How to change the password on the smartphone Xiaomi: the full guide

A modern smartphone stores a huge amount of personal information, from banking applications to correspondence in messengers, so the security of the device comes to the fore. Users often think about changing the password when the standard four-digit code seems too simple or if there is a suspicion that access to the device was obtained by unauthorized persons. In the operating system MIUI and HyperOS, which runs on the basis of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, this process is implemented logically enough, but has its nuances that are important to consider.

Before you start changing your security data, you need to understand the difference between the screen unlock password and the Mi Account password. In this article, we will focus specifically on the local protection of the device that is requested immediately after the screen is turned on. Changing the unlock password does not change the password from your Mi Account, which is used for cloud services and device search. This is a critical difference, since many users confuse these concepts, which can lead to problems with accessing the cloud after resets.

The code change process takes only a few minutes and doesn't require a computer connection or technical knowledge, but if you forget the current access code, you can't use the standard methods through the settings menu, and it will require more radical measures, which we'll also briefly mention. Now let's look at the standard scenario where you have full access to the smartphone interface and you just want to improve the level of protection.

Types of screen lock in MIUI and HyperOS

Before you change the encoding, you should decide which security method will be most convenient and safe for you. Xiaomi’s Android shell offers several options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of speed and reliability, depending on your personal preferences and how often you are willing to enter complex combinations.

The most common method is the pattern lock, which is a connection of points on the grid. 3x3. This method is convenient due to muscle memory, but has a vulnerability: fingerprints on the screen can tell the attacker the trajectory of movement. PIN-code, especially if it consists not of 4, but of 6 or more digits.

• 🔒 pattern lock – it is convenient to draw, but there are traces on the screen and there is a risk of peeping.
• 🔢 PIN-Code is a classic digital password that is hard to guess unless the numbers are part of the date of birth.
• 🔤 alpha-numeric Password is the most reliable option, including letters and numbers, but takes a lot of time to enter.
• 👆 Biometrics – unlocking a fingerprint or a person that works in conjunction with the main password.

⚠️ WARNING: Using simple combinations like "1234," "0000," or a pattern lock shaped like an "L" or "Z" makes your device vulnerable to matching in seconds.Try to avoid obvious patterns.

It’s worth noting that in recent versions of HyperOS, security algorithms have been improved, and the system can offer to strengthen protection if it detects the use of a too simple password. When choosing a lock type, consider the frequency of use of biometric sensors. If you often use face unlock or fingerprint, the password will be requested less often, for example, after a reboot or after 72 hours, so its complexity may be a little less critical for everyday comfort, but tetap is important for data protection when your phone is turned off.

Step-by-step: how to change the lock password

The password change process on Xiaomi smartphones is standardized and takes a minimum of time. First, make sure the device is unlocked and you are on the desktop. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14) or HyperOS, but the navigation logic remains the same for all models, whether it is the flagship Xiaomi 14 or the budget Redmi Note.

You first need to go to the main settings menu, and usually the Settings icon looks like a gear and is on the home screen or on the menu of all apps, and if it's hard to find, you can search by settings, but we'll describe the full manual path so you understand the structure of the menu.

Next, you go to Settings → Passwords and security. In some older versions of firmware, this section may be simply called “Block and Protect” or be inside the “Advanced” menu. Once you go to the security section, the system will request confirmation of your rights — you will need to enter your current password, pattern lock or fingerprint. This is a mandatory security measure to prevent unauthorized persons from changing their settings if they have the phone unlocked.

Find the lock password (or "Screen Lock Type"), and clicking on it will open the menu for selecting a new type of protection, and if you want to just change the numbers or the pattern, leave the type the same. PIN-code, select the appropriate item in the list, and the system will warn you that the old data will be replaced.

Once you have chosen the type of lock, you need to enter the new password twice, the first input is the setup, the second one is the confirmation to avoid typos. Be careful when entering, especially if you use complex alphanumeric code, since it is easy to confuse similar characters on mobile keyboards.

