Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which use the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, offer users a huge amount of customization and control. One of the most sought-after features for parents, educators or retailers in stores is the ability to restrict access to certain apps or lock a device within a single screen. This feature, often called “Guide Access” (similar to iOS), allows users to lock the screen on a particular app, preventing the user from leaving it or using other phone features.
In the Android ecosystem and specifically in Xiaomi smartphones, this functionality is implemented through the system option “Fix in the app” or “Stick the screen.” By activating this mode, you get full control of what happens on the display, it is the perfect tool for giving a child to play one game without fear of deleting important files, making an accidental call or buying something superfluous from an online store.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the details of how to set up and use this feature, where the necessary switches are hidden in the settings menu, how to combine locks correctly for maximum security, and what alternative methods exist to restrict access, and we will also address security issues and answer frequently asked questions related to exiting lock mode.
What is the Guide Access Mode on Android and Xiaomi
The term “guide access” in the context of Xiaomi and Redmi devices is usually understood as a system function known as “App Pinning”, which allows you to “attach” an active application to the screen, making it impossible to close or switch to another window without performing a special sequence of actions.
The main purpose of this mode is to create a controlled digital environment, so if you give a phone to a colleague to show a presentation, or a child to watch a training video, you don't have to worry about data integrity. System isolation ensures that the user stays in the exact application you launched. Unlike simply hiding icons, locking works at the operating system level, preventing any attempts to exit.
It is important to understand that pure “Guide access” with the ability to select specific screen elements (like on iPhone) in standard MIUI firmware is rare. However, the combination of standard locking and additional controls allows you to achieve a similar result. Data security in this case is ensured by the fact that without unlocking the device (entering a PIN, password or fingerprint), you can not leave the attached application.
⚠️ Note: When you activate screen locking, all biometrics and passwords entered before mode is turned on may need to be re-entered to exit.
Where to find screen fixing settings in MIUI and HyperOS
The settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell installed, as well as the version of the Android operating system. In most modern Xiaomi models, the path to the desired menu is standardized, but requires careful search.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Open Settings and search for Password and Security (or simply Security) and some firmware versions may call it Privacy Protection».
- 🔍 In the menu that opens, scroll down to the Privacy or Special Opportunities section, and you will find the "Application Fix" option (sometimes translated as "Screen Fixing»).
- ⚙️ Press the switch to activate the function. The system can request confirmation of action by entering the unlock password of the screen.
When the switch is activated, additional settings are available, security settings allow or disable the power lock button to exit mode, and if this is off, even a long pressing of the power button will not help you exit the application without unlocking, which is critical to ensuring protection from children.
It's also worth noting that in some regions and global firmware versions, the path may be different, for example, in HyperOS, settings can be integrated into the Application Security section. If you can't find the option on the standard path, search by settings by typing in "Fix" or "Fix." Setting is often the fastest way to get to the desired menu, bypassing complex menu structures.
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If the search by settings does not give results, try to change the system language to English, find the item "Pin windows", remember its location, and then return the Russian language.
Step-by-step: how to enable and use the function
Once you have activated the feature in the settings, you need to learn how to use it. The process of anchoring the application is intuitive, but has its own peculiarities on different types of navigation. First, open the application that you want to capture on the screen. This can be YouTube, a gallery, a game or a browser.
The following steps depend on the type of navigation installed in your Xiaomi:
- 🖐️ If you have gesture navigation enabled, swipe from the bottom edge of the screen upwards and hold your finger in the center of the screen until you have a vibration or a lock icon. Don't let go of your finger right away, wait for the system to react.
- 🔘 If you use classic navigation with three buttons: click the Menu button (square or three bars), which is usually to the left of the Home button. In the list of recent apps that opens, find the active window card and click on the lock icon or anchor icon.
Once the action is successful, you will see a notification that the device is fixed. Now any attempts to swipe, click on the navigation button or exit the menu will be ignored by the system. The interface is blocked, and the user remains within one window, which creates a “digital cell” effect, from which there is no exit without a special action.
To exit the Guide mode, you need to do the reverse, usually by pressing the back button and the Menu button at the same time (or swiping up and holding, depending on the model). If the security settings are protected, the system will require you to enter the PIN, pattern lock or fingerprint of the owner, unlocking the device will return full control of the smartphone.
☑️ Pre-introducement checks
Set up parental controls and restrictions
While standard screen fixing is a powerful tool, full parental control on Xiaomi often requires a more flexible approach, with MIUI’s built-in features offering a “Second Space” feature or specialized profiles that allow you to create a separate environment for your child, but if you’re talking about the constraints within a single session, fixation is the best choice.
To enhance security, additional tools are recommended, such as the “Security” app (green zipper icon) that is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, which has a “Parent Control” section, where you can limit device usage time, block new apps from installing and filter content, and combine methods to give the best result.
Consider a comparison of standard fixation and specialized control applications:
| Parameter | Fixing in annex | Google Family Link | Second space |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose of use | Temporary access to 1 annex | Continuous monitoring of the child | Separation of personal and work/children |
| Difficulty of exit | Password of the owner | Parent password (remotely) | Profile password |
| Time limitation | No. | There are (screen time limits) | No. |
| Blocking purchases | No (unless the store is blocked) | Yes (permission requirement) | Depends on the profile settings |
Using the table above, you can choose the optimal strategy. If you just have to give the phone 15 minutes on the road, use fixation. If you want to monitor the child's digital hygiene in the long run, it's better to install Google Family Link or a similar app. The level of protection in third-party apps is often higher, as they can block even resetting settings or removing the controller app itself.
⚠️ Warning: Screen fixing does not protect against resetting the device with buttons (Hard Reset).If a child or intruder has physical access to the phone turned off, they may try to reset it to factory settings via Recovery Mode.
Alternative methods: Second space and guest mode
There are two other powerful access restriction tools in Xiaomi owners’ arsenal that work differently than simple fixation: the first is Guest Mode, which is a temporary profile that doesn’t have your personal photos, contacts, or browser history, and is perfect when you give someone a phone to call or search for information quickly.
The second, more advanced method is Second Space, which is basically creating a second virtual smartphone inside a physical device, and it has its own desktop, its own apps, its own accounts, its own passwords, and the data isolation is absolute, and the applications in the first space don't see the files in the second space, and the switching between the spaces is done through a special password or a fingerprint.
How to create Second Space:
- 🚀 Go to "Settings» → «Second Space (or use the search).
- 🔑 Click “Enable Second Space” and follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
- 👆 Assign different fingerprints to enter the main and second spaces, for example, the thumb of the right hand opens your personal phone, and the thumb of the left - a "children's" profile.
Using Second Space allows you to pre-instal only permitted games and apps, set up secure browser searches, and block in-app purchases, a more complex but more reliable configuration for children to use the device regularly, and you can completely hide the second space if you don't set it up quickly.
Can I hide the space switch icon?
Solution: problems with exit and discharge
Users often experience situations where it seems impossible to exit lock mode, which can be due to a system failure or misconfigured security settings. If the button combination does not work, try unlocking the screen with the power button first (if allowed in the settings), and then performing the exit action.
In some cases, especially on older versions of Android, fixation can get stuck. If standard methods don't help, there's an emergency way to reboot. On most Xiaomi smartphones, holding the power button for a long time (about 10-15 seconds) still causes a forced reboot, even if the screen is locked.Rebooting the system will reset all temporary fixations, but won't delete your data.
And you also have to remember the Digital Wellbeing feature, which is built into the settings in the newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS, where you can set limits on specific applications. When the time goes out, the app locks, and you can't get around that restriction without the administrator password (your password) -- it's a great alternative to dealing with addiction. Digital well-being is an important aspect of using modern gadgets.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t rely solely on software locking if you hand the device over to young children.They may accidentally press a combination of volume and power buttons, which will result in a reboot or, in the worst case, an attempt to log in to Recovery.
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The most reliable way to secure data is a comprehensive approach: use screen fixing for short-term access and Second Space for children to use the device constantly.