Where passwords are stored on shiaomi: analysis of system storage

Xiaomi smartphone owners often have to remember the password saved from Wi-Fi, social network or personal account. Password protection is a key element of security, but sometimes it becomes a barrier to access the necessary data. Understanding where exactly the MIUI or HyperOS operating system stores this data allows you to effectively manage access.

There are several layers of sensitive data storage, from cloud services to local system files, depending on how you set up your Xiaomi, the information could have been in different places, sometimes users forget that they have enabled synchronization, and sometimes the data remains only in the memory of a particular application, and understanding this structure is necessary for competent security management.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the password storage architecture on Xiaomi devices, learn about the differences between local storage and the cloud, and learn how to extract the necessary information in the event of loss of access.

Google Smart Lock System Storage

The main and most convenient place to save your passwords on shaomi is the Google ecosystem. By default, when you log in to your Google account on a new device, the system suggests you enable synchronization, which means that all passwords you enter in the Chrome browser and various applications are automatically stored in a secure cloud storage.

To view the stored data, you need to go to your system settings. Find the Passwords section in the Google menu, it stores a database that is protected by a biometric or screen unlock pin, and it's the most secure way to store it, because it's encrypted and accessible from any device that logs in to your account.

Importantly, deleting a password from this repository will cause it to disappear on all synced devices. If you change a password on a site but haven't updated it in Google's repository, the system may suggest that you save the new version. Ignoring that request will result in data being desynchronized.

• 🔐 Access to the storage is protected by biometrics or a pattern lock.
• ☁️ Data synced between Android, iOS and desktop browsers.
• ⚙️ The management is carried out through Google settings or the website passwords.google.com.
• 📱 It works consistently on all versions. MIUI HyperOS.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your Google account settings or delete it from your device, the local copy of your passwords will be erased without recovery if you haven’t done cloud sync.

Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud Service

The second layer of protection and storage is the manufacturer’s own cloud platform, Mi Cloud. Unlike Google, which focuses on the browser and applications, Xiaomi services are often integrated deeper into system settings, especially in older versions of firmware. However, in modern builds of HyperOS, priority is shifted to Google, but the functionality of the Mi Cloud remains active.

Mi Cloud can store Wi-Fi passwords, system settings, and some system applications. To check for stored data, you need to go to Mi Account settings. The Sync section will show what data is being sent to Xiaomi cloud, which is especially important for users who do not use Google services or have Chinese devices.

Note that the Mi Cloud web interface (i.mi.com) does not allow you to view all types of stored data, often only contacts, messages and notes are available there, and Wi-Fi and application passwords can only be reserved for automatic recovery when transferring data to a new Xiaomi phone through the Mi Mover app.

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Use Mi Mover to transfer Wi-Fi passwords to Xiaomi’s new phone – it’s faster than manually entering and doesn’t require root rights.

Local storage of Chrome browser and other applications

If sync is disabled, all entered passwords are stored exclusively in the device’s local memory.The Google Chrome browser, which is the standard for Android, creates a secure database in the system partition. Access to this database without superuser rights (root) is limited to third-party applications, but is available through the settings of the browser itself.

Chrome has a built-in password manager. To get there, you open the browser menu (three dots), select Settings, then the Password Manager. Here you will see a list of sites that have login credentials. To view a specific password, the system will request proof of identity through a fingerprint scanner or Face ID.

Other browsers, like Opera, Firefox, or UC Browser, have their own isolated storages. They don't overlap with Chrome. If you've used an alternative browser, you should look for passwords in its settings. Similar is the case with social media apps that can cache access tokens locally.

Local storage has its risks. When you reset your phone to a factory setting, all the information in the local storage will be irretrievably lost, which is why security experts recommend keeping sync on even if you don't trust the cloud completely - it's insurance against data loss.

Third-party password managers and their work at MIUI

Many Xiaomi users prefer not to trust Google or Xiaomi to store passwords using specialized management applications, with KeePass, Bitwarden, 1Password and LastPass leading the niche, creating encrypted storage files that can be stored both in the owner’s cloud and locally on the device.

The way these programs work on MIUI is different because of aggressive battery optimization: the system can kill the password manager process, which causes autocomplete to fail. To avoid this, you need to manually configure permissions for the application. You need to allow autorun and turn off energy savings for a particular application in the battery settings.

A third-party local database is usually a file with the.kdbx extension (for KeePass) or similar. This file can be stored in internal memory in the application folder or on the app. SD-It is critical to remember the master password from this repository, as it is almost impossible to restore access to it without a master password due to the use of persistent encryption algorithms.

⚠️ Note: When installing a new password manager on Xiaomi, be sure to add it to the “No Limits” list in the “Activity Control” section, otherwise autocomplete will stop working through the app. 10-15 minutes after launch.

Technical aspects: files and root access

Advanced users with root rights can access system files that encrypt passwords, and the main file that researchers are interested in is credentials.db. /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/ (for Chrome) or similar directories for other browsers.

But finding a file is not enough. Passwords inside a database are often encrypted with a key tied to a particular device or user profile. Modern versions of Android and HyperOS use file system-level encryption (FBE) which means that even if you copy a database file, you can't open it on another device or computer without decrypting keys.

Any wrong action in the /data/ root directory can result in a "bottle" (cyclic reboot) or complete system failure. Before any manipulation of password files through root-access file managers (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer), it is strongly recommended to make a full /data/ partition backup.

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

Login Data (or credentials.db in newer versions) contains a password spreadsheet, which requires special utilities that can work with the SQLite format to read on a PC, as well as a decryption master key that is stored in the secure memory area of Android Keystore.

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Getting root rights on modern Xiaomi requires unlocking the bootloader, which leads to the complete removal of all data from the phone (Wipe Data).

Access and data recovery issues

A common problem is when your phone is locked and passwords are urgently needed. If you forget your screen unlock password, you can't restore access to your Google or local passwords with standard tools. Android security is built so that without unlocking the device, access to the Android Keystore is closed.

If you lose access to your Google account, you can recover passwords through the account recovery procedure on any other device. However, if two-factor authentication was only tied to a blocked Xiaomi, the process can be delayed, in which case the presence of backup codes that Google recommends storing in a secure place helps.

If the problem concerns a forgotten password from Wi-Fi, which you need to pass to the guest, Xiaomi has a generation function. QR-By going into the Wi-Fi settings and selecting the network you want, you can generate a computer. QR-code that will show the password in text form (on some versions) MIUI) or allow the guest to connect without entering characters.

• 🔑 Without unlocking the screen, access to the password store is impossible.
• 📲 QR-Wi-Fi network code allows you to share access without disclosing your password.
• 💾 Google Backup Codes Are the Only Way to Sign In When Your Phone is Lost.
• 🔄 Reset network settings removes all stored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairs.

⚠️ Attention: Attempts to select a password to unlock the screen more 10-20 - may cause temporary or permanent locking of the device, which will make access to local passwords impossible without a complete reset.

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