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MIUI: What to do if you’ve forgotten your Privacy Protection password?

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If you’ve forgotten your Privacy Protection password, you probably can’t access the hidden folder, hidden album, turn on/off child mode, etc on your Xiaomi device. Here is a list of suggestions that let you bypass or reset the password.

i. Reset using your Mi account
If you’ve linked (or added) your Mi account to your Privacy Protection password, you’ll see the Forgot Pattern? link on the sign in screen.
miui privacy protection password_2

Simply click the Forgot Pattern? link and then enter your Mi account password to get a prompt to draw a new pattern.
miui privacy protection password_1

ii. Use fingerprint
If your Xiaomi device comes with a fingerprint sensor, you can use your fingerprints to open the hidden folder, hidden album, turn on/off child mode or even reset the Privacy Protection password. Here’s how:

  1. If you yet to register a fingerprint, go to your device’s Settings > Lock screen & password > Add fingerprint and follow the on-screen instructions to register your fingerprints.
  2. When you finish registering, turn on the Privacy password switch.
    miui privacy protection password_4
  3. Now, you can open the hidden folder, hidden album, turn on/off child mode, etc. without knowing your Privacy Protection password.
  4. You can also go to the device’s Settings > Lock screen & password > Privacy protection password > (sign in using fingerprint) > Change password > verify using fingerprint and then set a new pattern password.

iii. Factory reset
Copy all your files (photos, songs, docs, videos, etc) to your computer and use the built-in Local backup function to backup your phone’s settings, apps and app data. Note: You might want to move the folder of this backup to your computer too.

  1. Now, you can factory reset your phone with the following steps:
  2. Open the Settings app.
  3. Tap Additional settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset > Reset phone. Warning: Factory resetting your phone will erase all the settings, files and data on your phone storage.

When you finish resetting, you can restore the backup, copy your files back to your phone, and set a new Privacy Protection password.

iv. Reset Privacy Protection password via ADB command (only for rooted phone)

If your Xiaomi device is rooted, you can reset the Privacy Protection password via ADB command which I’ve learned from a MIUI developer from the Chinese forum.

Here are the general steps on how to do this: (Note: You’ll need to learn how to root your phone, install ADB tool on your computer, and use ADB in Command prompt or Terminal window yourself.)

Warning: Perform this at your own risk. This may void your phone’s warranty. I nor anyone else is responsible if you brick your device.

  1. On your rooted phone, turn on Debugging on (in Developer options) and connect it to your computer that has the ADB tool.
  2. In the Command prompt(Windows) or Terminal window(OS x), enter the following commands to reset the Privacy Policy password.

adb shell
su
settings put secure privacy_password_is_open 0
settings put secure secure access_control_lock_enabled 0
Settings
reboot

miui privacy protection password_3
If you know of any other ways to reset or bypass the Privacy Protection password in your Xiaomi device, share them in the comments.

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Comments

  1. Hello sir, I have Xiaomi Redimi 4A . I forgot my privacy protection password , but there is no option for “forgot password” how can I restore it . Can you describe briefly?

    • If you don’t see the ‘forgot password’ link, it means that you haven’t added your Mi account as a way to reset the Privacy Protection password. And very likely you’ll need to factory reset your phone in order to reset the privacy protection password. Remember to do a backup of your phone data before doing so.

  2. Bro thanks for it methods I didn’t wanted to factory reset my device I got my photos backup from SD card thanks sir

  3. Hii ,I have a Redmi note 5
    I was installed a app” privacy guard” unfortunately I forget the password .
    Either I didn’t recover the password or I can’t uninstall the app too.
    What I have to do??
    Is it any problem for my phone contacts and my mobile datas???
    Please clarify this…

  4. My phone is mi 5a iam unable to reset my mi account password
    I have changed 3times but still it is showing that invalid password or username

    • Where did you reset your mi account password? And where did you trying to sign in to that show you invalid password and username?

