How to completely disable Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is designed to make it easier to unlock the device – it automatically removes the lock of the screen in “trusted” places (for example, at home or at work) when familiar devices are connected via Bluetooth, or even recognizes your face. However, many users face problems: the phone unlocks at the wrong time, there are sync errors with the Google account, and sometimes Smart Lock even prevents you from resetting or selling the device at all.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to disable Google Smart Lock on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI settings, commands via ADB, and what to do if the feature is “hanged” after reset. We’ll focus on the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models – from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13. If you’re planning to sell a phone or just want to regain control of the lock, read on.

What is Google Smart Lock and Why You Should Turn It Off

Google Smart Lock is part of the Google Play Services ecosystem that is integrated into MIUI at the system level, and it operates in three main modes:

• 📍 Trusted Places: Unlocking by geolocation (e.g. at home or work).
• 🔗 Trusted devices: automatic unlocking when connected to familiar gadgets via Bluetooth (earphones, fitness bracelets, car system).
• 👤 Facial/voice recognition: simplified authentication (less reliable than a fingerprint).

In practice, Xiaomi users face the following problems:

• ⚠️ The phone unlocks in the pocket from a casual touch (especially important for models with a phone). AMOLED-screens and the Always-On Display function).
• ⚠️ After updating MIUI Smart Lock stops working correctly, but does not turn off through standard settings.
• ⚠️ When resetting to factory settings, “tied” trusted devices remain, which prevents the new owner from setting up the phone.
• ⚠️ Conflict with MIUI Optimization (in some regions, this feature is disabled, which breaks the Smart Lock).

Smart Lock is recommended in cases of:

• 🔄 Before selling or transferring a phone to another user.
• 🔒 If you notice suspicious activity (for example, your phone unlocks without you being involved).
• 📱 When preparing for firmware or reset via Fastboot.
• 🛠️ If the Smart Lock interferes with other functions (e.g., Second Space or App Lock) MIUI).

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in settings MIUI. However, the path to the Smart Lock menu may differ depending on the version of the shell and the model of the smartphone. MIUI 12/13/14.

For most devices (Redmi Note 10/11/12, Xiaomi 11T/12/13, POCO F3/F4/F5), the instructions are as follows:

1. Open Settings → Google → Manage your Google account.
2. Choose your account (if there are several).
3. Go to the Security section.
4. Find the Smart Lock for Android (or Smart Lock).
5. Enter your Google account password (if required).
6. Disable all active options: Trusted seats, Trusted devices, Face/voice recognition.

On some devices (especially with MIUI 12 for global firmware), the path may be different:

Settings → Passwords and Security → Removing Screen Lock → Smart Lock

If the Smart Lock item is not on the menu, try:

• 🔍 Use search by settings (magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).
• 📱 Update Google Play Services through Play Market.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes the Smart Lock menu appears after the reboot.

⚠️ Warning: If you disable Smart Lock before selling your phone, be sure to also remove your Google account from the Settings menu → Accounts: Otherwise, the new owner may face a new FRP-Google Factory Reset Protection (Google Factory Reset Protection).

Method 2: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If the Smart Lock doesn’t show up in the settings or if it doesn’t turn off after the reboot, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires connecting the phone to your computer, but is guaranteed to work on any version of MIUI.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🔧 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB (guideline).

Steps to disable Smart Lock via ADB:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Activate USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
5. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with ADB Adb shell settings put global settings hidden_api_policy 1 adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gms/.mdm.services.LockBoxService adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_allow_remote_smart_lock 0
6. Reboot the phone.

If the Smart Lock is still active after the restart, follow the additional command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gms

⚠️ Note: This command removes Google Play Services for the current user, which may disrupt other Google services (e.g. Google Pay or Gmail). After disabling Smart Lock, return the services with the command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.gms

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If ADB Does not recognize the device, try reinstalling drivers via Mi PC Suite or manually specify the driver android_winusb.inf device-manager.

