Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users several levels of personal data protection, among which biometrics is the leading one. Fingerprint scanner has become the de facto standard, providing quick access to the device without having to enter a complex pattern lock or password every time. However, despite the high reliability of the technology, users may face a situation where the phone ceases to respond to touch or security requires forced unlocking by other methods.
Understanding the MIUI and HyperOS biometrics is essential for every owner to ensure that they don’t lose access to their gadget at a critical time. In this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from initial setup to forced resetting of forgotten passwords, explaining why the system can block biometrics and how to properly respond to system constraints.
It is important to note that data security in Xiaomi devices is built on a multi-level system, where a fingerprint is only a convenient addition to the main digital key. If you are faced with the inability to unlock the screen in the usual way, do not panic - there are a number of standard and proven methods of access restoration, which we will discuss below.
Why the fingerprint scanner doesn’t work and requires a password
Often users are faced with a situation when when trying to unlock the phone writes a message about the need to enter a password, PIN-This is not a system error or sensor failure, but a security protocol built into the Android operating system and the shell. MIUI. The system compulsorily requests the master password in certain situations to ensure that the device is controlled by the owner.
There are several triggers that activate this protection mode, and one is the reboot of the device, and once the device is completely turned off and on, the biometrics are temporarily inactive until the primary password is entered, so that when a phone is stolen, an attacker cannot access the data immediately after the device is turned on.
Second, the system requires a password if more than 72 hours have passed since the last successful unlock, and the lock occurs after five failed attempts to enter a fingerprint in a row, and if you change the master password or pattern lock, the biometrics will stop working until you enter the new code manually at least once.
⚠️ Note: If you have forgotten your primary password (PIN, You can't unlock a device with a fingerprint alone, and biometrics is just an extension of the master key, not a replacement.
In addition to software limitations, there are physical reasons for failure: dirt, fat, or moisture on the finger or scanner itself can prevent the drawing from being read, and in such cases, the security system automatically switches to requiring a password to prevent unauthorized access by matching.
Setup and activation of biometric unlocking
The activation process may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or the new HyperOS), but the overall algorithm remains the same. The first step is always to set a strong primary password, without which biometrics cannot be configured.
Go to the settings menu of your smartphone. You need to find the security and password section. Depending on the model, the scanner can be built into the on button (side face) or located on the back of the case. For models with a subscreen scanner, the setting procedure includes sensitivity calibration.
☑️ Checking before setting up
When you add a fingerprint, the system will ask you to repeatedly put your finger on the scanner, changing the angle of inclination. This is a critical step: take your time and try to touch the scanner with different parts of the finger pad. The more reading points you add, the more likely you are to successfully unlock in the future.
In modern shells Xiaomi has a feature to add multiple fingerprints, which is convenient if you want to use different fingers or, for example, add a fingerprint of a trusted person, and in the settings you can activate unlocking double tapping (for underscreen scanners) or setting sensitivity to use protective glass.
Step-by-step: how to unlock the phone with a fingerprint
If your phone is locked and you want to unlock it with a fingerprint, make sure the device is active (the screen is on or reacting to touch).Unlike older models, modern Redmi and Poco smartphones can require pre-touch to activate the sensor if the "Always On" feature is disabled to save power.
Tightly press your registered finger against the scanner. If you have a side scanner, it should be the entire phalanx of your thumb. If the scanner is underscreen, it's the center of the pad. You don't have to push too hard; modern capacitive and optical scanners read the pattern with light touch.
- 👉 Make sure your finger is dry and clean.
- 👉 Apply your finger at the same angle as when setting up.
- 👉 If a cover is used, check if it covers the sensor.
- 👉 If there are cracks in the glass in the area of the scanner, the sensitivity may fall.
If the unlocking is not done the first time, the system may suggest that you enter a password, the biometrics will be active again after the password is successfully entered, and if the problem is permanent, you may need to recalibrate or re-register the fingerprint.
💡
To increase the unlock speed, add the same finger twice under different names (e.g., "Finger 1" and "Finger 1 copy"). This will increase the database of the picture and improve recognition.
What to do if you forget your password and the fingerprint does not work
The situation where the user forgets the main password and the fingerprint is not accepted by the system (due to time running out or read errors) is one of the most difficult. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to bypass Android protection without data loss, since the data on modern smartphones are encrypted with a key tied to the user's password.
The first thing to try is to use a Google account or Mi Account. On some versions of MIUI, after several failed attempts to enter a password, a button appears on the lock screen: "Forgot your password?" or "Unlock through your account." By clicking on it, you can reset the lock by entering the account information to which the phone is associated.
If the option is not available through the account (which is often the case on newer versions of Android for security reasons), the only way is to completely reset the device to the factory settings (Hard Reset), which will delete all photos, contacts and applications, but return access to the phone.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings will delete all data from the internal drive. If you didn't sync to the cloud, it won't be possible to restore files.
To perform the reset, you need to turn off the phone and press the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power) to enter Recovery mode. From the recovery menu, select Wipe Data, confirm the action and wait for the process to end. After the reboot, the phone will be as new.
What is FRP-blocking?
Resolving problems with the fingerprint sensor
Sometimes the problem is not the forgotten password, but the malfunction or software failure of the sensor itself. If the phone stopped seeing the finger at all, even after rebooting and entering the password, it is worth checking the sensor settings, maybe there was a malfunction in the driver or system process responsible for biometrics.
Try to delete old prints and register them again. When registering, try to use different parts of your finger. If that doesn't work, check if you have third-party memory cleanup apps or antiviruses that may conflict with system security services.
The table below shows the main symptoms and possible solutions to the scanner problems:
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The scanner doesn't respond to touch. | Pollution, software failure | Wipe the sensor, reboot the phone |
| Misrecognition | Poor calibration, wet finger | Recreate the print, dry your hands. |
| Requires a password after rebooting | Normal security operation | Introduce the main PIN-code |
| Slow reaction | Protective glass, CPU load | Set up sensitivity, close the unnecessary applications |
If the software methods don't work, and the scanner doesn't work even in safe mode, there's a high probability of physical failure, and in such cases, a diagnosis is required at the service center, because the sensor plume may have moved away or the module itself may have failed.
Additional security settings and tips
To improve usability, you can configure additional settings. In the Settings menu → Passwords and security → Unlocking by fingerprint, options are available that allow you to use biometrics not only for logging in, but also for authorization in applications, payment systems and extensions.
It is recommended to update your Xiaomi software regularly.