How to Change Your Password to Xiaomi 9: A Complete Security Guide

The Xiaomi Mi 9, launched in 2019, is still a popular device due to its stylish design and performance. However, like any mobile device, it requires regular updates of personal data protection measures. One of the basic but critical actions is to change the screen lock password in a timely manner, not only if data leaks are suspected, but also as a planned prevention.

The process of changing the access code in the MIUI shell may seem unobvious to beginners, especially given the constant changes in the system interface. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps of replacing the old password with a new one, consider the different types of protection and answer frequently asked questions. You will learn how to configure biometric protection and understand how to protect your gadget from unauthorized access.

Before you start setting up, make sure your Xiaomi Mi battery is charged. 9 is 20-30%. While the password change procedure does not require significant processor resources, suddenly turning off the device at the time of making changes to the system security files can lead to software errors. 9 It happens instantly and does not require a device to restart unless there is a system failure.

Types of screen protection in MIUI

Modern operating systems, including Android with Xiaomi add-on, offer users a wide range of tools to protect the perimeter of the device. Understanding the differences between them will help you choose the most convenient and safe option for your use case. The standard set of options includes both classic methods and more modern biometric solutions.

The pattern lock remains one of the most popular ways to lock, due to its visual nature: the user needs to connect the dots on the 3x3 grid in a certain order. This is often faster than entering numbers and is easier to remember by muscle memory. However, studies show that greasy marks on the screen can help an attacker guess the trajectory of a finger.

Digital. PIN-The code and the complex password provide higher levels of cryptographic protection. The system encrypts the device data using the combination entered as a key. The longer and more diverse the characters in the password, the harder it is to find brute-force methods. For the Xiaomi Mi 9 with its powerful processor, using complex passwords doesn’t affect unlock speed as much as it does on older models.

• 🔒 pattern lock – connecting points in a given order, balance of convenience and security.
• 🔢 PIN-code – combination of 4 or more digits, standard protection for most users.
• 🔑 Password – combination of numbers, letters and special characters, maximum level of data protection.
• 👆 Biometrics – Using a fingerprint or face to access quickly without entering a code.

Importantly, biometrics such as a fingerprint or a face scan are often a convenient substitute for the primary password in Android, and from time to time, such as after a reboot or after 72 hours of inactivity, the system will still require the input of digital or graphical code, a fundamental principle of mobile security.

Preparation for password change

Before you make changes to your security settings, you need to do a series of preparatory steps to avoid locking yourself off the device without being able to restore access, and first make sure you remember your current password, as the system will require it to be confirmed before you install a new one.

The second critical point is the Mi Account binding, and in the Xiaomi ecosystem, the account is the primary recovery tool, and if you forget the new password, it's through the account that you can try to reset your lock settings, and make sure that the phone settings show the valid phone number and email you have access to.

It's also worth checking if Find Device is enabled. If it's active, if you change your password or try to reset it, the system may require additional authorization in the cloud, a security measure against theft, but it can complicate the process if you don't remember data from the cloud service.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party screen locking apps or password-enabled launchers, their settings will not change when you change your system password.

Step-by-step: how to change the password

The process of changing the password in the MIUI shell is standardized, but the paths to the menu may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, China, EU).We will consider the universal algorithm that works on most current versions for the Xiaomi Mi 9. First, unlock the phone using the current access code.

Open the main menu and find the Settings icon (usually a gray gear) and in the options list that opens, scroll down to the security section. In different versions of MIUI, it can be called Passwords and Security or just Security. We need the section where the lock settings are stored.

Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Screen lock password

After you go to the menu, the system will ask you to enter your current password or pattern lock, which is a mandatory check that the device owner will access the settings, and after you enter successfully, the Security Type Management menu will open, and you will select the option "Change password" or "Change lock password."

Then you'll be asked to enter the new code twice for confirmation, and when you type in, be careful about the letter register if you choose a complex password, and the sequence of dots if you change the pattern lock, and once confirmed, the system will apply the changes instantly. The old code will cease to work immediately.

Setup of biometric protection

The Xiaomi Mi 9 features a modern fingerprint scanner built directly into the display, a technology called Under-display fingerprint. Customizing the biometrics greatly speeds up unlocking, making password entry necessary only in rare cases, but biometrics cannot be configured without first setting a digital or pattern lock.

To activate the scanner, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Unlock by fingerprint. The system will suggest adding a fingerprint. The process takes about a minute: you will need to repeatedly apply your finger to the specified area of the screen, slightly changing the angle of inclination, this is necessary to create an accurate digital map of the papillary pattern.

In addition to the fingerprint, the Mi 9 supports face unlock, a feature less secure than a finger scanner, as it uses a conventional front-facing camera without the need for a fingerprint. 3D-It's easy to access quickly, but not recommended for protecting banking applications or sensitive data.

• 👍 Speed – Biometrics unlocks your phone in a fraction of a second.
• 🛡️ Security – a fingerprint is unique and difficult to copy remotely.
• 🔄 Reserve – Always have a setup PIN-code in case your finger is wet or dirty.

Table of comparison of protection methods

The choice of security method often becomes a compromise between convenience and security level. To help you decide, we have prepared a comparative table of the main methods available on the Xiaomi Mi 9.

As you can see from the table, biometric methods benefit in convenience and speed, but require a primary password as a backup. A complex password provides the best data protection, but entering it daily can be annoying. The best option for most Xiaomi users is a combination: a complex password as a primary key and a fingerprint for daily use.

What to do if you forget your password

The situation of a user forgetting a password is one of the most stressful. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, the ability to reset a password without losing data is extremely limited for security reasons. If you forget the code, pattern lock or password, a simple reset via the recovery menu will lead to the complete deletion of all data.

The only official way to unlock a device without losing files is to use Google or Xiaomi’s Find Device feature, if it was pre-enabled and the phone has internet access. Through the web interface, you can try to remotely change the lock password. However, if this feature has not been activated, a reset to factory settings (Wipe Data) is inevitable.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting via Recovery Mode (clutching the volume button up and power) will completely remove all photos, contacts and apps. Make sure you back up regularly to the Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud in advance.

There is a myth that there are “master codes” or special combinations to reset a password on Xiaomi. In reality, such codes do not exist for end users. Any program that promises to unlock the phone without losing data is most often fraudulent or requires the on-debugging over USB, which is disabled by default.

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Check your Mi and Google account regularly, and make sure the phone number associated with your account is valid, as recovery codes are often sent via SMS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In this section, we have collected answers to the most popular questions that owners of Xiaomi Mi 9 when setting up security.

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Regular password change and the use of biometrics in conjunction with the PIN-code create the optimal balance between the security of your data and the usability of the Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphone.