Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which use MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer a high level of data protection, but sometimes users are faced with the need to disable biometric authorization, which can be caused by selling the device, transferring the gadget to another person or simply wanting to use only a digital password. In some cases, the system may work incorrectly, requiring constant PIN entry even after successful scanning, which annoys the owner.
The process of removing a fingerprint is not always obvious to beginners, as the security settings menu is deeply integrated into the system. It is important to understand the difference between temporarily disabling the function and completely removing biometric data from the memory of the processor. Wrong actions can lead to the smartphone being blocked, requiring you to enter the Mi Account, which was used in the initial setup.
In this article, we will discuss all legal ways to deactivate a fingerprint scanner, we will look at standard methods through settings, how to completely reset data in case of loss of access to the menu, and also touch on the technical aspects of the TEE security module (Trusted Execution Environment).
⚠️ Warning: Before you start any biometric manipulation, make sure you remember your primary screen unlock password, PIN or pattern lock. Without these, restoring access to the device after resetting will be impossible.
Statutory disabling of biometrics through system settings
The easiest and safest way to remove fingerprint lock is to use the built-in settings menu, which is suitable for all current models, including the Redmi Note, POCO F and Xiaomi’s flagship series. The interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and shell, but the logic remains the same. You do not need superuser rights or a computer connection.
To start, unlock your smartphone and go to the main app menu. Find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear. The option list that opens up is to find the security section. In modern versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, it's often called Passwords and Security or just Security, and that's where all the access keys are stored.
Inside the security menu, find Unlock by Fingerprint. The system will require you to verify your identity by entering your current password or scanning your finger to prevent unauthorized access. Once you have successfully authorized, you will see a list of all your saved fingerprints. Here you can selectively delete a particular finger or clear all the data at once.
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If you are transferring your phone to another person, it is best to remove all fingerprints and set up new ones already in front of them to rule out any questions about the security of personal data.
Click on the saved fingerprint name (e.g., "Finger 1") and select the Delete option. Confirm action in the pop-up window. After that, the biometrics will be permanently deleted from the protected memory area. The smartphone will continue to work, but unlocking will now require the input of a digital code or a pattern lock.
Complete data reset and biometric removal
If you plan to sell a device or give it away for repair, simply removing a fingerprint may not be enough in terms of paranoia, although technically the data is already being deleted. A more radical but effective method is a full reset to factory state (Hard Reset), which cleans the entire user partition of memory, including photos, contacts and, importantly, biometric keys.
You can reset through the settings menu. Go to About Phone, then select Reset and press Erase all data. The system will warn you that all information will be destroyed. Make sure that the battery is at least 30% so that the process does not interrupt at a critical stage. The process takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on the memory capacity.
☑️ Checklist before full reset
An alternative reset is available via Recovery mode. Turn off the phone completely. Then press the volume button and the power button at the same time. Hold them until the Mi or POCO logo appears, then release the power button, while keeping the volume high. In the menu that appears (manage volume buttons, select power buttons), select English, then Wipe Data -> Wipe All Data.
| Resetting method | Data retention | Password requirement | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Backup required | Yes (for menu entry) | 10-15 minutes. |
| Recovery Mode | Complete removal | Yes (for confirmation) | 5-10 minutes |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Complete removal | Yeah (Mi Account) | 1 hour to 7 days |
⚠️ Warning: After resetting the settings on the device will work protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection. To activate the phone, you'll need to enter a Google account that was synced to the device before the reset.
Solving problems with false scanner positives
Sometimes users don't want to remove the fingerprint completely, but instead they want to fix the situation when the scanner is not working correctly, for example, the phone unlocks itself in the pocket or, on the contrary, does not see the finger, although there were no problems before, in such cases, complete deletion of biometric data and rewriting often solve the problem of software failures.
A common cause of errors is sensor contamination or the presence of a protective film that covers the scanning area. Optical scanners built into the screen are especially sensitive to the quality of glass. If you have a side scanner model, check if the case is in the way. It is also worth trying to clean the cache of the system biometric service, although this is rarely done in MIUI and requires access to hidden menus.
