Where Xiaomi Stores App Passwords: Search, Recovery, and Security

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO And Black Shark automatically saves logins and passwords from installed applications, from social networks to banking services, but when you have to remember a forgotten password, users face a problem: where exactly is it? MIUI Unlike iOS or pure Android, Xiaomi’s firmware uses its own encryption mechanisms, and some passwords can be hidden in system files or the cloud.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible password storage locations on Xiaomi devices, from the built-in account manager to hidden folders and backups, and explain why some apps (such as banking) don’t display stored data in plain view, and what to do if the password is lost without recovery. Importantly, some methods require root rights or access to the engineering menu, so check the secure ways first.

1. Built-in password manager MIUI

The most obvious way to find saved passwords is to use a standard account manager. MIUI. It automatically saves logins and passwords from apps, websites, even Wi-Fi networks to open it:

1. Go to Settings. → Passwords and security.
2. Select Accounts and Passwords (on some versions) MIUI — Password manager).
3. Sign in with a fingerprint, pattern lock, or PIN-lock-screen.

Here you will see a list of saved data, broken down into categories: Applications, Websites, Wi-Fi. Click on the desired application - the system will show the username and prompt you to copy the password (it will be hidden by stars before you click on the icon).

⚠️ Note: If you have previously disabled password sync with your Mi Account, the data can only be stored locally.

On devices with MIUI 14+ Password manager integrated with Google Smart Lock, which means that some logins can be duplicated in a Google account (check Settings along the way). → Google → Managing a Google Account → Security → Password manager).

2.Mi Account Cloud Storage

If your Xiaomi has Mi Account sync enabled, all saved passwords are automatically backed up in the cloud, allowing you to restore them even after you reset your phone or switch to a new device, to check the cloud data:

• 🌐 Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to account.xiaomi.com.
• 🔑 Sign in with the same account that is linked to your smartphone.
• 📁 In the Data Management section, select Synchronization and Backup → Passwords and accounts.

This will show all the logins you saved, including those that were deleted from your phone. Importantly, the Mi Account cloud stores passwords in encrypted form, and you will need to verify them by using the passwords. SMS If two-factor authentication is disabled, the system may request additional verification.

On devices with MIUI 13 and later, cloud passwords sync with Mi Cloud Drive, a service similar to Google Drive:

1. Start the Mi Cloud (or Cloud) application.
2. Go to the Backups section.
3. Select the latest copy and find a file with the.mi extension – it may contain encrypted account data.

⚠️ Note: If you changed your Mi Account password after the last sync, cloud data may not be available, in which case it can only be restored through Xiaomi Support (submit a request for support).@mi.com indicatively IMEI device).

💡

Before resetting your phone to factory settings, be sure to check if password synchronization is enabled in Settings. → Mi Account → Synchronization. It saves data in the cloud.

3. System files and folders (for power users)

If the password is not displayed in the manager MIUI It's not synced to the cloud, it can be stored in system files, and you can only access them if you have root rights or through the cloud. ADB (Android Debug Bridge.Caution: Wrong actions can cause system crash!

The main places of storage of passwords in MIUI:

To view the contents of these files:

1. Install a root access explorer (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Follow one of the following paths and copy the file to SD-card.
3. To decrypt accounts.db or settings.db, use utilities like SQLite Browser.

On devices with MIUI 14+ part of system files is encrypted using a key tied to the hardware module TEE (Trusted Execution Environments, even with root rights, decryption of these rights may not be possible without specialized software.

4. Backup copies via Mi PC Suite

Official Mi utility PC Suite allows you to create full phone backups, including app passwords. This method works even without root rights, but requires a connection to a computer:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite from the official website.
2. Connect your phone to your PC through USB (Turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Click on version 7 times, then return to Additional Settings → For developers).
3. In Mi PC Suite select Backup and create a full copy (check Applications and data).
4. After completion, open the backup folder (usually) C:\Users\Username \MiPhoneBackup\ and find the backup.ab file.

Backup.ab is an archived database containing logins and passwords to extract data from it:

• 🔧 Use the Mi Backup Extractor (available on GitHub).
• 📂 Unclose the file into a folder – passwords will be in the subfolder of apps in the format JSON.
• 🔍 For ease of search, use a text editor with regex support (for example, Notepad).++).

