Xiaomi screen lock: how to set up PIN, pattern lock, Face Unlock and fingerprint

Forgot your phone in a cafe and your screen isn't locked? Or accidentally clicked on a notification in your pocket and launched the wrong app? These situations are familiar to many Xiaomi owners who neglect to set up their screen lock. Meanwhile, even the basic PIN- code protects personal data better than no security at all. In this article, we'll look at all the available locking methods on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones — from the classic password to biometric methods like Face Unlock and fingerprint scanner.

The manufacturer offers several lock options, and the choice depends on the balance between convenience and security. For example, a pattern lock is easier to remember than a digital password, but it is easier to peek at by an outsider. And a fingerprint scanner unlocks the phone in a fraction of a second, but requires physical contact. We will tell you how to configure each method, compare their reliability and give tips for optimization — for example, how to speed up facial recognition or add a backup method of unlocking.

Important: The instructions are current for MIUI 12/13/14-based smartphones (including HyperOS), but may vary slightly on older firmware versions. If your model is released before 2018, check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Why do you need to lock the screen on Xiaomi?

According to Kaspersky, more than 30 percent of smartphone users don’t use any locking device, relying on “automatic” protection, a dangerous misconception: without locking, anyone who picks up your phone gets access to:

• 📱 Personal messaging in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)
• 💳 Banking applications and payment histories (unless a separate PIN is configured for them)
• 📷 Photos and videos in the gallery, including deleted files (can be restored)
• 📍 Location data (movement history in Google Maps or Mi Cloud)
• 🔑 Saved passwords in the browser or password manager

Even if you have nothing to hide, locking the screen prevents random actions such as making calls out of your pocket, launching apps or changing settings. For example, Xiaomi has gesture control enabled by default – just swipe your palm across the screen to activate the camera or turn on the flashlight.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+, when you first lock, the system suggests backing up the key in your Mi Account. If you refuse, you can't unlock your phone without resetting to factory settings (losing all data).

How to lock the screen on Xiaomi: a comparison of methods

Xiaomi has 5 basic ways to lock the screen, which can be combined (e.g., use a fingerprint + PIN for backup), and below is a comparison table on speed, security and convenience.

For maximum security, we recommend combining the biometric method (fingerprint or face) with the PIN- code as a backup. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 you can set up the fingerprint unlock, but when you reboot the phone you will need to enter PIN - this protects against bypassing the lock through the flashing.

How to turn it on PIN-code or password on Xiaomi

The digital PIN- code or password is the most secure way to lock, as it can not be circumvented without knowing the combination.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Lock Screen (or Lock and Protect on older versions of MIUI).
3. Select Set the screen lock.
4. The system will suggest you to choose the type of lock. Tap on PIN or Password.
5. For PIN: minimum 4 digits (recommended 6+). For password: minimum 4 characters, but preferably 8+ with letters and numbers.

Ready.

Tip: Avoid obvious combinations like 1234, 0000 or birth date. Xiaomi has built-in security checks — if the password is too simple, the system will show a warning.

Install a backup email in your Mi Account|Disable notifications on the locked screen|Set up automatic lock after 30 seconds of inactivity|Check the emergency call (dial 112 from the locked screen)-->

⚠️ Warning: If you use a Smart Lock, the PIN- code will still be required the first time you unlock after the reboot. This is a security measure from Xiaomi that cannot be turned off.

Setting up a pattern lock on Xiaomi

The pattern lock is convenient for those who are not good at remembering numbers, but it is easy to peek at the footprints on the screen.

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Set the screen lock.
2. Select the pattern lock.
3. Draw a pattern by connecting at least 4 dots. Repeat it for confirmation.
4. The system will suggest adding a backup PIN - be sure to do it! Without it, if you error the key 5 times the phone will lock for 30 seconds.

The secret trick is that you can configure an invisible pattern lock on MIUI.

1. Enter any pattern when setting up.
2. After confirmation, go back to Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings.
3. Activate Hide the trajectory option – now, when you enter the key, the lines between the points will not be displayed.

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If you're afraid of forgetting your pattern lock, take a picture of it on another phone or write it down in a notebook, but don't keep it next to your phone!

How to set up unlocking by fingerprint

The fingerprint scanner is the fastest and most reliable way to unlock on Xiaomi, even with wet or dirty hands (on new models with ultrasonic scanners).

1. Make sure that the phone has already set up a PIN- code or password (this is a prerequisite for biometrics).
2. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Fingerprint.
3. Enter the current PIN for confirmation.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen: Place your finger on the scanner until the scale is 100% full.
5. Add the same fingerprint again at a different angle (for example, the side of your finger) to improve recognition accuracy.

On Xiaomi models with a scanner under the screen (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50) we advise:

• 👆 Add the fingerprint of the index finger of the right hand - so it is more convenient to unlock the phone lying on the table.
• 🖐️ Record the prints of both hands (if you often hold your phone in your left hand).
• 🔋 Turn off vibration when the scanner is touched (in the fingerprint settings) to save battery power.

If the scanner is not working well:

• Wipe the sensor and finger with a dry wipe.
• Remove the old print and add it again.
• On models with a scanner in the power button (Redmi Note 10), press a little harder.

Face Unlock: Unlocking the face on Xiaomi

Face Unlock works on all Xiaomi smartphones with a front-facing camera, but its reliability depends on the model:

• 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, MIX Fold 3) use 3D- scanning (like the iPhone) that is difficult to fool with a photo.
• 📱 On budget models (Redmi 10A, POCO M5) – a regular camera that can be fooled by high-quality photos.

To set up:

1. Open Settings → Lock screen → Face Unlock
2. Enter. PIN-proof-code.
3. Point the front camera at your face and turn your head slightly so that the system captures different angles.
4. Activate Quick Unlock if you want your phone to unlock immediately after recognition (without swipe).

Limitations of Face Unlock on Xiaomi:

• ❌ Does not work in complete darkness (needs an infrared sensor, which is only available on flagships).
• ❌ Can malfunction with a sudden change in hairstyle, glasses or mask.
• ❌ Not supported for payments (unlike fingerprinting).

⚠️ Warning: On models without a 3D- scanner (Redmi Note 11, POCO X4), Face Unlock can be fooled by a photo from another phone's screen. Don't use it as the only way to lock if you store important data on your phone.

Additional screen lock settings

In addition to the basic ways to unlock, MIUI has hidden features to improve security and convenience. You can find them in Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings:

• 🔒 Autolock: Time to automatically lock the screen (recommended 30 seconds).
• 📱 Display notifications: Disable the contents of messages not appearing on a locked screen.
• 🔄 Double tap to wake up: turn on to wake up the screen with a double tap (conveniently on the table).
• 📞 Emergency calls: Add numbers for quick dialing from a locked screen (e.g., 112).
• 🔍 Device Search: Activate to locate the phone through the Mi Cloud when lost.

On models with AMOLED- screen (Xiaomi 12, Redmi K60) we advise you to include:

• 🌙 Always-on Display (Settings → Lock screen → Always-on and lock style) – displays time and notifications when the screen is off.
• 🎨 Animated wallpapers are dynamic screensavers on the lock screen (such as weather or clock).

For owners of Xiaomi with infrared port (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9) it is useful to know that the screen lock can be unlocked using the remote control from the air conditioner!

1. Add the remote to the Mi Remote app.
2. In the lock settings, activate Unlock from the remote.
3. Now a long press on the power button of the remote will unlock the phone.

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Always set up a backup unlock method (PIN or pattern lock), even if you use biometrics, which will protect data if the scanner or camera fails.

What to do if you forget the password from the lock Xiaomi

If you forget the PIN- code, pattern lock, or password, there are several ways to restore access, but all of them are associated with data loss (unless a backup was created in Mi Account):

1. Through Mi Account (if tied): After 5 failed attempts to enter, the button Forgot the password?. Enter the username and password from the Xiaomi account associated with the phone. Follow the instructions to reset the lock (confirmation may be required by SMS).

Through Recovery Mode (Reset to Factory Settings):

• Turn off the phone.
• Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
• From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
• Confirm the reset - the phone will reboot in factory condition.
• Through Fastboot (for advanced users): fastboot oem clean_all This command erases all data, including locking, but requires an unlocked bootloader.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi phones with data encryption (on default in MIUI 12+), a reset via Recovery or Fastboot will result in a complete loss of access to internal memory – even after unlocking files will be encrypted and unreadable.

If your phone is locked but you have access to the Mi Cloud:

• 📍 Use Find Device on i.mi.com to remotely block or erase data.
• 📱 If your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer, try unlocking it via the Mi PC Suite (the official utility from Xiaomi).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen locking on Xiaomi