How to set a password for the application on Xiaomi: full instructions

The modern smartphone stores a huge amount of confidential information, from correspondence in messengers to scans of documents and banking applications. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often wonder how to limit access to specific programs without blocking the entire phone, this is especially true when you give the gadget to a child or leave it on the table in front of guests.

MIUI and the new HyperOS have a powerful built-in security mechanism that doesn't require third-party software, and application blocking is a standard system-level feature that ensures it's stable and can't be circumvented by conventional methods, and you don't need to be a cybersecurity expert to set up that barrier.

But the process of setting up has its own nuances, depending on the firmware version and region. In this article, we will examine the algorithm of actions, consider alternative methods of hiding data, and answer frequently asked questions. Protecting your personal information begins with simple steps that take just a few minutes.

Why You Need Personal Program Protection

Setting a shared password on the unlock screen is a basic level of protection, but it's powerless if the phone is already unlocked. Imagine if you handed the phone to a colleague to make a call, or the child took the device to play, at which point they get full access to all your data unless the app lock is set up.

Using a personal password or fingerprint to log into specific programs creates an extra layer of defense, and even if an attacker unlocks the screen, they won’t be able to open a gallery, a banking app, or a Telegram correspondence without re-authorizing, which is critical to maintaining financial security and personal privacy.

It also allows you to share data within a single account, for example, you can allow access to games but deny social networking. Xiaomi’s flexibility allows you to tailor protection for any use case, making the device a personal storage device that only the owner can access.

Setup the lock through the security menu

The primary data protection tool is in the Security system application, and that's where all the key privacy settings are concentrated, so to start, look for an icon on your desktop or in the Tools folder called Security (green shield) and run it.

In the menu that opens, you need to scroll down to the Security section or find the Application Lock option. When you first start, the system will prompt you to create a special password for protection, this can be a digital code, a pattern lock or the use of biometrics (fingerprint scanner or Face ID).

Once you set the password, you'll be asked to select the apps you want to protect, the system will show you a list of all the programs you've installed, just activate the switch against the icons you want to protect them, and now every time you run the program you've chosen, you'll get a request to enter your password.

It's worth noting that some versions of the firmware may have slightly different paths. If you don't find an item in the main security menu, try Settings → Apps → Application Lock. The logic of the work remains the same, only the menu layout changes.

Hidden Content and the Second Level of Protection

Xiaomi devices have a deeper level of privacy known as Hidden Content, which not only asks for a password when you launch, but completely hides selected apps from the desktop and from the All Apps menu, and you can only see them through a special login in the settings.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy (or “Hidden Content”). Here you will be asked to set a separate unlock template. This template will be used to log into hidden space, and it will not be restored through your Mi Account if you forget it.

Once you've set up, you can add apps to the hidden list, they disappear from view, you'll have to do things like enter a password in the search box or use a gesture to access them, and it's the perfect way to hide photos, videos and personal documents from prying eyes.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password or the pattern to log in to Hidden Content and do not link your Mi Account to recover, the data inside that space will be lost forever.

Using biometrics for quick access

Entering a password can be tedious every time, especially if you often access secure apps. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s ecosystem allows you to use biometric data for quick authorization, which speeds up the process and increases usability.

To enable this option, go to the app lock settings, and you'll find "Use fingerprint" or "Face ID" on the app, and activate them, and you can open secure programs with a simple touch of the scanner or a look at the screen, which works even faster than a normal phone unlock.

However, the limitations of the technology must be borne in mind. Biometrics may not work if:

• 👉 Your finger or smartphone screen is wet or contaminated.
• 👉 You are in very bright or, conversely, dim lighting (for Face). ID).

In such cases, the system will automatically prompt you to enter a digital password or a pattern lock, and biometrics will not work after you reboot the device, in which case the first login to any secure application will require manual code entry.

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If the fingerprint scanner is slow, try registering the same finger twice at different angles, which will improve the accuracy of recognition in difficult situations.

Table of comparison of protection methods

Various security methods have their own advantages and use cases, and to make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table of the main security features in MIUI and HyperOS.

As you can see from the table, Second Space is the most radical method, creating a completely isolated environment with its apps, photos and contacts, switching between the main and second spaces through different fingerprints or passwords, making them completely independent of each other.

For most users, the usual locking of apps is enough, but if you need to transfer the phone to another person for a long time, creating a guest mode or a second space will be a smarter solution than constantly monitoring where it clicks.

Addressing access problems

Despite the system's cleverness, users may run into difficulties, and one of the common problems is the forgotten password for app protection, if you don't link your Mi Account, you can't get access back to the standard means, and the only way out is to completely reset your phone, which will result in the loss of all data.

Another common situation is that the app stopped asking for a password after the system update, in which case you need to recheck the settings in the Security section, sometimes after major Android or MIUI updates, privacy settings can be reset for compatibility purposes.

Users also often complain that the lock doesn't work when you run from notifications or widgets, which is a feature of the operating system, and to protect data in such cases, it is recommended that:

• 🔒 Disable preview of notification content on the locked screen.
• 🔒 Remove the widgets of protected applications from the desktop.
• 🔒 Use the Notification Lock function in application lock settings.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications, such as Phone or Messages, may not support full launch lock to avoid disrupting emergency services.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Regularly checking security settings after system updates is the key to reliable protection of your personal data on Xiaomi smartphone.

To sum up, the security tools in Xiaomi smartphones allow you to manage access to information flexibly. By combining application locking, hidden content and biometrics, you create a robust shield for your digital assets. Don't neglect these settings, as data security is becoming the number one priority in today's world.