Solved: How to retrieve the SSID and PSK of a Google Wifi first generation

[fabio1299]

Note: this solution applies to the Google WiFi devices. Newer devices (e.g. Google Nest) have the information etched in the rubber base of the device itself.

I've seen a lot of posts in regards to this issue, however most of them led to nothing that worked.  The main problem is that using the "official" posted answer no longer works, because recent updates to the firmware have removed the PSK information from the data that can be retrieved using a wired ethernet link and pointing your browser to:

http://192.168.84.1/api/v1/status

I patched up a solution from a number of posts (mainly this one) and I'm just summarizing my step-by-step solution hoping it will help others.

The solution involves:

1. downgrading the firmware of device
2. accessing the web page above via wired ethernet link

To downgrade the device you'll need:

1. USB-C adapted with passthrough power (this is an Amazon search for the kind of adapter you need)
2. USB drive (8GB or langer) that you can format and reuse
3. A Chrome web browser

Steps to downgrade:

1.  Using your Chrome browser go to the OnHub Recovery Utility extension page, and install the extension using the "Add to Chrome" button. (Note: this utility works with the older OnHub and the newer Google WiFi devices)
2. Once the extension is installed, insert the USB drive that you can reformat in your computer and launch the OnHub Recovery Utility from the "Extensions" icon on the Chrome taskbar. This opens a new window that will guide you through the process of creating the USB recovery drive. Note that at the end of the process, there is a link to an instructions page that does not work.

3. Once you have a Recovery USB image, the recovery procedure is as follows:

   1. Hold the Reset button (front of case)
   2. Connect power to the device (Note: use the USB-C adapter, so that you also have a standard USB port to connect your USB drive with the recovery image)
   3. After about 16 seconds, the LED should blink orange; you may now release the Reset button
   4. Plug in USB stick containing Recovery image
   5. LED should turn off, and recovery begins
   6. After about 5-6 minutes, the device should automatically reboot; LED will pulse blue
   7. Recovery is complete
    

Now you can access the web page with the information needed:

1. Connect to the Google WiFi puck with an ethernet cable (Note: connect to the port marked <-->, not the one with the Globe)
2. In your browser navigate to http://192.168.84.1/api/v1/status 
3. Read the SSID and PSK

You can also recreate the label and the QR code to use during the installation with the Google Home app:

1. the QR contains 4 comma-separated fields (e.g. something like this 1A23HW01KE3,E86C634DF341,setupD3599,pexhgmgxn which I made up with fake data). The 4 fields are:
   1. Serial number (Note: could not find the information, so I just made it up and the QR still works just fine)
   2. MAC address of the device. Various options here... the simplest one is dumping the in formation from the http://192.168.84.1/api/v1/diagnostic-report to your computer and browsing it with a text editor to find the section that describes the wan0 lan port which also includes the MAC address. (Note: not sure how important this is, you can give it a try just adding 6 hexadecimal digit as the second field... and it may still work fine) 
   3. the SSID
   4. the PSK
2. Create the QR using your favorite online service, like for instance this one, save the QR as an image on your computer 
3. You can find a template for the label here, which you can edit with your favorite photo editing software to replace the QR and the other info.
4. Print the new label on a sticker and attached it to the bottom of your Google WiFi puck.

Moderator edit: Subject updated for clarity and findability.

[Dan_A]

Hi fabio1299,

We appreciate you taking the time to show us and our Community members ways to retrieve the SSID and PSK of a Google Wifi first generation. This helps a ton, and we’ll make sure to put it to good use.

Hats off to you!

Kind regards,

Dan

[Ashwin_ram]

Hey. I’m facing a similar issue and I’m having trouble at the last step. I’ve waited for hours but the router won’t restart. It stops blinking orange when I insert a pendrive but then nothing visible happens. 

[Dan_A]

Hi Ashwin_ram,

That certainly isn’t the experience we want you to have, and we apologize for the delay. A few questions: are you using a modem/router combo from your Internet Service Provider (ISP)? Which Google/Nest router are we working with? What device are you using to set up your network (iOS or Android)? Do you have the Internet from your modem?
 

You can do a sequential reboot of your entire network and see if that helps.

or

Please perform a 2-minute power cycle on your entire network to re-establish the connection on your connected devices. Here's how: 
 

1. Disconnect the power from the modem.
2. Disconnect the Ethernet cable and power cord from the parent point.
3. Disconnect the power cord from the child points.
4. Leave everything unplugged for 2 minutes.
5. Connect the power cord to the modem then to your router and points.
    