Method 3: Reset Smart Lock settings through Google account

If you can’t turn off the Smart Lock directly (e.g., your phone is locked or menus are unavailable), you can do so via the Google account web interface, which works even if your Xiaomi smartphone is lost or not turned on.

Instructions:

1. Open the Google Account Management page on your computer or other device → Security.
2. Scroll down to your devices and select your Xiaomi.
3. Click Device Management → Forget the device (this will remove all trusted connections).
4. Go back to Security and find Smart Lock for Android.
5. Disable all stored Trusted Places and Trusted Devices.

After that:

• 🔄 Reboot the Xiaomi phone.
• 🔐 Set a new lock password (if required).
• 📱 Check that Smart Lock is no longer active in the settings.

If this didn’t work, Xiaomi’s Find My Device feature may be on the phone, which blocks security changes.

Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Find My Device →

Method 4: Disable via Safe Mode (if Smart Lock blocks access)

There are situations when Smart Lock “glues” and prevents you from unlocking the phone in the usual way (for example, after a reset or update), in which case Safe Mode will help, a mode in which all third-party applications and some system functions, including Smart Lock, are disabled.

How to run Xiaomi in Safe Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button before the MI logo appears.
3. Once the logo appears, immediately press and hold the Volume Down button until the phone boots up.
4. In the lower left corner of the screen, the inscription Safe Mode will appear.

In Safe Mode:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔍 Find Google Play Services and click Stop (do not delete!).
• 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.
• 📱 Check if the Smart Lock is disabled.

If the problem has returned after leaving Safe Mode, try:

• 🛠️ Reset your Google Play Services settings: Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Warehouse → Clear the data
• 🔄 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes Smart Lock bugs are patched).

Method 5: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If none of these methods work, the last thing you can do is to try hard reset, which will delete all the data from your phone, including your Smart Lock settings, but it will also be deleted:

• 📸 Photos and videos (if not saved to the cloud).
• 📱 Installed applications and their data.
• 🔑 All passwords and accounts (including Mi Account).

How to make a reset on Xiaomi:

1. Back up your important data (via Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud).
2. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. Enter your password (if required) and confirm the reset.

If the phone is locked and does not allow you to reset through the menu, use Recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume Up until the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (manage volume and power buttons).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

⚠️ Note: After resetting on some Xiaomi models (especially with the MIUI Global may require data input from the last Google account (FRP-If you do not remember your password, use Google's recovery service before resetting!

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Factory reset is a last resort, and try all other methods before using it, because after a hard reset, it will be impossible to recover data.

Table: Compatibility of Smart Lock disablement methods with Xiaomi models

In the models with MIUI China (CN-Firmware) Smart Lock function can be disabled by default or require additional manipulations via ADB Due to the lack of Google Services.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you turn off Smart Lock on Xiaomi, users face typical problems.

• 🔄 Smart Lock turns on itself after the reboot Solution: Turn off Google Play Services autoupdate (Settings) → Annexes → Google Play Services → Auto-update → Do not update) and repeat the shutdown ADB.
• ❌ No Smart Lock in Settings Solution: Update MIUI before the latest version or use it ADB. On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU) function hidden – try changing the region in the settings.
• 🔒 Phone requires password from old account after reset (FRP) Solution: Restore access to your Google account through the recovery page or contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase.
• 📱 Smart Lock does not turn off in secondary space (Second Space) Solution: Disable the function separately for each space or delete Second Space completely (Settings) → Special facilities → Second Space).
• ⚠️ After the Smart Lock was turned off, the fingerprint stopped working Solution: Remove all saved fingerprints and add them again (Settings) → Passwords and security → Fingerprint).

If none of the solutions worked, check:

• 🛠️ Root rights: on some firmware, Smart Lock is “stitched” into the system and requires superuser rights to be removed.
• 🔧 Conflict with Magisk/Xposed: If you use modified firmware, disable modules associated with screen locking.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions