that file directly or using the phone's settings in a specific way. The method you choose depends on whether your phone is rooted (has administrator-level access to system files) or not.

If your phone is not rooted, you have two realistic paths: using the QR code method through WiFi settings, or connecting to a computer and browsing the file system. Both work on an unmodified Redmi Note 7. If your phone is rooted, you can read the password file directly using a file manager app.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest method on an unrooted Redmi Note 7 is to open WiFi settings, tap the saved network, and select "Share" to generate a QR code that displays the password in plain text.
  • If you do not see a Share button, your phone may require you to connect to that network first before the option appears.
  • On a rooted phone, you can open a file manager with root access and navigate to /data/misc/wifi/ to find wpa_supplicant.conf, which contains all saved passwords in readable form.
  • If you cannot remember which network you need the password for, check your WiFi settings list to see all networks your phone has ever connected to.

Using the QR code method (no root required)

Open Settings on your Redmi Note 7, then tap WiFi. You will see a list of networks your phone has saved. Long-press the network whose password you need. A menu will appear with options including Modify, Forget, and sometimes Share.

Tap Share. The phone will generate a QR code on the screen. Below or near the QR code, your password will appear in plain text. If you do not see the Share option, tap Modify instead, and the password field should show your saved password (though it may appear as dots). If the dots are still there, try tapping the eye icon next to the password field to reveal it.

If neither Share nor Modify shows the password, your phone may require you to be connected to that network first. Move within range of the WiFi network, connect to it, then return to Settings and try again.

Connecting your phone to a computer to find the password file

Plug your Redmi Note 7 into a computer using a USB cable. On your phone, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel, then tap the USB notification. Select File Transfer or MTP mode (the exact name varies by MIUI version). Your phone will now appear as a drive on your computer.

On Windows, open File Explorer and look for your phone in the left sidebar. On Mac, open Finder and look in the Locations section. Navigate to Internal Storage or Phone Storage, then to Android > data > com.android.systemui. This path does not always contain the WiFi file on every phone, so if you do not find it, try data > misc > wifi instead.

Look for a file named wpa_supplicant.conf. Open it with Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). The file contains entries for each saved network. Each entry includes the network name (SSID) and the password in encrypted form. Unfortunately, without root access, the passwords in this file are not readable as plain text — they are hashed. This method is useful only if you have root access or if you want to back up the file.

Using a file manager app on a rooted phone

If your Redmi Note 7 is rooted, install a file manager that supports root access, such as MiXplorer or ES File Explorer. Open the app and grant it root permissions when prompted. Navigate to /data/misc/wifi/.

You will see the wpa_supplicant.conf file. Open it with a text editor (the file manager usually offers this as an option). The file will display all your saved networks and their passwords in plain text. Find the network name you are looking for, and the password will be listed next to it in the psk field.

What to do if you cannot find the network in your list

If the network you need the password for does not appear in your WiFi settings, it may have been forgotten or removed. Check with the network owner or administrator to confirm the network name and whether it is still active. If the network is active but not in your list, you will need to ask the owner for the password directly, as there is no way to recover a password for a network your phone has never connected to.

If you see the network in your list but cannot access the password using any of the methods above, your phone may have a security restriction in place. Some enterprise or managed devices prevent users from viewing saved passwords. In that case, contact your device administrator or the person who set up the phone.

Why Android hides WiFi passwords by default

Android restricts access to saved WiFi passwords as a security measure. If someone gains physical access to your phone, they cannot easily extract all your network passwords and use them elsewhere. The QR code method works because you are actively choosing to reveal the password, and the system assumes you have a legitimate reason to do so. The file-based methods require either root access (which you must deliberately enable) or a computer connection, both of which are harder to do without your knowledge.

This design means that if you forget a password, you cannot always recover it from your phone alone. The QR code method is the most practical for most people, and it works on nearly every Redmi Note 7 running a recent version of MIUI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my phone show dots instead of the actual password?

Android hides passwords in text fields for security. Look for an eye icon next to the password field and tap it to reveal the password in plain text. If there is no eye icon, use the QR code method instead by tapping Share in the network menu.

Can I see passwords for networks I am not currently connected to?

Yes. Open WiFi settings, long-press any saved network (whether you are connected or not), and tap Share or Modify. The password will display regardless of your current connection status.

What if the Share button does not appear in my WiFi menu?

This usually means your MIUI version does not include the Share feature. Try tapping Modify instead and look for an eye icon next to the password field. If that does not work, your phone may need a software update, or you can use the file manager method if your phone is rooted.

Is it safe to share a WiFi password using the QR code?

A QR code is just a visual representation of the password. Anyone who scans it or sees the plain text password displayed on your screen can use it. Only share the QR code or password with people you trust to access your network.

Can I recover a password for a network I already forgot?

No. If your phone never connected to the network, there is no password stored anywhere on it. You will need to ask the network owner for the password. If your phone did connect but you removed it from the saved list, the password is permanently deleted from your phone.