How to set up face unlock on Xiaomi smartphones: a detailed guide

Unlocking a Xiaomi smartphone in the face is not only a convenient way to protect the device, but also a quick way. Face Unlock technology uses a front-facing camera to scan facial features and compare them with a stored pattern. Unlike a fingerprint, this method works even with gloves or wet hands, and on some models – and in complete darkness thanks to an infrared sensor.

However, not all Xiaomi devices support this feature in the same way, for example, flagship models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi. K70 Pro equipped with advanced 3D-scanners, while budget devices (for example, Redmi Note 12) use a simplified 2D-In this article, we're going to look at how to activate face unlock on different versions. MIUI, What are the requirements for the device, and why sometimes the function may fail.

What Xiaomi models support face unlocking

Face Unlock is available on most Xiaomi smartphones released after 2018, but its implementation depends on hardware capabilities.

• 📱 Flagship series: Xiaomi 12/13/14, Mi 11, Black Shark - Supported 3D-high-precision face scan.
• 💰 Mid-segment: Redmi K50/K60, POCO F5/F6 — use 2D-Recognition that is less secure but faster.
• 🔳 Budget models: Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO M5/M6 — It is available but only works in good lighting.
• ❌ Outdated devices: Xiaomi Mi A1/A2, Redmi 5/6 — face unlocking is not available or works through third-party applications.

It is important to note that even on supported models, the feature may be disabled in some regions due to legal restrictions (e.g. EU). → Lock screen → Add unlocking to the face.

Requirements for the device for the correct operation of Face Unlock

To make face unlock work consistently, your Xiaomi must meet a few specifications:

If your device does not meet the minimum requirements, the system may give an error "failed to add unlock in the face."

• 🔄 Update MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🧹 Clear the camera cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Camera. → Clear the cache.
• 🔦 Make sure the front camera is not covered with a protective film or cover.

⚠️ Note: On devices with root rights or custom firmware (such as LineageOS), face unlocking may not work smoothly or may not work at all (GMS).

Step-by-step: how to enable unlocking on the face

The Face Unlock setup process takes no more than 2-3 minutes.

1. Open Settings and go to Lock Screen (or Passwords and Security on some versions) MIUI).
2. Select Add Face Unlock. If you don't have an option, check if it's installed on the device. PIN-code or pattern lock – without them, you can not activate Face Unlock.
3. Press Start and frame your face on the screen. Make sure you: 👁️ Eyes open and not closed with glasses with darkened glasses. 🌞 Lighting uniform (without sharp shadows on the face). 📵 There is no mask, scarf or other accessories on the face.

Confirm the creation of the template by repeating the scan 2-3 times to improve accuracy.

Activate the option “Unlock when the screen is turned on” so that the smartphone is unlocked immediately after recognition.

Installed PIN-code|The front camera is clean and not closed.|Lighting is sufficient (no strong shadows)|There are no glasses with darkened glasses or masks on the face.-->

After setting up, it is recommended to test the function in different conditions: in bright sun, in the dark (if there is an IR sensor) and at different angles of the smartphone tilt.

💡

If unlocking is working too slowly, try turning off animation in Settings. → Special facilities → Remove animations. That'll speed up the system's response by 15-20%.

Comparing Face Unlock with other Unlocking Methods

Face unlocking is convenient, but it's not always the most reliable or quickest way to do it, compared to alternative methods:

On devices with 3D-Face Unlock is more reliable than a fingerprint, because it analyzes the depth of the face and cannot be fooled by a photo. 2D-The camera function is inferior even to a simple PIN-security-code.

The choice of method depends on your priorities:

• 🏃 Speed and convenience → Face Unlock or Fingerprint.
• 🔒 Maximum security → print + PIN-code.
• 🌙 Night use → print 3D Face Unlock.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after setting up Face Unlock correctly, it can malfunction. Let’s look at common errors and how to fix them:

1. "Failure to add face unlock"

This error occurs if:

• 📵 Front camera damaged or disabled in settings.
• 🔄 Installed outdated version MIUI (below 10th).
• 🛠️ On the device are root rights or custom software.

Solution: Update your firmware, check the camera in the Camera app, or reset your security settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the lock settings.

2 Face Unlock doesn't work in the dark

If your smartphone is not equipped with an IR sensor (infrared backlight), 2D-The camera will not be able to recognize the face in low light.

Solution: Enable the "Use Screen Lighting" option in the unlock settings (available on some models) or use an alternative method (fingerprint).

3.The smartphone is unlocked from the photo

It's vulnerability. 2D-An attacker can unlock the device by showing him your picture.

⚠️ Warning: If you store sensitive data (bank applications, work documents) on your phone, turn off Face Unlock and use your fingerprint. + PIN-code.

Solution: Activate additional verification after face recognition (such as swipe confirmation) in the security settings.

4.Face Unlock is slow to work

The slowdown may be caused by:

• 🗑️ Overloaded cache system.
• 🔋 Saving battery charge (battery mode in the MIUI Limits background processes).
• 📱 Multitasking (too many apps running in the background).

Solution: Clear the cache in Settings → Memory. → Clean, disable battery saving mode for Biometric authentication service or reboot device.

How to Improve Accuracy of Facial Recognition

If Face Unlock isn’t working the first time or is wrong, try the following optimization methods:

1. Add an alternate look. In the unlock settings, select Add an alternate face and save the pattern with glasses, a beard or other hairstyle, which will help the system adapt to changes in appearance.
2. Calibrate the camera. Launch the Camera app, go to Settings. → Restore the default settings and reset the Face Unlock setting.
3. Use good lighting. Avoid sharp shadows on your face when setting up and using. Ambient light (such as windows in the afternoon) is best.
4. Update the recognition algorithms. → The phone. → Update the system, check for updates to MIUI and Biometric services.

On devices with an IR sensor (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra), facial depth analysis is more accurate, and if your smartphone supports this technology, activate it in the camera settings:

Settings → Camera → Additional settings → Infrared lighting (enable)

💡

The best Face Unlock accuracy is achieved when combined. 3D-scanner, IR illumination and good lighting. On budget models without an IR sensor, the function remains vulnerable to being tricked by the photo.

Security: Can you trust Face Unlock?

The level of protection of Face Unlock varies greatly depending on the Xiaomi model:

• 🔒 3D-Scanners (Flagships) – Reliability ~95%, comparable to a fingerprint, using structured light to map the depth of the face.
• 🔓 2D-Cameras (budget models) - reliability ~70%, vulnerable to photos and videos, suitable only for basic protection.

For comparison:

• 👆 Fingerprint - reliability ~99% of the population requires physical contact.
• 🔢 PIN-code (6+ symbols - reliability ~98%, but is inconvenient for frequent input.

If you use Face Unlock to secure payment applications (such as Google Pay or Mi Pay), please note:

• 💳 Banking applications often require additional authentication (PIN or print, even when Face Unlock is enabled.
• 🔐 Android 10+ Blocks access to payments through 2D-default face recognition.

⚠️ Note: On devices with an unlocked bootloader, biometric authentication may be disabled by the system due to the risk of data leakage, in which case Face Unlock will not be available until the bootloader is blocked again.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions