Where Xiaomi Stores Passwords on Your Smartphone: Hidden Folders, Managers, and Leak Risks

How to store passwords in Xiaomi smartphones

Have you ever wondered where all those hundreds of logins and passwords you type into Xiaomi, Redmi, or Google go? POCO? From social media to banking apps, the smartphone remembers them automatically, but where exactly are they? Unlike the iPhone, where everything is strictly encrypted in iCloud Keychain, Android devices (and other devices). MIUI In particular, they use a combination of system tools and third-party solutions, and that creates both convenience and vulnerability.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all possible password storage locations on Xiaomi: from the built-in Google Password Manager to hidden files. MIUI, You'll learn how to find them, export them, and, most importantly, why you should never keep critical data in your notes or in your notes. SMS. We will also analyze which models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5) have additional levels of protection and how this affects security.

Spoiler: If you're using autocomplete in your Mi Browser or Chrome browser without syncing with your Google account, your passwords are stored unencrypted in system files -- and you can extract them without root rights. But in order.

1. Google's built-in password manager (main storage)

By default, all Xiaomi smartphones based on Android 10+ They use Google Password Manager as their primary storage, which means that when you save a password in Chrome, Gmail, or any other Google application, the data is sent to an encrypted cloud and linked to your account:

• 🔑 Google Account: passwords.google.com (web version)
• 📱 Smartphone settings: Settings → Google → Managing a Google Account → Security → Password manager
• 🌐 Chrome Browser: Settings → Auto-filling → Passwords.

The advantage of this method is end-to-end synchronization between devices and strong encryption, but there are some nuances:

• ⚠️ If you are not logged in to your Google account on Xiaomi, your passwords will be stored locally in an unsecured form (see the Mi Browser section below).
• ⚠️ When you reset your phone to factory settings, local passwords will be permanently deleted, even if you log in to the same account later.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14+ Google has Auto Fill in, which can be turned off in Settings → System and device → Additionally. → Autocomplete. If you deactivate it, browsers and apps will start offering to save passwords in the Xiaomi manager, which is less secure.

2. Local storage MIUI: Where to search for passwords without Google

If you're not using a Google account or you've disabled sync, Xiaomi stores passwords in a local database, it's in system files, and it's only available through special tools.

To access these files, you will need:

1. Root rights (for example, through Magisk)
2. File Manager with root access (e.g. Root Explorer or Root Explorer) FX File Explorer)
3. SQLite reading tool (for example, DB Browser for SQLite for browser passwords)

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi models 12T, Redmi K50 Login Data files from Chrome are encrypted with a hardware key, and even with root, they can not be read without additional manipulation (adb pull with an unlocked bootloader is needed).

Getting root rights (Magisk)

Install a file manager with root access

Download SQLite Editor for Databases

Create a backup copy of system files

Use AdB for complex cases-->

3. Passwords in browsers: Mi Browser vs Chrome

Browsers are one of the most vulnerable places to store passwords on Xiaomi. Let's compare two popular options:

🔍 Mi Browser (built-in browser Xiaomi)

If you use a standard browser from Xiaomi, passwords are stored in an unencrypted database along the way:

/data/data/com.mi.globalbrowser/databases/webview.db

Features:

• 🔓 Passwords are not encrypted – they can be read by any SQLite editor.
• 📱 No sync with the cloud (all data is only on the device).
• ⚠️ When you delete your browser or reset your phone, passwords disappear forever.

🌐 Google Chrome

Chrome is more secure, but only if you are logged in to a Google account. Local passwords (without sync) are stored in:

/data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Login Data

To extract them:

1. Copy the Login Data file on your PC.
2. Open it in DB Browser for SQLite.
3. Passwords will be in the logins table, but in encrypted form (you need a decoder like ChromePass).

💡

If you are using Mi Browser, enable sync with Xiaomi Cloud in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → It doesn't encrypt passwords, but it'll at least save them when you reset your phone.

4 Wi-Fi passwords: where are stored and how to view them

Passwords from Wi-Fi networks on Xiaomi are stored in a system file WifiConfigStore.xml, But it's not easy to access them:

📶 No root rights (only for the current network)

If the phone is connected to the network, you can view the password through:

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on the current network → Share.
3. Enter. PIN-code or fingerprint.

Cons: It only works for active connectivity and requires biometric confirmation.

🔧 Root-rights (all saved networks)

With root, you can retrieve all the networks you've ever connected:

1. Open a file manager with root access.
2. Go to /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml.
3. Copy the file and open it with any text editor.
4. Find the lines with the tag <string name="PreSharedKey"> — That's what passwords are.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13+ file WifiConfigStore.xml It's encrypted using Android Keystore. To read it, you need to use adb pull with an unlocked bootloader or specialized utilities like WiFi Password Viewer (requires root root).

5. Dangerous places: where you can not store passwords on Xiaomi

Some users unknowingly save passwords in the most insecure places.-3 Risky options that should be avoided:

• 📝 Notes (Notes App): Note files are stored in /data/data/com.miui.notes If you leak a phone or a backup into the cloud, it's easy to get them out.
• 📧 SMS/Messages with passwords (for example, from a bank) remain in the database mmssms.db and can be read through the database. SMS Backup & Restore.
• 📁 Text files: Even if you create a passwords.txt file and hide it in the back of your memory, it’s easy to find through keyword searches.

In 2022, hackers hacked into the Xiaomi Cloud and gained access to user notes, and the data they stole included thousands of logins and passwords stored in text, if you do store critical data in this way, at least:

• Use encryption (for example, an archive with a password through the 7-Zip).
• Turn off Note Sync with the Cloud in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Notes.
• Delete. SMS Passwords immediately after use.

6. Third-party password managers: pros and cons

If the built-in tools of Xiaomi and Google don’t suit you, you can use third-party managers.

Advantages of third-party solutions:

• 🔒 More robust encryption (for example, Bitwarden uses open source, which eliminates backdoors).
• 🌍 Cross-platform (access from PC, Mac, other phones).
• 🛡️ Additional features: password generator, leak check, two-factor authentication.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Nana MIUI Autocomplete may not work due to Accessibility Service limitations (especially on Xiaomi) 13/14).
• ⚠️ Some managers (like LastPass) conflict with Mi Security and require manual permission for each login.

💡

If you choose a third-party manager, choose open source solutions (Bitwarden, KeePass) that are less manufacturer-dependent and not blocked by updates. MIUI.

7.How to protect passwords on Xiaomi: 5 practical tips

Now that you know where passwords are stored, let's figure out how to protect them from leaks. Here are some concrete steps:

1. Turn off autocomplete in unnecessary apps Go to Settings → System and device → Additionally. → Autocomplete and leave only Google Autocomplete or your third-party manager.
2. Encrypt backups in Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset, turn on password encryption of the backup. MIUI store passwords in plaintext.
3. Create a second Google account for a password manager only and don’t use it for email or YouTube, so you can reduce the risk of a breach when your primary account is hacked.
4. Block access to settings in Settings → Password and security → Block applications add Settings, Files and Browser to the list of protected applications.
5. Services like Have I Been Pwned or Google Password Checkup will show if your data has been leaked to public databases.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 12-14 There is a bug: when you reset your phone via Fastboot (for example, to unlock the bootloader), all local passwords are erased, even if you restore the backup later.

FAQ: Frequent questions about passwords on Xiaomi