Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face a situation where built-in app protection begins to interfere with fast access to correspondence. MIUI and its new version of HyperOS are famous for their advanced security tools that by default can require a pin code or pattern lock every time you launch a messenger. This is convenient for privacy, but annoying if you pick up the phone dozens of times a day.
There are several ways to solve this problem, from simply turning off the function in the settings to completely resetting the application data. The choice of the specific method depends on whether you remember the current access code or forgot it completely. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios in detail and help you return free access to chats without unnecessary complications.
It's worth noting that the process can vary depending on the operating system version and regional firmware, but the basic principles of how the MIUI shell works have remained the same for many years, and we'll look at the current algorithms of actions that will help you remove intrusive protection.
Disable locking through standard security settings
The easiest and most correct way to remove a password is to use the standard smartphone tools, which are in the Xiaomi shell is the system application “Security”, which is preinstalled on all devices of the brand, if you know the current code or you have fingerprint unlock enabled, this method will take just a couple of minutes.
To start, you need to find an icon called Security on your desktop or in the Tools folder and run it. In the menu that opens, you should scroll down to Application Protection (or App Lock) and ask for your current password or finger to confirm access rights.
Once you've successfully logged in, you'll see a list of all the apps that are protected. Search WhatsApp and just put the switch opposite it in an inactive position. From now on, the messenger will start without any additional checks.
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If you can’t find the Security app, search the phone’s settings by typing in “App Lock” or “Block.”
It is important to understand the difference between blocking the app itself and blocking chats inside WhatsApp. If a password is requested when you log in to a particular dialog, the settings should be changed inside the messenger itself in the Privacy section. MIUI system protection and WhatsApp internal protection work independently of each other.
Resetting a forgotten password through your Mi Account
It's quite common for a user to forget the code installed. The MIUI shell provides a recovery mechanism, but it requires pre-associating the device to a Xiaomi account. If you've previously logged in to your Mi Account on that phone, it takes a few seconds to recover.
If you enter the wrong password several times on the application lock screen, you will see the words "Forgot your password?", clicking on it, the system will prompt you to log in through your Mi Account. After successfully entering the username and password from your Xiaomi account, you will be prompted to specify a new code or completely disable protection.
What to do if you forget your Mi Account password?
However, if the account was not tied in advance, this method will not work, in such cases, the security system Xiaomi will not simply bypass the protection, as it would create a huge breach in the security of the user’s personal data, you will have to resort to more radical measures, which will be discussed below.
Sometimes cleaning up the data of the system application “Security” helps, but on modern versions of HyperOS this method is often blocked, requiring you to enter the old password anyway.
Removing the lock through cleaning the application data
If you remember the password fails and the Mi Account is not tied, the only software method left is to clean up the data of the blocking component, which is effective, but has one important caveat: it will reset the lock settings itself, but it will not delete your WhatsApp correspondence.
To do this, you need to go to the Settings menu of your Xiaomi smartphone, then select the Apps section, then All Apps. In the list, you need to find a system application called Security. Note that sometimes it can hide if the Hide System filter is turned on, so make sure it is turned off.
☑️ The algorithm of resetting the lock
After entering the application information, click the "Clear" button and select "Clear All" option. The system will warn you that the settings will be deleted. Confirm the action. Then, when you try to open the blocked application or log into the lock menu, the system will prompt you to configure the protection again, and the old password will be canceled.
⚠️ Note: This method resets the app lock settings for the entire phone, and you will have to reconfigure the protection for other programs if you needed it.
It is worth noting that on some global firmware with enhanced security, this method may require entering a password from a Mi Account even when clearing data, which is done to prevent data theft by attackers who have gained physical access to an unlocked phone.
Disabling internal chat protection in WhatsApp
Users often confuse the system lock MIUI with the function “Fingerprint lock” inside the messenger itself. If a Face ID or fingerprint request appears when you log in to a particular chat (such as “Favorites” or a dialogue with a specific contact), then the internal WhatsApp function is activated.
To disable this feature, open WhatsApp and go to the settings menu (three dots in the upper right corner). Select Privacy, then scroll down to the "Fingerprint Lock" section.
The system will ask you to verify the action with a biometric or password that you set before, and then access to hidden chats will be free, which works the same way on all Android smartphones, including Xiaomi, Samsung and Realme.
It's important to distinguish between these two types of protection: System (MIUI) doesn't let you run an application at all until you have code in it. Internal (WhatsApp) lets you list all the chats, but hides the content of the selected dialogs. Understanding this difference will help you choose the right way to solve the problem.
Use of third-party utilities for resetting
In cases where standard methods don’t work, some users resort to using specialized software to reset restrictions, but in the context of modern versions of Android and MIUI, the effectiveness of such programs is extremely low without Root rights.
Apps like ADB AppControl allow you to manage system settings via a computer by connecting your smartphone over USB. With USB debugging, you can try to disable the locking component, but for this, the phone must have the option “Debug by USB” on hand before it was turned off before you set your password, this method will also prove useless.
There are also scripts for ADB that attempt to delete the blocker configuration files. However, using unverified scripts can lead to unstable system operation or a “cyclical reboot” of the smartphone.
The most reliable third-party method is to use official Xiaomi recovery tools such as the Mi Flash Tool, but they require an unlocked bootloader, which is a difficult and lengthy procedure for the average user.
Full reset of smartphone settings (Hard Reset)
When all methods have been tried and access to important communications is urgent, the last option is to completely reset the device to factory settings, which is guaranteed to remove any password, but (the price) will be the complete removal of all data from the phone: photos, contacts, apps and correspondence will be destroyed.
To perform the reset, turn off your smartphone and press the combination of the on and up buttons to enter Recovery mode. From the recovery menu, select the language (English), then "Wipe Data" -> "Wipe All Data." Confirm the action and wait for the process to end.
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Hard Reset is a last resort, and before you do it, make sure you have a backup of your important data in the cloud or on your computer.
Once you reboot, the phone will look like new. When you set up the first setup, you'll need to enter the password from your Google account and your Mi Account that you've synced with before, which is FRP Lock, which is almost impossible to get around without your owner's data.
Once you restore your system and install WhatsApp, you can recover your email history from the Google Drive backup if it was created automatically. If you didn't have backups, you can't recover deleted messages.
Comparison of Unlocking Methods
To make the strategy easier to choose, we have organized all the methods in a table, which will help you quickly assess the risks and conditions for each method.
| Method | Conditions required | Risk of data loss | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through security settings | Knowledge of the current password | No. | Low. |
| Reset via Mi Account | A tied Mi Account | No. | Low. |
| Cleaning the application data | Access to the settings menu | No (only lock settings) | Medium |
| Full reset (Hard Reset) | Lack of important data or backup | Tall (all removed) | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the safest and most preferred option is to use a Mi Account or knowledge of current code, and a full reset should be resorted to only in a hopeless situation when other options are exhausted.
Remember, the security of your data depends on your care, back up your Google Drive messages regularly so that you don't lose important information in the event of such problems, and it takes a couple of minutes to set up a cloud backup, but it can save you from big trouble.