Protecting your privacy starts with a strong password. If you’ve just purchased a new device or want to enhance the security of your old one, the first step is to change the security code. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices have access to flexible MIUI or HyperOS shell settings that allow you to control access to the system in detail.
Many users confuse different types of passwords: screen lock, code SIM-Understanding the difference between them is critical to the right setup. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of how to install a new digital key, a pattern lock or a complex password so that your gadget is not accessible to outsiders.
It’s important not just to install protection, but to do it correctly so you don’t lock yourself off the device.Modern smartphones offer a lot of biometric and digital options, but the basic code remains the main method of authorization.
Types of protection codes in MIUI and HyperOS
Before you start setting up, you need to clearly understand what level of protection you are going to modify. Xiaomi’s Android shell system divides passwords into several independent categories. The lock code is the main key that is requested when you turn on your phone or after a screen timeout.
It exists separately. PIN-code SIM-A card that is stored on a carrier chip and requested before the operating system boots, and the application protection feature in the shell, which requires a separate password or pattern lock to log in to programs such as a gallery or messengers.
- 🔐 Screen password: protects the entire interface and data inside the phone from unauthorized access.
- 📱 PIN-code SIM: prevents your SIM card from being used on another device without your permission.
- 📂 Application Protection Code: Creates an additional barrier for specific programs, even if the phone is unlocked.
Confusion between these codes often leads to a lockdown. SIM-You should always be careful what type of input field the system currently requires.
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Write new codes to a secure location or use a password manager to avoid losing access to the device when you forget.
How to change the screen lock password
The process of changing the main password is standard on most Xiaomi models. You need to go to the main system settings menu. Find a section that is usually called Passwords and Security or simply Passwords.
Within this menu, select the option “Device Protection”; the system can request the current password or fingerprint to confirm your administrator rights; after successful authorization, the lock type selection menu will open.
☑️ Password change algorithm
You can change the authentication method here. You can use the pattern lock, digital key. PIN-code (usually) 4-6 numeric password (numbers and letters) or.pattern.Select a password if you keep sensitive information, as it is the most difficult to find brute-force methods.
Once you have selected the type of protection, the system will ask you to enter the new code twice to confirm it, and be careful when you enter it, if you make a mistake when re-entering, you will have to start the procedure again.
⚠️ Warning: When changing your password, make sure you remember the new combination.Resetting your forgotten screen lock password without losing all data on modern versions of Android is almost impossible.
Shift. PIN-code SIM-map
The SIM card code is managed through the mobile network settings, which is independent of your Redmi or Poco model. To get started, go to the settings and find the item «SIM-maps and mobile networks».
Select the SIM card you want if you have two. In the menu that opens, find the "Settings" option. SIM-cards” or “Blocking SIM». There's a request switch. PIN-code" and the option "Change PIN-code».
To change the code, you will need to enter the current PIN (by default it is 0000 or 1234 if you have not changed it), after which the system will request a new code and ask to confirm it by re-entering it.
- 🔢 Standard. PIN: often 0000, 1111 or 1234, but it is better to check on the envelope from the SIM card.
- ⚠️ Limit of attempts: after three incorrect inputs SIM-card blocked.
- 🔑 PUK-Code: to be unlocked after blocking PIN-coded PUK, which is on the operator's plastic card.
Don’t use simple combinations like “1234” or date of birth. Hackers can use devices to match the code if they gain physical access to the phone when it’s on or through a special reader.
What happens when you forget? PIN-code SIM?
Setup of protection of individual applications
The MIUI and HyperOS shells have a unique feature to hide and protect specific applications, which allows you to hide the contents of a gallery, WhatsApp correspondence or banking applications from prying eyes, even if the phone is unlocked.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Apps → Application Protection. Here you will be asked to create a separate password or use the same one you used to unlock the screen.
Once you have set a password, you can select from a list all the apps that require additional authorization when you run, and the Hidden Apps feature is available, which removes the icons of select programs from the desktop.
| Type of protection | Where requested | Level of security |
|---|---|---|
| Screen locking | When the display is turned on | High (protection of the entire device) |
| Application protection | When you start the selected software | Medium (additional barrier) |
| Second space | Entering the clone system | Maximum (complete isolation) |
Using app protection is especially important when you give your children or colleagues a phone to call, and you can be sure that they won’t open your personal photos or correspondence.
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Application protection works independently of the primary password, creating an extra layer of security for sensitive data.
Using biometrics together with code
Xiaomi’s current smartphones are equipped with fingerprint scanners and face unlock systems, but biometrics does not replace digital or graphic code, but only complements it.
Biometrics are used for quick access, but in some cases, the system will still require a password, which occurs after a device is restarted, after 72 hours of downtime, or after 5 failed face/finger unlock attempts.
You can set up biometrics in the same section, "Passwords and security," add a fingerprint or facial data, make sure that the alternative unlock method (your code) is reliable, because it is the "master key."
- 👆 Fingerprint: The fastest and most convenient way, but may not work with wet hands.
- 👤 Face unlock: convenient, but less secure than a print, especially on models without a print 3D-scanner.
- 🔢 Backup code: mandatory for biometrics as it is the primary verification method.
Remember to update your biometrics periodically if conditions change (e.g., you cut your finger or change your glasses, which may affect your recognition).
What to do if you forget the access code
When a user forgets a password, there are limited options for locking a screen, and for security reasons, Google and Xiaomi do not provide a simple “forgot password” button without losing data.
The only way to get your phone back is to reset it completely to the factory settings (Hard Reset), which will remove all photos, contacts and apps not stored in the cloud, and to perform the reset, turn off the phone and pinch the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power).
⚠️ Note: Recovery Mode reset will delete all data.If you have Mi Account or Google protection enabled FRP, after reset, you will need to enter a login and password from the account that was previously linked.
If you forget your Mi Account password, you can restore it through i.mi.com, with access to your linked phone number or email, which is critical because without resetting your account, your phone can become a brick after a reset.