  6. Hello sir..
    Mera handset red mi 4a hai
    Mai privacy protection password ka pattern bhul gaya hun
    Aur Ab forgot password ka option bhi show nahi kr raha hai
    Jisse ki mai password reset kr sakun
    Please sir help me…
    Jisse ki mai Ye pattern reset kr sakun…

      • Sir I have purchased mi 4A and I have forgotten the privacy protection password and there was no forgot password option too plz help to reset the password sir

        • Above are all the methods that I know of. As a last resort, you might want to backup all files,data and settings to your computer, then do a factory reset.

  7. I switched off my redmi 5a and i changed my sims and when i switch on my mobile the hidden folders are not showing where will those files will go and how to get them..please

    • If you’ve the SD card installed previously, the hidden folder should be created in the SD card. Did you removed the SD card?

  8. Sir,
    I haven’t linked my mi account and now i forgot my privacy protection password.
    How can I restore my data without resetting my phone.
    My phone is Redmi 3S

  9. Hello sir! Sir i have redmi 3s and i have gorgot the privacy protection password ,and unable to unlock it so plz provide me useful step so that i can unlock it

    • Above are the useful steps that I know of. You could go through it one by one to see which one you can do. Thanks.

  11. Sir mera redmi mi4 hai privacy protection password ka pattern bhul gaye hai or phir fingerprint lgya tha but hum phir try kar rahe the pattern toh ab fingerprint bhi nahi le rha hai sir please tell me solution ….reply sir please

  13. Hi I have an note 4g which has no finger print and didn’t set mine I’d to privacy protection and I have forgot password
    What should I do plz help how to unlock it

  14. Hiii sir good evening!unfortunately i forgotten the screen lock !now wt can i do sir ! shall i restart or shall i go to mi service centre ! i have an small doubt is it possible to unlock phone without deleting the photos n contacts!I was added to mi account

    • I guess if you have the time you can visit mi service center to ask them to fix for you. Factory reset your phone will delete everything on your phone including reset the lock screen password. If you’ve enabled sync for your contacts and photos to mi cloud, you already have a backup for these items. It would be good that you sign in to the web-based mi cloud to make sure all your important photos and contacts are in Mi cloud before factory resetting your phone.

  16. Hello Sir,
    I am a Redmi Note 4 user . I have forgotten my Privacy Protection Password and I didn’t added that to Mi account . I don’t know how to register fingerprint.Please help me!

    • Try following the steps below to register your fingerprint and turn it on to unlock your Privacy Protection Password:

      1. Go to the device’s Settings > Lock screen & password > Manage fingerprints > Add fingerprint and follow the on-screen instructions to register your fingerprint.
      2. When you’re done, turn on the Privacy password switch in the Apply Fingerprint to section.
      3. After that, you can unlock your privacy policy password using your fingerprint.

      You should be able to reset your privacy protection password with your fingerprint too.

  17. Hello Sir,
    I am the user of Redmi note 4 I had forgotten my privacy protection patten. and I didn’t get the option of forgeten patten
    And I don’t want reset my mob I don’t want to lose files,pics,music,etc
    please help me !

    • Register a fingerprint, try using your fingerprint to unlock and reset your privacy protection pattern.

        • Then go to the device’s Settings > Lock screen & password > Manage fingerprints > Turn Privacy password option to unlock your Privacy password using fingerprint. You can then go to Privacy protection password to reset the password by authenticating using your fingerprint. Have you manage to try this?

        • I already did that but my mob is saying “couldn’t read fingerprints” I had reboot & power off my and again try but noting is going to happen ? please help me SIR

        • Try register a new fingerprint, if that doesn’t work, I guess you’ll need to backup all your files to your computer and factory reset the phone.

        • How about try to add more fingerprints? That’s I could think of. If you really can then you will need to backup your files and do a factory reset to reset your privacy protection password.

  18. I use redmi 2. For more than 2 years I used pattern lock only for the entire device and not for any app and didn’t create a mi account. About a fortnight back I used app lock (not an installed app but one that automatically came with the device (nested in settings)) for only 3 apps with a different pattern (fortunately!) than the one used for the entire device and then confirmed it. Next day morning I tried unlocking one of those 3 apps when I found I’d forgotten the pattern. Then I read in another forum about resetting forgotten pattern using mi account so I created one. Should I have first created the mi account and then only locked the apps to see ‘forgot pattern’ option? Is it because I first locked the apps and then created the mi account that I don’t see the ‘forgot pattern’ option?

