Where to see passwords from applications on Xiaomi: official and hidden methods

Xiaomi smartphones store dozens of passwords, from social networks to banking applications. But what if you forget your VK, Tinkoff, or Netflix login and you can’t retrieve email? In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can view saved passwords on Redmi, POCO, and Mi devices, from standard MIUI features to hidden system tools.

It's important to understand that not all passwords are stored in the open. Some applications (e.g. banking) encrypt data at the server level, and you can't extract it directly from your smartphone. However, for most services -- social networks, instant messengers, streaming platforms -- the chances of finding saved logins are pretty high.

Warning: Attempts to hack into accounts of others or unauthorized access to data are punishable by law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code), which is intended only to restore access to your accounts.

1. Built-in password manager MIUI

Modern versions of MIUI 12+ have a built-in login storage tool called MIUI Password Manager, which automatically saves passwords when you first log in to apps or websites through a browser, to find the stored data:

1. Open Settings → Passwords and Security → Password Manager.

2. Enter. PIN-code, pattern lock or fingerprint to verify identity.

3.A list of saved accounts with logins and hidden passwords will open before you (click on the glazik next to the password to see it).

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Note: If you have previously disabled auto-save passwords (Settings → Additional → Autocomplete), this section will be empty, and the manager does not save data from applications that use two-factor authentication (2FA).

• 🔹 Works on: MIUI 12/13/14, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4/F5, Xiaomi 12/13/14
• 🔹 Does not save: passwords from Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, VTB Online (due to the security policy of banks)
• 🔹 Feature: Passwords are synchronized with Mi Account if the option is enabled Sync data

2. passwords from the browser (Chrome, Mi Browser, Firefox)

If you logged in via a mobile browser, the password could be saved there. Google Chrome and Mi Browser have built-in password managers that are available even without root rights.

Instructions for Chrome:

1. Open your browser and tip to three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Passwords.

2. Find the desired site in the list and click on it.

3. Confirm identity through PIN-code.

4.Click on the eye icon to see the password.

For Mi Browser:

1. Go to Browser Settings → Security → Saved Passwords.

2. Select the site and enter the screen unlock password.

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Note: If you have used Incognito mode or disabled password saving, there is no data in the browser, and Mi Browser does not sync passwords with Mi Account - they are stored only locally.

3. Access via Mi Account (if synchronization is enabled)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Account sync enabled, some of the passwords can be stored in the cloud to verify them:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.

2.In the Data Management → Synchronization section, find the Password item (if any).

3. Export data or view it directly in the web interface.

🔹 Limitations:

Not all passwords are synchronized (depending on the MIUI version).

Data is encrypted, and to view them will require confirmation via SMS or email.

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If you don't remember your Mi Account password, restore it through a linked phone number or backup email. Don't use third-party services to "hack" your account - this is fraud!

4. Retrieving passwords using ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try extracting passwords through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your PC and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone and type 7 times to MIUI Version.

2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging via USB.

3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb backup -f password_backup.ab -apk com.miui.securitycenter

4. On the phone, confirm the creation of a backup copy (password is not required).

5. Use the Android-backup-extractor utility to extract data from the password_backup.ab.

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Note: This method does not work on all Xiaomi models (since MIUI 13, access to some system files is limited), and it requires an unlocked bootloader, which cancels the warranty.

Install ADB Tools on PC|Enable the developer mode on Xiaomi|Activate debugging by USB|Connect your phone to the original cable|Download android-backup-extractor-->

5. Passwords in application files (Root required)

On root-enabled devices, you can manually view login files, and most apps store data in folders:

- /data/data/[packet]/shared_prefs/ (for example, /data/data/com.vk.android/shared_prefs/vk.xml)

/data/data/[packet name]/databases/ (SQLite databases)

How to find it:

1. Install a file manager with root support (e.g. Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).

2. Go to /data/data/ and find the folder of the desired application (the name of the package can be found through Settings → Applications).

3.Look for files with the extension.xml or.db – they may contain logins in open or encrypted form.

🔹 Examples of Ways for Popular Applications:

• 📱 VK: /data/data/com.vk.android/shared_prefs/auth.xml (password can be encrypted)
• 📱 Instagram: /data/data/com.instagram.android/shared_prefs/com.instagram.pref.xml
• 📱 Telegram: Passwords are not stored locally (only encryption keys)

Important: Even with root access, some applications (such as banking) store passwords in encrypted form, and their decryption requires specialized tools.

6. Recover passwords through backup copies

If you have previously backed up through Settings → Additional → Backup or third-party utilities (like Titanium Backup), passwords may have been saved there.

How to extract:

1.Look for the backup file (usually in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/).

2. Use MIUI Backup Extractor (available on XDA Developers) to unpack the archive.

3.Look for files with the.tar or.ab extension – they may contain application data.

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Note: MIUI backups are encrypted using a unique device key. If you reset your phone to factory settings, it will be impossible to recover data from the old copy.

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Backups through Mi Cloud do not store all passwords, only those saved in the MIUI password manager. Data from third-party applications (such as 1Password or KeePass) are not included!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users lose access to passwords because of common errors.

• 🚫 Resetting your phone to factory settings without first exporting passwords will delete all locally stored data, including logins from your phone. MIUI Password Manager.
• 🚫 Disable sync with Mi Account – without it, passwords will not be saved in the cloud.
• 🚫 Use third-party password crackers from the Play Market, most of which are fraud or malware.
• 🚫 Keep passwords in notes or SMS. If the phone is stolen, the attacker will have access to all accounts.

🔹 What to do if nothing helps?

- Try to restore access via email or phone number (function Forgot password? on the service website).

Contact the app support (e.g. VK, Google, Netflix) with proof of identity.

If your account is linked to a phone number, request an SMS with a recovery code.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions