How to enable screen lock on Xiaomi to see password: all working ways

Have you forgotten your Wi-Fi password or your app, but it's stored in your Xiaomi phone? Want to temporarily disable your screen lock to see it, but are afraid of losing data? This is a situation that many MIUI smartphone users know. The problem is that Xiaomi's security system doesn't allow you to just "bypass" the lock screen - it's a protection against unauthorized access. However, there are several legal ways that will help you see the saved passwords without resetting the phone to factory settings.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔓 How to temporarily disable screen locking via Settings → Lock screen (if you know the current PIN/pattern lock).
• 📱 Ways to view saved passwords through MIUI without root rights (Wi-Fi, Google accounts, apps).
• ⚠️ Risks and limitations: Why some methods may not work on newer versions of MIUI 14/15.
• 🛠️ Alternative solutions if the phone is locked completely (without data loss).

Importantly, all of these methods work only if you have access to your phone at least at the level of entering your current password/pattern lock. If the device is completely locked (for example, after multiple mistyping), other approaches will be required, which we will also discuss at the end of this article.

Temporary disabling of screen lock (if you know the current password)

If you remember the current PIN- code, pattern lock, or fingerprint, the easiest way is to temporarily disable the screen lock, so you can go into settings and see the passwords you saved without restriction. Here's how to do this:

1. Unlock your phone in the usual way (enter a PIN, swipe a pattern lock, or use biometrics).
2. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Screen Lock type.
3. Select the option No (or Disable Lock in older versions of MIUI).
4. Confirm the action by entering the current password.

After that, the screen lock will be turned off and you can:

• 🔑 View saved Wi-Fi passwords in Settings → Wi-Fi → Network Name → Share (QR- password code will be displayed).
• 📝 Check passwords from Google accounts in Settings → Google Accounts → Account Management → Security → Passwords.
• 🔐 See application passwords if they are saved in MIUI Password Manager (Xiaomi password manager).

Important: after viewing the passwords, remember to turn on the screen lock again! Otherwise, your data will remain unprotected.

2. How to view the Wi-Fi password without disabling the lock (Methods for MIUI)

If you don’t want to completely disable the screen lock, but you need to learn the Wi-Fi password, there are a few workarounds.They work on most Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12):

Method 1: Via QR- Wi-Fi network code

This method does not require disabling the lock and works even on a locked screen (if the phone is connected to the network):

1. Open the notification bar and hold your finger on the name of your Wi-Fi network.
2. In the window that appears, click Share (or Share in the English version of MIUI).
3. The system will generate a QR- code that contains the network name and password, which can be scanned by another phone or used online to decrypt.

Method 2: Through the configuration file (requires access to the file manager)

If you have access to a file manager (e.g., through Explorer or Mi File Explorer), you can find the password in the system files:

1. Open Explorer and go to /data/misc/wifi/ (root rights or ADB access required).
2. Find the WifiConfigStore.xml file and open it with a text editor.
3. Inside the file, you will have a string like <string name="NetworkKey">your password</string>.

Restriction: newer versions of MIUI 14/15 block access to this folder without root permissions, and it doesn't work if encryption is enabled.

3. View saved passwords through your Xiaomi/Google account

If passwords are saved in MIUI Password Manager or synced to a Google account, you can view them without disabling the screen lock.

With MIUI Password Manager

Xiaomi has a built-in password manager that stores data from apps and websites:

1. Open Settings → Passwords and Security → Password Manager.
2. Enter your Xiaomi account password (if requested).
3. Find the service or app you want in the list – the password will appear as dots, but it can be copied or shown.

Google account (if sync is enabled)

If you use Google Smart Lock or sync passwords through Chrome:

1. Go to passwords.google.com from any device.
2. Sign in with the same Google account as you do on your phone.
3. In the list of saved passwords, find the one you need and click on the eye icon to display it.

Note: This method only works for passwords saved through Google Chrome or apps that support Google Smart Lock. Passwords from Wi-Fi or Xiaomi system applications will not appear here.

4.Alternative methods: ADB and recovery modes

If standard methods don't work, and the phone isn't completely locked (you can connect to it via ADB), you can try the following solutions: They require a little bit of technical knowledge, but allow you to bypass the lock without resetting the data.

Method 1: Delete the lock file via ADB

This method works on MIUI 12 and older if USB debugging is enabled:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices Make sure the device appears in the list.
3. Delete the files responsible for blocking (root rights required): adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot

Warning: This method can cause system failure if executed incorrectly, and it doesn't work on newer versions of MIUI with enhanced protection.

Method 2: Enter Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If the screen lock is caused by a third-party app (such as AppLock), you can try booting into Safe Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button and, as soon as the Xiaomi logo appears, hold the volume button until the system boots up.
3. In Safe Mode, disable or uninstall the app that blocks the screen.
4. Restart your phone in normal mode.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode disables all third-party applications but does not reset the system lock settings (PIN, pattern lock). If the lock is set at MIUI, this method will not help.

5.What to do if the phone is completely locked (without data loss)

If you don't remember your password and your phone is completely locked, there are few options left without losing data, but there are a few ways that can help:

Method 1: Unblocking through Xiaomi account (Mi Account)

If your phone has a Xiaomi account tied and Find the device is enabled:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Select a locked phone from the list of devices.
3. Press Find the device. → Unlock.
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Only works if the phone is connected to the Internet (via mobile network or Wi-Fi).
• 🚫 Does not work if your Xiaomi account is not linked to your phone.
• 🚫 Some models (e.g., Redmi Note 12 Pro+) require additional confirmation via SMS.

Method 2: Reset via Fastboot (Save Data)

If encryption is not enabled on the phone, you can try resetting only the lock settings via Fastboot:

1. Turn off your phone and press Power + Volume Down to log into Fastboot Mode.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: fastboot erase frp (this will remove Factory Reset Protection, but will not affect user data).
3. Reboot the phone: fastboot reboot

⚠️ Warning: This method doesn’t work on all models and can lead to data loss if File-Based Encryption is enabled. Before using it, check if your model is supported (e.g., on Xiaomi Mi 11 and the newer method often doesn’t work).

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When trying to bypass a screen lock, users often encounter some common problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

If none of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have enhanced protection, so you only have a full reset via Recovery, and that will result in the loss of all the data.

💡

Before you reset your phone, try connecting it to your PC and backing it up via the Mi PC Suite, and even if the screen is locked, you can sometimes copy photos and documents.

7. How to protect data after viewing passwords

Once you have access to the right passwords, it is important to keep your phone safe again.

• 🔒 Enable the screen lock back through Settings → Lock screen. Use a complex PIN (at least 6 digits) or a pattern lock with more than 4 dots.
• 📲 Set up two-factor authentication for your Xiaomi and Google account in Settings → Accounts → Security.
• 🔄 Update MIUI to the latest version — the new versions fix many of the vulnerabilities that allow you to bypass the lock.
• 🚨 Turn off the display of passwords in plain form in Settings → Passwords and Security → Visibility of passwords.

We also recommend:

• 📝 Save your important passwords in a safe place (e.g., Google Password Manager or 1Password).
• 🔧 Regularly back up through Settings → System → Backup.
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (e.g., Xiaomi Security) to prevent the installation of malicious screen-blocking applications.

💡

If you often forget passwords, use password managers (like Bitwarden or KeePass) that store data in encrypted form and sync between devices.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions