Where passwords are saved on Xiaomi Android smartphones: a complete guide to system storage

Have you ever wondered what happens to your passwords after you save them in a browser, app, or system dialog box on Xiaomi? Smartphones running MIUI use multiple layers of credentials, from built-in Android tools to proprietary solutions from Xiaomi. But where exactly is that data physically stored? Can it be retrieved, transferred to another device or permanently deleted?

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the possible password repositories on Xiaomi devices, from the standard Android Keystore to the Mi Account cloud service. You’ll learn how these mechanisms work, where to look for credentials (including hidden system folders), and why some passwords can disappear after resets, and how to protect your data from leakage when selling a phone or repairing it.

1.Standard Android password storage: how it works on Xiaomi

Any Android smartphone, including Xiaomi, uses an embedded credentials management system called Android Credential Storage, which is a secure storage system that is divided into two key components:

• 🔑 Keystore is a hardware module that encrypts and stores cryptographic keys (including those used to protect passwords (TEE).
• 📁 SharedPreferences – files in application packages (for example, /data/data/com.android.browser/shared_prefs), where encrypted passwords of browsers and some third-party programs are stored.

It’s important to understand that on Xiaomi with MIUI 12+, passwords from standard Android storage automatically sync with Mi Account if the “Data Sync” option is enabled in your account settings, which means that even after resetting the phone to factory settings, some of the passwords can be restored when you re-enter your Xiaomi account.

To see saved passwords through standard Android tools, go to: Settings → Google → Managing Google Account → Security → Password Manager.

This will show the data synced with Google Smart Lock (if you use it instead of Xiaomi solutions).

2. MIUI password store: where Xiaomi hides your data

Xiaomi added to MIUI It has its own password manager, which is integrated with the Mi Account ecosystem, and unlike the standard Android solution, passwords are stored encrypted in a system database that only applications with rights can access. MIUI_PERMISSION_MANAGE_PASSWORD.

Physically, password files are located along the way: /data/system/users/0/miui_password_manager.db.

The database contains:

• 🌐 Logins and passwords from Mi Browser (if you saved them).
• 🔐 Account information for Wi-Fi networks (if the option “Save passwords” is enabled in connection settings).
• 📱 Passwords from some system applications (e.g. Mi Home for smart devices).

Access to this storage is only possible through root rights or special utilities like MIUI Password Manager to open it:

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Password Manager.
2. Sign in with your Mi Account or fingerprint.
3. Select the desired service (browser, Wi-Fi, etc.) to view the stored data.

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If you are selling a phone, be sure to delete all passwords from MIUI Password Manager before resetting. To do this, go to Settings → Mi Account → Sync and disable the Passwords option.

3. Cloud sync: Mi Account vs Google Smart Lock

One of the key features of Xiaomi is its deep integration with the Mi Account cloud, where when you turn on password synchronization, data is sent to Xiaomi servers in encrypted form. But how does that work in practice?

The main difference between Mi Account and Google Smart Lock is the geography of the servers and the level of control. Xiaomi stores data mainly in Asia, whereas Google distributes it to data centers around the world. If you are concerned about privacy, you can turn off sync with Mi Account and use only local storage or third-party managers like Bitwarden.

⚠️ Attention: When resetting your phone to factory settings, local passwords MIUI They are deleted irrevocably, even if you later log in to the same Mi Account. Cloud copies (if synchronization was enabled) will be restored, but the data from the same Mi Account will be re-recorded. miui_password_manager.db will be lost.

4.Where Wi-Fi passwords are stored on Xiaomi

Passwords from Xiaomi's Wi-Fi networks are stored separately from other credentials, and can be found in two places:

1. System configuration file: /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml. And here, all the stored networks are encrypted, and to see passwords, you need root access or ADB-team.
2. MIUI Password Manager: If you have enabled the option to Save Wi-Fi passwords in Settings → Passwords and security, the data is duplicated in the Mi Account cloud.

To see the password from the current network without root rights:

adb shell


su




cat /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml | grep -A 10 "SSID_YOUR_NETWORK"

Where SSID_YOUR_NETWORK — Note that this method only works on unlocked devices with superuser rights.

5. Passwords in browsers: Chrome, Mi Browser and others

Each browser on Xiaomi stores passwords in its own way. Let's take a look at the three most popular options:

• 🌍 Google Chrome: Passwords are synced with Google Smart Lock and stored in encrypted form /data/data/com.android.chrome/app_chrome/Default/Login Data. You can view them through chrome://settings/passwords.
• 🔍 Mi Browser: Uses a built-in password manager MIUI. The data is in the same database. miui_password_manager.db, marked browser_passwords.
• 🦊 Mozilla Firefox: Stores passwords in its own container /data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/.default-release/logins.json (where is the random profile identifier).

To export passwords from Chrome:

1. Open your browser and go to chrome://flags/#password-export.
2. Enable Password export and restart Chrome.
3. Then go to chrome://settings/passwords, click on the three dots next to Save Passwords and select Export.

⚠️ Note: Exported Chrome password file is saved in.csv format without encryption. Store it in a secure location and delete it after importing it to a new device!

Turn off sync in Mi Account|Delete passwords in Chrome/Firefox|Reset browser settings |Delete WifiConfigStore.xml file (requires root)|Perect factory reset-->

6. Third-party password managers: pros and cons

Many Xiaomi users prefer not to rely on built-in tools, but to use third-party solutions like KeePassDX, Bitwarden or 1Password.

• 🔒 Cross-platform: Passwords are available on all devices, not just Xiaomi.
• 🛡️ Additional security: Many managers support two-factor authentication and security audits.
• 📤 Export/import: It is easy to transfer data to a new phone or service.

However, there are also disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Leakage risk: If the application is from an unknown developer, your data may be compromised.
• 💰 Paid Features: Free versions often limit the number of records or syncs.

Example of reliable solutions for Xiaomi:

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If you use a third-party password manager, disable password saving in MIUI and Google Smart Lock to avoid duplication and potential leaks.

7.How to completely delete all passwords before selling a phone

If you are going to sell or give away your Xiaomi, it is not enough to simply reset your settings.

• 📱 Local storage. MIUI (If the reset is made without formatting the internal memory).
• ☁️ Cloud Mi Account (unless sync is disabled).
• 🌐 Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser, etc.).

Step-by-step instructions for complete cleaning:

1. Untie Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account → Sign out.
2. Remove passwords from browsers: In Chrome: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData → select Passwords. In Mi Browser: Settings → Privacy → Clear Data → Passwords.
3. Reset your formatting settings: Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Delete All Data → Enable the option to “Clear Internal Memory.”

⚠️ Note: If you used root access, you must also remove all firmware modifications and return stock recovery before selling the phone. TWRP or other.

FAQ: Frequent questions about passwords on Xiaomi