How to view lost or forgotten Wi-Fi passwords on your Android and iOS device

Steps to Retrieve Wi-Fi Password on your Android Device

In order to retrieve your saved wifi password from your Android device, you need to access the root files of your Android system data. For obtaining access to the root files of your Android system data, you need to have a file explorer like the ES File Explorer App installed on your smartphone.

Step1: Make sure you have rooted your Android device. If you’ve not yet rooted your device, there are many tutorials available online to teach you how to root your device.

Step 2: Since finding your Wi-Fi passwords involves you to open a system file on Android, but it is not possible to use the traditional file explorer that comes pre-installed on the device. The best App to do so is ES File Explorer which can effortlessly open any system file on Android.

Download ES File Explorer

Step 3: Install ES File Explorer App on your Android from Google Play Store. Open up ES File Explorer that you’ve downloaded on your Android device.



Step 4: Now, you need to enable the ‘Root Explorer’ feature in the app. Simply move to the root folder in ES File Explorer where you need to scroll down to “Root Explorer” under the drop-down “Tools” and enable it. You can find a directory called data.

Step 5: Just navigate to Data>>Misc>>Wifi folder as shown in the image given below:

Step 6: Under the wifi folder, you will find a file with name as wpa_supplicant.conf. Select the file and open it with any of your editors.

Step 7: Hit the file icon to open it and make sure you use ES File Explorer‘s built-in text/HTML viewer for the task.
In the file, you will be able to see the network SSID and their passwords next to it.

Step 8: You can now explore for the SSID (network name) and make a note of the password next to it and close the file.

Step 9: Here you need to focus on these following lines and note the values given for psk which reflects your wifi password.

network={

ssid=”Your WiFi Name”

psk= “WiFi Password”

key_mgmt=WPA-PSK

priority=1

Note: Never edit this file or you may start having connectivity issues.

Steps to Retrieve Wi-Fi Password on your iOS Device

Like the rooted Android device which is used to retrieve Wi-Fi password, here also, you need to have a jailbroken iPhone or iPad through which you can recover saved Wi-Fi password from your Apple iPhone device. Compared to Android, retreiving Wi-Fi passwords on iOS is a simple task. Here are the simple steps that help you to view Wi-Fi password on your Apple iOS device:

Step 1: Initially, you need to Install a nifty tweak called Network list from Cydia store.

Step 2: Download and install it on your Apple iOS device.

Step 3: Once you complete the installation process, simply go to your Wi-Fi settings on your device.

Step 4: There, you will find a new option as ‘Network passwords’ or ‘Known passwords’ based on your Apple iOS version.

Step 5: If you are using Apple device that runs iOS 7, then it will show as Known Networks.

Step 6: Simply tap on the option and you will be able to view all the Wi-Fi passwords that are stored on your Apple iOS device.

Step 7: You will get a list of available networks along with the passwords. But, you don’t have the permission to select and copy all those passwords on your Notepad.

Step 8: You need to use the standard system of a pen and a paper to write it down. If you’re capable enough, you can even memorize it.

Step 9: That’s it. This is the simple process to retrieve Wi-Fi password on your iOS device.