How to Enable or Disable Face Unlock on Xiaomi Phones (MIUI) for Apps

 

Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI come equipped with Face Unlock, a convenient biometric security feature that allows you to unlock your phone, access apps, and authorize digital payments quickly. While Face Unlock offers speed and ease, you may want to enable or disable it for specific apps to maintain better control over privacy and security.

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough for managing Face Unlock on Xiaomi devices, including practical tips, troubleshooting, and advanced features.

Did you know? For a complete guide on this topic, check out the Xiaomi Learning Hub and explore related tips in the Security & Privacy Topic Hub.

1️⃣ Verify if Face Unlock is Active on Your Xiaomi Phone

Before enabling or restricting Face Unlock for apps, you need to confirm that the feature is active and properly set up:

Path:
Settings → Passwords & security → Face Unlock

Here you can:

  • View registered faces: See the profiles stored for Face Unlock.

  • Delete or re-register a face: Re-registering can improve recognition accuracy.

  • Enable “Unlock with eyes open”: This adds an extra layer of security, ensuring the phone only unlocks when you’re actively looking at it.

💡 Pro Tip: For users in low-light environments, ensure “Face Unlock in low light” is enabled if available in your MIUI version. This improves recognition accuracy in dim settings.

2️⃣ Enable or Disable Face Unlock for Individual Apps

Xiaomi allows you to control which apps use Face Unlock for authentication, giving you flexibility over your privacy.

Path:
Settings → Passwords & security → Face Unlock → Apps

Steps:

  1. Open the Apps section.

  2. You’ll see a list of apps that support Face Unlock.

  3. Toggle the switch ON to allow Face Unlock or OFF to restrict it for each app individually.

Practical Examples:

  • Banking & Finance Apps: Enable Face Unlock for fast, secure access without entering your password each time.

  • Messaging & Social Media Apps: Disable Face Unlock if you want extra privacy; these apps will require a password instead.

  • Mi Pay & Digital Transactions: Enable Face Unlock for convenient, secure payments.

💡 Pro Tip: For highly sensitive apps (e.g., banking or confidential work apps), combining Face Unlock with a PIN or Pattern provides dual-layer security.

3️⃣ Understanding Advanced Face Unlock Options

MIUI offers additional settings to improve Face Unlock functionality:

Alternate Face

  • What it is: You can register a second face to ensure recognition works in different scenarios, such as wearing glasses or a mask.

  • How to use:
    Settings → Passwords & security → Face Unlock → Alternate face → Add face

  • Benefit: Improves recognition reliability without compromising security.

Low Light Recognition

  • Purpose: Enhances Face Unlock performance in dim or dark environments.

  • Location: Found within the Face Unlock settings (MIUI 12+).

  • Tip: Only enable if you frequently unlock your phone in low-light conditions.

Require Eyes Open

  • Purpose: Ensures your Xiaomi phone only unlocks when your eyes are open.

  • Security advantage: Prevents someone from unlocking your device while you’re asleep or unconscious.

4️⃣ Practical Security Tips for Xiaomi Face Unlock

  1. Use a Backup PIN or Pattern: Even with Face Unlock enabled, always have a secondary unlock method for situations where biometric recognition fails.

  2. Avoid Unauthorized Access: Disable Face Unlock for sensitive apps if multiple people have access to your device.

  3. Check Environmental Conditions: Face Unlock may struggle in extreme light, low light, or when wearing sunglasses/masks. Adjust settings or use Alternate Face accordingly.

  4. Regularly Update MIUI: Updates often include improvements to Face Unlock recognition and security.

  5. Avoid Over-Reliance: Treat Face Unlock as a convenience feature; combining it with passwords for critical apps is always safer.

5️⃣ Troubleshooting Face Unlock on Xiaomi Devices

If Face Unlock is not working as expected:

  • Re-register your face: Sometimes the stored face data can degrade recognition accuracy.

  • Clean the front camera: Dust or smudges can interfere with facial recognition.

  • Check lighting conditions: Bright backlight or very low light can affect recognition.

  • Restart your device: Simple rebooting can resolve temporary glitches in the MIUI system.

  • Reset Face Unlock settings:
    Settings → Passwords & security → Face Unlock → Delete all faces → Re-register

💡 Pro Tip: Avoid using Face Unlock with very similar-looking individuals nearby for enhanced privacy.

6️⃣ Removing or Modifying Face Unlock Access for Apps

If you decide to remove or adjust Face Unlock for specific apps:

Path:
Settings → Passwords & security → Face Unlock → Apps

  • Toggle OFF for apps you don’t want to use Face Unlock with.

  • Toggle ON for apps where you want quick authentication.

This gives you full control over which apps rely on facial recognition, ensuring your device and data remain secure.

7️⃣ Why Managing Face Unlock for Apps Matters

While Face Unlock is convenient, managing it per app is essential for security, privacy, and compliance:

  • Prevent unauthorized access: Not all apps require biometric authentication. Restricting Face Unlock reduces potential exposure.

  • Maintain regulatory compliance: Some financial or enterprise apps may require additional authentication beyond biometrics.

  • Balance convenience and safety: Using Face Unlock selectively allows you to enjoy convenience for trusted apps while securing sensitive data.

8️⃣ Summary: Steps to Enable or Disable Face Unlock on Xiaomi

  1. Confirm Face Unlock is active:
    Settings → Passwords & security → Face Unlock

  2. Go to Apps to see supported applications.

  3. Toggle switches to allow or restrict Face Unlock for each app.

  4. Use Alternate Face or Require eyes open to improve reliability.

  5. Revisit settings anytime to adjust security preferences.

With these steps, you can fully control app access and device security, ensuring your Xiaomi phone is safe, convenient, and smart to use.

✅ Key Takeaways:

  • Xiaomi MIUI allows precise control over Face Unlock usage for apps.

  • Always combine Face Unlock with PIN or Pattern for sensitive apps.

  • Use Alternate Face and lighting options to improve recognition in various conditions.

  • Regularly review app permissions to maintain security.

By following this guide, you can safely leverage Face Unlock on Xiaomi devices while maintaining privacy and control 🔒📱.

Read related posts on OnePlus: How to Enable or Disable Face Unlock on Xiaomi Phones (MIUI) for Apps

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