Where Xiaomi Stores Passwords: All the Ways to Find and Protect Android Data

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Android stores dozens of passwords, from Wi-Fi to banking applications, but where exactly do they store them? Can they be extracted without root rights? And how do you protect that data from leakage? In this article, we will analyze all possible password storage locations on Xiaomi devices, including hidden system files, account managers and cloud services.

Many users mistakenly believe that passwords are stored only in the browser or Settings app. → Passwords. Android actually distributes them across multiple secure containers. MIUI It adds its own layers of encryption, for example, Wi-Fi passwords are in one place, Google Account data is in another, and app keys can be encrypted via Android Keystore. If you lost access to a device or want to transfer passwords to a new phone, it's important to know where and how to look for them.

We analyzed 12 Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and found common password storage principles.

• 🔍 Exact paths to password files (including hidden folders)
• 📱 Export methods without root and with root rights
• ☁️ Cloud Backups and How to Decrypt Them
• 🔒 Methods of protecting against password theft through malware

Some techniques require technical skills (e.g., working with a ADB or TWRP). If you’re a beginner, start with safe ways – through settings. MIUI Google Password Manager.

1.Where Xiaomi stores Wi-Fi passwords

Wireless passwords are one of the most in-demand data, stored in an encrypted file on Xiaomi. wpa_supplicant.conf, But access to it is limited. Here's how you can extract them:

Without root rights, it’s easiest to use embedded tools. MIUI:

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Slip on the connected network and select Share.
3. The system requests PIN-code or print - after confirmation will show QR-password.

If you need to get a password in text form, use it. ADB-Team (works on most Xiaomi models with Android 10)+):

adb shell su -c "cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep 'PreSharedKey'"

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If the team is not working, try an alternative path: /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStoreSoftAp.xml — There may be data stored for the access point.

With root rights, you can open the file directly. /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml through any file manager (such as Root Explorer:

<string name="PreSharedKey">your password</string>

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ Android 13+ The file can be further encrypted via Android Keystore, requiring specialized software like WiFi Password Viewer (requires root).

2. Passwords from apps and accounts: where is it looking MIUI

Android apps store passwords in several places:

• 🔑 Android Account Manager – system component that manages Google tokens, Mi Account and other services.
• 📂 Private application folders – each.apk can create its own encrypted containers in the app. /data/data/packet/.
• ☁️ Cloud syncs – Xiaomi Cloud and Google Smart Lock.

To view the saved passwords from the applications:

1. Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Application passwords.
2. Sign in via Mi Account or Google.
3. Select the application you want (such as Facebook, VK) And tap it. Show me the password.

If there is no section, check:

• 🔄 Is the firmware updated (on MIUI 12.5+ default).
• 🌍 Device region (in some countries, Xiaomi disables cloud password synchronization).

For technically advanced users: Application passwords can be stored in a database /data/system/users/0/accounts.db (Use SQLite Browser to open the file and find the account table.

3. Passwords in browsers: Chrome, Mi Browser, Firefox

Browsers store passwords in their secure storage, and let's look at the three most popular options on Xiaomi:

For Chrome, the easiest way is:

1. Open passwords.google.com in your browser.
2. Sign in with the same Google account as you do on your phone.
3. Click on the icon. ⚙️ → Export passwords (requires the entry of a password from the account).

If the synchronization is disabled, use ADB:

adb backup -f chrome_backup.ab com.android.chrome


adb pull /sdcard/chrome_backup.ab

File. chrome_backup.ab Opening the Android Backup Extractor.

⚠️ Note: Mi Browser encrypts passwords with reference to Mi Account. Even with root, they can not be extracted without authorization in your Xiaomi account. If you forget the data from Mi Account, restore access through the official website.

4. System passwords: PIN-code, pattern lock, prints

Data for unlocking the screen (PIN, pattern lock, password) stored in encrypted form in files:

• /data/system/locksettings.db — password-hash.
• /data/system/locksettings.db-wal and locksettings.db-shm – auxiliary files.
• /data/system/gesture.key — Key for graphical password (on older versions) MIUI).

You can only extract them with root rights, but even in this case you will need:

1. Download locksettings.db file via Root Explorer.
2. Open it in SQLite Browser and find the locksettings table.
3. Find the fields lockscreen.password_salt, lockscreen.password_key — It's a transcript.

On devices with MIUI 13+ Android 12+ Passwords are encrypted through Gatekeeper, a hardware security module that can't be extracted from root without specialized hardware (e.g., Chip-Off).

If you forgot. PIN-code, the only official way to unlock:

• 🔄 Reset via Find My Device (if Google sync is enabled).
• 📱 Entering a standby PIN-Mi Account code (works on Xiaomi with the MIUI 12+).
• 🔧 Contact the service center with confirmation of purchase.

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Since Android 9, Google has banned password resets via fastboot or recovery.All modern methods require proof of ownership of the device.

5. Cloud backups: Xiaomi Cloud and Google Drive

Xiaomi and Google automatically reserve some of their passwords in the cloud.

Xiaomi Cloud retains:

• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords (if sync is enabled in Settings) → Mi Account → Cloud. → Synchronization).
• 📱 Data from some applications (e.g. Mi Browser, Notes).

To restore:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select Cloud → Backup copies.
3. Download the latest copy and find the backup.ab file.
4. Use Mi Backup Extractor to extract data.

Google Smart Lock stores:

• 🌐 Passwords from Chrome and apps that support Google Autofill.
• 📱 Data for auto-filling forms.

You can view them at passwords.google.com or in your phone settings:

1. Open Settings → Google → Manage your Google account.
2. Go to the Security section → Passwords.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a phone, be sure to turn off password sync in Mi Cloud and Google. Even after resetting to factory settings, the data can remain in the cloud and be accessed by the new owner through backup restoration.

6.How to protect passwords on Xiaomi from theft

Password leaks on Android most often occur through:

• 📲 Malware applications with Accessibility or Overlay rights.
• 🔌 Physical access to the unlocked device.
• ☁️ Vulnerabilities in cloud services (e.g. Mi Account token leakage).

Minimum set of safety measures:

Disable the installation of applications from unknown sources (Settings) → Privacy → Special permits)

Delete unnecessary accounts in Settings → Accounts.

Enable two-factor authentication for Mi Account and Google

Regularly check application permissions in Settings → Annexes → Permits

Use it. VPN When connecting to public Wi-Fi-->

For advanced protection:

• 🔒 Install Password Manager (for example, Bitwarden or 1Password) and disable password saving in the browser.
• 🛡️ Enable Play Protect in Google Play to scan malware applications.
• 🔐 Use Hardware Authentication (e.g. YubiKey) for critical accounts.

If you suspect that your passwords have already been compromised:

1. Change passwords from Mi Account, Google and banking apps immediately.
2. Check the active sessions in Settings → Accounts. → Managing a Google Account → Security.
3. Remove suspicious apps and perform a scan through Malwarebytes.

7. Frequent Password Mistakes on Xiaomi

Users often face problems due to ignorance of features MIUI. Let’s look at typical mistakes:

Another common problem is password managers conflict, when you're simultaneously active:

• Google Smart Lock,
• Mi Password Manager,
• Third-party manager (e.g. LastPass)

The system can store passwords in unpredictable places to avoid confusion.

1. Choose one primary manager (we recommend Google or Bitwarden).
2. Turn off autocomplete in other services:

Settings → System → Language and input → Additional → Autocomplete → Select one service

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions