How to put a password on a separate Xiaomi app: protection of personal data

Xiaomi’s smartphone stores a huge amount of sensitive information, from banking apps and instant messengers to personal photos. Standard screen locking is often not enough, especially if you give a child or colleague a phone to show a photo or find contact. In such situations, it is critical to provide an additional layer of protection by restricting access to specific programs.

MIUI and the new HyperOS have a powerful built-in security mechanism that allows you to block the launch of selected applications. It does not require the installation of third-party software, which has a positive effect on the autonomy of the device and speed. Application locking works at the system level, preventing unauthorized access even after the device is rebooted.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the process of setting restrictions, look at the differences in the interfaces of different versions of the shell and answer frequently asked questions, and learn not only to set passwords, but also to hide the icons of the application from prying eyes, providing maximum privacy.

Preparation for security settings and choice of protection method

Before you start setting restrictions, you need to make sure that your Mi Account is activated and linked to your device, a security requirement that allows you to restore access in the event of a forgotten password or device change. Without an associated account, the data protection functionality may not work properly or not be available at all.

The system offers several authentication options to unlock applications. PIN-A code, a pattern lock, or, most conveniently, a biometric, a fingerprint or a facial recognition, biometrics speeds up access by allowing you to open secure programs in a fraction of a second.

⚠️ Note: If you choose to use a pattern lock or digital password, be sure to write them down in a safe place.Reset this code through a Google account, as is the case with unlocking the screen, in this security section, it is often impossible without data loss.

Also, you should pre-determine the list of programs that require protection, usually social networks, a gallery, bank clients and files, and having a clear list will help you not get confused in the process of setting up and not lose sight of any important applications.

📊 Which protection method do you prefer?

Fingerprint.

pattern lock

Digital. PIN-code

Facial recognition

Step-by-step: activation of the lock in MIUI and HyperOS

The process of enabling protection in shells from Xiaomi is unified, but may differ slightly by the names of menu items in different versions. To begin, open the standard Security application, which has a shield icon and is usually located in the Tools folder or on the home screen.

Inside the menu, look for Application Protection (or App Lock) and the first time you run, the system will prompt you to create a password, select a convenient type of protection and confirm the action, and then you will see a list of all installed programs, where you can choose the ones that you want to hide or block.

☑️ Checklist of activation of protection

Open the Security app: Go to Application Protection: Invent and enter password:Select applications to lock:Activate switches

Done: 0 / 1

To activate protection for a particular software, simply move the slider opposite its name to the active position. Now, when you try to run this program, the system will request verification of identity. You can also click on the gear in the corner of the screen to adjust additional parameters, such as unlocking from a fingerprint.

💡

Use the Hide Content feature in the lock settings so that notifications on the locked screen display the text “Content is hidden” instead of the actual message.

Configuring biometrics and additional access parameters

For maximum comfort of use, it is recommended to configure fingerprint unlock, which will save you from having to enter the code every time. Go to the application lock settings through the menu as three dots or a gear and find the item Unlock with your fingerprint.

Activate this feature, and the system will use the biometric data already stored in the phone's memory. If fingerprints are not already added, the phone will prompt you to write them down, which is especially convenient for banking applications and instant messengers that you use dozens of times a day.

You can set up automatic locking in the same menu, and you can have options like "Immediately after you leave," "In 1 minute," or "In 10 minutes." The "Immediate" option offers the highest level of security, because the app will close every time you switch to another screen.

Setup parameter	Description of function	Recommendation
Password type	Choice between keys, PIN-code-in-code	pattern lock for speed
Fingerprint.	Quick biometric authorization	Make sure to
Time-out lockdown	Time before re-request of password	Right after you leave.
Hiding contents	Masking of notification text	Enable for privacy

Application Hiding Function: How to Make an Icon Invisible

One of the most sought-after features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to completely hide app icons. Unlike simple locking, where a program is visible on the desktop but does not open without a password, hiding it makes it completely invisible to the average user.

To use this option, open the Security app and go to Hide apps, and here you will see a list of programs that you can remove from your desktop, and once you activate the switch, the icon will disappear from the screen and from the menu of all applications.

How do you find a hidden app?

To open a hidden application, you need to open the standard Phone app and enter a special code. By default, this is your application lock password surrounded by #. For example, if password 1234, dial #1234#. After that, a folder with hidden programs will open.> This feature is ideal for storing personal photos, financial documents or games that you do not want to show to others. Hidden applications are not displayed in the search system and are not visible in the battery consumption settings, which provides a double level of privacy. However, they continue to occupy space in the memory and can be updated in the backgrounds with a password: the user often forgets the password. If you haven't tied a Mi Account or asked a check question, it's going to be extremely difficult to restore access. Xiaomi's security system is designed to make it impossible to bypass security. If you've forgotten your password, try entering it incorrectly several times. You should have a message on the screen that says, "Forgot your password?" And if you click on it, you can reset the code through your Mi Account if it was previously logged in to that device, and that's the only way you can get back to that device in a regular way without losing your data. ⚠️ Note: Resetting your password through your Google account or removing the Security app will not help remove the security protection. Attempts to hack system files can result in the blocking of the entire device (Mi Account Lock). In cases where access to the account is lost, the only option is a complete reset of the device to factory settings. This will delete all data, including photos and contacts, so regular backup to the Mi Cloud or computer is a mandatory precaution. Features of the blocker in the background Users sometimes face a situation where the application opens without asking for a password after updating the page or when working in the background. This is due to the peculiarities of memory optimization in Android. To avoid such situations, you need to properly configure the behavior of the system. It is recommended to prohibit automatic start for protected applications in the autorun menu, leaving this function only for system processes. It is also worth checking the permissions of the application Security: it should be allowed to work in the backgrounds and not be subjected to aggressively locking the new Hyper version of the system. However, if you use third-party launchers (desktop shells), the concealment and lock function may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to return to the standard launcher of the system. Should you install third-party apps from the Play Market to block if Xiaomi has a built-in tool? The standard solution has a number of undeniable advantages, chief among them being deep system integration. 🔒 Deep integration: The built-in blocker works at the system level, it is harder to bypass or disable by the process. ⚡ Saving resources: A separate application does not waste battery life, as it uses system security calls. 👁️ No Advertising: Unlike free analogues from the store, the system tool does not display ads and does not collect data for targeting. Third-party applications can only be useful in one case: if you need specific features, such as hidden "panic" mode or remote lock control from another device. MIUI Is it possible to bypass the password on Xiaomi apps? It is impossible to bypass the password with regular means. The only way is a complete reset of the device (Hard Reset), which will delete all data. ADB-commands to disable the security component can lead to unstable system operation or cyclical reboot. In safe Android mode, third-party apps don’t work, but system features like locking Xiaomi apps usually retain their functionality.However, entering safe mode often requires unlocking the screen, which is already the first barrier. Does blocking apps affect the alarm clock? No, setting a password on the Watch or Alarm app won't stop the audible signal at the designated time. System time services take priority over the user interface blocker, so you won't miss a major event. Is the failed attempt counter reset? The password failed attempt counter is reset only after successful authorization or expiry of lock time (if the settings provide such a time). After several incorrect attempts, the system may temporarily disable password entry for 30 seconds or a minute.