How to turn off the fingerprint plume on Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphones, and in particular the popular Redmi 9, feature a built-in fingerprint scanner located on the back of the case, which greatly speeds up access to the device and allows you to safely confirm payments, but in some situations users need to turn off this mechanism, the reasons can be different from the desire to speed up the system to trivial inconvenience or frequent false alarms of the sensor.

The process of deactivating biometric protection does not require any technical knowledge or superuser rights. All the necessary tools are already built into the MIUI shell on which the Android operating system runs. In this article, we will discuss in detail each step necessary to remove the unlock plume, and also consider the associated security settings.

Disabling the scanner will result in you having to use a pattern lock, a digital pin or password to log in to the menu and use secure apps.This may seem less convenient, but sometimes is the only way to solve the problem with the "glutching" sensor or increase privacy in certain scenarios of using the gadget.

Why you might need to turn off the fingerprint scanner

The main reason why owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 are looking for a way to remove the scanning of the finger is the incorrect operation of the sensor itself. Cheap capacitive sensors installed in the budget segment often suffer from pollution, moisture or simply poor reading quality, as a result, the phone can take a long time to “think” before unlocking or, conversely, let strangers in.

Another factor is the impact on system performance. Although modern processors cope with background tasks, constant sensor survey and processing of biometric data still consume resources. For users who use a smartphone in maximum energy saving mode or in games where every percentage of CPU time is important, turning off excess function can give a small but noticeable increase in performance.

And there are situations where the scanner is working too well or bad because of the protective films, where some users put on thick security windows, which stops the sensor from reacting, but keeps burning backlights, consuming charge, and in such cases it is more logical to enter a password than to put up with a non-functional function.

⚠️ Before completely removing fingerprints, make sure you remember your backup password, pin code, or pattern lock.Without them, access to the device after the reboot can be completely lost.

Preparing the device for changing security settings

Before you make changes to system security settings, you need to make sure you have an alternative way to log in. Android won't completely secure the device, leaving it unprotected, so the password method must be activated in advance. If you haven't previously set a pin, the system will require you to do so in the process of removing the fingerprint.

While the operation is not energy intensive, suddenly turning off your smartphone while reconfiguring the safety modules could theoretically cause software failures. Charge the Redmi 9 to at least 30-40% to be sure of the stability of the process.

If the device has a Found Device feature set up or a Mi Account link, make sure you know the password from it. In some rare cases, after resetting security settings, the system may request proof of identity of the account holder to prevent theft.

Step-by-step instructions for removing fingerprints in MIUI

The process of disabling the fingerprint unlock feature on the MIUI shell is standardized, but the names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, Russia, China).

First, you need to get to the main settings menu. To do this, open the Settings app (cog icon) on your desktop or in the notification curtain. Find a section called Passwords and Security. In some versions of the interface, it may be immediately on the top list, in others it may be hidden inside the "Additional" submenu or have a similar name.

Inside the security section, select Unlock by fingerprint. The system will ask you to confirm the action by entering the current password or pattern lock. Once you have successfully authorized, you will see a list of all saved fingerprints (for example, "Finger 1", "Finger 2"). Click on the name of the finger you want to delete, and select the "Delete" option or the basket icon.

Settings → Passwords and security → Unlock by fingerprint → Finger Selection → Delete

If you want to delete all the data at once, the fingerprint management menu often has a button called “Delete All” or similar functionality in the menu (three dots in the corner). Once confirmed, the scanner on the back cover will stop responding to touches, and unlocking will only occur through the password input screen.

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If you remove the fingerprint temporarily (for example, to train the sensor again), do not delete the pin code, otherwise the system will block the ability to quickly re-activate the biometrics without a full reconfiguration.

Sensitivity settings and alternative unlocking methods

Once you've solved the problem of turning off the plume, you should consider alternatives. The standard face unlock in Redmi 9 works software using a front camera. It's less secure than a print, but much more convenient when your hands are busy. You can activate it from the same Passwords & Security menu → Face unlock.

For those who choose to leave the scanner, but it's unstable, there's a feature called "Improving Recognition," which allows you to add variations on the same finger, which makes it more likely to unlock successfully the first time, which is especially true if you're using your phone in different lighting conditions or from different angles.

Also available in the settings is the "Sleep Unlock" option, which allows you to open your phone just by putting your finger on the scanner, without pressing the power button first, and if you turn off the scanner, this feature will become unavailable, and you will have to tap on the screen or power button every time.

Solving problems with the fingerprint sensor

Often users want to turn off the feature precisely because of its incorrect operation. However, before completely abandoning the convenience, it is worth trying to fix software failures. One of the common causes of errors is a crowded cache of the system security service. Cleaning the data of the fingerprint application in the Apps menu → All applications → Settings (hidden system) can work wonders.

Another problem is physical cleanliness: the sensor on the Redmi 9 is square and small. If it or your finger has micro particles of dust, fat or water, reading will be impossible. Wipe the scanner area and finger with dry soft microfiber cloth. Do not use aggressive chemistry that can damage the oleophobic coating.

If nothing helps, it may be calibration, re-registration of the fingerprint using different parts of the finger pad (center, edges, top) often solves the problem. When registering, try to press the sensor with different strengths, mimicking real-world conditions of use.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to disassemble the Redmi 9 case to clean the scanner plume yourself if you have no experience.This will result in loss of warranty and may damage other components such as the battery or display plume.

Impact of disabling biometrics on application operation

It's important to understand that turning off your fingerprint won't just affect your phone's menu, but many modern apps, especially banking (Sberbank, Tinkoff), instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) and photo storage, use biometrics to quickly access the scanner, and once the scanner is turned off, they will only be logged in by password.

It can even be useful for privacy, for example, if you give your child a phone to watch a video, but you're afraid that he'll accidentally unlock it and get into personal correspondence, temporarily disabling the fingerprint is a great solution. Nobody will be able to access the data without your knowledge.

Each application settings can be used to select the authorization method separately, and if the scanner is turned off globally, the apps will automatically switch to requesting the device pin code or their internal password, and there should be no critical errors in the software, only the login algorithm will change.

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Turning off the fingerprint scanner doesn’t delete your data, but changes the way you access it, making login longer, but sometimes more controlled.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)