Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi: How it works and why it is better to turn it off

Google Smart Lock is a service from Google that automatically unlocks your smartphone in “reliable” places (such as at home or work) when you’re connected to a trusted Wi-Fi network, wearing a smartwatch, or using a Bluetooth device. You don't have to constantly enter PIN-But it has serious security risks, especially on Xiaomi's firmware smartphones. MIUI.

The problem is that Smart Lock can work at the wrong time — for example, if someone steals your phone along with a smartwatch or connects to your Wi-Fi. The phone spontaneously unlocks in your pocket, spends battery power on background activity or conflicts with branded functions MIUI (In this article, we will discuss how to completely disable Google Smart Lock on any Xiaomi smartphone (including Redmi, POCO Black Shark and what to do if the standard settings don’t help.

What is Google Smart Lock and Why You Should Turn It Off on Xiaomi

Google Smart Lock is part of the Google Play Services ecosystem, which makes it easier to unlock a device in a “safe” environment.

• 📍 Trusted Places – geolocation unlocking (e.g. at home or work).
• 🔗 Trusted devices – Automatic unlocking when connected to a Bluetooth device (earphones, smartwatches, car).
• 👤 Facial/voice recognition – simplified authentication (less reliable than a fingerprint).
• 📶 On-Body Detection – Your phone remains unlocked while you hold it or carry it with you.

On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature often conflicts with the proprietary MIUI security system, which leads to:

• ⚡ Increased battery consumption (background activity of Google Play Services).
• 🔓 Unblocking in a pocket or bag.
• 🛡️ Security vulnerabilities – if an attacker gains access to your Bluetooth device or Wi-Fi, they will be able to unlock the phone.
• 🔄 Conflicts with App Lock (blocked applications can be opened without a password).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with a corporate account or work with sensitive data, Smart Lock may violate security policies.

How to check if Google Smart Lock is enabled on your Xiaomi

Before you turn off the feature, make sure it’s really active. On Xiaomi with MIUI 14/15, you can check this in two ways:

Method 1: Through Google Settings

Open the Google Settings app (not to be confused with the phone's basic settings!) If it's not on the home screen, search the system for:

1. Go to Google Settings → Security → Smart Lock.
2. If the feature is enabled, you’ll see a list of trusted devices, locations, or unlock methods.

Method 2: Through the basic settings of Xiaomi

In some versions of MIUI, the path may be different:

1. Open the Settings. → Passwords and security.
2. Slip on the screen lock settings.
3. Scroll down to Smart Lock (Google).

If the feature is missing in both locations, it is either disabled or hidden due to regional restrictions (e.g., on Chinese versions of MIUI).

💡

On some POCO and Redmi models, the path to Smart Lock may be called Smart Lock or Trusted Devices. If you don't find it, search by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top).

Step-by-step: how to disable Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi

Disconnection depends on the version of MIUI and the smartphone model, below is a universal method that works on most devices (including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.).

Method 1: Standard shutdown through settings

Remove all trusted devices|Remove trusted seats|Disable On-Body Detection|Sign out of your Google account (optional)-->

1. Open Smart Lock Settings: Go to Settings → Google → Security → Smart Lock. Enter. PIN-code, pattern lock or fingerprint to confirm.
2. Remove all trusted items: Tap on Trusted Devices and remove all connected gadgets (earphones, watches, car). In Trusted Places, delete all saved addresses. Turn off On-Body Detection and Voice Recognition (if any).

Confirm the blackout:

Click Disable Smart Lock at the bottom of the screen. The system may ask you to re-enter the password.

Method 2: Through screen lock settings (for MIUI 14/15)

If the first method didn’t work, try an alternative way:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Screen Lock settings.
2. Find Smart Lock (Google) or Smart Lock.
3. Turn off the slider and confirm the action.

Method 3: Reset Smart Lock settings (if the function is not disabled)

If the Smart Lock continues to work after the shutdown, reset:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Google Play Services and tap on it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Google Play Services data cleanup may cause temporary disruptions to other Google services (e.g. Google Pay or Gmail) and once rebooted, all features will be restored automatically, but Smart Lock will be completely reset.

💡

If the phone continues to unlock spontaneously after the Smart Lock is turned off, check the App Lock settings in MIUI – it may be because of duplicate security rules.

What to do if Google Smart Lock is not disabled

On some Xiaomi smartphones (especially the Chinese versions of MIUI or custom firmware devices), standard methods may not work.

Problem 1: There is no Smart Lock in the settings

If you don’t find Smart Lock on the menu, the reasons may be as follows:

• 📱 You have the Chinese version. MIUI without Google services (solution: install Google Installer from the MIUI App Store).
• 🔧 The function is disabled by the device administrator (check in Settings). → Passwords and security → Device administrators).
• 🛠️ Installed custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), where Smart Lock works differently.

Problem 2: Smart Lock turns on itself after restarting

This is a typical MIUI error associated with the cache of Google Play Services.

1. Clear the cache: Go to Settings → Apps → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. Update Google Services: Open the Google Play Store, search for Google Play Services and update.

Turn off auto-update:

In the Google Play Store, disable auto-update for Google Play Services to avoid re-enabled Smart Lock.

Problem 3: Smart Lock is in conflict with Xiaomi’s App Lock

The proprietary MIUI App Lock feature can block access to Smart Lock settings.

1. Open Settings → Applications → App Lock.
2. Find Google Settings in the list of blocked apps and unblock it.
3. Repeat the attempt to shut down the Smart Lock.

Alternatives to Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi

If you’ve disabled Smart Lock but want to keep the ease of unlocking, consider alternatives from Xiaomi:

If you want full automation, but without the risks of Smart Lock, consider third-party apps like Tasker or MacroDroid, which let you create geolocation or Bluetooth unlock rules, but with more flexible security settings.

Security Risks: Why Smart Lock is Dangerous on Xiaomi

Google Smart Lock is convenient, but in practice it creates several critical vulnerabilities.

• 🔓 Data Leak: If an attacker gains access to your Bluetooth device (for example, steals headphones), they will be able to unlock the phone without the need to use it. PIN-code.
• 📡 Wi-Fi spoofing: Scammers can fake your home Wi-Fi network, causing Smart Lock to go off in a public place.
• 🤖 Conflict with MIUI: On Xiaomi, Smart Lock sometimes bypasses App Lock, giving access to blocked applications.
• 🔋 Hidden activity: The feature constantly monitors geolocation and Bluetooth, which drains the battery 5-15% faster.

In 2023, researchers at Kaspersky discovered that a Smart Lock could be used to attack over NFC: if a phone unlocks when it is brought to a trusted device (like a contactless card), an attacker could play that signal. On Xiaomi with NFC (like Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F4), this risk is particularly relevant.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi to work with banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) or corporate mail, Smart Lock may block access due to a breach of security policies.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi