How to block applications on Xiaomi: all working methods

Access control on Xiaomi smartphones is a pressing task for both protecting personal data and optimizing the device. Blocking messengers, social networks or games may be necessary for parents to limit the time of use of the gadget for a child, employees to separate work and personal accounts, or simply to save battery power. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from built-in MIUI functions to third-party solutions, taking into account the features of different versions of the firmware.

It's important to understand that locking techniques vary in their level of protection, like parental controls for children, and password protection for sensitive apps. We've tested each method on devices with MIUI 12-14 (including Redmi Note 11, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13) and identified their pros and cons. If you're looking for a way to block an app from accidentally launching or hide it completely, here's a solution.

1. Built-in application locking through "Application Protection"

The easiest and most reliable way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI feature called Application Protection, which allows you to set a password or graphical key to run selected programs, which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 9 and later, including the latest models from 2023-2026.

To activate the protection:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Protection.
2. Click “Enable” and set a password (or pattern lock).
3. Select the apps from the list you want to block.
4. Activate the switch next to each of them.

After that, when you try to open a blocked application, the system will require you to enter a password. Importantly, if you forget the password from Application Protection, you can only restore it by resetting the smartphone settings to the factory settings - this will delete all data!

Remember or write down your password in a safe place

Check that you have data synchronization enabled (in case of reset)

Make sure that the selected apps do not use notifications to bypass the lock

Backup important data from blocked applications-->

Parental Controls: Time and Content Limitation

If you need to control the time of use (for example, for a child), use Parental Control, which is available in MIUI 12 and later, as well as on devices with Google Family Link services.

Instructions for setting:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Parental control.
• 🔒 Create. PIN-code to access settings (it will be required for changes).
• ⏰ Select the apps you want to set time limits for.
• 📊 Set up a schedule of use (e.g. banning games after 21:00).

The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can block apps not all the time, but only at certain hours, but a child with access to the Play Market can bypass the restrictions by installing a similar app under a different name. To avoid this, additionally block the installation of new programs in the security settings.

Built-in protection of MIUI applications

Parental control

Third-party applications (AppLock, etc.)

Don't block apps

Another option-->

3. Blocking through the “Second Space” (double account)

Second Space (or Dual Apps) allows you to create an isolated copy of a system with a separate set of applications, which is useful if you want to completely hide some programs from prying eyes, for example, you can transfer messengers or banking applications to a second space and protect it with a password.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. Follow the instructions for creating a second account (you will need to link to another phone number or email).
3. After setting up, go to the second space through the notification bar.
4. Install or move the apps you want to hide.

The downside is that the second space takes up additional memory (about 2-5 GB depending on the number of applications), but this is the most reliable way to hide programs: without knowing the password from the second space, they can not be detected even through the file manager.

Third-party applications for blocking (AppLock, Norton App Lock)

If the built-in MIUI features are not enough, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🔐 AppLock (from DoMobile Lab) – supports password, fingerprint and face locking.
• 🛡️ Norton App Lock – a reliable solution with screenshot protection.
• 📱 Smart AppLock – allows you to block system settings (for example, access to Wi-Fi).

Advantages of third-party applications:

• ✅ More flexible settings (e.g. geolocation locking).
• ✅ Ability to hide icons of blocked programs.
• ✅ Additional protection against deletion (some utilities require a password to uninstall).

However, there are risks:

⚠️ Note: Some blocking applications (especially from unverified sources) may collect data about your activity. Before installing, check the reviews and permissions that the program requests. SMS Contacts without an obvious reason are a reason to be wary.

5. Blocking through security settings (for system applications)

Some Xiaomi system applications (such as Settings, Contacts or Messages) can be blocked through the Security menu, a method less well known but effective for protecting sensitive data.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Passwords and Security → Application Locking (on some models, the path may differ: Settings → Applications → Permissions → Special Access → Application Blocking).
2. Turn on the function and set the password.
3. Choose the system applications you want to protect.

This method does not work on all Xiaomi devices, it depends on the version of MIUI and regional firmware. For example, on Xiaomi 12T with global firmware, the feature may not be available, while on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with Chinese MIUI it is available.

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If you don't have "App Lock" in your settings, try updating your firmware to the latest version. Often, new features appear after updates.

6. Hiding applications without locking (to save charge)

If the goal is not data protection, but simply hiding unnecessary applications (for example, to save battery power), you can use the Hidden Applications feature in MIUI. This does not block the launch of programs, but removes them from the menu and search.

How to hide the application:

1. Press the app icon on the home screen.
2. Select “Hide App” (or drag and drop to the Hidden folder).
3. Confirm the action.

To return the hidden app:

• 🔍 Swipe your finger down the main screen to open the search.
• 📂 Enter the name of the application and select “Show».

This is not a good way to protect data, but it is useful if you want to remove rarely used programs from view, for example, you can hide standard Xiaomi applications like Mi Video or Mi Music, which are not deleted, but take up space on the menu.

7. Blocking through ADB (for power users)

For advanced users, there is a way to block applications through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to disable any application, including system ones, without root rights.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
3. Enter the command to block the application (replace com.example.app with the batch name of the program): adb shell pm hide com.example.app
4. To unlock, use: adb shell pm unhide com.example.app

You can find out the batch name of the application through the App Inspector utility (available in the Play Market) or by using the team:

adb shell pm list packages | grep 'keyword word'

⚠️ Note: Blocking system applications through ADB For example, disabling com.miui.securitycenter will disrupt the security center, and blocking com.android.phone will lead to loss of network.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)