⚠️ Note: Backup copies created through Mi PC Suite may not contain passwords from banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) due to security restrictions.

Connecting the phone in mode MTP (Not "Charging")

USB debugging enabled

Enough free space on the PC (minimum 5 GB)

Installed Xiaomi drivers (ADB and Fastboot)

-->

5. Passwords from social networks and instant messengers

Apps like Facebook, Instagram, VK Telegram often retains access tokens instead of passwords, which means that even if you find a file with data, the real password may not be there:

For VK and OK:

• 📱 Open the app and go to Settings → Security.
• 🔄 Click Change Password – the system will request the current password or send the code to the linked number.
• 📧 If your phone number has changed, use the recovery via email.

For Telegram:

• 🔐 Telegram does not store passwords in plain form, but you can reset access through SMS email.
• 📲 If two-factor authentication is enabled, you will need code from an authenticator application (e.g. Google Authenticator).
• 💬 Write in support of Telegram (@Smoke_Alarm_Bot), If you lose access to your account.

For Facebook and Instagram:

• 🌍 Go to the site. facebook.com/login/identify or instagram.com/accounts/password/reset.
• 📎 Link a new email or phone if old data is lost.
• 🛡️ Enable account login notifications to avoid hacking.

Important: Social media often blocks accounts when you have suspicious activities (such as multiple password attempts).If you are trying to regain access from a new device, use the same Wi-Fi network or use the same Wi-Fi network. IP-address as before.

💡

Most messengers (including WhatsApp and Viber) do not store passwords on the device, instead they use access tokens (SMS, email).

6. Passwords from banking applications and payment systems

Banking applications (SberBank Online, Tinkoff, Alpha-Click) and payment systems (Google Pay, Samsung Pay) store data in encrypted containers that are not available through standard means. MIUI. Attempts to extract passwords from these applications may result in:

• 🚫 Blocking an account on suspicion of hacking.
• 🔒 Automatic exit from all sessions.
• 📵 Delete the application from the device (on some models Xiaomi works Mi Protect protection).

The only safe way to restore access is:

1. Open the official bank application.
2. Click Forgot Password? or Restore Access.
3. Follow the instructions (usually you need to enter the passport data, code from the SMS or).

Some banks (such as VTB or Raiffeisen) allow you to reset your password through a biometric (fingerprint or facial recognition) if it was previously tied. On Xiaomi devices with an infrared scanner (such as the Mi 11 Ultra), this method works more stable.

⚠️ Warning: Never enter passwords from banking applications on third-party sites or in suspicious forms! Fraudsters often send phishing links under the guise of "restore access." Official banking services always use secure protocols (the address must begin with a secure access protocol). https:// and have a lock badge).

7. Alternative ways: Third-party password managers

If embedded facilities MIUI But it didn't help, try third-party password managers that could save data in parallel:

To transfer passwords from MIUI to a third-party manager:

1. Export data from the built-in manager (to Settings) → Passwords and security → Password exports).
2. Choose the format CSV or JSON (Supported by most managers).
3. Import the file to a new application (e.g., in LastPass via More Options) → Import).

On devices with MIUI 12.5+ Exporting passwords can be blocked by default. To unlock this function, execute a command via ADB:

adb shell settings put global password_manager_export_enabled 1

8 What to do if the password is lost without the possibility of recovery

If you have exhausted all the methods, but the password is not found, radical measures remain:

• 🔄 Reset password through support: contact the app developers (for example, via a website or email feedback form:
• 📲 Reinstall the app: Sometimes after deleting and re-installing, the app offers to restore access via email or phone.
• 🔧 Using engineering menus: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro) can reset security settings using code ##36446337##, but this does not work on all firmware.

If it is a system password (for example, a pattern lock or a computer key). PIN Lock screen), not about the password from the application, try:

1. Enter the wrong password 5 times – will appear button Forgot the password? (requires a Mi Account).
2. Reset your phone via Fastboot (data will be lost!):

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

On devices with MIUI 13+ and the enabled function "Data Protection" (Settings) → Special facilities → Data protection) Fastboot reset may not work, in which case you will need official firmware via the Mi Flash Tool.

💡

If you can't recover a password from a critical application (such as an email wallet or workmail), contact customer support with as much proof of ownership as possible (IMEI, Registration date, linked cards, the higher the chances of success.

FAQ: Frequent questions about passwords on Xiaomi