Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face the need to restrict access to certain parts of the device, most often this is for personal correspondence, banking applications or, in our case, games. The situation is different: children take the phone to “just look”, or friends decide to check your achievements in Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile. In such cases, blocking a particular application becomes not just a convenient feature, but a necessity for maintaining privacy.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide powerful built-in tools to solve this problem without having to download questionable software. However, if standard tools are not enough, you can always resort to proven third-party solutions from Google Play. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods in detail so that you can choose the most suitable for your smartphone model.
It is worth noting that the procedure for installing protection may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and regional firmware. We will consider universal ways that are relevant for most of the current devices of the brand.
Use of the built-in function "Application Protection"
The most reliable and quick way to shut down the game is to use a regular tool called App Lock, which is integrated deep into the system, so it works consistently and doesn't consume battery like the background processes of third-party launchers, and you'll need to first set a master password to activate it if you haven't done it before.
Go to the main settings menu of your device. Find a section that can be called Application Protection or be inside the Apps category. The system will ask you to come up with a pattern lock or a digital code. Importantly, this code will be used to unlock all the secure programs, so choose a combination that is easy to remember but hard to guess.
⚠️ Note: If you forget the master password from the application protection feature, you can only reset it through the Mi Account account associated with the device, or completely reset your phone settings.
Once you have the code installed, you'll see a list of all the programs you've installed, find the game you want, it could be a heavy graphics novelty, it could be a simple arcade, just put the slider opposite the name in the active position, and now every time you run, the system will ask for confirmation.
The security feature allows you to flexibly adjust settings, so you can enable fingerprint or facial recognition unlock, which greatly speeds up access for the owner, but retains a barrier for outsiders, which is especially convenient when you need to quickly start the game during break.
☑️ Checking security settings
Configuring biometrics and additional parameters
Xiaomi’s modern smartphones are equipped with advanced scanning modules. Using biometrics makes the process of setting a password for the game almost invisible to the owner, but insurmountable for others. In the application protection settings, you can activate the use of a fingerprint, which eliminates the need to enter a pin code every time.
However, there are technical limitations to consider: if you use Face ID, the system may not work reliably in poor lighting or if the phone is on the table at an angle. In such cases, the pattern lock remains the most stable method of authentication. You can combine methods for maximum security.
You can also hide the content of the notifications from the protected games from the security settings menu, which means that even if you receive a message about a new level or event in the game, the notification text will not be visible on the locked screen, which adds another layer of privacy.
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Use different fingers to unlock the screen and to log into secure apps if sharing your phone with loved ones who need limited access.
Remember to check the list of secure applications periodically. After updating the game or reinstalling the system, the settings may get lost, and you will have to activate the protection again. Regular audit of security settings is a good habit for any user.
Creating a Second Space for Total Isolation
If just locking in isn't enough, and you want to completely hide the game on your device, use the "Second Space" feature, which is a unique feature of the shell from Xiaomi, which creates another completely isolated desktop inside your phone, and there will be your apps, your photos and your accounts.
To create this space, go to Settings and find "Second Space," and the system will suggest setting up a separate password or fingerprint to log in to that mode, and when you log in, the phone will look like a new device you just bought, and that's where you can install the game you want to hide.
The advantage of this method is that even if someone gets access to the main space, they won't see the game icon and won't be able to run it, because it's physically in another logical partition of memory, and switching between spaces happens instantly through a special shortcut on the lock screen or in the notification curtain.
⚠️ Attention: Second space takes up extra memory on the device. If you have a model with 64 GB of built-in storage and a lot of heavy games, the free space can run out faster than usual.
In addition, notifications from Second Space will not come while you are in main mode, which helps to comply with digital detox and not be distracted by game notifications while working or studying.
Can we move the game to the second space?
Use of third-party blocking applications
In some cases, such as global firmware versions or trimmed builds, the built-in security feature may be missing or not working properly. Then specialized applications from the Play Market store come to the rescue, offering advanced functionality such as a hidden camera when you enter a password incorrectly or keep a log of login attempts.
Popular solutions are AppLock, Norton App Lock, and other alternatives, and once you install an app, you'll need to give it special permissions, including the "Above Other Windows" right, so that the password window will block the game's interface when you launch.
However, using third-party software has its own risks: such applications are constantly hanging in RAM, which can lead to faster battery discharge and periodic slowdowns of the system, especially on low-cost models of Redmi or POCO.
If you do choose this path, carefully study the reviews and permissions that the application requests. Avoid blockers with dubious reputations that can collect data about what programs you use.
Comparison of data protection methods on Xiaomi
To make it easier for you to decide on your defense method, we have prepared a comparative table that will help you weigh the pros and cons of each method depending on your priorities: speed, security or stealth.
| Protection method | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery | Level of secrecy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Protection (MIUI) | Low. | Minimum | Medium (icon visible) |
| Second space | Medium | Low. | High (full cover-up) |
| Third-party AppLock | Low. | High. | Medium. |
| Guest mode | Tall. | Average. | High-pitched |
As you can see from the table, standard application protection is the middle ground for most users, it does not require complex manipulation and has little impact on autonomy, and the second space is for those who want to create a completely separate digital environment.
Third-party solutions only make sense in specific cases where built-in functionality is categorically lacking. Guest mode mentioned in the table is good for temporary phone transfer, but inconvenient for constant use, as it requires switching profiles.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
When setting passwords, users may encounter a number of common problems, such as the system may stop asking for a password after updating the game, because the updated application receives a new digital (signature), and the security system perceives it as a new program, in which case the protection must be activated again.
Another common problem is the conflict between multiple blockers: If you have both built-in protection and a third-party AppLock installed, they can interfere with each other, causing cyclical password requests or game crashes. Always use only one method of protection for a particular application at a time.
Also worth mentioning is the notification problem: sometimes after you set a password, notifications from the game stop coming or come with a delay, this is solved by adding the game to the power saving exception list and allowing auto-start in the battery settings.
⚠️ Warning: Do not password system applications such as Phone, Messages or Settings unless you are sure of your actions.This may make it impossible to make an emergency call or change important settings.
If the phone starts to run slower after installing protection, try clearing the cache of the secure application. Sometimes accumulated temporary files can conflict with the process of checking the password at startup.
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The best strategy is to use the built-in MIUI protection for everyday tasks and a second storage space for truly sensitive data or games.
Conclusion and safety recommendations
Setting a password for a game or app on Xiaomi smartphones is a simple but effective step to improving digital hygiene. Whether you use built-in MIUI tools or third-party solutions, the main thing is to remember the need to regularly update passwords and access control.
Remember that no system is completely invulnerable. Physical access to an unlocked device gives an attacker a lot of power. So always lock your smartphone screen when you put it down, and don't give master passwords to outsiders.
Use the opportunities your Redmi or POCO provides to make smartphone use comfortable and safe.Technology should serve you, not create unnecessary problems, so choose a method of protection that will not annoy you with every use.