If the scanner is acting strange, try removing the old fingerprint and rewriting it using different angles of the finger when registering, and don't hold your finger statically, but slightly change your position so that the system remembers more faces, which will increase recognition accuracy and reduce false failures or false accesses.
In rare cases, the problem lies in updating the firmware. After the release of the new version of MIUI, the algorithms of the sensor may change. If after the update you notice strange behavior, it makes sense to reset the settings (as described above), since the remnants of old configuration files may conflict with new drivers.
Unlocking through Mi Unlock and Reset Protection
Things get more complicated if the device is locked and you can't get into the settings menu to delete the fingerprint. This often happens when you buy a used phone when the previous owner hasn't untied the device from their account. There's a Mi Unlock Tool in the Xiaomi ecosystem designed to unlock the bootloader, but it can also be used to completely reset protection if you know the Mi Account credentials.
To use this method, you'll need a Windows computer and a USB cable. You'll first need to download the official utility from miui.com/unlock. Then the phone goes to Fastboot mode (pressing the power button and reducing the volume when the device is turned off). By connecting your smartphone to your PC, you can try to unlock the bootloader, which will automatically erase all data, including biometrics.
fastboot oem unlockBut there's an important caveat: if the phone has Find Device enabled, even after unlocking the bootloader and installing the clean firmware, the first time you boot, the system will require a password from the Mi Account to which the device is attached. You can't get around this protection legally without a password from the previous owner. This is a fundamental security feature of modern smartphones.
If you are the legitimate owner but have forgotten your account password, the way to do this is to restore access through the Xiaomi account site to the phone number or email attached when you register. Attempts to use third-party programs to “reset” your account often result in the motherboard being completely inoperable.
Features of Face ID and fingerprint in MIUI 14 and HyperOS
Recent Xiaomi shells have seen a trend away from full biometric payment in favor of easier unlocking methods, with many users noticing that after the PayPass update or banking apps no longer see the fingerprint, even though it is active in the settings, due to Google’s security certification and bank requirements.
Face ID in the budget Redmi and POCO models is software-based and doesn't have a separate secure storage like the iPhone. So it's less secure. If you want to remove the face lock, the procedure is similar to removing the fingerprint: Settings -> Passwords and security -> Face unlock -> Face delete.
Why don’t banks like to be unlocked in the face?
HyperOS has improved its biometrics algorithms by adding the ability to use a fingerprint to hide the content of notifications or access certain applications (Application Protection). If you turn off the fingerprint in the basic settings, it will automatically stop working in these services, and you will have to reconfigure access to hidden albums or secure folders by selecting the "Password Only" method.
It is worth noting that on some global firmware versions, the biometrics menu may be hidden or renamed to suit local data protection laws, in which case, try changing the region in the settings (More -> Region) to "India" or "Singapore", where functionality is often disclosed more widely, and then return to the original region.
Technical aspects: where fingerprint data is stored
For those interested in the technical side of the matter, it is important to understand that fingerprint data on Xiaomi smartphones is not stored in the usual user memory partition. It is written to an isolated area of the processor called TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) or TrustZone.
Even if you have a Root (superuser) right, you can't just copy a fingerprint file, because it's encrypted with keys tied to a particular hardware, and when you reset your Wipe Data, the system sends a command to clean that secure area. This ensures that even if an attacker tries to count memory, NAND-chip, it won't get biometrics.
In the case of hardware failure of the fingerprint module (fingerprint), the system can begin to behave unpredictable: constantly demanding a password or giving driver errors. In the system logcat, this will be reflected as a communication error with the sensor, in this situation, software removal of the fingerprint will not help - you will need to replace the plume or module in the service center.
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Biometric data on Xiaomi is stored in an isolated secure processor circuit and cannot be copied or restored after resetting, even by specialists.
If you plan to flash your phone to custom build (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), keep in mind that fingerprint drivers may not work properly or at all if the firmware developer has not adapted them correctly. In such cases, the biometrics feature may disappear from the settings menu completely, and the only way to unlock will be the password.