Simply put, the security key of a network is the passcode or password that’s set to protect a private internet connection. However, due to safety and security reasons, no device will willingly share this information. So, are there any ways you could locate this password by using your Android smartphone?
The answer to that question depends on the exact security key you need to find, whether to your mobile hotspot or your Wi-Fi network. Here are some explanations:
Finding the security key for an Android device
When using mobile data on your Android device, you have the option of creating a hotspot from your phone which allows any other devices in the vicinity to connect to your personal network and thus surf the internet. In this case, the other device will require a password in order to link to your Android smartphone.
If this is the exact security key type that you are looking for, here’s how you could find it:
- On your Android, access the
Settings.
- Open
the Wireless & Network section, and then click on Tethering and Portable
Hotspot.
- Press on Mobile
Hotspot to enable it. Here, you will have access to all the necessary
information.
- Simply look under the
Password section to locate the necessary security key that you’re looking for.
Finding the security key for a Wi-Fi network
If your Android device is currently connected to a private Wi-Fi network, however, and you would like to locate the security key for that specific network, you will have to go through some additional steps.
Firstly, you will need to download a file manager that has root access, such as the Solid Explorer or ES File Manager. Here’s how:
- On your Android, open the Play Store application and type the name of your chosen file explorer into the search bar at the top.
- Then, press the Install button to download.
- Once the application has finished installing, open it, and then locate the Root section.
- Here, navigate to the misc file, and then press on wifi.
- Here, you need to press and hold on the wpa_supplicant.conf file, and then press the View as Text option.
- When opened, look for the network section, and you will see the necessary security key beginning with psk.
Note: In order to achieve this, your Android device will need to be rooted first. As the rooting process can vary depending on the manufacturer and the device itself, it might be best to do a Google search in order to find out how to gain root access to your specific Android smartphone.
And that’s it! Depending on which specific network security key you wish to locate, you can now do so quickly and easily from your Android device, just by following the helpful guide above.