    • Yah, you should sign in your Mi account on your Xiaomi phone first, then when you create the app lock password which is the Privacy Protection password, you’ll be prompted to add your Mi account as a recovery method. Are these 3 apps the downloadable apps? If they’re, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling them to bypass the authentication. To reset the forgotten app pattern you’ll need to factory reset your phone, you can backup all your files and data to your computer, before doing a factory reset.

    • Redmi 4a doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor. Therefore, you can use a fingerprint to reset your privacy protection password. In that case, you’ve to backup all your files and do a factory reset.

      • Hi Ethan,
        I have Redmi 4A mobile, i have set password for contact messages by app lock & forgot. Plz can u tell me procedure how to unlock pattern lock for contact messages/normal messages.
        Immediate reply highly appreciated!

        • All the possible steps to reset or recover the privacy protection password that I know of are written above.

  21. I haven’t linked my MI account with privacy protection password and so i can’t find the ‘forgotten password’ option.In this case what should i do

  22. i forgot my prvivacy protection passwad ,in my red mi 2 phone there is not showing forgot passward option and also not showing fingure print option ,what should i do, i dont wont to do resete the phone ?

    • Sorry to that jayjit. The above methods are what I know of to reset or bypass Privacy Protection password. You can do some research in the en.miui.com forum. If (Hopefully not) all the methods don’t work for you, you have no choice but to backup all your files and do a factory reset.

    • in you r mobile by using lock botton and volume botton take a screenshot and there is a option is there for send that photo by using that u go to gmail share there is a method of going to setting option above use it u can easily login

  23. Once i clicked the child mode option in my mi note 3 and after that it is appearing again and again and i also don’t know my privacy protection password and unfortunately my phone is not functioning. So how can i open the settings option. Please help me and reply ASAP..

  25. Sir can you halp me I forget mi 4A privency lock pattern but it not showing me forget password

    • Because you didn’t enable your Mi account to reset your Privacy Protection password. In case, you might want to backup your file and data, and do a factory reset to reset the Privacy Protection password.

  28. I just entered in to child lock menu it ask me select the app for child lock and then pattern not working i tried pattern for my app but not working i dont have Mi account also

  29. My Mi4 phone has been locked password & finger print aren’t accepting. How can i rest it.

    • What happened to your backup password (PIN/Pattern/Password)? If you’ve forgotten it, then I’m afraid you need to learn how to factory reset your phone. If you have your Mi account signed in to your phone, you can factory reset from https://i.mi.com/

  30. when u r not connected to internet.and also u had not connected ur mi account.Then just do the following steps which i did-
    1.go to ur lockscreen(press power off-power on-u will see the lockscreen wallpaper)
    2.u will find an option(at top right corner) to change ur lockscreen wallpaper.just select it.
    3.when selecting wallpapers,u will find an option to share ur wallpaper.SELECT GMAIL.
    4.in gmail.open settins.at the top right corner,u can see 3 dots press it.There is an option there to “manage accounts” press it.From here, it will take u to main phone settings.
    5.now its easy,go to lockscreen &password.then go to manage fingerprints.confirm ur fingerprint pattern.THEN IN THE LAST,SELECT PRIVACY PASSWORD(NOW U CAN USE UR FINGERPRINT TO USE AS PRIVACY PROTECTION PASSWORD)
    6.now just go back to child mode and off the fcking mode.
    ENJOY!!!

  31. Well, I found the solution that is nowhere found on the internet till now!

    The child mode (if you have not selected any allowable app) will only toggle between the PRIVACY PROTECTION PASSWORD (which you do not know) and the pop up of selecting the app, only giving one OK button to press. If you’ve not connected to the MI account to your privacy, then you are not left with any other option except to hard resect…well that’s what ethan says as well.

    I found a way and its as follows:
    Note: you can receive whatsapp msgs and you can see the notification on top (if you’ve unlocked your phone), and if you are locked, the msg comes on the lock screen. Tap the msg and go directly into the whatsapp chat list. Believe me, this is easy. Try it.

