Why blocking apps on Xiaomi is more important than you think
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular gadgets among users who appreciate value for money. But even owners of this device often overlook one critical point: without application protection, your personal data — photos, correspondence, banking applications — becomes vulnerable to prying eyes. It is enough to leave your phone unattended for 30 seconds for someone to open a Gallery, WhatsApp or SberBank Online.
Unlike the iPhone, where Screen Time allows you to restrict access to applications out of the box, on MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), this process requires additional settings. Moreover, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12.5+, there are 3 official ways to lock at once, but each of them has its own nuances. For example, Second Space creates a completely isolated environment, and App Lock integrates with a fingerprint. In this article, we will analyze all the options from standard to hidden ones, and also describe what errors lead to the loss of access to blocked applications.
Method 1: App Lock – Built-in application lock
The most obvious and quickest method is to use the standard App Lock feature (also known as App Lock in Russian firmware), which is built into MIUI and does not require additional software installation. The main advantage is that it supports fingerprint, face or password unlocking.
To activate App Lock:
- Open Settings → Applications → Blocking applications.
- Click Enable and set a password (minimum 4 digits).
- Select applications from the list (for example, Gallery, Telegram, Banking applications).
- Activate Hide notifications so that the content of messages does not appear on the locked screen.
Important point: if you use a fingerprint to unlock, make sure it is added to Settings → Lock screen → Fingerprint. Otherwise, the system will request a password every time.
Is a fingerprint added to the system?|Is a standby in place PIN-code|Is the firmware up to date MIUI 12.5+|Notifications for sensitive applications are disabled-->
⚠️ Note: If you forget your password from App Lock, you can only restore it through Mi Account, and all data in the blocked applications will remain intact, but access to them will be closed until the password is reset.
Method 2: Second Space – Separate Work Profile
Second Space (or Second Profile) is a unique MIUI feature that creates an isolated copy of the system with separate applications, settings and data, essentially like a second phone inside your Redmi Note 8 Pro. The advantage of the method is that you can hide not only individual applications, but all activity (calls, SMS, files).
How to set up:
- Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
- Click Create Second Space and set a password (it may differ from the main one).
- Select applications that will only be available in Second Space (e.g. Tinder, Privat24).
- Activate switching between profiles via the Notification Panel or Gesture on the lock screen.
The downside is that Second Space consumes extra resources (around 1-1.5 GB of storage) and can slow down the phone slightly, but it’s the only method that completely hides the traces of application use – they won’t show up in the main profile even in the list of installed programs.
| Criteria | App Lock | Second Space |
|---|---|---|
| Level of protection | Medium (password/biometry) | High (complete isolation) |
| Impact on productivity | Minimum | Notable (additional profile) |
| Support for biometrics | Yeah (print, face) | No (only password) |
| Hiding notices | Yes. | Yes (fully) |
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Medium |
App Lock|Second Space|Application side (e.g. Norton App Lock)|Don't block apps|Another option-->
Method 3: Third-party applications – when standard functions are not enough
If you want advanced features (such as time locking, geo-restrictions, or hiding apps from prying eyes), consider third-party solutions.
- 🔒 Norton App Lock – Supports locking on schedule and taking photos of an attacker when an unsuccessful login attempt is made.
- 🛡️ AppLock by DoMobile – allows you to hide application icons and create “baits” (fake passwords).
- 📱 Smart AppLock – integrates with Google Smart Lock to automatically unlock in secure locations (e.g. at home).
Before installation, check:
- 📌 Compatibility with MIUI 12.5+ (Some apps conflict with the shell of Xiaomi).
- 🔄 Availability of automatic password backup (in case of phone reset).
- 🛑 No advertising in the free version (some apps show banners when unlocked).
⚠️ Note: Third-party blocking applications require Device Administrator or Special Features.This may conflict with some banking programs (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff) that prohibit work on rooted or modified devices.
💡
If push notifications stop working after installing a third-party App Lock, check the Battery Optimization settings for that app. Xiaomi aggressively closes the background processes, which can block notifications.
What to do if you forget the password from the blocked application
It is not uncommon for you to forget your password from App Lock or Second Space, and depending on the method of locking, there are several ways to recover:
For App Lock:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Blocking applications.
- Click Forgot Password? and log in via Mi Account.
- Follow the instructions for resetting your password (SMS or email confirmation will be required).
For Second Space:
- Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
- Select Delete Second Space (all data within your profile will be deleted!).
- Create a new profile with a different password.
If you haven't tied Mi Account or forgotten your data, the only way out is to reset your phone to factory settings, but in this case, all data, including photos and messages, will be deleted. So back up regularly through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
How to get around the lock without losing data?
Hidden MIUI settings to enhance security
In addition to blocking applications, MIUI has little-known features that will help you better protect your data:
- 🔐 Encrypting the device: Settings → Additionally. → Confidentiality → Encrypting the phone, encrypting all the data, including SD-map (only working on the map) MIUI 12+).
- 👁️ Hidden albums in the Gallery: highlight photos → More. → They'll only be available after you enter the password in the Gallery. → Albums. → Hidden.
- 📵 Incognito mode for calls: in the phone → Settings → Incognito mode can hide outgoing challenges from history.
We also recommend disabling autocomplete passwords for sensitive applications (e.g. banking). This can be done in Settings → Passwords and Security → Autocomplete.
💡
The combination of App Lock + Hidden Albums + Device Encryption gives the maximum level of protection of personal data on Xiaomi. However, do not forget about backups – without them, data recovery after a reset will be impossible.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many Redmi Note 8 Pro users have problems configuring app locks, and here are the most common errors and solutions:
- App Lock doesn't ask for a password: Check if Do Not Disturb or Save Charge is turned off - they can block background processes. Also make sure the app isn't added to Battery Optimization Exceptions.
- Second Space won't open: Sometimes, after updating MIUI, the second profile may "break" Solution: delete it and recreate it (the data won't be saved!).
- App Lock is in conflict with MIUI: Disable MIUI Optimization for a third-party application in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Special Access → Battery Optimization.
Another common problem is that the App Lock password is reset after the MIUI update, which is due to a key storage failure, and to avoid loss of access, link Mi Account and regularly check its health.