Where Xiaomi Stores App Passwords and How to Retrieve Them: Secure Methods

Xiaomi MIUI-based smartphones automatically store login data for apps from social networks to banking services. But what if you need to remember a forgotten password and the application does not offer a recovery feature? In this article, we will discuss legitimate ways to extract passwords without violating security, as well as the risks of using questionable methods.

Important: MIUI does not provide direct access to default passwords, unlike iOS or Chrome on other Android devices. All of the methods described below are based on built-in system features or technically knowledgeable approaches. If you are not sure about your actions, you should use the standard password recovery procedure through the application itself.

This article is relevant for Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices on MIUI 12-15 (including global and Chinese firmware versions). For MIUI 16+, some methods may not work due to changes in security policy.

1. Built-in MIUI password manager (no root)

Starting with MIUI 12, a hidden password manager has been introduced to the firmware, which stores autocomplete data for websites and some applications, and access is limited, but can be activated through settings.

To open the manager:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy.
2. Select Autocomplete (on some firmware - Password Management).
3. Enter. PIN-code or pattern lock of the device for confirmation.

This will display saved logins and passwords for websites opened in the Mi Browser browser, as well as some applications (for example, Facebook, Twitter). For banking applications or instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), this method does not work - their data is stored in a secure container.

2. export passwords via Mi Account (for synchronized data only)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Account sync enabled, some of the passwords can be extracted through the web version of the service, which is suitable for data stored in a browser or applications that support cloud sync.

Instructions:

1. Open account.xiaomi.com on your PC and log in.
2. Go to Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Browser Data.
3. Click Export Data (the feature is not available in all regions).

Limitations of the method:

• 🔹 It only works for passwords saved in Mi Browser.
• 🔹 Does not show passwords from apps (VK, Instagram, games).
• 🔹 In the Chinese version MIUI Exports may be blocked.

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Before exporting, check if your browser sync is enabled in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Sync. If the option is disabled, the data is not stored in the cloud.

3. Using ADB to extract data (without root, but with debugging)

For users with USB debugging enabled, there is a way to extract some of the passwords through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires basic command-line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and allow debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB).
2. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
3. Run the command for the autocomplete database dump: adb shell "pm dump com.miui.securitycenter | grep -A 20 'AutoFill'"

This will result in a list of apps that have autocomplete data saved for, but the passwords themselves won’t show up in plain view, just the packet names (e.g., com.facebook.katana for Facebook), and additional tools will be needed to decrypt them, which is already the case with advanced methods.

4. Retrieval of root access passwords (for power users)

If your Xiaomi has root access installed (for example, through Magisk), you can access system files where passwords are stored, which violates the security of the device and can lead to the blocking of certain functions (for example, Google Pay or banking applications).

Where to look for passwords:

To decrypt databases (.db files) you need tools like SQLite Browser or Python scripts, for example, you can use a utility to extract passwords from webview.db. miui_password_decrypt (available on GitHub).

Install Magisk or another root manager | Backup your data | Check the integrity of your system files | Disable the antivirus (may block access)

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⚠️ Note: Using root access voids Xiaomi’s warranty and may result in Mi Account being blocked if changes to system partitions are detected. Some apps (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) refuse to work on rooted devices.

5. Alternative methods: backups and third-party tools

If the standard methods didn't work, you can try to recover passwords from backups or using specialized utilities.

A. Restore from MIUI backup

When you create a backup through Settings → System → Backup, some of the autocomplete data is stored in the archive to retrieve it:

1. Copy the backup file (.mbk) on your PC.
2. Rename the extension to.zip and unpack the archive.
3. Look for files with the.db or autofill extension in the backup/Apps folder.

B. Third-party password managers

If you use third-party solutions (such as 1Password, Bitwarden or KeePassDX), they can automatically save passwords from apps.

• 📱 Settings of the application manager (section Save data).
• 🔐 Export of a database (usually in.csv or.kdbx format).
• 🔄 Sync with the cloud (if enabled).

⚠️ Note: Utilities like Password Fox or App Password Viewer that promise to “show all passwords” are often fraudulent. They can steal data or install malicious scripts.

6. What should I do if nothing has worked?

If neither method works, there are two options:

1. Password recovery via the application itself. Most services (VK, Instagram, Gmail) allow you to reset your password by email or phone number. Banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) may require a visit to the branch with a passport.

2. Call for Xiaomi Support: In rare cases (e.g., when you lose access to your Mi Account), support can help you recover your data, but this will require proof of ownership of the device (checks, serial number).

If the problem is with a blocked Mi Account, try:

• 📧 Restoring access via the linked email (recovery page).
• 📞 Contact Support by Phone (for Russia: +7 495 783-78-37).
• 🏢 Contact the service center with documents on the device.

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Most modern applications (especially banking) store passwords in a secure form, not even accessible to root users, in which case the only safe way is standard recovery through the service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about passwords in Xiaomi