Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter mysterious entries in the running process list or in the All Apps section. One of the most talked-about system services is MIUI Biometric. Many users, seeing an obscure name, become worried about the security of their data or suspect the device of mining and spying. In fact, this component is a critical element of the operating system responsible for the operation of biometric sensors.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what the com.xiaomi.bspf process is responsible for, why it consumes energy in the background and whether it should be stopped by force. Understanding how the MIUI and HyperOS system services work will help you set up your smartphone correctly and avoid false virus alarms. We will look at the technical aspects of the interaction between the fingerprint scanner, the camera and the security processor.
Main purpose of the system component
The MIUI Biometric app (often displayed as BSPF Service) is a system library that provides communication between the hardware of a smartphone and the user interface. It is this module that processes data from a fingerprint sensor, a facial scanner or an iris sensor. Without the correct operation of this service, unlocking the device would not be possible.
When you put your finger on the scanner, the signal goes through the kernel drivers, gets into the Biometric Service Provider Framework, where the fingerprint hash is reconciled with an encrypted reference stored in a secure memory area (TEE), which takes a fraction of a second and requires constant background service activity to instantly respond to the system's touch.
It’s worth noting that this component is not a standalone application that can be run from the desktop; it’s a background service integrated into the depths of the MIUI shell. It starts automatically when you turn on your phone and works before it turns off, ensuring the security of your personal data and access to features that require authorization, such as banking applications or Google Pay.
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MIUI Biometric is not a virus, but a necessary system process for the fingerprint scanner and Face ID on Xiaomi smartphones.
Technical specifications and process com.xiaomi.bspf
In Task Manager or when you detail battery usage, you may find the process name com.xiaomi.bspf. BSPF stands for Biometric Service Provider Framework. It's a standard naming agreement for Android devices, where a separate framework is responsible for biometrics. In Xiaomi devices, it has its own implementation optimized for their hardware.
The process can consume battery power, especially if you often use unlocking or if the system has a software failure that causes the sensor to work in the survey cycle. In normal state, the energy consumption of this service is minimal and usually does not exceed 1-2% per day. However, if you notice that MIUI Biometric consumes 10-15% of the charge, this is a reason to conduct a diagnosis.
- 🔍 Monitoring: The process constantly queries sensors for biometric data input.
- 🔐 Encryption: Processes cryptographic keys in a secure processor perimeter.
- 🔄 Synchronization: Provides for the transfer of authorization status to other applications (for example, a bank).
It's important to understand that this service has access to critical features of the device, it interacts with the face unlock camera and the NFC module to confirm payments. Any changes to the operation of this component can affect the security of the entire device, so the Android system restricts access rights to it for ordinary users.
Why is the process appearing on the recent list?
Data security and protection
The privacy of biometrics is a matter of urgency, with many users fearing that MIUI Biometric could transfer fingerprints or facial photos to Xiaomi servers, and according to the company’s official documentation and security policy, biometrics are stored only locally.
The data is stored in a special isolated partition of memory called Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), which even if the virus enters the main operating system, it will not be able to read the contents of the TEE, since only the verified system code signed with the digital signature of the manufacturer can access it. com.xiaomi.bspf only acts as an intermediary that transmits the result of the check (“match” or “does not match”), but not the images themselves.
⚠️ Warning: Never install third-party unlock applications or fingerprint scanners from unreliable sources. They may try to infiltrate the authorization process and steal your data. MIUI.
In addition, modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14/15 have implemented “Privacy Protection” feature, which allows you to see when the Biometric application has accessed the camera or sensor, and you can check these statistics in your privacy settings to make sure there is no suspicious activity.
Can I remove or disable MIUI Biometric?
Since MIUI Biometric is a system component, it is impossible to remove it through the settings using standard methods. The Remove button will be inactive (shadowed in gray). Attempts to remove this package through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or superuser rights (Root) can lead to serious consequences.
If you force the shutdown or deletion of com.xiaomi.bspf, you will lose the ability to unlock the phone with biometrics, and this can cause a bootloop or permanent system errors as other MIUI components attempt to access a non-existent service and get bugs.
The table below shows the possible consequences of a service disconnection:
| Action. | The result | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|
| Stopping through settings | Temporary shutdown of the scanner | Low (restarts itself) |
| Removal via ADB | Losing biometrics forever | Medium (reset needed) |
| Delete system files (Root) | Bootloop Error (Bootloop) | Tall (brick) |
The only safe way to disable biometrics is to simply delete all stored fingerprints and facial data from the Settings menu → Passwords & Security → Biometrics. In this case, the service will remain on the system, but will stop performing active recognition actions until you add new data.
Diagnostics and solution of common problems
Despite the stability, users sometimes encounter errors, and the most common problem is that the scanner stops responding to touch or unlocks every time, often due not to a sensor breakdown, but to a software failure in MIUI Biometric.
The first step in solving the problem should be to clean the service cache.This will not delete your fingerprints, but will reset temporary files that may have been corrupted. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, search for Biometrics or search for com.xiaomi.bspf, then select Clear → Clear cache.
☑️ Actions if the scanner is not working
If cleaning the cache didn't help, try removing the old fingerprint and registering it again using different areas of the finger for better coverage, and make sure there are no screen and scanner protective films covering the sensor or contaminants.
⚠️ Warning: If biometrics stopped working after the firmware update, don't rush to carry your phone for repair. Often, a full Wipe Data reset is required to properly operate new biometrics drivers!
Impact on autonomy and optimization
As mentioned earlier, MIUI Biometric uses minimal power in normal mode, but if you notice an abnormal discharge, the cause may be a process that is stuck, which happens when an application requests biometrics but does not receive a response from the sensor and enters a cycle of repeated attempts.
To optimize battery consumption, you can limit background activity, although MIUI usually manages this process well. Go to the battery settings, find the Biometrics app and make sure there is no limit mode (this is paradoxical, but you need the system not to "strangle" an important process, causing it to restart), or, conversely, try changing to "Battery Savings" if the problem is in the background search.
- 🔋 Background activity: Check if Security is blocking system services.
- ⚙️ Updates: Install the latest version MIUI Security from GetApps.
- 📉 Animations: Disabling Unlock Animations May Reduce CPU Load a Little.
In rare cases, high expense is associated with a specific application that constantly requests fingerprint confirmation (such as a bank client with a buggy code).
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Use the "Second Space" or "Guest Mode" function with caution, and in these modes, the biometric data of the main profile may not work, creating the illusion of a scanner breakdown.