Xiaomi and Redmi are famous for their functionality, but sometimes users are faced with the desire to simplify access to the device. deletion of password, pattern lock or biometric data may be required to solve technical problems, sell a gadget or simply because constant unlocking causes fatigue. The process of disabling protection depends on the version of the operating system and model of your device, but the basic algorithm of actions remains similar for most devices based on MIUI.
Before you start manipulating, it is important to understand that giving up a password reduces the security of personal data. If you lose your phone, it will become much more difficult to find it or protect information inside. However, if you make an informed decision and are willing to take responsibility for the safety of the gadget, Android makes it easy to abandon the use of lock screen methods.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to remove protection, from standard menu settings to using engineering modes. You will learn how to remove a pattern lock, digital pin code or fingerprint without losing important data, if possible.
Standard Procedure Through Security Settings
The easiest and most secure way to remove your password on Xiaomi is in the standard operating system settings menu. First, you need to unlock your device in the current way and go to Settings. Find a section called Passwords and Security or Lock Screen, depending on the version of the MIUI shell. This is where all the tools for access control to your gadget are concentrated.
Once you log in to the security menu, the system will ask for proof of your rights, you will need to enter your current digital code, draw a graphical pattern, or put your finger on the scanner, without which you cannot access critical security changes, which is a standard precaution to prevent attackers from changing their settings when they access an unlocked phone.
⚠️ Note: If the device has encrypted data protection mode enabled, the system may require you to enter the old password before deleting it. Do not ignore this requirement, otherwise the reset process may result in an error.
Find the Lock screen option and click on it. In the list that opens, you'll see the active protection method. Press Remove password or No. The system will once again warn you of the consequences: the disappearance of saved fingerprints and Face ID data. Confirm action, and the protection will be completely removed. Now, when you turn on the screen, you immediately get to the desktop.
☑️ Check before removal of protection
Use of voice assistant and recovery menu
There are situations where the standard path is not available or the system interface is not working correctly. In such cases, users sometimes resort to using the Recovery menu or voice commands, although modern versions of Android have significantly limited these capabilities for security reasons.
Some users try to use Google Assistant or XiaoAI to bypass locks by saying commands like “open settings.” However, on current versions of MIUI 12, 13 and 14, the voice assistant on the locked screen is limited and does not allow security changes, this is done to prevent an unauthorized person from accessing your device by voice.
If you're willing to sacrifice data to access the system, you can use Restore Mode, which means turning off your phone and pressing the Volume Up + Power button combination. From the Recovery menu, select a language (if available), then go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data, which completely deletes the password, but erases all files, contacts and applications.
- 📱 Turn off the device completely and wait for vibrations.
- 🔘 Press the Volume Up and the Including Button at the same time.
- 🔄 In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (Erase data).
- ⚠️ Confirm the action and wait for the device to restart.
Risks of using third-party software
Unlocking the lock through debugging via USB and ADB
For more advanced users, there is a method of deleting passwords using Android debugging tools (ADB). This method requires prior preparation: the phone must have the option of debugging over USB in the “Developers” menu. If this feature was activated before blocking, you can try to delete the file that stores the access keys through the computer.
To implement this method, connect your smartphone to a PC with the ADB driver installed. Open the command line and enter a sequence of commands to access the system partition. You will need to execute a command to delete the gesture.key file (for a pattern lock) or password.key (for a digital code). After completing the command and rebooting, the device can unlock or request any random code.
adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key
adb shell rm /data/system/password.key
adb rebootIt's worth noting that on modern devices with disk encryption enabled, this method won't work without root rights. The system simply won't allow you to change system files without the appropriate superuser privileges, so this option is relevant mainly for older Redmi models or devices that previously had Root rights.
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If the ADB team returns the error “permission denied”, it means that you do not have superuser rights, in which case remotely remove the password without losing data through this method will not work.
Specifics of unlocking different versions of MIUI
The MIUI shell interface is constantly updated, and the location of controls may vary. On older versions, such as MIUI 10 or MIUI 11, password settings were deeper on the menu. In newer versions, such as MIUI 13 and MIUI 14, Xiaomi has moved all security features to a single password center and security. Understanding these differences will help you find the desired item faster.
On global firmware devices, the interface can be entirely in English, even if the Russian localization of some elements is selected.Look for Passwords & Security, then Screen lock. In Chinese versions of firmware (China ROM), the menu may be called differently, and for some functions, you may need a Mi Account with a Chinese region.
| MIUI version | Location of settings | Features of removal |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 10-11 | Settings → Lock screen | Direct removal without further confirmation |
| MIUI 12 | Settings → Passwords and security | Requires the entry of the current password |
| MIUI 13-14 | Settings → Passwords and security → Screen lock | Strictly checking your Mi Account when changing the method |
| HyperOS | Settings → Passwords and security | Integration with the next generation of biometrics |
Owners of devices based on the new HyperOS system should be especially careful. Xiaomi has strengthened security protocols, and now when trying to change the method of unlocking, the system may require confirmation through the cloud or re-authorization in Mi Account.
Mi and Google account issues after reset
One of the biggest problems you'll encounter when you try to undo a password or reset your settings is when you block your Mi or Google accounts, and if you've enabled Find a Device on your phone, you'll need to enter your login and password from an account that's been synced to your device before, which is an anti-criminal measure.
If you forget the password from your Mi Account, you can only restore access through the official website id.mi.com. Without this, you will not be able to fully use the phone, since the activation screen will not allow you to go to the desktop. FRP (Factory Reset Protection, which locks the device when reset via Recovery without first logging out of your account.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to bypass the lock FRP Mi Cloud through paid services or “boxes” can lead to locking the device by serial number (IMEI). Use only official recovery methods.
To avoid these issues, always log out of all accounts before selling or transferring your phone to another person. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync, select Google and Mi Account, and click Delete Account. Only then can you safely delete screen passwords or reset your device.
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Full logging out of Google and Mi accounts before resetting is the only guaranteed way to avoid FRP/Mi Cloud Lock.
Alternative methods of biometric unlocking
Instead of deleting the password completely, many users simply forget about the existence of more convenient biometic methods. Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are equipped with fast fingerprint scanners (both button and subscreen type) and facial recognition modules, using these technologies allows you to not remember digital codes in everyday life.
Setting up Face ID Xiaomi is fast enough, although it is inferior to Apple’s security solutions, as it uses a regular camera rather than a regular camera. 3D-But it's good enough to unlock it at home or at the office, and you can set it up in your face and leave a complex password only as a backup method in case the biometrics don't work.
Also worth mentioning is Smart Lock, which allows you to keep your phone unlocked in certain places (such as at home) or when you connect to a trusted Bluetooth device (watches, headphones, car), a trade-off between security and convenience: a password is only required when you leave the safe zone.
- 👆 Fingerprint is the fastest and most reliable method for Redmi.
- 👁️ Face unlocking – convenient, but less safe in bright light.
- 🏠 Smart Lock – Ideal for using your phone at home without constantly entering code.
- 🔑 Complicated Password – Mandatory as a backup method in case of biometric failure.
Using combined security techniques allows you to configure access flexibly, for example, you can only require a password when you turn on your phone, and only use a fingerprint scanner during the day, which keeps the data secure without causing discomfort every time you access the gadget.