Set up additional password and encryption

In the Xiaomi ecosystem, there is a concept of a “second space” or “hidden profile” that is protected by a separate password or fingerprint, a feature that allows you to create an isolated environment inside a smartphone where private photos, applications and files are stored.

To set or change the password for the second space, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Second Space. Here you can activate the feature if it’s not already enabled and set a unique access code. This is a great way to hide sensitive information from prying eyes if you give a phone to children or colleagues.

Also worth mentioning is device encryption: In modern Xiaomi-based Android versions, data encryption is enabled by default and directly linked to your screen lock password. Changing your password automatically re-encrypts data using a new key. This means that without knowing the new password, it will be impossible to extract data from the phone's memory even when you connect to a computer.

Password problems and device locking

When Xiaomi gets locked after several failed password attempts, it is a standard system defense response: If you entered the wrong code 5 times in a row, the device will temporarily ban the input attempts for 30 seconds. With each subsequent series of failed attempts, the lock time will increase: 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, and so on.

In some cases, users will encounter a message that says "Device locked" and requires them to log in to Mi Account, which happens if the "Find device" function has been activated, in which case the password to unlock the screen through the settings is impossible, since access to the menu is closed, the only way out is to enter a password from the account to which the phone is linked.

• ⏳ Timeout – wait out the specified time without trying to guess the code, so as not to increase the blocking period.
• 🔋 Battery Charge – If the phone is locked for a long time, plug it into charging so it doesn’t turn off at a critical moment.
• 🌐 Internet – to unlock through Mi Account requires an active Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network).

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to find your password indefinitely unless you remember it. 10-15 Series) the phone may offer a factory reset, resulting in complete data loss if no backup was performed.

If you change your password but the system continues to require the old one, there may have been a failure in the Keyguard system process. In that case, try restarting your smartphone. If the problem persists, check if Safe Mode is enabled, which can sometimes conflict with third-party screen blockers, if installed.

What to do if you forget the screen password

The worst case scenario is complete forgetfulness, where users can't remember the code they installed before. Unlike older versions of Android, modern MIUI and HyperOS don't allow you to simply reset your password through your Google account or answer a secret question directly on the lock screen, for maximum data security.

If you have linked your phone to your Mi Account and enabled Find Device, remote control is theoretically possible, but changing the screen lock password remotely usually doesn’t work on newer firmware versions for security reasons.

To perform the reset, you need to turn off your phone and press the Up Volume + Power button combination until the Mi or Redmi logo appears. You will be taken to the Recovery menu. Using the volume buttons for navigation and the power button for confirmation, select Wipe Data, then Wipe All Data. Once confirmed, the phone will clear and return to factory status.

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Hard Reset is the only guaranteed way to access your phone with a forgotten password, but it permanently deletes all user data if it was not stored in the cloud.

Recommendations for creating a strong password

Password creation is a balance between security and usability: code that is too complex to forget or be lazy to enter, too easy to crack, and cybersecurity experts recommend using so-called “passphrases” — sequences of words that are easy to remember but difficult to match.

For example, instead of using an X7#m9! password, which is not possible, you might want to use a combination of words separated by special characters or numbers, like the Kofe-Zima-2026, which takes longer to type on a smartphone, but is much more reliable and easier to remember because of the association series.

Also, you should not use:

• 📅 Dates of birth (your own, children, spouses) are the first information that is checked when hacking.
• 🔢 Sequences (1234, 1111, 0000) – These are in the top of the most popular and easily guessable codes.
• 🏠 Geometric shapes on the screen (square, letter Z) – traces of fat on the screen will give the trajectory.

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Use the “Show Password” feature (a point or eye in the input field) when you first install complex code to make sure you remember the correct character sequence before closing the settings window.

Changing your password regularly, such as every six months, is also good practice, especially if you use your phone frequently in public or have passed it into the hands of others to call or view photos. Xiaomi does not have a “password history” feature in its settings, so you will have to take care of remembering or writing them in a safe place yourself.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions