How to put a password on the application in Xiaomi Redmi Note: protection from prying eyes

Protecting personal data in Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones is a pressing task for most users. Whether you want to hide correspondence in messengers, financial applications or simply restrict access to certain programs, setting a password on the application becomes a reliable barrier. In this article, we will analyze all available methods of protection, including built-in MIUI functions and third-party solutions, taking into account the features of different versions of the firmware.

It’s important to understand that locking techniques may vary depending on the Redmi Note model (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro vs Redmi Note 12) and the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14).We’ll look at the generic solutions that work on most devices, and also point out the nuances for specific versions. If you use third-party firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some features may not be available – this will also be discussed below.

1. Built-in App Lock function: the easiest way

App Lock is a standard solution from Xiaomi that allows you to block access to applications using a password, fingerprint or facial recognition, a feature that is available on all Redmi Note smartphones with MIUI 9 and later, including the latest models like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+.

To activate App Lock, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Blocking applications (or App Lock in English version).
• 🔒 Click Enable and set your password (minimum 4 digits). For increased security, it is recommended to use a combination of letters and numbers.
• 👆 Select the applications you want to block by moving the sliders to the On position..
• 🔄 In the App Lock settings, you can enable the option to Hide notifications so that the content of the blocked applications does not appear on the lock screen.

Note that if you’re using MIUI 14 or later, App Lock has a Private Mode feature that allows you to hide the icons of blocked apps from the main menu. To enable it, go to App Lock Settings → Hidden Apps.

Make sure that the smartphone has a password to unlock the screen|Check the version. MIUI In Settings → The phone.|Remember or write down the password from App Lock separately from the main one.|Turn off autocleaning cache for system applications-->

2.Second Space: Creating a Separate Protected Profile

Second Space is a unique feature of MIUI that allows you to create a second user profile with separate applications, data and settings, which is suitable if you need to not just block individual programs, but completely isolate some of the functionality of the smartphone. For example, you can transfer all working messengers and financial applications to Second Space, leaving entertainment content in the main space.

How to set up Second Space:

1. Go to Settings → Special Features → Second Space.
2. Click Create Second Space and follow the instructions on the screen, and you will be asked to set a password, fingerprint, or graphical key to log in.
3. After creating the second space, select which apps and data to duplicate (e.g. WhatsApp, Bank Client, or Gallery).
4. You can switch between spaces through the notification panel or a special gesture (configured in Second Space Settings).

The advantage of this method is that Second Space is completely isolated: even if someone accesses the main profile, they will not see the data from the second space. However, note that some applications (such as Telegram or Viber) may require re-authorization on the first run in Second Space.

Built-in App Lock|Second Space (separate profile)|Third-party applications (e.g. Norton App Lock)|Do not use lock-->

Third-party applications: when embedded functions are not enough

If you don’t like the limitations of App Lock or Second Space, you can use third-party apps from Google Play that offer advanced features such as:

• 🔐 Fingerprint or face locks even on older versions MIUI.
• 📊 Login Attempts Statistics (Who and When Tried to Open a Locked Application).
• 🔄 Automatic locking on schedule (for example, during working hours).
• 📱 Ability to hide app icons from the menu (similar to Private Mode in App Lock, but with more flexibility).

Top.-3 Applications for blocking on Xiaomi Redmi Note:

Before installing a third-party app, check its rating and reviews — some programs may contain advertising modules or collect data. Also note that Redmi Note with MIUI 14 and later may require manual permission to Overlay on top of other applications in the security settings.

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If after installing a third-party App Lock, navigation gestures stopped working, try turning off the option “Show over system windows” in the special features settings.

4. Blocking system applications: nuances and limitations

Not all applications in the Xiaomi Redmi Note can be blocked by standard methods, for example:

• 📞 Phone and Messages are blocked via App Lock, but incoming calls and SMS will still be displayed on the lock screen.
• 📷 The camera and gallery can be blocked, but a quick start of the camera using double pressing the power button will work bypassing the password.
• ⚙️ Settings are not blocked through App Lock, but you can restrict access to them through Second Space.

To completely block system functions, you will need:

1. Use Second Space and bring all critical applications to it.
2. Disable notifications for blocked applications in Settings → Notifications.
3. Set up Incognito Mode in the Gallery (available on MIUI 12 and later) to hide individual photos and videos.

5 What to do if you forget your App Lock or Second Space password

If you have forgotten the password from App Lock, you can restore it through:

1. 🔑 Entering a standby PIN-code (if you have installed it when you set it up).
2. 📧 Confirmation via Xiaomi account (Internet connection required).
3. 🔄 Reset App Lock settings via Settings → Annexes → Application management → Application lockdown → Reset password (requires the entry of a password from the Mi Account).

For Second Space, the recovery process is more complicated:

• If you forget your password, the only way to get back access is to reset to factory settings via Recovery Mode, and all data in the second space will be deleted!
• Before resetting, try to recall the password using the prompt (if it has been set).

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Always link your Xiaomi account to your smartphone – this is the only way to restore access to the App Lock without losing data.

6 Additional Security Measures: What More Can Be Done

In addition to blocking applications, it is recommended to:

• 🔐 Set the password on SIM-map (in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Lockdown SIM-map).
• 📱 Enable device encryption (available in Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials).
• 🚫 Disable Debugging by USB Installation from unknown sources in the developer settings.
• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — In new versions of firmware, vulnerabilities are closed that allow to bypass the lock.

If you use Redmi Note to work with sensitive data, consider installing a virtual machine (e.g., via UserLAnd) or containerizing (Oasis Feng’s Island app), which creates an isolated environment for running applications, which is especially true for models like the Redmi Note 11 Pro with Android 12+ support.

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On smartphones with a chip. NFC (For example, Redmi Note 12 Pro can be configured to lock applications at an approximation NFC-And that would require an app like Tasker and NFC Tools.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When setting up application locking, users often face the following problems:

⚠️ Note: If apps start to crash or fail to open after activation of App Lock, check if the lock is in conflict with Battery Optimization. Add blocked apps to exceptions in Settings → Battery and productivity → Managing battery consumption by applications.

Other common mistakes:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: Third-party App Locks can significantly increase power consumption.The solution is to use the built-in App Lock or disable background activity for a third-party app.
• 📵 Notifications not working: If you have enabled Hide Notifications in App Lock, important messages may not be displayed.The solution is to set exceptions for critical applications (e.g. banking).
• 🔒 Conflict with Face ID: On some Redmi Note models (such as the Redmi Note 9), facial recognition may not work smoothly. PIN-code.

If the app lock stops working after the MIUI update, try:

1. Clear the app's cache Security (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Security → Clear the cache).
2. Reboot the smartphone.
3. Reset App Lock settings (as described in Section 5).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions