How to put a password on the application on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite: all working methods

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is one of the few smartphones of the brand that runs on pure Android One instead of the branded MIUI shell. This means that standard ways to protect applications with passwords (as on other Xiaomi devices) are not available here.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to password any application in the Mi A2 Lite, including instant messengers, banking programs and social networks. All instructions are relevant for Android 9-12 devices (the latest supported versions for this model), and we will also tell you which methods are safer and which can slow down the phone.

Why Mi A2 Lite doesn’t have a standard app lock

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is released under the Android One program, which implies the absence of pre-installed Xiaomi services, including Security App Lock (built-in application lock in MIUI).

Here are the reasons why standard methods don’t work:

• 🔹 Absence MIUI — No proprietary security application with App Lock feature.
• 🔹 Older Android is the latest official firmware for Mi A2 Lite (Android 12) does not support App Pinning for all applications.
• 🔹 Google Restrictions – There is no one-size-fits-all tool in pure Android to block individual programs (unlike Samsung Knox or Huawei AppLock).

But that doesn't mean that you can't protect your applications, but the workarounds below, including hidden system features and reliable third-party solutions.

Method 1: Use the Secure Folder function

While the Mi A2 Lite doesn’t support App Lock, it does have an alternative, Secure Folder, which is a method that hides app icons and locks them with a password.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Security → Secure folders.
2. Create a password (or use a fingerprint if supported).
3. Click Add Apps and select the ones you want to block.
4. Now, apps will only be available after you enter a password in the Secure Folder folder on the home screen.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your password from Secure Folder, you can only restore access through a phone reset. Xiaomi does not provide official tools for resetting passwords of secure folders on Android One devices.

Make sure there is enough memory on your phone.|Remember or write down your password.|Check the fingerprint sensor (if you plan to use it)|Create a backup copy of important data-->

Method 2: Blocking through the App Pinning screen

App Pinning is an Android feature that allows you to “attach” the application to the screen so that it can not be folded without entering. PIN-It's not a full lock, but it's a temporary lock (like giving a child a phone).

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Security → Application Lock screen.
2. Activate the function and install it. PIN-code (it may differ from the main password of the phone).
3. Open the desired application (for example, Vkontakte or SberBank).
4. Click the Recent Apps button (square at the bottom of the screen) and swipe up the app icon.
5. Select Pin. Now the application cannot be closed without entering the PIN.

💡 Useful tip: If you use App Pinning for banking apps, turn off notifications on the locked screen (Settings) → Annexes → [Name of the annex] → Notifications → Confidential on the lock screen to hide sensitive information.

Method 3: Third-party applications for blocking (AppLock)

The most universal method is to install specialized programs from Google Play. For the Mi A2 Lite, you can:

• 🔒 AppLock (by DoMobile Lab) – Supports password, fingerprint and facial recognition.
• 🔐 Norton App Lock – a reliable solution from the well-known antivirus.
• 🛡️ Smart AppLock – a lightweight application with minimal battery consumption.

How to set up (in the example of AppLock):

1. Download and install AppLock from Google Play.
2. When you first start, create a master password (save it in a safe place!).
3. Select the applications to block in the Privacy section.
4. Set up additional parameters: 🔄 Autolock after closing the application. 📸 Hiding notifications from blocked programs. 🚫 Blocking the installation/removal of applications.

⚠️ Note: Some blocking apps (especially the little-known ones) may collect data about your activity. Check permissions on Google Play and read reviews before installing. DoMobile Lab’s AppLock is one of the most secure solutions with an open privacy policy.

Method 4: Create a second user (to be completely isolated)

If you don't just want to block apps, but you want to completely isolate them from prying eyes, you can create a second user or a guest profile on Android, which is a method that's suitable for family use of the phone.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → System → Additional → Several users.
2. Click Add User and follow the instructions.
3. Log in under the new user and install the apps you want (they won’t be visible in the main profile).
4. Return to the main profile – now the second user’s apps will be hidden.

🔹 Pros of the method: complete data isolation, no risk of information leakage.

🔸 Cons: you will have to switch between profiles, some applications (for example, WhatsApp) do not support multi-account.

💡

Creating a second user is the only way to completely hide applications without third-party software, but it is not blocking, it is isolation: applications simply will not appear in the main profile.

Method 5: Blocking through Digital Wellbeing

Android’s Digital Wellbeing feature allows you to limit access to apps by time or completely block them with a password, a method that is suitable for parental control.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls.
2. Select Control Panel and click on the hourglass icon next to the desired application.
3. Set a time limit (e.g., 0 minutes), then press Lock after the limit.
4. Create. PIN-unlocker.

Now, when you try to open a blocked application, a request will appear to enter a PIN. Minus the method: the lock is reset after the phone is restarted.

Comparison of all methods: which to choose

🔹 Recommended: For most Mi users A2 Lite is the best solution for a combination of Secure Folder (to hide important applications) and AppLock (to block frequently used programs.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up app locks, users often face typical problems, and here's how to prevent them:

• 🔓 Forgotten password: Always write down the master password from AppLock or Secure Folder in a secure location (e.g. Google Keep with encryption). A2 Lite No Official Way to Reset Secure Folder Password Without Resetting Your Phone to Factory Settings.
• 🐢 Slowing down the phone: Third-party blockers (especially those with facial recognition) can consume up to 10-15% of the battery.
• 📵 Blocking system notifications: Some AppLock block not only the application's launch, but also its notifications.This can be critical for messengers. → Annexes → [Name of the annex] → Notifications.
• 🔄 Reset after update: After major Android updates (like version 11 to version 12), Digital Wellbeing or App Pinning settings may reset.

⚠️ Note: If you use AppLock to block system applications (such as Settings or Phone), this can result in a cyclical phone reboot!

FAQ: Answers to popular questions