    1. once you are in whatsapp, go to any chat and press the three dots menu on top right > more > email chat > without media > select Gmail
    2. Gmail asks in a pop up that the app wont work properly unless you allow play store services….Press CANCEL
    3. In the gmail email. go to three dots menu on top right and go to HELP AND FEEDBACK
    4. in HELP AND FEEDBACK, go to the three dots menu and press VIEW IN GOOGLE PLAY STORE
    5. In PLAY STORE, search REDMI SETTINGS APP and install it and OPEN it
    6. From that app opened, move to second page and press the icon for PHONE/SYSTEM SETTINGS
    7. Now, you are in your phone settings. Go to security and passwords > fingerprint management > privacy protection password > ON (that means now privacy protection password uses your finger print)
    8. Come out of everything, go where you are stuck, use your fingerprint to unlock the child mode.
    9. Go to settings again now and into the child mode and switch it OFF.

    Done!

    You will still not know the pattern for privacy protection and your phone should have a fingerprint reader for this tutorial.

    Good luck!

    • Thank you very much for sharing another method that allows users to bypass Child mode (temporarily) to access the device’s Settings to enable fingerprint to unlock the child mode or to do factory reset (some models don’t come with a fingerprint sensor).

    • Thank you for your advice. It was really very useful. Now I can use my again. It’s a great relief. Thank you?

    • Thank you for your advice. It was really very useful. Now I can use my phone again. It’s a great relief. Thank you?

  32. I haven’t set a privacy protection pattren but it is asking it’s pattern.. and mine is mi note 4..

  33. I set privacy protection password but after some time I want to remove it but no option are appearing for remove it

    • The Privacy Protection password is used to protect quite a number of things (hidden alnbum, private folder, locked apps, etc.). It seems like there’s no way to turn it off except factory resetting your phone.

  34. I never set a password i first time try to set password but it show like I entering wrong pattern
    As I setting pattern first time it not showing forget password plz solve this problem and yah I’m using redmi note 4 4 gb,64gb model

    • Sorry, above are the only ways I know to reset, recover or bypass the forgotten Privacy Protection password.

  36. I have not added fingerprint to it and not added mi account as well..is there any way to retrieve password..plz tell…

    • Above are the methods that I know of. Maybe you can just researching in the en.miui.com forum.

  37. I haven’t a mi account nd not root my phone plz help how to unlock privacy protection

  38. Did not work. I didn’t set any password in child mode. Home button is inactive. I have an exit shortcut with a close button in the home screen. When I click on it, it opens the settings for few microseconds! I can open my camera, can send photos via WhatsApp, Skype, Imo, mail, (not Gmail). It only shows no network connection whenever I try to browse, it doesn’t go to network settings. How to go to settings? Or how to even do factory reset??

    • I’m not sure which model of Xiaomi phone you’re having, the following thread shows you the steps to get to the device’s Setting menu from the Camera app (in Child mode). In the device’s Settings, you can then register your fingerprint to unlock the child mode.

      http://webcazine.com/forums/stuck-on-child-mode-to-normal-mode/

      If the above doesn’t work for you, you can do further research in the en.miui.com forum. Also, you should be able to find the steps to reinstall your phone software as a way to factory reset your phone. If you have sign in your Mi account on your phone, you should be to factory reset your phone from the web-based Mi Cloud.

      Sorry that I can’t help much.

      • I foget my child password..on home only showing browser app ..no hv any other …how to setting ..plz hlp me

    • You meant the lock screen password? How about fingerprint? There’s no magic way to reset the lock screen password, except reinstall(reflash) the phone’s software or issuing a factory reset command from the web-based Mi Cloud.

    • If you haven’t linked (or added) your Mi account to your Privacy Protection password, you’ll not see the Forget pattern link. You can explore the other alternatives.

        • 1. From the device’s Settings, tap Lock screen & password > Privacy protection password.
          2. Turn on the ‘Add Mi Account’ switch.

  42. I haven’t linked my MI account with privacy protection password and so i can’t find the ‘forgotten password’ option.In this case what should i do??

        • The pictures and videos in your hidden albums are actually stored in Mi Cloud. Factory reset only clear the file, data and settings on your phone storage.