Application Protection on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Locking and Security

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They offer users advanced tools to protect sensitive data, from blocking individual applications to hiding notifications and creating a blacklist of access, POCO Xiaomi 13/14 They don’t even know about half of these functions, relying on the standard one. PIN-Meanwhile, attackers or just curious people can access your messengers, banking applications or gallery in just a few seconds — if you don't configure protection at the level of individual applications.

In this article, we will discuss all available ways to protect applications on Xiaomi in the future. 2026 year: from basic lock through Settings → Privacy to hidden features like second space or incognito mode, you will learn how to set a password to WhatsApp, SberBank Online or Gallery, why locking doesn’t work on some models, and how to get around restrictions MIUI And then we'll expose the vulnerability in standard protection. MIUI 14/15, little-known.

What is Application Protection and Why is It Needed

Application protection on Xiaomi is a set of features that allow you to restrict access to individual programs or their data. Unlike the general password of the lock screen, which protects the entire smartphone, here we are talking about selective locking: for example, you can allow friends to use your phone for calls, but deny access to Telegram or Photos.

Key scenarios where appropriate:

• 🔒 Sharing Phone: Let your child play with their phone, but don’t want them to accidentally delete important files or see private messages.
• 💳 Banking Apps: Even if someone finds out PIN-your screen code, it will not be able to open SberBank or Tinkoff without an additional password.
• 👤 Confidential Data: Hiding Call History, SMS or notes with passwords from prying eyes.
• 📱 Remote Protection: Locking apps when you steal your phone through Find My Device.

It is important to understand that application protection on Xiaomi works at the operating system level. MIUI, It's not the apps themselves:

• ✅ You can block any application even if it does not have a built-in protection feature (for example, VK Instagram).
• ❌ Some system applications (for example, Settings or Phone) cannot be blocked - this is a limitation. MIUI.
• ⚠️ If an attacker gets root access or drops the phone through Fastboot, application protection is zeroed out.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with global firmware (Global) ROM) Application blocking may not be possible due to regional restrictions, and the switch to a new application will help. EEA (Europe) or Russian ROM — But it requires unlocking the bootloader.

How to protect applications on Xiaomi: from simple to complex

MIUI It offers multiple layers of application protection, from basic to advanced. Let's take them in order, starting with the most affordable ones.

1. Built-in application lock (App Lock)

The easiest way is to use the standard App Lock feature, which is available in the app. MIUI 12 and later: It allows you to set a password, fingerprint or pattern lock for individual applications.

How to turn on:

1. Open the Settings. → Privacy → Application lockdown.
2. Click Enable Application Lock and set a password (it may differ from the PIN-screen-code!).
3. Select apps from the list (e.g. Gallery, WhatsApp, Settings).
4. Activate Hide notifications from blocked applications so that the content of messages does not appear on the lock screen.

Features:

• 🔑 Password can only be reset via Mi Account – if you forget it, you will have to reset your phone.
• 👆 It works even if your phone is unlocked, for example if you gave it to a friend but don’t want them to open it.
• ⏱️ You can set up automatic lock after 1-30 minutes of inactivity.

⚠️ Note: On some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro with the MIUI 13) App Lock may conflict with Google Smart Lock. If the lock is triggered arbitrarily, disable Settings → Google → Smart Lock.

Set the lock screen password|Update MIUI last-minute|Disable Smart Lock from Google|Check the vacant space (needs to be checked) ≥500MB)-->

2 Second Space (Second Space)

If you want to not just block apps, but completely hide their existence, use the Second Space function, which is a separate user profile with its own apps, settings, and data.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
2. Create a new space and set a separate password for it.
3. Move the apps you want to hide (such as Tinder or the other ones) to it. 1Password).
4. In the main space, these applications will be invisible – they can only be opened after entering the second space password.

Advantages:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Complete isolation: apps in the second space don’t show up in the main menu or send notifications.
• 🔄 You can quickly switch between swipe spaces on the lock screen (configured in Settings). → Lock screen).
• 📱 It works even on rooted (root) devices.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ It takes up extra disk space (up to 2-3 GB for the second space).
• 🔄 Not all system applications can be duplicated (e.g. Settings or Phone).

3. Hidden folders and applications

If you don’t need complete isolation like in the second space, but you just want to hide apps from prying eyes, use the Hidden Folders feature:

1. Press your finger in the free seat of the main screen and select the screen settings.
2. Go to Hidden Folders and create a new one.
3. Move the applications you want to hide (such as Banking apps or Dating services) to it.
4. The folder will be visible only after a special gesture is performed (by default - double touch with two fingers).

For additional protection:

• 🔐 Set the password on the hidden folder in the settings.
• 📂 Rename the folder to something neutral (e.g., Utilities").
• 🔄 Change the gesture regularly to open (Settings) → Lock screen → Gestures).

