Many Xiaomi smartphone users face a situation where the Smart Lock feature becomes unnecessary or even interferes with the operation of the device. This technology, designed to make it easier to access the gadget, may eventually cease to be relevant, especially if you change your smartwatch or stop carrying it. Deleting stored data and disabling automatic unlocking is an important step to ensure the security of your personal space.
The deactivation process is not always obvious, as settings are scattered across different MIUI shell menus and Android system settings. Often users confuse lock screen passwords with Google credentials, leading to unnecessary reset actions. In this article, we will detail how to properly remove saved access keys and return standard protection mode.
Now, you have to understand that there are several steps to deleting the data completely, and you have to turn off the smart lock function itself, and then you have to clear the cache of the saved keys in the password manager. Deleting a trusted device from the Smart Lock list doesn't remove the password from the Bluetooth device itself, it just prevents it from unlocking the phone. Let's look at each step in detail to avoid errors.
Disabling Smart Lock in Security Settings
The first and most important step is to deactivate the active smart unlock mode. While this feature is on, the system will try to use the saved keys, ignoring your attempts to enter the pin code manually in certain areas.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security. This section focuses on all the key security settings of the device. Find the Lock screen and click on it. The system will ask you to enter the current pattern lock or digital code to verify your identity. This is the standard procedure for protecting against unauthorized change of parameters.
Once you have successfully logged in, you will see the Unlock Management menu, where you will find the Smart Lock option (sometimes called Smart Lock). Click on this. If the function is active, you will see a list of trusted devices or locations that are connected.
⚠️ Warning: Before you turn off Smart Lock, make sure you remember the primary unlock password. Once the smart features are deactivated, the phone will require you to enter a code every time the display is turned on.
Inside the Smart Lock menu, select the "Switch Off" option or remove all previously trusted devices added. The system may alert you to a reduced level of convenience, but confirm the action. Now your smartphone will stop unlocking automatically when you find familiar gadgets.
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Disabling Smart Lock in the screen lock settings is the first mandatory step that stops the automatic unlocking of the device.
Removing saved passwords through Google Manager
Once the smart lock function is disabled, you need to clear the database where the access keys are stored, which is synchronized with your Google account and can be stored in the cloud, and you will need access to your account settings to delete them.
Open your Xiaomi smartphone Settings and scroll down to the Google section. Select Autocomplete and then Autocomplete from Google. This is where you store all your logins, passwords and access keys, including those used for Smart Lock.
Click on Google Password Manager. In the list that opens, you will see all the sites and applications that have data saved for them. Find an entry that is linked to Android or Smart Lock. Click on it, confirm your identity (by fingerprint or face), and select the deletion option.
- 🔍 Open Google Settings on the Main Screen.
- 🔐 Go to the section "Password Manager".
- 🗑️ Find and delete records related to unlocking.
- ✅ Check the cart (if any) for final removal.
It is important to note that deleting this data will not affect passwords from your sites, but will clear your smart lock usage history.If you used Google Password Manager to store Wi-Fi or other services access keys through Smart Lock, they will also be deleted.
What happens to the data after deletion?
Cleaning Trusted Bluetooth Devices
Often the problem is not a software failure, but a “ghost” connection. Xiaomi’s smartphone can remember old headphones or watches that were previously added to the list of trusted. Even after the Smart Lock is disabled, the remnants of profiles can interfere with the normal operation of the Bluetooth module.
Go to the Settings menu → Bluetooth. Here you'll see a list of all devices ever paired. Find the gadgets that were used as keys for Smart Lock. Click on the gear icon or arrow next to the device name and select Disable or Forget the device.
This action will break the link between the phone and the accessory, and if you plan to use this watch or headphones in the future, you will have to re-match them, but for the purposes of cleaning the system of old access keys, this is a necessary measure. Make sure that there are no devices left on the list marked "Trusted".
Some versions of the MIUI shell may require additional clearing of the Bluetooth cache. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find Bluetooth in the list and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with the Clear Data button, as this can reset all settings of the network module.
Resetting access settings and access keys
If standard methods have not completely removed the traces of Smart Lock use, you can use the function of resetting the access keys. This is a more radical method that affects network settings and Wi-Fi keys, but guaranteed to clear the system access tables.
In the Settings → Connection and Sharing menu (or simply “Advanced”), find Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Internet, and Bluetooth settings. The system will alert you that all stored networks and pairings will be deleted. Confirm the action by entering the screen unlock password.
This step is especially useful if Xiaomi is glitchy and continues to require unlocking through a non-existent device.After reset, the phone will reboot and you will have to re-enter passwords from Wi-Fi networks.
| Action. | Impact on data | Need for a reset |
|---|---|---|
| Shutting down Smart Lock | Secure, data is stored | No. |
| Removal from the Manager | Removing passwords from the cloud | No. |
| Forget the device (BT) | Interconnection break | No. |
| Resetting network settings | Total removal of keys | Preferably. |
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After resetting your network settings, it is recommended to check the Bluetooth devices immediately to make sure they connect correctly without using old access keys.
Working with Google Account and Synchronization
Sometimes local deletion on a Xiaomi phone is not enough, as data continues to be pulled from the cloud as it syncs, you need to check your account status through a web interface or app, this is especially true if you have changed your phone or password from a Google account.
Go to myaccount.google.com from your computer or browser on your phone. Go to Security. Find "Your Devices" or "Third Party Access" and it may show devices that are authorized to manage your account or use Smart Lock features.
If you see old or unfamiliar devices, click on them and select Leave or Delete Access. This will break the connection between the account and the device at the server level of Google. After that, on the Xiaomi smartphone, you should force the sync in the account settings to be updated.
⚠️ Note: Deleting a device from the Google Account security list may require re-authorization in all Google apps (Maps, Mail, Photos) on that device.
Also check the Passwords section of your Google Account, and make sure that there are no saved entries with names like “Android Smart Lock” or “Trusted Device Key” that may cause periodic requests to update security keys.
What to do if your password is not deleted (Problems and Solutions)
In rare cases, users are faced with a situation where the Smart Lock password field is active but cannot be deleted, or the system requires an old code that has been forgotten.This may be due to device administrator rights or a conflict of Android versions.
Try uninstalling the Google Play Services app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Google Play Services. Click three dots in the corner and select Remove Updates. After that, restart your phone and try to reset your Smart Lock settings. Often this resets the erroneous cached data.
If nothing works, the last resort is to completely reset your phone, make sure you back up your important data before you do so, and when you reset, the phone will be clean, and there will be no trace of old Smart Lock passwords left on it.
☑️ Checklist for full cleaning
Remember that regularly reviewing connected devices and saved passwords is a good digital hygiene practice. On Xiaomi devices with their aggressive battery optimization and background operation, old access keys can cause increased power consumption as the system constantly searches for lost trusted devices.