How to remove application protection on Xiaomi Redmi: from password to MIUI Protection

Application protection on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a useful feature for privacy, but sometimes it turns into a headache. Have you forgotten the password from the Gallery? The system requires fingerprint confirmation after rebooting? Or MIUI Protection blocks access to settings? In this article, we will discuss all the legal ways to remove protection, from standard methods to hidden MIUI capabilities that do not require root rights or reset to factory settings.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi uses several types of application protection. This can be a password/pattern lock for individual programs (configured in Settings → Applications → Application Lock), biometric authentication through fingerprint or facial recognition, and system MIUI Protection, which blocks changes to critical parameters. The methods of removing protection for each case are different — and we'll look at them all.

If you are looking for a way to bypass the security of a stolen phone, we warn you that this is illegal. This guide is only for device owners who have lost access to their own data. All of the methods described are tested on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and POCO X3/X4 models with MIUI 13/14 based on Android 12/13.

1. Removal of password/pattern lock for individual applications

The most common scenario is that you set a password to the Gallery, Messages, or Settings, but you forgot it, and the standard Mi Account reset mechanism, if it is linked to the device, will help.

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Lock. Here you will see a list of protected programs. Click on any of them, then select Forgot your password?

• 🔑 Password from Mi Account – enter the details from the account associated with the phone.
• 📱 SMS code – if the account is linked to the phone number.
• 📧 Emails – an alternative way to confirm.

If your Mi Account is not tied or you don’t remember any of the data from it, go to the next section, which describes alternative methods. Please note that after resetting your password through your Xiaomi account, all secure applications are unlocked automatically, but your biometric settings (fingerprint, face) are saved.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously disabled sync with Mi Account to save battery (Settings option) → Accounts. → Synchronization, this method won't work.

Bypass biometric protection (fingerprint/face)

Biometric authentication in MIUI works on top of a standard password. If the fingerprint sensor or camera fails to recognize you (for example, after a screen damage or firmware update), the system will still require you to enter the primary password. But what if you forget it?

There are two official ways:

1. Reset biometrics via security settings. Go to Settings → Password and Security → Fingerprint data (or Face Recognition). The system will request the current password to be entered - if you don't remember it, click Forgot the password? and follow the recovery instructions via Mi Account.
2. Delete biometric data via Fastboot. This method is suitable for advanced users. Connect the phone to a PC, switch to Fastboot mode (press Power + Volume down), then execute the command: fastboot erase fingerprint For facial recognition use: fastboot erase face After reboot, the biometrics will be reset, but the main password will remain active.

If none of these methods work, you'll have to do a hard reset, but that will cause you to lose all the data on your device. Before you go to extreme lengths, check if you're backing up. PIN-code in biometric settings - sometimes it allows you to bypass the lock.

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Before resetting biometrics via Fastboot, make sure the phone unlocks the bootloader (Bootloader Unlocked). Otherwise the command will not execute. You can check the status by the command fastboot oem device-info - look for the line Device unlocked: true

3. disable MIUI Protection (protection of system settings)

MIUI Protection is an additional security layer that blocks changes to critical parameters: disabling Find Device, resetting to factory settings, accessing Developer Mode, etc. If you see a notification saying "This operation is protected. Enter MIUI password", then this feature is enabled.

To turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Password and Security → MIUI Protection.
2. Enter the current password from the lock screen (if you forgot, restore it via Mi Account, as described above).
3. Turn off the MIUI Protection slider.
4. Confirm the action by entering the password again.

If you don't remember the password and can't restore it through your account, you only have to reset it through Recovery, but once you hard reset, MIUI Protection automatically shuts down, because all security settings are reset to factory settings.

4.Reset protection through Recovery mode (without loss of data)

If standard methods didn't work, but you don't want to lose data, you can try resetting protection through MIUI Recovery, which only works on devices with an unlocked bootloader and requires a PC connection.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB/Fastboot.
• 📱 Cable USB Type-C (original, undamaged).
• 🔧 Archive with utility MIUI Unlock Tool (download only from official sources!).

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute: adb shell su rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot This command deletes files with lock settings, but does not affect user data (photos, messages, etc.).
4. After the reboot, the application protection will be reset, but the fingerprint may need to be reset.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Note 11 Pro)+) This method is blocked by anti-rollback protection. Before executing commands, check the firmware version in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If it's newer. MIUI 12.5, the odds of success are lower.

5 Hard Reset - a last resort

If all previous methods failed, you only have to reset completely to factory settings, and this method will remove all data from the device, including photos, contacts, and installed apps, and only use it if:

• 🔒 You have forgotten your Mi Account password and cannot restore access.
• 📱 Phone locked after failed firmware.
• 🔧 MIUI Protection does not allow you to disable Find Device before selling.

Resetting instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds until the MIUI Recovery logo appears.
3. Select a language, then go to Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action by entering the code (if required) or pressing Confirm.
5. After you complete the process, select Reboot to System.

Once reset, the phone will turn on in the “out of the box” state. All protections (including MIUI Protection) will be disabled. To avoid future data loss, set up automatic backup in Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Backup.

6. Alternative methods (for advanced users)

If you’re willing to take risks and have experience with Android devices, you can try the following: They require an unlocked bootloader and can result in a loss of warranty or a device blink.

Method 1: Editing files via TWRP

Install the custom TWRP Recovery (see instructions for your model on the official website).

1. Load to TWRP (clip Power + Volume Up).
2. Go to Advanced → File Manager.
3. Delete files: /data/system/locksettings.db /data/system/locksettings.db-wal /data/system/locksettings.db-shm /data/system/gesture.key /data/system/password.key
4. Reboot.

Method 2: Use of the ADB-team

If USB debugging was enabled before locking, connect your phone to your PC and do:

adb shell


su




pm clear com.android.providers.settings




rm /data/system/device_policies.xml




reboot

This command will reset device policies, including some types of locks.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and newer Xiaomi blocks access to critical files through ADB Before experimenting, back up your adb backup or TWRP.

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Legal methods (via Mi Account or Recovery) work on 90% of devices. Alternative methods (TWRP, ADB) require an unlocked bootloader and are only suitable for advanced users.

FAQ: Frequent questions about application protection in Redmi