With multiple Wi-Fi access points saved on your Android device, it is quite normal to forget the security key to a certain network. This article presents a small, handy work-around for the rare instance where you need to view a forgotten password. For instance, your friend needs to connect to the Wi-Fi network you’re currently using on your Android device, he or she asks you for the security key but you just can’t remember it. What do you do? Read on after the jump to find out.

Albeit through a counter-intuitive way, the app can help you with finding passwords of your Wi-Fi access points, old or new. This method requires your device to have root access. If it doesn’t, type “root devicename” in the search bar above to gain root access on your device using one of our own guides, or you may simply take a look at our comprehensive compilation of Android root guides to see if your device is listed there or not, and if it is, how to gain root access on it.

Also, you’ll need a file explorer that gives you read access to root-level documents. Root Explorer and Super Manager (Professional Edition) includes said feature.

Navigate to the root directory /data/misc/wifi. If your file explorer opens the SD card (/mnt/sdcard) directory by default, press back twice to open the root directory, then navigate to the mentioned path.

If your file explorer opens the SD card (/mnt/sdcard) directory by default, press back twice to open the root directory, then navigate to the mentioned path. Open the document wpa_supplicant.conf. If you’re using Root Explorer, simply tap the file to open it in a text viewer or hold it (long tap) to open its context menu and select View as text to do the same.

If you’re using Root Explorer, simply tap the file to open it in a text viewer or hold it (long tap) to open its context menu and select View as text to do the same. From within said file, you can view all your saved Wi-Fi access points along with their passwords. Look under the SSID (Access Point Name) of the Wi-Fi network whose password you need to view. The password is written within quotes in the line that says psk=”password”.

As evident by the screenshot above, once you open said conf file, you’ll be able to sneak peek into almost every access point that ever got registered with your Android. All you need to do is lookup for the required access point, note down the password displayed under it, key it in the password field, and you’re good to go. The above method has successfully been tested on HTC Desire Z (running CM7). Hopefully, we shall soon be introduced to an app that has the propensity to automatically fetch APs from said file, complete with passwords and other relevant settings, and tie them to the present APs with the same titles. Till then, manual route is the best route!

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