How to Password an App in Xiaomi 9: From Standard Tools to Hidden MIUI Chips

Protecting personal data on a smartphone is not just a trend, it’s a necessity, especially if we are talking about Xiaomi 9, which stores photos, instant messengers and access to banking applications. Many users mistakenly believe that locking the screen is enough, but in practice, even an unlocked phone can become a source of leakage of confidential information if someone accidentally or intentionally opens the “wrong” application.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to set a password for applications in Xiaomi 9, from built-in MIUI features to third-party solutions with advanced settings. You’ll learn how App Lock works in security settings, what limitations it has, and why it’s sometimes better to use specialized programs like AppLock or Norton App Lock, and how to get around common bugs that don’t set or reset after a system update.

Important: The instructions are valid for Xiaomi 9 (codename cepheus) on all versions of MIUI – from 10 to 14, including global and Chinese firmware. If you have a different model (for example, Redmi Note 9 or POCO F1), the algorithm of actions may vary slightly, but the general logic remains.

1. Method: Built-in application locking in MIUI

The most obvious and safe method is to use the standard Application Lock feature, which is in the default MIUI firmware. It does not require superuser rights (root) and works stably, but has limitations: for example, you can not set different passwords for different applications, and there is no protection against resetting through Settings → Reset.

To activate the lock:

1. Open the settings (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Security (or Applications → Application Blocking in some versions of MIUI).
3. Select the Block Apps option and confirm your current password/fingerprint.
4. In the list, tick the apps you want to block (for example, WhatsApp, Gallery, SberBank Online).
5. Set up the type of lock: Password, pattern lock or Fingerprint.

After that, every time you run a blocked application, the system will require you to enter a password. Note that if you use a pattern lock, you can peek it from the tracks on the screen — it is better to combine it with a fingerprint.

Update MIUI to the latest version (old firmware may not have a feature)

Make sure to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account is linked to a valid email

Disable Smart Blocker in Settings → Battery if it interferes with work

Backup important data (in case of resetting settings)-->

MIUI 12 and later has a Private Mode feature that allows you to hide apps from the menu and block them at the same time. To turn it on, go to Settings → Special Features → Private Mode and follow the instructions.

2. Method: Use of Second Space (Second Space)

If you want to block an app, and hide it completely, use Second Space, a separate user profile with its own settings, applications and data, and the advantage of this method is that the applications in the second space are not visible in the main profile, and vice versa.

How to set up:

• 🔄 Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Second space.
• 🔐 Create a new profile by setting a separate password for it (it may differ from the main one).
• 📱 Install in the second space those applications that you want to hide (for example, instant messengers or banking services).
• 🔒 Switch between spaces via notification panel or screen lock.

The downside is that you have to switch to another space to open a hidden application, but Second Space protects data even if someone knows the password from the main profile.

Built-in application locking in MIUI|Second Space (Second Space)|The Appendix (AppLock et al.)|I don't use a lock.|Another option-->

3. Method: Third-party applications for blocking (AppLock, Norton App Lock, etc.)

If the built-in MIUI features are not enough, you can install specialized programs from Google Play, which offer advanced settings: different passwords for different applications, locking time, screenshot protection, and even masking as a calculator or game.

Top.-3 tested applications:

How to set up AppLock:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. When you first start, set a master password (remember it!)
3. In the list, select the applications to block (for example, Instagram, Telegram, Photos).
4. Configure additional parameters: time lock, hiding notifications, protection from deletion.

Important: Some third-party blockers may conflict with MIUI, especially if battery optimization is enabled. To avoid problems, add AppLock to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps → Find AppLock → Select “No Limits”.

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If applications start to slow down after installing the blocker, try turning off animation in the MIUI settings: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to open Developer Settings), then Developer Settings → Windows Animation Scale → Disable.

4. Hidden chips MIUI: Blocking through Guest Mode and Hidden Albums»

In addition to standard methods, MIUI has little-known features that will help protect data:

• 👥 Guest mode: allows you to create a temporary profile with limited access. → System and device → Guest mode: Guest mode will only show basic apps, and personal data will remain hidden.
• 🖼️ Hidden Albums in Gallery: If you only want to hide photos, open the Gallery, highlight files, click More → Hide and set a password. The album will only be available after you type in. PIN-code.
• 🔍 Search by settings: if you can't find the right item, search Settings (the magnifier icon at the top). For example, type "lock" or "private».

In MIUI 13 and later, we have a feature called "Confidential Notes" in the Notes app. To use it, open a note, click More → Lock and set a password. These notes will be marked with a lock icon and will not appear in the general list without authorization.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after you set up your lock correctly, Xiaomi 9 users sometimes encounter errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the built-in application lock, you can reset it only through Settings → Reset → Reset. This will delete all the data from your phone! To avoid losing information, backup your Mi Cloud regularly.

If none of these methods worked, check if the lock function in Settings → Special Options → Simplified Mode is disabled. In simplified mode, many of the MIUI security features are not working properly.

6. Comparison of methods: which way to choose?

To determine the best option, we evaluate each method according to the key criteria:

• 🔒 Protection level: Second Space > Third-party blockers > Built-in lockdown MIUI.
• 📱 Usability: Built-in locking > Third-party blockers > Second Space (due to switching).
• 🛠️ Reliability: Third-party blockers may conflict with MIUI, and the built-in functions are stable.
• 💰 Cost: Built-in features are free; third-party apps have paid versions with advanced functionality.

Selection recommendations:

• If you need to lock it quickly 2-3 applications → Use the built-in locking MIUI.
• When maximum confidentiality is important (for example, for work data) → Set up Second Space.
• If you need flexible settings (different passwords, lock time) → install AppLock or Norton App Lock.
• If you want to hide only photos → Use the Hidden Albums in the Gallery.

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For maximum security, combine methods, such as blocking messengers through the built-in MIUI function, and banking applications through Second Space, so even if someone learns the password from the main profile, critical data will remain protected.

7. Additional security measures for Xiaomi 9

Blocking apps is only part of the protection. To fully secure your data on Xiaomi 9, follow these steps:

• 🔐 Set a complex lock screen password: avoid simple combinations like "1234" or date of birth — PIN-code+ numeric or alphanumeric password.
• 👆 Set up two-factor authentication for Mi Account: this will protect against hacking even if someone recognizes your password. → Accounts. → Mi Account. → Security.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI: New firmware versions close vulnerabilities. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi 9 with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), built-in application locking MIUI In this case, only third-party blockers or creating a second user through Settings remain. → System system → Users.

FAQ: Frequent questions about blocking apps in Xiaomi 9