Where Xiaomi Stores Application Passwords: System Storage, Encryption, and Recovery Methods

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones are using integrated credentials, from Wi-Fi passwords to application login passwords. Users often wonder where that data is physically stored, how it is protected from leaks, and can it be retrieved if access is lost? The answer depends on the type of application, the version of MIUI, and the device’s security settings.

Unlike iOS or pure Android, Xiaomi combines standard Android Keystore mechanisms with its own solutions, such as Mi Account and Cloud Sync. This complicates analysis, but provides additional backup options.

• 🔐 System password repositories in MIUI (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14)
• 📱 How apps save data (social networks, banks, instant messengers)
• 🔍 Methods of extracting passwords without root and with root access
• ⚠️ Security Risks and How to Minimize Them

Important: information is informative; unauthorized access to someone else's passwords is punishable by law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code), the article is intended for device owners who want to understand the mechanisms of protecting their data.

1. Standard password repositories in MIUI

MIUI firmware uses multiple layers of credentials storage, depending on the type of application and user settings.

• 📁 Android Credential Storage – Android Storage for Wi-Fi Passwords, VPN The data is encrypted using Android Keystore and tied to the device's hardware key.
• 🔗 Mi Account Sync is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that can sync Mi Browser passwords, notes, and some application data (if included in Settings). → Mi Account → Synchronization).
• 🔐 Secure Storage – Proprietary Storage MIUI for system applications (e.g. Mi Home, Mi Fit) uses additional firmware-level encryption.

Most third-party applications (e.g. VK, Telegram, bank clients) store passwords inside their boxes (isolated memory areas) and do not transfer them to system storage, except for applications using the Android Autofill Framework (e.g. Google Password Manager or Bitwarden).

⚠️ Attention: Files in /data/data/ available only through root or through ADB Backup (but after Android) 8.0 Attempts to access without unlocking the bootloader can result in the device being locked (Anti-Rollback trigger).

2. How apps store passwords: social networks, banks, instant messengers

Third-party applications rarely use MIUI system storage, instead using their own mechanisms:

• 💳 Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB) store access tokens in Android Keystore or on their servers. Local passwords (for example, to log into the application) can be encrypted with reference to biometrics (print / face).
• 📱 Social media (VK, OK, Facebook) usually saves session cookies, not passwords. Once the application is reinstalled, you will need to re-enter the data.
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber): Telegram stores data in the cloud (linked to a phone number). WhatsApp encrypts the message base, but the password for the backup (if installed) is stored locally in the cloud. /data/data/com.whatsapp/shared_prefs/.

🔍 How to check if passwords are saved in the application?

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as VK).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. If the application requests a password after cleaning, the data was stored locally, and if the login is automatic, tokens or cloud synchronization were used.

💡

To see if the Android Autofill app is using, check Settings → System → Language & Input → Additional → Autocomplete. If the app is listed, its passwords can be stored in a system manager (e.g. Google Password Manager).

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. AliExpress or Wildberries) retain access tokens for years, even if you haven't logged in in a long time, which creates a risk of leakage when selling a phone without reset.

3. Methods of password extraction: with root and without

If you have forgotten the password from the application and want to restore it, the options depend on the presence of root rights and the type of application.

No root rights.

• 🔄 Sync with Mi Account: Some passwords (e.g. from Mi Browser) can be restored through Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization → Passwords.
• 🌐 Google Password Manager: If the application uses Google Autocomplete, passwords are available at passwords.google.com.
• 📱 Backup via Mi Cloud: when synchronization is enabled, some applications’ data is restored after reset (but not the passwords of banks or messengers!).

With root rights.

Root gives you access to the file system, but you need to be careful:

1. Install Root Explorer (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/ and find the application folder (e.g. com.vk.android for VK).
3. Look for files: shared_prefs/*.xml – may contain encrypted tokens. databases/*.db – databases with accounts.

SQLite Editor

JADX

Unlock the bootloader (destroys the data!)|Install TWRP and Magisk|Do backup /data via TWRP|Use only verified file managers-->

⚠️ Attention: Extracting passwords from banking applications or messengers may violate their security policies. For example, SberBank Online blocks an account when root is detected).

4 Encryption and password protection in MIUI

Xiaomi uses multi-level security to store credentials:

• 🔒 AES-256 for data encryption in Android Keystore (keys are tied to the TrustZone hardware module).
• 🔑 Mi Account Binding: Some system passwords are tied to a Xiaomi account and cannot be retrieved without authorization.
• 🛡️ Anti-Rollback Protection: On devices with a locked bootloader, an attempt to modify system files leads to a complete lock (authorization is required via the Mi Unlock Tool).

Since MIUI 13, Xiaomi has introduced additional protection for high-access applications (banks, payment systems):

• 🔐 Isolated containers (Work Profile) for enterprise applications.
• 📱 Dynamic encryption: encryption keys change with each device restart.

🔍 How to check the level of protection of your device?

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Check the status of Mi Unlock Status: Locked - bootloader is locked, data is protected. Unlocked - modifications are possible (but the warranty is lost).

💡

Even with the bootloader unlocked, modern versions of MIUI (13+) encrypt critical data (banks, payments) at the hardware level, which is almost impossible to extract without knowing the keys.

5. Risks of password leaks and how to avoid them

Despite the protection, passwords can be compromised through:

• 📲 Phishing applications: fake versions MIUI Security or Cleaner requesting administrator rights.
• 🔗 Vulnerabilities in firmware: for example, CVE-2022-20588 (Data leakage via Mi Share).
• 📱 Backups without encryption: backup.ab files (created through ADB backups may contain unencrypted data.

🛡️ How to Protect Your Passwords on Xiaomi:

Disable the installation from unknown sources|Use only official firmware (Global/EEA)|Enable device encryption in Settings → Lockdown and protection → Encryption|Regularly check application rights in Settings → Permits-->

⚠️ Note: If you sell or transfer a device, it is not enough to simply reset your settings through Settings. → Reset:

1. Log out of all accounts (Mi Account, Google, social networks).
2. Remove the device from Xiaomi’s personal account.
3. Enable OEM unlocking in Settings → For developers (if you plan to unlock a new owner).

6. Frequent Password Mistakes and Myths in Xiaomi

Let's take a look at some common misconceptions:

• ❌ Myth 1:"All passwords are stored in /data/system/passwords.key". Reality: There is no such file. Passwords are distributed to different storages (see table in section). 1).
• ❌ Myth 2: You can extract passwords through Mi PC Suite."Reality: Mi PC Suite does not provide access to application passwords, only media files and contacts.
• ❌ Myth 3: "Fastboot reset deletes all data forever." Reality: When reset via fastboot erase userdata, data is deleted, but encrypted containers (e.g., from banking applications) can remain on disk until overwrite.

🔍 The Truth About “Hacking” Passwords on Xiaomi:

There are often instructions on the Internet, like "copy gesture.key to unlock the pattern lock."

• 🔒 MIUI 12+ It uses dynamic encryption of the pattern lock attached to TrustZone.
• 📱 Retrieval of passwords requires: Root access + Knowledge of encryption algorithms for a particular application, or physical access to an unlocked device (for manual input).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions