Redmi smartphones, including the popular Redmi 4X, have powerful built-in privacy protection features that users often underestimate. The ability to block access to specific programs with a separate password or pattern lock is one of the most sought-after features in the MIUI ecosystem. This allows you to secure correspondence in messengers, photos in the gallery or banking applications from prying eyes, even if the phone is in the hands of children or acquaintances.
Unlike many other operating systems that require third-party software to be installed, the MIUI shell offers a native system-level solution that ensures stability and no unnecessary background processes that could drain the battery. Below we will discuss in detail how to activate this feature, what are the nuances of the configuration and how to restore access in the event of code loss.
Before you start setting up, it’s worth noting that application protection is closely integrated with your Mi Account profile. Linking to your Xiaomi account is a prerequisite for future password recovery. If you ignore this step, the only solution if you forget the access code, you can completely reset your device, which will result in the loss of all data.
Preparation for the installation of protection
The first step before activating any security feature is to update the system to the latest available version. Redmi 4X owners often use different firmware versions (Global or China), and the menu interface may differ slightly. However, the logic of operation remains the same for all current versions of MIUI. Make sure that the device has an up-to-date security patch to exclude the presence of known vulnerabilities.
You also need to determine the type of lock screen in advance. The system will not allow you to set a password for applications unless the device itself has a basic method of unlocking (PIN-This is a basic level of data protection, without which additional security measures do not make sense.
⚠️ Warning: Don't use simple combinations like "1234" or "0000" as your password for apps.
To work with security features comfortably, it is recommended to link the device to a Wi-Fi network and make sure that the Internet connection is stable, this will be necessary to synchronize data with Xiaomi servers and confirm your identity, without this step, restoring access will be extremely difficult.
- 🔒 Make sure the device has the primary screen unlock password.
- 📡 Check for an active Internet connection to synchronize your Mi Account.
- 🆔 Remember or write down a control question that will be used to restore the.
- 📱 Free up some memory if you plan to install additional protection modules (although built-in ones don’t require much space).
Activation of the function of hidden applications
The setup process starts with going to the system settings menu, and you need to find the security section, depending on the version of the MIUI shell, this item can be simply called "Security" or be located inside the "Security" application. The interface may change, but the functionality remains available.
Inside the security menu, you'll find "Application Protection," and when you first start up, you'll be asked to create a unique password other than the unlock password, and that's the code that you'll be asked to use every time you try to open a secure application, and you can use the same graphics pattern or digital code, but for enhanced security, you'll want to use a different combination.
Once you have entered and confirmed your password, the system will ask you to answer the control question. The control question is your main lifeline. If you forget your password, the answer to that question will reset your access settings without losing data.
☑️ Setup of protection
It's important to understand that once you activate the function, you'll have all the programs installed on the list, and you'll have to manually switch switch switch switch switch switch switch switch switches against the ones you want to restrict access to, usually messengers, gallery, notes and banking software.
Configure the types of locking and biometrics
Modern smartphones, including the Redmi 4X, support the use of biometric data for quick access, and if you have a fingerprint scanner on your device, you can use it instead of entering your password every time, which greatly speeds up the process of unlocking apps and makes using your smartphone more comfortable.
To activate this function, you need to go to the settings for the application protection itself. You can select the type of password: pattern lock, 4-digit PIN-A pattern lock is often considered less reliable because there may be fingerprints on the screen that give off a trajectory.
| Type of protection | Difficulty in selection | Input speed | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| pattern lock | Medium | Tall. | For basic protection from children |
| 4-digit PIN | Low. | Very high. | For quick access |
| 6-digit password | Tall. | Medium | Optimal balance |
| Mixed password | Very high. | Low. | For maximum safety |
Using a fingerprint doesn't eliminate the need to remember the primary password. Biometrics is just a convenient addition. In situations where the finger is wet or dirty, the system will still request the input of digital or graphical code, so you can't forget the primary password.
What to do if the fingerprint scanner is not working?
Hiding applications on the desktop
Xiaomi’s Hidden Apps function works a little differently than a simple password lock, which allows you to completely remove the program icon from the desktop and menu, making it invisible to outsiders, and to access such programs, you need to use a special gesture or code in the Themes or Security app.
To activate this mode, you need to open the Security app, scroll down to Hidden Apps, and activate the switch, and then you can select the programs you want to hide, which disappear from the screen, but remain installed on the device.
Hidden applications are accessed through a set of special code in the Topics app or through a search, for example, you can specify a code word that opens a list of hidden programs when you enter it, which creates an additional level of privacy, since an attacker will not even know that such applications are on the phone.
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to a factory setting, all hidden apps can be removed or reset. Always back up important data.
- 👁️ Hidden apps don’t appear in the list of recently opened apps.
- 🔔 Notifications from hidden apps can also be hidden in the notification curtain.
- 📂 To access hidden files, a separate folder in the Explorer is used.
- 🚫 Removing an application from the hidden list returns it to the desktop.
Access management and time restrictions
The MIUI shell allows you not only to set a password, but also to set up access profiles, for example, you can create a guest mode where certain apps are not available at all, which is true if you give a phone to a child to play with or a friend to call.
You can find the "Second Space" feature in the security settings, which is actually creating a second smartphone inside one, where you can set your apps, your passwords, your gallery, switch between the main and second spaces through a password or a fingerprint, and it's the perfect way to separate your work and your personal information.
Timers can be used to temporarily restrict access, although they are not implemented in the standard Redmi 4X functionality compared to Android 10+. However, by setting a password for the application, you ensure that no one can use it without your knowledge at any time.
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Use the ‘Second Space’ feature to separate your WhatsApp or Telegram work and personal accounts so you don’t install third-party app clones.
Check the list of apps that have a password set regularly, and you may install new programs over time and forget to protect them, and you should change your password periodically, especially if you have told someone in an emergency.
Restoration of access when password is lost
The most common question users ask is what to do if the password is forgotten, and fortunately, the system has a recovery mechanism, but it only works if you previously linked your Mi Account and asked a control question, and without that data, it's almost impossible to restore access to blocked applications.
To reset the password, you need to enter the wrong code several times, after the fifth attempt, the link "Forgot the password?" will appear on the screen. By clicking on it, the system will prompt you to enter the answer to the control question or send the confirmation code to the associated phone number.
If you don’t remember the answer to the check question, the only option is to reset all security settings through the Mi Account settings on your computer or other device, which will remove passwords from all devices associated with your account.
⚠️ Note: Resetting your password through your Mi Account can take up to 24 hours for security reasons.Be prepared for the application to be temporarily restricted.
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Recovery of the password is possible only through the attached Mi-account or answer to a secret question asked during the first setting.