Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the fingerprint scanner suddenly stops working, some find that the sensor icon has disappeared from the lock screen, others just stop recognizing registered fingerprints, and others see the message “Fingerprint sensor is not responding.” The reasons can be rooted in software failures and hardware malfunctions – and it is difficult to understand them without a clear algorithm.
Especially frustrating when a problem occurs after a MIUI update or mechanical damage (such as a phone crash).In this article, we will not only list all the possible causes of the missing fingerprint on Xiaomi, but also give step-by-step instructions for diagnosis and recovery, from the simplest reboot to complex firmware manipulations.
If your smartphone is still warranty-worthy, some steps (such as disassembling the case or firmware) may cancel it.
1. Software glitches: why the fingerprint disappeared after the update
The most common reason for the scanner to go missing is a MIUI update or a reset, because newer versions of the firmware sometimes contain errors in the sensor drivers, which makes it stop "seeing" the sensor, for example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many Redmi Note 10 Pro and Poco X3 Pro users complained about the disappearance of the "fingerprint" item in the settings.
How to check if the problem is in the software:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security. If there's no fingerprint at all, it's a 100% software failure.
- 📱 Try adding a new fingerprint: if the system gives an error "Can not connect to the sensor" - the fault is the software or driver.
- 🔄 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → "Restart Safe Mode. If the scanner is running, a problem in a third-party application.
80 percent of the time, it helps to roll back to the previous version of MIUI or install a patch through Fastboot. But before you get into the firmware, try the simpler methods in the next section.
2.Fast recovery: 5 ways to return a scanner without firmware
Before you carry your phone to the service or reflash it, follow these steps, which take 2 to 15 minutes and often solve the problem:
- Reboot your phone. It's trivial, but it works 30 percent of the time. Press the power button, select "Reboot" and wait 1-2 minutes.
- Clear the system cache. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Show system-based → Biometric service. Click "Clear cache" and "Clear data".
- Reset your biometrics settings. In Settings → Passwords & Security → Fingerprints, delete all saved fingerprints, restart your phone and add them again.
- Permissions Check. Make sure that all permissions are included in Settings → Applications for the Biometric Service application (com.android.biometric).
- Sensor calibration: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 11T), multiple touches of the scanner in the fingerprint add menu help, so the system can "relearn".
☑️ Checklist before firmware
If neither of these methods worked, move on to more radical measures, like resetting or flashing, but first make sure that the hardware isn't the problem.
3. Hardware malfunctions: how to check the fingerprint sensor
If the scanner stopped working after falling, getting moisture or disassembling the phone, there is a high risk of physical damage.
- 💥 Cracking in the sensor (often occurs on models with a subscreen scanner, for example, Xiaomi Mi 11).
- 🌊 Oxidation of contacts after liquid hits (even if the phone did not sink, moisture could penetrate through microslits).
- 🔌 Disconnection of the sensor plume from the motherboard (typically after careless repairs).
- ⚡ Burning out of the chip due to a voltage surge (for example, when charging with a non-original cable).
How to diagnose a hardware breakdown:
- Put a flashlight on the scanner area (on the subscreen models), and if you see microcracks or clouding, the sensor is damaged.
- Connect your phone to your PC and check logs via adb logcat | grep -i fingerprint. If there are errors like "Fingerprint hardware not found" - the problem is in the hardware.
- Try adding a print in a dark room, and if the sensor is illuminated but not responding, it may be damaged by the infrared sensor.
⚠️ Note: On models with an ultrasonic scanner (such as the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra), check the integrity of the protective glass.A crack even 1 mm can block the signal.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The sensor is not illuminated, the settings do not have the item "Fingerprints" | The plume is disconnected or the chip is damaged. | Disassembly and diagnosis in the service |
| The scanner is illuminated, but does not recognize fingerprints | Sensor contamination or damage to IR illumination | Cleaning with alcohol or replacing the sensor |
| Error "The sensor is busy with another application" | Software conflict (e.g. Google Pay) | Removal of conflicting software |
| Fingerprints are added but not saved | The /data partition in memory is damaged | Reset to factory settings |
4. Underscreen scanner: features of diagnostics on AMOLED-model
Xiaomi smartphones with a subscreen fingerprint sensor (for example, Redmi K50 Pro, Xiaomi 12) have additional nuances. Their scanner works through the display, and any problems with the screen can affect the biometrics.
- 📱 Integrity OLED-Even microscopic cracks or pixel defects above the sensor block its operation.
- 🔦 On some firmware, the scanner refuses to work at a screen brightness below 30%.
- 🖥️ Display mode. In screen settings (Settings) → Display) Select "Standard" instead of "Saturated" - this can solve the problem.
- 🔋 Power saving. Turn off Super Power Saving mode in Settings → Battery – It can block the sensor.
On models with ultrasonic scanners (such as Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha), the problem may lie in the contamination of the ultrasonic module. Try to gently wipe the sensor area with isopropyl alcohol (at least 70% concentration) and a soft lilac wipe.
How to check the subscreen scanner for performance without disassembly?
5. Firmware and Recovery of Sensor Drivers
If all previous methods failed and the sensor is physically intact, you have to reflash the phone, most often the problem is solved by installing a stable version of MIUI (not beta!) or a patch for the biometric module.
Step-by-step:
- Download the correct firmware for your model from Xiaomi's official website. Use the Fastboot version if you plan to completely reflash.
- Unlock the bootloader (if not unlocked) and you need to link your Mi Account to the device (it will take 7-15 days).
- Install drivers for Fastboot on PC (you can download here).
- Flip your phone through Mi Flash Tool: 1. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clutch Volume Down + Power). 2. In Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware. 3. Press Refresh, then Flash. 4. Wait for completion (5-10 minutes).
After the firmware, don't restore the data from the backup, it can return the old error, add the fingerprints again and check the sensor.
⚠️ Note: On models with lock bootloader (for example, Xiaomi for the Russian market), firmware via Fastboot can block the phone. TWRP.
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If the scanner still doesn’t work after the firmware is installed, try installing a custom core with biometrics support (for example, Perseus Kernel for Poco F1).
6. Alternative methods of unlocking if the scanner is not working
While you are restoring the fingerprint sensor, you can use alternative ways to unlock Xiaomi:
- 🔐 PIN-Code/password. Set it up in Settings → Passwords and security → Screen locking.
- 👁️ Facial recognition works on most models (except for low-end models like Redmi). 9A).
- 📍 Smart Lock. Enable automatic unlocking by location or connected devices (setting in Settings) → Passwords and security → Smart Lock).
- 🔑 Hardware keys. Connect YubiKey or something. USB-key OTG-adapter.
On models with an infrared port (for example, Xiaomi Mi 10), you can configure unlocking through the remote control of the TV using the Mi Remote app.
- Add the remote to Mi Remote.
- In the security settings, select "Trusted Devices" and add the remote.
- Now pressing any button on the remote will unlock the phone.
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If the fingerprint scanner broke permanently and the warranty ended, consider installing an external one. NFC-scanner (e.g. Sony) RC-S380). He's tapping into it. USB-C It works as a complete replacement for the sensor.
7.When to contact the service: the cost of repairing the sensor
If all attempts to return the scanner fail on their own, you have to carry the phone to the service, and the cost of repair depends on the model and the type of sensor.
| Xiaomi model | Type of sensor | Cost of repair (2026) | Duration of repairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 | Capacitive (on the back) | 1 200–2 500 ₽ | 1-2 days |
| Xiaomi 12/13 | Optical subscreen | 3 500–5 000 ₽ | 2-3 days |
| Poco F3/F4 | Side-capacitive | 1 800–3 000 ₽ | 1 day |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | Ultrasonic. | 6 000–8 500 ₽ | 3-5 days |
Before the service visit:
- 📋 Make a backup of data (repair may require a complete reset).
- 🔍 Check if the service has original parts for your model.
- 💳 Check if the warranty is valid (if so, repairs can be free).
Beware of services that offer "universal" sensors from other models, such as the Redmi Note 9 scanner, which is not suitable for the Poco X3 NFC, even if they look similar, and this will lead to constant errors and can damage the motherboard.