How to add an app to the list of protected on Xiaomi Redmi

A modern smartphone has become a digital safe that stores bank account access, personal correspondence and sensitive photos. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often wonder how to restrict access to certain programs so that even with an unlocked screen, an outsider can not open a messenger or gallery. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer built-in and powerful tools to solve this problem without installing third-party software.

The application protection function works at the system level, which guarantees high reliability and minimal energy consumption compared to analogues from Google Play. PIN-It's also using biometrics like a fingerprint or facial recognition, and it creates an extra layer of defense, making it as difficult for attackers to access your data as possible.

In this article, we will discuss the process of activating protection, configuring security settings, and analyzing the nuances of the function in different versions of the firmware. You will learn how to make the content of notifications also hidden, and what to do if the standard security menu does not work as you expected.

Application protection principle in MIUI and HyperOS

The security mechanism built into Xiaomi’s operating system is based on the Security Center module, which has higher privileges than regular user applications, allowing it to intercept and block other programs until the owner has successfully authorized them. Unlike third-party lockers, the system solution is deeply integrated into Android processes.

When you add a program to the protected list, the system creates a separate security context for it, and when you try to open an application like WhatsApp, a Gallery, or an Online Bank, you have a password request window or a biometric window on top of the interface, and you also have limited access to the security settings, which prevents the unauthorized person who accessed the phone from deleting the lock rules.

It's important to understand that the feature works whether or not the screen is locked, and even if the phone is unlocked on the table, trying to run a secure app will require re-identification, especially in situations where you give the device to children to play with or colleagues to view photos, but want to hide personal data.

⚠️ Note: When you turn on application protection, it is recommended to immediately configure recovery through the Mi-account. If you forget the application unlock password, it will be almost impossible to reset it without an associated account, and the data inside the programs may become unavailable.

Step-by-step: activate App Lock via the security menu

The most versatile way to configure the access restriction is for all current versions of MIUI and HyperOS firmware. The process takes only a few minutes and requires no special knowledge. First, you need to find a system application that usually has a green icon with a shield called Security.

When you start the app, go to the bottom of the screen where the additional tools are located. Find the lock icon or the word "App Lock." When you first start, the system will ask you to come up with a password. This can be a digital code, a pattern lock or a sequence of dots. Remember this code, because it will be used for all secure programs.

Follow the algorithm further:

• 🔒 Press the Enable button after entering the password.
• 📱 Select from the list all the apps you want to hide or protect.
• 👆 Activate the Unlock by fingerprint switch if you want to use biometrics.
• 🔔 Configure to hide the content of notifications for selected programs.

Once you've done these steps, the selected programs will be tagged with a special lock icon in the list, and now they'll request authorization every time they run, and if you want to change the list, just go back to the Application Protection menu and uncheck the unnecessary items.

Set up biometric unlocking and passwords

Using a password can be tedious every time, so Xiaomi suggests using biometrics, which not only speeds up the access process, but also improves security, since a fingerprint or face is harder to forge than a simple pattern lock. For this function, it is necessary that the system settings → Passwords and security have already been entered your biometrics.

To activate fingerprint unlock for applications, open the protection settings (the gear icon in the corner of the application lock screen). Find the fingerprint unlock and activate it. The system may ask you to confirm the action with the password you set earlier. Now, when you touch the scanner or on-screen fingerprint sensor, the secure application will open instantly.

Newer versions of HyperOS also offer the ability to unlock facial recognition for individual applications, but this feature works less consistently in poor lighting conditions: Biometric data is stored in a secure processor module and is not transmitted to servers, which guarantees confidentiality.

⚠️ Note: If you change the method of unlocking your phone screen or remove fingerprints from the main settings, the app unlock feature will also stop working until you reactivate it.

To increase the level of protection, you can set a lock timeout. In the security settings, select when you need to re-enter your password: immediately after closing the application, after 1 minute or after 10 minutes, this will allow you to not enter the code every time you often switch between secure and regular programs.

Hiding notifications and content on the lock screen

Even if the application is blocked by a password, the text of the incoming message can be seen in the notification curtain or on the lock screen. To completely hide the fact that new information is available, you need to configure the Hide Content parameter, which replaces the text of the message with asterisks or simply shows that a notification has arrived, without specifying the sender.

You can activate this option in the same menu where you select protection apps. Next to the program name, there is often an additional setting or a general button to Hide the contents of notifications. When you turn on this feature, even if the phone is in your hands and unlocked, the text of the message from Telegram or Viber will not be visible until you enter the password into the application itself.

It’s worth noting the impact of this setup on the Mi Band smartwatches and bracelets, and if you hide the contents of notifications on your phone, an impersonal notification will also come to the wearable device, an important nuance for those who use the Xiaomi Wear ecosystem.

Using the Second Space as an Alternative

If standard app locking isn't enough and you want to create a completely isolated environment, Xiaomi offers a Second Space feature, which is not just a password for an app, but creating a second virtual operating system inside your phone, logged in with a separate fingerprint or password.

In Space Two, you'll have a clean desktop, separate galleries, separate Google and Mi accounts. Apps installed in Space Two aren't visible in Space Two, and vice versa. It's ideal for separating work and personal life, or for storing highly sensitive data that you don't even want to lock into the main menu.

Switching between spaces is instantaneous through a notification panel or a special widget, but it is worth considering that this feature consumes more battery and RAM, since in fact two user profiles are running on the phone at the same time.

Solving typical problems and job failures

Users may encounter a situation where application protection stops working or requests a password at the wrong time. Often this involves aggressive battery optimization that kills the security process. To avoid this, find the Security app in the list of installed programs, click About App and select Activity Control by setting the No Limits value.

Another common problem is the disappearance of the password or the inability to remember the pattern lock. In this case, the password entry screen must have a link Forgot the password?. By clicking on it, the system will prompt you to enter the password from the Mi Account that was associated with the setting. It is impossible to reset the password without attaching to the account for security reasons.

If the app crashes immediately after you enter your password, try clearing the cache of the Security app itself through the phone's settings menu. Also make sure that the system time and date are set correctly, as security certificates can conflict when time is out of sync.

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If you plan to sell the phone, be sure to remove Second Space and remove protection from all apps before resetting to factory settings, otherwise the new owner will not be able to use them.

⚠️ Note: Installing third-party launchers (desktop shells) may disrupt application protection, in which case the system may stop recognizing the program's launch and not request a password.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Application protection on Xiaomi is a powerful tool that, when properly configured (password + biometrics + notification hiding), provides a level of security comparable to corporate encryption standards.