How to remove a fingerprint from your Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer robust biometric protection, but situations are different: you sold the device, transferred it to another family member or just want to change the method of unlocking. In the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, the process of managing biometrics is intuitive, but hidden in the depths of the security menu. Deleting old or unnecessary biometric data is not only a matter of convenience, but also an important measure to ensure the confidentiality of your personal information.

If you choose to remove your fingerprint, the system will require proof of your identity through a pin or pattern lock. This is a standard security procedure to prevent unauthorized access to security settings by unauthorized persons. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps of deleting data, and also consider how to reconfigure the sensor if it started to work incorrectly or you changed your finger to unlock.

Preparation for deletion of biometric data

Before you make changes to your security system settings, you need to make sure you have access to the basic authorization methods. The Pin or pattern lock installed on the device is a backup login method. Without them, fingerprint removal is impossible, since the system will not allow you to erase the biometric template without a digital alternative.

Owners of Android 10 and above devices should be aware of an important security feature: once a smartphone is fully rebooted or turned on, you can only unlock it with a digital code or key. Biometrics is inactive at this point. So if you plan to reset or delete a fingerprint before selling, make sure you remember your unlock password.

⚠️ Note: Deleting all fingerprints may temporarily deactivate the payment confirmation feature in Google Pay or Mi Pay before re-setting.

It is also recommended to check if your fingerprint is tied to the protection of specific applications or hidden second space.If you use the Second Space function, deleting the fingerprint in the main profile may not affect the guest mode settings, and they will have to be cleaned separately through profile switching.

Step-by-step: Delete the fingerprint in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi's biometric deletion process is standardized, but menu item names may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. First, unlock the device and go to the home screen. Find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear, and open it.

In the menu that opens, scroll down to the Passwords and Security section. In some versions of MIUI, this item may simply be called "Printprints, Face Data and... or be located inside the Security submenu, and this is where all the access keys to your device, including fingerprint templates, are stored.

Once you log in to the security section, select fingerprint management or fingerprints. The system will ask you to enter your current unlock password. Once you have successfully logged in, you will see a list of all the saved fingerprints, usually marked as fingerprint 1, fingerprint 2, and so on. Click on the desired list item.

In the specific fingerprint management menu that opens, find the Remove button, which is often located at the bottom of the screen or in the top right corner. Confirm the action in the pop-up window. If you need to remove all data at once, the Remove All option is often available in the main fingerprint menu, which will clear the biometric base in one action.

Setup of a new print and calibration of the sensor

If your goal was not just to delete the data, but to fix the recognition error, then after removing the old pattern, you need to add a new one. Quality fingerprint recording requires several rules. Sensors in Redmi Note smartphones and Xiaomi flagships are sensitive to the purity of the surface of the finger and screen.

Go to the fingerprint add menu and follow the instructions on the screen. Don't press your finger too hard, with a touch that's light enough. Change the angle of your finger so that the system can count not only the center of the pad, but also the edges, and that will improve the accuracy of recognition in the future.

• 👉 Cleanliness: Wash your screen and finger with a soft cloth before setting up to ensure that fat or moisture does not distort the data.
• 👉 Repeat: Write down the same finger twice under different names (e.g., "Finger L" and "Finger L")-2") improve coverage.
• 👉 Different fingers: Add thumbprints to your right and left hand for easy unlocking in different positions.

Once the procedure is complete, the system will suggest checking the sensor's performance. Lock and unlock the screen several times. If you're satisfied with the reaction speed, the setting can be considered complete. If the phone often makes mistakes, the deletion and addition procedure should be repeated, paying more attention to the edges of the finger.

Using a fingerprint to authorize applications

Biometrics on Xiaomi devices are not only used for login, but many users are actively using the fingerprint to login to banking apps, messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, as well as to confirm purchases on Google Play. Removing the fingerprint from system settings automatically disables its use in all related services.

If you delete the fingerprint, but it is still requested in the application, or, conversely, it stopped working where it should, check the settings of the application itself. In MIUI, there is an application protection function that creates an additional layer of security. It is on the way of Settings → Applications → Applications → Application protection.

Here you can see a list of programs that are protected by biometrics. Deleting the system fingerprint doesn't remove it from this list instantly, but makes it impossible to use. You'll have to re-enable the protection for each application using a new biometric template or password.

For payments to NFC, the situation is similar: After resetting the biometrics in the phone settings, when you try to pay with the terminal, the smartphone can request a pin code of the card or password from the Google account until you confirm the use of a new fingerprint in the payment system settings.

Problem Solving: Sensor fails to respond or glitch

Sometimes users want to remove the fingerprint because the scanner stops responding or it works once in a while. Before carrying the phone into the service, it is necessary to exclude software failures. Often the cause is a buildup of static electricity or a temporary failure of the fingerprint scanner driver.

Try a forced reboot. On most Xiaomi models, you need to press the power button 10-15 seconds before the logo appears, which clears RAM and restarts the system services responsible for biometrics.

If software isn't working, look at the physical condition of the sensor, if you're looking at the scanners, if you're looking at the scanners, they're being negatively affected by thick protective glass or low-quality hydrogel films, try temporarily removing the screen protection and checking the sensor, and if that doesn't work, you might need to change the module.

Data security before selling or transferring a device

If you plan to sell your phone or transfer it to another person, simply removing your fingerprint is not enough, biometrics can be recovered by specialists, and access to cloud accounts will remain with the previous owner if you do not perform a complete reset.

Before selling, do the following: delete your Mi Account and Google Account from your phone settings. This is critical, as otherwise the new owner will face FRP. Then delete all fingerprints and facial data through the security menu as described above.

⚠️ Warning: Do not hand over the device with Find the Device enabled, which may result in the new owner locking the smartphone when flashing it over.

After deleting your personal data and accounts, complete a factory reset via the Advanced Settings menu → Settings Reset → Erase all data. This process will delete all files, apps, and biometric template residues, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state.

💡

Take it out before selling. SIM-microSD card and memory card. Check if your phone has stored Wi-Fi passwords or Bluetooth keys from your smart devices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

Regular update of fingerprints (once every six months) and cleaning the sensor with an alcohol napkin significantly increase the stability of the security system.