Xiaomi’s modern smartphone stores a huge amount of sensitive information, from instant messaging to photos and banking apps. Standard screen locking is often not enough, especially if the device is used by children or the phone falls into the hands of strangers for a short time. The built-in shell MIUI offers powerful tools to protect specific programs without the need to install third-party software.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the “App Protection” feature on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones. You will learn not only about the basic configuration of the digital code, but also how to tie fingerprint access, hide application icons and what to do if you forget your password. The “Application Protection” function in MIUI works at the system level, which provides a higher level of security compared to third-party blockers from Google Play.
The setup process takes only a few minutes, but it greatly improves your digital hygiene. It's important to understand that once you activate this feature, access to your selected programs will require proof of identity each time you run or after a period of inactivity.
Device preparation and system update
Before you start setting up your privacy, you need to make sure your Xiaomi smartphone is running the latest version of the software. Developers regularly improve security algorithms, so older versions of MIUI may have a different interface or some features. Check for updates in Settings → About the phone.
You also need to decide in advance what authentication method you will use, and the system offers several options: a pattern lock, a digital key. PIN-code or biometrics: To use a fingerprint or to unlock the face, the relevant data must already be entered into the device memory.
- 📱 Make sure that at least 100MB of your phone’s memory is free for proper security services.
- 👆 Add your fingerprint to your biometrics settings in advance if you plan to use quick access.
- 🔒 Come up with a complex pattern lock that won’t be obvious to others.
It's critical to restore access in the event of a password loss, and without a linked account, it's almost impossible to reset application protection without completely flashing your device, and it's a standard security measure designed to protect your data from unauthorized access.
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Use Mi Account to restore access: If you forget the password from the applications, the reset is possible only through the account to which the protection function was linked.
Step-by-step activation of application protection
The locking process on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones is standardized, but the paths to the menu may vary slightly depending on the shell version. In most cases, the tool is in the standard system application “Security”, which is preinstalled on all devices of the brand.
Open the Security app (green icon with shield). In the bottom menu or tool list, look for Application Protection. If you can't see it on the home screen, scroll down the tool list or click on the menu icon as three dots/sliders.
☑️ Algorithm of activation of protection
After you log in, the system will ask you to create a password, it can be a graphical pattern or a digital code. Attention: this password will be different from the unlock password of the screen, although it may match it if you want. Once you enter the code, the system will suggest adding a question to restore access — do not ignore this step.
⚠️ Note: Do not use simple sequences like 1234 or 0000. If an attacker gains access to a phone, they will easily pick up such a code by pumping.
Once you set the password, you will open a list of all the programs you have installed, and simply switch the switch in front of the application you want (like WhatsApp, Gallery, or Bank) to the active position, and from that point on, when you try to start the program, the password request window will appear.
Set up biometrics and hide applications
Entering a password can be tedious every time, so Xiaomi allows you to use biometrics. In the Application Protection menu, click on the gear icon in the upper right corner. Here's the fingerprint unlock switch. Activate it to open secure programs with the touch of the sensor.
Another powerful feature of MIUI is the ability to hide the application icons themselves, and if it's hidden, it disappears from the desktop and menu, and you can only find it through a special search box or secret code, which creates an additional layer of privacy.
To enable concealment, in the same menu of security settings (cogs), activate the item “Hide applications”. After that, you will need to spread two fingers on the desktop (the “plug out”) to open the field for entering the password and accessing hidden programs.
- 👁️ Hidden apps don’t display notifications on a locked screen.
- 🔍 To search for hidden programs, use a global search or finger gesture.
- ⚙️ Hiding and password settings are synchronized with Mi Cloud account (when sync is enabled).
Use of the Second Space for Maximum Insulation
If standard app protection isn't enough, Xiaomi offers a "Second Space" feature, which is creating a completely isolated environment inside a single smartphone, in fact, you have two phones in your hands: the main one and the hidden one, each with its own set of apps, photos and accounts.
Switching between spaces is either through a special widget or a unique fingerprint, for example, you can set the thumb unlock to open the main profile and the index to open the secret Second Space, a reliable way to hide the presence of certain programs from prying eyes.
You can find this feature by Settings → Second Space. When you first start up, the system will suggest setting up a separate password or biometrics to log in. All data in the Second Space is encrypted separately, and the user of the main profile does not see what programs are installed there.
| Characteristics | Application protection | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Level of isolation | Medium (list of applications is visible) | High (complete isolation) |
| Hiding the icon | Possibly (via settings) | Automatically. |
| Duplication of programmes | No (one copy used) | Yes (you can install two WhatsApps) |
| Memory consumption | Minimum | Significant (data copied) |
The use of Second Space is especially important for separating work and personal use or storing sensitive data, but it is worth remembering that this feature consumes more battery and RAM resources.
Can applications be cloned in the Second Space?
Typical problems and methods of their solution
Users may encounter situations where application protection is not working properly, such as asking for a password too often or opening an application without checking, often due to power saving settings or bugs in a particular version of MIUI.
If the system constantly forgets authorization and requests a password every time you switch between windows, check the lock time settings. There is a "Block" option in the application protection menu (cogwheel), where you can select "When you exit the application", "After 1 minute" or "Always".
In case the function stopped activating or an error crashes, try clearing the cache of the system application “Security”. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Security → Memory → Clear. This will not delete your settings, but reset temporary files.
⚠️ Warning: Clearing the data (not cache) of the Security app may cause application protection settings to reset and require passwords to be reset.
Problems can also arise after the system update. If after the Android update or shell protection stopped working, wait for the release of the patch from the developers or temporarily use third-party solutions from Google Play.
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If application protection is not working properly, first check the power saving settings for the protected application and set the “No Limits” mode.
What to do if the password is forgotten
The most critical situation is the loss of a password. If you haven't tied up your Mi Account or asked a checklist, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to secure applications. Xiaomi's security system does not have a back door to reset your password without confirming the identity of the owner.
If you have an account attached, click on the password screen, "Forgot your password," and the system will prompt you to send the confirmation code to the associated phone number or email, and once you enter the code, you can set a new access key, and all the data inside the applications will be saved.
In extreme cases, if you can’t recover through your account, you’ll have to take drastic measures: resetting your application password is only possible through a full Hard Reset, which will delete all the data, so the importance of linking your account cannot be overemphasized.
- 📞 Use it. SMS-Reset code if the phone number is available.
- 📧 Check the backup email specified when setting up your Mi Account.
- 💾 Make regular backups of important data so as not to lose them in an emergency reset.
Remember that Xiaomi service center employees do not have the technical ability to reset the application protection password without losing user data, as the encryption keys are stored locally on the device.