How to Turn Off Your Xiaomi Fingerprint Scanner Forever: 4 Proven Ways

The fingerprint scanner on Xiaomi smartphones is a convenient feature for quick unlocking, but not all users are ready to trust biometric data even to trusted manufacturers. PIN-code, and some sensors malfunction after updates MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to completely disable the fingerprint scanner – from standard settings to hidden commands for experienced users.

It’s important to understand that simply removing fingerprints from the system does not guarantee that the sensor will stop working at the hardware level. It will still consume energy and theoretically can be activated by malicious software. So if your goal is maximum privacy or battery saving, more radical measures will be needed. We tested all methods on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 models with the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 – the results are summarized in the comparison table below.

Why users want to disable the fingerprint scanner on Xiaomi

There are several reasons to refuse biometric authentication, and they are not always related to paranoia:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: The fingerprint sensor (especially the ultrasonic on flagships) consumes energy even in standby mode, reducing battery life by 5-12%.
• 🛡️ Security risks: In 2022, researchers found a vulnerability in the MIUI, allowing to bypass the lock by fingerprint through special software (corrected in the MIUI 14.0.5+, But the risks remain).
• 👆 Inconvenient use. On some models (Redmi) 10C, POCO M4 Pro) the sensor is too high or low, which has to change the grip of the smartphone.
• 🔄 Thick or magnetic covers often block the scanner, forcing the scanner to enter. PIN-manually.

According to a survey of Xiaomi owners (2023), 18% of users turned off the fingerprint scanner in the first 3 months of use, and 7% did so due to hardware failures after falls or moisture.

Method 1: Standard shutdown via MIUI settings

The simplest method that works for most users is that it doesn't disable the sensor at the hardware level, but it removes all the fingerprints that you've saved and it doesn't allow you to add new ones. MIUI 12–15:

1. Open the Settings. → Passwords and security.
2. Select your fingerprint (on some models, biometric data).
3. Enter the current one. PIN-code or pattern lock for confirmation.
4. Click on each saved print and select Remove.
5. After removing all the fingerprints, the system will suggest adding a new one – ignore it.

Now the scanner won't be used to unlock, but the sensor will remain active. To check this, try putting your finger on the scanner -- the device shouldn't be responding.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Redmi) K50 Gaming) after the fingerprints are removed, the scanner keeps blinking when you press the power button. This is normal behavior - the sensor just checks for the finger, but does not unlock the device.

Method 2: Disconnect via MIUI Hidden Settings (hidden settings)

If the standard method didn’t help or you want to completely deactivate the sensor (including backlighting and power consumption), you can use hidden MIUI settings.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version until the notification You became a developer!.
2. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → Developer settings.
3. Activate the switch to Enable MIUI Hidden Settings (if not, skip this step).
4. Download the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play).
5. In the app, go to Hardware → Fingerprint and turn off the Enable fingerprint sensor option.

After that, the sensor will stop responding to touch, and the backlight (if any) will go out.This method works on 85% of Xiaomi models, but some devices (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 9) may need to restart.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods have failed, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level system management tool that requires connecting your smartphone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

The advantage of the method is that it turns off the sensor at the Android level, which ensures that there is no background activity, and the disadvantage is that when you reset your settings or update your firmware, the sensor can be activated again.

1. Download and install Platform Tools on PC.
2. Turn on your smartphone to debug USB in the Developer Settings.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and type in the command line: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified (should appear its serial number).
4. Execute the command to disable the sensor: adb shell settings put global fingerprint_disable 1
5. Reboot your smartphone.

To get the sensor back to work, use the same command by replacing the 1 by 0. This method was tested on the Xiaomi 12T and Redmi K40 - in both cases, the sensor is completely deactivated, including backlighting.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), this command may cause a system crash. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

Method 4: Physically disabling the sensor (extreme case)

If software methods don’t help or you want to 100% eliminate the scanner (for example, due to hardware failures), you can turn off the sensor physically. This method is only suitable for users with experience disassembling smartphones and voids the warranty.

In most Xiaomi models, the fingerprint scanner is integrated into:

• 🔘 Power button (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO M5).
• 📱 Under the screen (ultrasonic sensor on Xiaomi 13, Mix 4).
• 🔄 Separate module on the back (old models like Mi) A2).

The shutdown will require:

1. Remove the back cover (heating it with a hair dryer or using a suction cup).
2. Find the sensor plume (usually marked as FPC or Goodix).
3. Disconnect the plume or cut the track (this requires a soldering iron and experience with microelectronics).

After a physical shutdown, the sensor will stop working forever, even after resetting settings or firmware, but this can lead to errors in the system, such as a constant notification of "Prince Sensor Error".

💡

If you're afraid to disassemble your smartphone, but you want to lock it mechanically, use a thin film or tape on the scanner area, and that won't shut it down completely, but it will make it impossible to read fingerprints.

Comparison of methods of disabling the fingerprint scanner

For most users, the best solution is a combination of standard fingerprint removal. + ADB-This ensures that the sensor is shut down without risking damage to the hardware.

What to do if the fingerprint scanner does not turn off

If none of the methods worked, the problem may lie in:

• 🔄 On some custom or bat versions. MIUI Sensor shutdown features locked. Solution: Return to stable firmware via Fastboot.
• 🛠️ Hardware failure: If the sensor is physically damaged (for example, after a fall), it can remain active even after a software shutdown.
• 🔒 Security policy: On enterprise devices (with Android Enterprise), the administrator can block changes to biometric settings. IT-department.

If you encounter an error called “Can’t disable the sensor” when using ADB, try an alternative command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.biometrics.fingerprint

This command disables the system application that's responsible for the scanner, and after the reboot, the sensor has to stop responding.

💡

On root-enabled devices, you can completely remove the sensor driver through the file manager (path: /system/vendor/lib64/hw/fingerprint.default.so). However, this is an extreme measure that can lead to system failure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off the fingerprint scanner