Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, offer users a wide range of tools to protect personal data, among which biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition, are central. These features provide quick access to the device, but in some situations there is an urgent need to completely disable them or remove stored biometric patterns.
The reasons why gadget owners have to look for an answer to the question of how to remove biometrics on Xiaomi can be very different. This could be selling a device, handing over a phone to another family member, or simply wanting to increase privacy by switching to traditional use. PIN-It is important to understand that simply turning off a function in a menu does not always mean completely erasing data from a protected memory area.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to deactivate biometric identifiers in the Android system based on firmware from the Chinese manufacturer. You will learn about standard methods of deleting through settings, about the nuances of working with a Mi Account account, and how to forcibly reset all security data in the event of loss of access to the device.
Why you may need to delete biometric data
Biometric protection is certainly convenient, but it is not without vulnerabilities and specific use cases where it becomes undesirable. For example, when selling a smartphone, the new owner should not even have the theoretical ability to recover your biometric data if it somehow remained in the system partition. Removing fingerprints and facial scans is the first step to completely clean the device before transferring ownership.
Another common cause is a technical malfunction or unstable operation of the modules. A fingerprint scanner built into the screen or power button can start to make mistakes, react to false touches or, conversely, stop seeing the finger. In such cases, removing old patterns and writing new ones often solves the problem, but sometimes you need to completely disable the biometrics so that it does not conflict with other functions of the system.
Also worth mentioning are scenarios involving corporate security or the use of specialized software: some sensitive document applications or banking services may require disabling biometric authorization at the system level to comply with the organization's internal security policies, in which case the user has to forcibly remove all saved faces and fingers.
Fingerprint removal in MIUI settings
The easiest and safest way to remove biometrics is to use the built-in system interface, which does not require root rights or a computer connection and is suitable for most users who want to simply clean the fingerprint database. Before starting the procedure, make sure that you remember your digital password, as the system will necessarily require its confirmation.
First, you need to go to the main settings menu of the device. Find the security and password section. It can be called differently in different versions of MIUI, but most often it is the password and security item. This is where all the access keys to your phone are concentrated. Click on this section to open the additional menu.
In the list that opens, select Unlock by Fingerprint. The system will again request the current screen unlock password, which is a standard security measure to prevent unauthorized unauthorized changes to security settings by unauthorized persons. Once you have successfully authorized, you will see a list of all the saved fingerprints, if they were recorded previously.
To remove a particular finger, tap the name of the relevant profile (e.g., "Finger 1" or "Left Big"). In the profile management menu that opens, look for the Remove button or the basket icon. Confirm action. If you need to remove all fingerprints, repeat the procedure for each saved finger. Once the list is cleared, the unlock function will stop working until you write down new data.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
How to erase Face ID facial recognition data
The second popular type of biometrics on Xiaomi smartphones is facial unlocking. Unlike fingerprints, facial geometry data is stored in a separate secure section, but managed through a similar interface. The process of deleting this data also requires proof of identity through the master password.
Find the settings menu for Passwords and Security, similar to how you searched for fingerprint settings. Select Face Unlock. If the feature is active, you will see a control button or a list of saved profiles. The system will alert you that the use of the face to unlock will be discontinued after deleting the data.
Click on Delete Face Data, and you'll see a pop-up window that warns you that it's irreversible, confirm that it's deleted by entering the unlock password. ID will be completely deactivated and the phone will stop reacting to your face, requiring input PIN-a pattern lock or code at each time you try to turn on the screen.
⚠️ Note: If you have a "Private Album" feature enabled or face-based application protection enabled, after deleting the biometrics, access to hidden files and secure applications will only be available through the primary password.
It is worth noting that some global firmware versions may have different facial unlock algorithms than the Chinese versions. Global firmware often uses front-facing camera software, while the Chinese versions may use a more advanced infrared system for flagship models.
Why is Xiaomi’s Face ID less secure than iPhone?
Reset all security keys with Mi Account
In situations where standard deletion is not possible (for example, you forgot your password from a specific profile or there was a system glitch), you can use the features of the Mi Account. This method allows you to remotely manage the security devices associated with your account, although direct deletion of biometrics from here is impossible, you can lose the trust of the device.
Log in to your account settings via the Mi Account menu. Find the partition associated with devices or cloud services. This shows a list of gadgets that have access to your data or use security features. Although you won't see the "remove fingerprint" button here, resetting the device's binding often requires reverifying the biometrics the next time you log in, effectively resetting the current trust session.
To clean up your phone, you can use the i.mi.com web interface. When you log in from your computer, go to the device search section. Erase Data will remove all information from your phone, including biometric patterns, and return it to factory status. This is the last resort you can take when you lose your phone or before you sell it.
It’s important to understand the difference between deleting data from your account and deleting it from your phone’s memory: Deleting a device from a trusted list in the Mi Cloud doesn’t erase fingerprints stored in your smartphone’s local security chip, and deleting them will still require access to the device’s settings menu or a full reset.
💡
Removing the device from the trusted list in Mi Cloud does not erase biometric data from the phone’s memory, but requires physical access to the device’s settings.
Complete resetting as a radical method
If software methods don't work, or if you're preparing your phone for sale and want to be guaranteed to remove all traces of your presence, including biometrics, the best solution is a complete reset to factory settings (Wipe Data), which destroys all user data, settings, applications and, most importantly, biometric keys.
Before starting the procedure, make sure to back up important data. Reset will delete everything irrevocably. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select the option to erase all data. The system will warn you of the consequences and ask you to enter the screen unlock password and the Mi Account password (if you have theft protection enabled).
Once confirmed, the phone will restart and begin the cleaning process, which can take anywhere from minutes to half an hour, and you will get the device in the state it was when you bought it out of the box, and no fingerprints, faces or passwords will remain on it.
There is also Recovery mode available when the phone is off. By holding down the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power), you can get into the Recovery menu. Choose a language, then Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. This method is useful if the phone is locked or not booting into the system, but remember that it also requires knowledge of the Mi Account password to unlock after reset (Anti-theft protection).
| Deleting method | Data security | Password requirement | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through MIUI settings | Data saved | PIN/pattern lock Required | Low. |
| Through Mi Account (deleting the device) | Data saved | Password from the account | Medium |
| Full reset (Settings) | All deleted. | Requires a PIN and Mi Account Password | Medium |
| Recovery Mode (Hard Reset) | All deleted. | Mi Account password required after reset | Tall. |
Problems with removal and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the system refuses to delete biometric data or the deletion button is inactive. This can be caused by several factors. Most often, the problem lies in the active rights of the device administrator from third-party applications. Antiviruses, corporate profiles or remote management applications can block changes in the security system.
Check the list of apps with administrator rights. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special features (or a similar path in your version of MIUI). Disable the permissions for suspicious applications, then try to delete the fingerprint again.
Another reason could be a crowded cache of the system application "Security" or "Settings." Try clearing the cache of these services through the application management menu. Find the system processes related to security in the list and click "Clear Cache." Don't confuse it with cleaning the data unless you want to reset other settings.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone is in Lost Mode mode via Find Device, remove biometrics or reset without entering a password from Mi Account is impossible.
In rare cases, it helps to reboot in Safe Mode. Press the off button, and when the off icon appears on the screen, press and hold it until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears. In this mode, third-party applications do not work, and they will not be able to block the removal of biometrics.
💡
If the fingerprint deletion button is gray and doesn't press, try adding a new finger first and then removing the old one, sometimes unlocking the biometrics management interface.