How to remove the screensaver Xiaomi Redmi 8: from simple ways to radical solutions

The screensaver on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 screen can appear for various reasons, from basic screen lock to system failures or viruses. Most often, users experience this problem after updating the firmware, incorrectly turning off the device or installing third-party applications. In some cases, the screen is blocked due to the activation of the data protection function when the system requires you to enter a password after rebooting.

It's important to understand that "savers" is a generalized concept, and underneath it can be a standard lock screen (requires a swipe or a swipe). PIN-code), black screen with logo MI (Freeze when downloading, banner ads (if malicious apps are installed), or even a recovery screen (Fastboot mode.

In this article, we'll look at all possible scenarios, from a simple wallpaper shutdown to a complete reset. If your Redmi 8 doesn't respond to touch, hangs on a logo, or shows an unknown screensaver, you'll find a solution below. Start with the simplest methods and gradually move on to more complex ones.

1. Screensaver type check: screen lock or system failure?

Before you start, determine which screensaver you are dealing with, which will help you choose the right method of elimination.

• 🔒 Standard lock screen: see time, notifications, asks for swipe or password entry/PIN-This is normal behavior if you've previously installed security.
• 🖥️ Black screen with logo MI or boot animation: the device freezes at this stage for more than 5 minutes - a sign of firmware failure or damage to system files.

If your case is the first item (standard lock), go to the section on disabling the password. If the screen does not respond to touch or shows the MI logo for more than 10 minutes, this is a system failure, and actions from sections 4-6 will be required.

2. Removal of the standard screensaver (wallpaper or screen lock)

If you have wallpaper, time, notifications on the screen, and the system asks you to swipe or enter your password, it's a common lock on the screen, and you can remove it through settings or reset your password if you forget it.

2.1. Password disabling/PIN-code (if you remember it)

If you remember a password or a pattern lock, follow the following steps:

1. Unlock the screen by entering the current password/PIN-code.
2. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Screen Lock.
3. Select No (disable lock) or change the unlock method to a more convenient one (like Swipe).
4. Confirm the action with the current password.

If the system asks you to enter a password from your Mi Account, this means that the device protection function was previously activated, in which case you will need to enter data from your Xiaomi account (email and password).

2.2 Reset password via Mi Account (if you forgot)

If you forgot the lock password, but linked the device to your Mi Account, use the recovery function:

1. On the lock screen, tap Forgot Password? (or Forgot Password).
2. Enter your email and password from your Mi Account.
3. Confirm the action via SMS or email (the code will come to the linked number or mail).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to create a new password.

⚠️ Warning: If you don't remember the Mi Account data or the phone isn't connected to the Internet, this method won't work.

3. Removal of the screensaver or viruses

If foreign banners, advertisements or unknown wallpaper appear on the lock screen or desktop, most likely malware is installed on the device.

• 📱 Applications from Third Party Sources (not from Google Play).
• 🔗 Suspicious links in the browser or messengers.
• 📦 Malignant APK-files downloaded from torrents.

To remove the screensaver, follow the following steps:

Removal of suspicious applications

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management and:

1. Sort the list by installation date (Recently installed).
2. Check out apps with unknown names (e.g. com.system.update, FlashPlayer are typical viruses).
3. Tapping on the suspicious app → Delete.
4. If the Remove button is inactive, uninstall the administrator rights in Settings → Passwords and Security → Device administrators.

Resetting wallpaper and launcher

If the screensaver appears on the desktop (not on the lock screen), try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Keep an empty space on the desktop → screen settings.
2. Select Reset Launcher Settings or Restore by Default.
3. Reset the device.

If the problem hasn’t gone away, install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher) from Google Play.

⚠️ Warning: Some viruses disguise themselves as system applications (e.g. Android System or Google Services) and manually removing them can be dangerous, causing system failure.

4. Correction of the black screen with the MI logo (getting stuck when booting)

If the phone is turned on but hangs on the MI logo or download animation for more than 10 minutes, it is a sign of damage to system files.

• 🔄 Failed firmware update.
• 🛠️ Installation of custom recaveri (TWRP) ortho.
• ⚡ Abrupt power outage during work.

In such cases, restarting to safe mode or restoring via Fastboot will help.

Reboot to safe mode

Safe mode only downloads system applications, disabling third-party applications, which will help to check whether the installed software is the cause of the failure:

1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds).
2. Hold the Power button until the MI logo appears, then release and immediately press Volume down.
3. Keep Volume down until the phone boots in Safe Mode (there will be a Safe Mode label at the bottom of the screen).

If the phone is operating normally in safe mode, the problem is in one of the installed applications. Uninstall the recently added programs (see section 3.1). If the freeze is repeated, move to the next step.

4.2 Recovery via Fastboot

If Safe Mode doesn't work, you'll need to flash your phone through Fastboot.

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (original).
• 📁 Firmware for Redmi 8 (download from the official Xiaomi website).

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume down for 10 seconds to go to Fastboot Mode.
3. Connect the phone to the PC.
4. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, select the downloaded firmware and press Flash.
5. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: Fastboot removes all data from the device. If your phone had important files, try extracting them first. ADB (see spoiler below).

5 Hard Reset via Recovery Mode

If no method has worked, the last option is a complete reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, but return the phone to factory status.

The Xiaomi Redmi 8 has two ways to make a hard reset:

5.1.Across the Recovery menu

This method works if the phone responds to the buttons:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press Power + Volume up for 10-15 seconds until the MI logo and Recovery menu appear.
3. Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.
4. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the action (Confirm).
6. After reset, select Reboot → Reboot to System.

5.2. via Fastboot (if Recovery is not available)

If the Recovery menu does not open, use the command via PC:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase cache




fastboot reboot

These commands will clear user data and cache, after which the phone will restart in a factory state.

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Hard reset is the last chance to bring the phone back to life if other methods don't work, and after the procedure, the device will look like new, but all the data will be lost.

6. Additional methods: disabling the screensaver via ADB and Mi Unlock

If the standard methods didn’t work, you can try more advanced methods, which require ADB or Xiaomi utilities.

Removal of the screensaver via ADB (for experienced users)

If the phone is turned on but the lock screen is not removed (for example, after an application crashes), you can try to delete the password via ADB:

1. Turn on USB debugging in the developer settings (if the phone works even a little).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and type commands: adb shell su rm /data/system/gesture.key rm /data/system/password.key rm /data/system/locksettings.db rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm reboot

After restarting, the screen lock should reset.

⚠️ Warning: This method only works on unencrypted devices! If encryption is enabled in the settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption), ADB You will not be able to delete password files.

6.2 Unlocking through Mi Unlock Tool (if the Mi Account is tied)

If the phone is locked due to a link to your Mi Account (for example, after a reset), you can try the official Mi Unlock Tool utility:

1. Download Mi Unlock Tool from the official website.
2. Sign in to the program under the same account as on the phone.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down).
4. Press Unlock and wait for the process to be completed.

This method will only work if:

• 📱 The phone was unlocked for the loader (OEM Unlock is enabled in the developer settings).
• 🔑 You remember the data from your Mi Account.
• ⏳ More than 72 hours have passed since the last account was linked (Xiaomi’s rule for theft protection).

Table: Comparison of screensaver removal methods

If none of the methods worked, the problem may be a hardware malfunction (for example, damage to flash memory or motherboard), in which case we recommend contacting the service center.

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Before resetting or firmware, always check the battery charge - it should be at least 50%. interruption of the process due to discharge can turn the phone into a "brick".

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing the screensaver on Xiaomi Redmi 8