How to Change Your Fingerprint to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer strong protection of personal data thanks to biometric technologies. However, over time, it becomes necessary to change the security settings: you could cut your finger, buy a new phone or just want to improve the level of privacy. The process of replacing a fingerprint on devices with a shell MIUI or HyperOS does not require complex manipulation, but has its own nuances that are important to consider for the proper operation of the scanner.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm for deleting old biometric data and registering new ones. You will learn how to properly prepare your finger for scanning so that unlocking occurs instantly, and what to do if the system no longer recognizes the owner. Competent setting of Touch ID is not only convenient, but also a guarantee that your photos and correspondence will remain hidden from prying eyes.

Before you start changing the settings, you need to understand that biometrics are stored in a secure partition of the memory of the processor, which means that when you reset the settings or flash the device, the fingerprints will be deleted automatically, and if you just want to replace your finger, you will need access to the settings menu and a few minutes of free time to properly calibrate the sensor.

Preparing the device and cleaning old data

The first step before making any changes to the security system is to prepare the interface: make sure that your smartphone screen is clean and your hands are dry. Moisture or greasy spots can distort the work of capacitive scanners, which are most often embedded in the on button or directly under the display. Before starting the procedure, it is recommended to wipe the scan area with a soft cloth.

To get started, you need to go to the main settings menu, find an icon on your desktop with a gear or search for system applications, we're interested in the password and security section, which can be called differently in different versions of the firmware, but the logic of the item layout remains the same for all devices of the brand.

Inside the security menu, find the Fingerprints item. This will show all the templates stored in the device's memory. If you change your phone or transfer it to another user (rarely, but it happens), it's best to delete all existing entries to avoid confusion. Click on the fingerprint name (for example, "Finger 1") and select the deletion option, confirming the action with the screen unlock code or pattern lock.

This is a protection measure in case the phone has been rebooted and the biometrics are temporarily out of order, and without knowing the primary password, you can't change your security settings.

Step-by-step instructions for adding a new print

Once the memory is cleared, you can start registering a new biometric key. Press the Add fingerprint button in the appropriate menu. The system will ask you to put your finger on the scanner. Don't press your finger too hard; a light but confident touch gives the best result for the optical and ultrasonic sensors used in Xiaomi.

The scanning process requires a finger spin. After each vibration response, slightly change the angle of inclination so that the sensor reads the data from the edges and center of the pad. If you miss this step and scan only the center, the phone may not unlock if you touch the scanner with the side of your finger. Try to cover the entire area of the sensor.

⚠️ Note: Do not register a fingerprint if there are cuts, calluses or contamination on the finger.Dry skin can be worse read in winter, so it is recommended to moisturize your hands or register the fingerprint in normal humidity conditions.

Once the scan is complete, the system will prompt you to name a new profile (e.g., Right Big), which is especially useful if you plan to set up different actions for different fingers or use the guest access feature. Once you name the profile, you complete the basic setting, and the phone will immediately start using the new pattern to unlock.

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When scanning, change the angle of the finger every 2-3 touches to cover all the edges of the pad, which will increase the rate of unlocking in the future.

Advanced biometrics settings in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi shells provide a wide range of biometrics management functionality. The fingerprint menu often contains useful options that are not activated by default. For example, you can set the vibration when successfully unlocked or enable unlock when the screen is off, which speeds up access to the device.

One of the key features is that you can use a fingerprint to protect your apps, so you can hide the contents of a gallery, a voice recorder, or notes by adding them to a protected list, and you need to attach a finger to access the content, even if the main menu of the phone is already unlocked, which creates an additional level of privacy.

Also worth paying attention to sensitivity settings if your phone is equipped with protective glass. Thick tempered glass can reduce the efficiency of the scanner. Some Redmi and Poco models have a special sensitivity mode that compensates for the thickness of the glass and improves response.

Solving problems with fingerprint recognition

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the previously working print is no longer readable, this can be caused by a software failure or contamination of the sensor. First of all, try to restart the device. Often, after activating the biometrics service, they restart and start working correctly.

If the reboot didn’t work, check if the system has recently updated. After a major Android or MIUI update, you sometimes need to re-register biometrics because the image processing algorithms may have changed, in which case you delete the old template and create a new one by following the instructions above.

In rare cases, the problem is hardware, if the scanner does not respond to touch at all (no vibration or backlighting), the plume may have moved away or the module itself is damaged, and you can run an engineering menu for diagnostics by entering a special code in the Phone application.

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In the Engineering Test menu that opens, select the item associated with the fingerprint or TP (Touch Panel). Follow the on-screen instructions to check the sensor response. If the test is not passed, you will likely need to contact the service center.

⚠️ Attention: If the scanner stopped working after the phone fell or moisture hit, do not try to dry it with a hair dryer or warm it. This can damage the adhesive base of the display or the sensor itself.

Use of fingerprint for payments and authorization

Biometrics on Xiaomi is closely integrated with payment systems, and Google Pay (or its analogues) and banking applications require that the fingerprint be entered correctly, and some banking applications require additional biometric activation within their interface.

To set up your payment, go to your Google account or your particular banking application settings, and it'll be called "Biometry" or "Footprint Log In," and it'll ask for a scanner confirmation, and then you can pay with a single touch, which is not only convenient, but also safer than entering a pin in a crowded place.

It is worth noting that software integrity is important to payment systems, and if your device unlocks a bootloader or has modified firmware installed, banks can block the ability to pay through the print for security reasons, in which case a return to stock firmware helps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Regular cleaning of the sensor and re-registration of the fingerprint every six months help to maintain high speed and accuracy of unlocking the device.