To isolate further, have you also tried doing the factory reset? This is to determine what the next steps to take.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Dan

[Ashwin_ram]

No ISP Provided devices. 
Im using Google WiFi AC-1304

SSID Name : Setup9C8F0

Have tried resetting it many times. I need the QR code or the setup code/psk to even set it up with google home app regardless if I’m connected to the internet. Downgrading the firmware to reveal the psk via the fixed ip is also not working for me. Stuck at the last step. Switched with various pen drives. Tried even using a MacBook to set up the usb drive. 

[Dan_A]

Hey there Ashwin_ram,

We appreciate all your efforts. We'd like to take a deeper look into this for you. Please fill out this form with all the needed information, and then let me know once you're done.

Thanks,

Dan

[Ashwin_ram]

Done. Thank you for getting back. 

[Dan_A]

Hello Ashwin_ram,

Since you have an existing thread with the same issue and you are already in contact with our higher tier of support via email, It would be best for you to continue the conversation there from here on out. We’ve already bumped this case.

Best regards,

Dan

[Ashwin_ram]

---

@fabio1299 wrote:

Note: this solution applies to the Google WiFi devices. Newer devices (e.g. Google Nest) have the information etched in the rubber base of the device itself.

I've seen a lot of posts in regards to this issue, however most of them led to nothing that worked.  The main problem is that using the "official" posted answer no longer works, because recent updates to the firmware have removed the PSK information from the data that can be retrieved using a wired ethernet link and pointing your browser to:

http://192.168.84.1/api/v1/status

I patched up a solution from a number of posts (mainly this one) and I'm just summarizing my step-by-step solution hoping it will help others.

The solution involves:

1. downgrading the firmware of device
2. accessing the web page above via wired ethernet link

To downgrade the device you'll need:

1. USB-C adapted with passthrough power (this is an Amazon search for the kind of adapter you need)
2. USB drive (8GB or langer) that you can format and reuse
3. A Chrome web browser

Steps to downgrade:

1.  Using your Chrome browser go to the OnHub Recovery Utility extension page, and install the extension using the "Add to Chrome" button. (Note: this utility works with the older OnHub and the newer Google WiFi devices)
2. Once the extension is installed, insert the USB drive that you can reformat in your computer and launch the OnHub Recovery Utility from the "Extensions" icon on the Chrome taskbar. This opens a new window that will guide you through the process of creating the USB recovery drive. Note that at the end of the process, there is a link to an instructions page that does not work.

3. Once you have a Recovery USB image, the recovery procedure is as follows:

   1. Hold the Reset button (front of case)
   2. Connect power to the device (Note: use the USB-C adapter, so that you also have a standard USB port to connect your USB drive with the recovery image)
   3. After about 16 seconds, the LED should blink orange; you may now release the Reset button
   4. Plug in USB stick containing Recovery image
   5. LED should turn off, and recovery begins
   6. After about 5-6 minutes, the device should automatically reboot; LED will pulse blue
   7. Recovery is complete
    

Now you can access the web page with the information needed:

1. Connect to the Google WiFi puck with an ethernet cable (Note: connect to the port marked <-->, not the one with the Globe)
2. In your browser navigate to http://192.168.84.1/api/v1/status 
3. Read the SSID and PSK

You can also recreate the label and the QR code to use during the installation with the Google Home app:

1. the QR contains 4 comma-separated fields (e.g. something like this 1A23HW01KE3,E86C634DF341,setupD3599,pexhgmgxn which I made up with fake data). The 4 fields are:
   1. Serial number (Note: could not find the information, so I just made it up and the QR still works just fine)
   2. MAC address of the device. Various options here... the simplest one is dumping the in formation from the http://192.168.84.1/api/v1/diagnostic-report to your computer and browsing it with a text editor to find the section that describes the wan0 lan port which also includes the MAC address. (Note: not sure how important this is, you can give it a try just adding 6 hexadecimal digit as the second field... and it may still work fine) 
   3. the SSID
   4. the PSK
2. Create the QR using your favorite online service, like for instance this one, save the QR as an image on your computer 
3. You can find a template for the label here, which you can edit with your favorite photo editing software to replace the QR and the other info.
4. Print the new label on a sticker and attached it to the bottom of your Google WiFi puck.

Moderator edit: Subject updated for clarity and findability.

---

Hey.  I’m getting stuck at the last step. All usb drives I try don’t seem to work. Any ide why?

[Dan_A]

Hey there Ashwin,

We apologize for the late reply. Are you still stuck on the last step? We believe you are in contact with our higher tier of support via email. It would be best to reply to them on your status to get things going and find a resolution. Keep an eye on your spam emails, too, just in case their reply went straight there.

Best regards,

Dan