4.Protection through Mi Account and Find My Device

If your phone is stolen or lost, you can remotely block access to apps via your Mi Account:

1. Visit i.mi.com from your PC.
2. Select the device and press Find the device → Lockdown.
3. Set a new lock screen password (it will overwrite the old one).
4. Activate the option Block Apps – this will block all applications protected through App Lock.

Important:

• 🔌 The device must be connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• 🔋 The battery level should be ≥15%, otherwise the lock may not work.
• ⚠️ If an attacker drops the phone through Recovery, the lock is removed.

Built-in application lock (App Lock)|Second space|Hidden folders|Password on the lock screen|Don't use protection.-->

Why Application Protection Doesn’t Work for Xiaomi

Sometimes, people find that App Lock or Second Space doesn't work as it should. Let's look at the main reasons and solutions.

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting the settings. MIUI data-free:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset MIUI (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. After restarting, set up the application protection again.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14/15 and the Snapdragon processor 8 Gen 2 (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra may cause a bug where App Lock blocks system applications (e.g. Camera) due to an error in the TrustZone security module. MIUI 13 Or wait for the patch in the next update.

Hidden functions of protection in MIUI, which you didn't know

In addition to the standard tools, the MIUI There are a few hidden features for data protection that are not documented, but work on most devices.

1. Incognito mode for applications

Some apps (like Chrome or Gallery) support incognito mode, which leaves no trace in history, to enable it globally:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Enable the option to Do not save actions in the log.

Now, all actions in blocked applications will not appear in Recent or Call Log.

2. Geolocation locking

If you want certain apps to be blocked automatically in some places (like Instagram at work), use location-based automation:

1. Open the Settings. → Privacy → Lockdown schedule.
2. Add a new rule and select Location.
3. Specify the area on the map (such as the office) and select the applications to lock.
4. Keep the rule – now applications will be blocked when you enter this zone.

3. Protection through ADB (advanced)

If standard methods do not fit, you can block applications through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This requires a PC connection, but gives you more control:

adb shell pm hide com.example.app

This command will hide the app from the menu (but won't delete it) to unlock:

adb shell pm unhide com.example.app

The list of application packages can be obtained by the command:

adb shell pm list packages

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB requires on-set debugging USB (Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB). Incorrect commands can cause system failure!

💡

If you often give your friends a phone but don't want them to see your notifications, turn on Guest mode in the notification curtain. To do this, swipe down the screen, click on your profile avatar and select Guest, in which only basic functions (calls, camera) will be available, and personal data will be hidden.

How to bypass the protection of applications on Xiaomi (and how to avoid it)

Knowing vulnerabilities is useful not only for attackers, but also for phone owners to close potential loopholes, and these are the most common ways to circumvent and protect against them.

1.Dumping through Recovery

If an attacker gets physical access to the phone, they can reset all settings via Recovery Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Up + Power to Enter Recovery.
3. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.

How to defend yourself:

• 🔐 Link the phone to the Mi Account - after reset, you will need to enter a login and password.
• 📱 Turn on the settings. → Google → Find my device, it will allow you to remotely lock your phone after the theft.

2. Exploits in MIUI

Old versions. MIUI (Up to 12.5), there was a bug that allowed you to bypass App Lock via Quick Ball:

1. Activate Settings → Special facilities → Quick Ball.
2. Add the recent label to the Quick Ball panel.
3. Open the blocked application through the recent – password was not requested.

V MIUI 13 and later this bug is fixed, but other vulnerabilities remain, for example:

• 🔓 Split Screen bypass: If you open a locked application in split screen mode, sometimes a password is not requested.
• 📸 Screenshots: in some versions MIUI You can take a screenshot of the blocked application without entering a password.

How to defend yourself:

• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI last-minute.
• ❌ Turn off Quick Ball and Split Screen for sensitive apps.
• 🚫 Disable screenshots for secure applications in Settings → Privacy → Application lockdown → Additionally.

3.Attacks through USB (BadUSB)

If you connect a special phone to your phone USB-a device (e.g. Rubber Ducky), it can emulate the keyboard and enter commands to bypass the lock:

input text 1234 && input keyevent 66

(where 1234 is yours PIN-code and 66 is the Enter command").

How to defend yourself:

• 🔌 Turn off the debugging. USB developer-setting.
• 🔒 Set a complex password (at least 8 characters with a letter and a number).
• 🛡️ Turn on the settings. → Additionally. → Protection USB (readily MIUI 14+).

💡

The most reliable protection is the combination of App Lock (for blocking applications), Mi Account (for remote blocking) and a second space (for hiding data), neither of which alone provides 100% protection, but together they make hacking almost impossible without physical access to the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about app protection on Xiaomi