How to put a password on the application in Xiaomi: all ways to protect

Why to Password Xiaomi Apps and What Risks It Prevents

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They store a lot of sensitive information, from instant messengers to banking applications, and in 2023, 68 percent of all data breaches were due to unauthorized access to an unlocked phone. Passwording to individual apps solves this problem by creating an additional barrier even if someone recognizes yours. PIN-lock-screen.

Owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi often face a dilemma: how to protect instant messengers or a gallery from prying eyes without blocking the entire phone? Standard MIUI 14/15 tools offer several options - from built-in "Safe Space" to third-party applications. But each method has nuances: somewhere you will need to link a Mi Account, and somewhere you will have to sacrifice convenience for security.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to protect applications with a password on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI functions, compare their reliability and speed, and pay special attention to typical errors that can cause a password to reset after a system update or firmware change.

Method 1: Built-in Application Protection in MIUI

The most reliable and recommended method is to use the regular Settings → Applications → Application Protection. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, including the POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13T. The main advantage is the integration with the system: the password will be requested even if the phone is unlocked.

To activate the protection:

1. Open the "Settings" and go to the Application section.
2. Select Application Protection (on some models it is hidden in Permissions → Special permissions).
3. Enter the main password of the lock screen (PIN, pattern lock or fingerprint).
4. In the list, mark the apps you want to block (for example, WhatsApp, Gallery, SberBank Online).
5. Press Ready and confirm the action.

And then every time you run a secure application, you'll see a window that asks for a password, and the important thing is, if you're using a fingerprint, the system can ask for it instead of the primary password, which is normal MIUI behavior.

Make sure that the main password (PIN/pattern lock) is installed on the phone.

Update MIUI to the latest version (app protection is more stable)

Disable Smart Blocker in Security Settings (may conflict)

Backup important data in case of a failure-->

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings, application protection will shut down automatically, and the feature may temporarily stop working after major updates. MIUI (For example, from version 14 to version 15, in which case it is enough to re-enable the protection in the settings.

Method 2: Using the "Second Space" to be completely isolated

Second Space (or Dual Apps in global firmware) creates an isolated copy of selected applications with a separate password, which is useful if you want to not just block access, but completely hide the presence of certain programs, for example, you can duplicate Telegram or VKontakte and store personal correspondence in the second space.

How to set up:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Second space.
• 🔑 Set a password for the entry (it may differ from the main one) PIN-phone-code).
• 📋 Select the applications you want to duplicate (not all programs are available).
• 🔄 Wait for copies to be made (may take a while). 1-2 minute).

Now, when you run a duplicate application, the system will require you to enter a second space password. The main advantage of the method is complete data isolation: files, cache and settings of duplicate applications are not visible in the main space.

Built-in "Application Protection"

Second Space (Dual Apps)

Third-party applications (AppLock and analogues)

Don't use protection.

Another way.-->

Method 3: Third-party applications (AppLock and analogues)

If you don’t like MIUI, you can use third-party blockers such as AppLock, Norton App Lock or Smart AppLock, which offer advanced features: geolocation lock, automatic unlocking in trusted Wi-Fi networks, and protection from deletion through the administrator password.

Instructions for setting up AppLock:

1. Download the app from Google Play (check that the developer is DoMobile Lab).
2. Launch AppLock and set a master password (it is recommended to use a combination of 8+ characters).
3. In the Appendix section, mark the programs you want to block.
4. In the settings, activate Hide notifications so that confidential messages do not appear on the lock screen.
5. Add AppLock to the list of Device Administrators (in Android security settings) to prevent password-free deletion.

Advantages of third-party blockers:

• 🔒 More flexible settings (e.g. locking by time or location).
• 📊 ← Entry Attempts Statistics (you can see who tried to access).
• 🎨 Design topics and customization of the lock screen.

⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (such as Tinkoff or Alpha Click) may conflict with third-party blockers and give an "Unsafe Environment" error, in which case you will either have to disable the protection for these programs or use the usual tools. MIUI.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the protection is properly set up, Xiaomi users are faced with common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1. Password is not requested after MIUI update

After major updates (e.g., MIUI 14 to 15), Application Protection may reset.

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application protection and re-enable protection.
• 📱 Restart your phone – sometimes a simple reboot helps.
• 🔧 If it doesn’t work, reset your security settings to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings → Resetting application settings.

2.The application is blocked even after entering the correct password

This problem is typical of the POCO X3 and Redmi 9 models with custom firmware, the culprit is a security conflict.

• 🛠️ Turn off Optimization. MIUI" In Settings → Special facilities → Optimization MIUI.
• 🔄 Clear the app's cache Settings → Annexes → All applications → Settings → Clear the cache.
• 📵 If it doesn’t help, remove updates for the Security system app (power users only!).

3.The fingerprint lock is not working

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Lite) after the update, unlocking applications from the fingerprint stops working.

• 👆 Remove all fingerprints in Settings → Lock screen → Fingerprints and add them again.
• 🔋 Check if the Unblock Apps option is enabled in the fingerprint settings.
• 🔄 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (click the power button) → "Safe Mode) and check the work – if everything works there, one of the installed applications is to blame.

💡

If you use Second Space, regularly check it for viruses through Google Play Protect.The isolated environment can become a target for malware, as many users forget to update apps in duplicate space.

Comparison of methods: what method of protection to choose

The choice of method depends on your priorities: maximum security, convenience or secrecy.

For most users, the best solution is a combination of built-in MIUI protection for critical applications (banks, mail) and Second Space for personal accounts. Third-party AppLock should be considered only if you need unique features, such as geolocation lock.

💡

On MIUI Global models (such as the POCO X5 Pro), the App Lock feature may be called the App Lock and is located in the Privacy Protection section.

How to protect system applications (Gallery, Contacts, Messages)

Many users overlook that Xiaomi’s standard apps – Gallery, Contacts and Messages – can also be blocked.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Protection.
2. In the list, find system applications (they are marked with the MIUI icon).
3. Activate protection for the right programs.

For the Gallery, an additional option is available - hiding albums:

• 🖼️ Open the Gallery, click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
• 🔒 Select Hidden Albums and set a password (may differ from the main one).
• 📂 Bring the photos you want to hide.

Important: Hidden albums in the Xiaomi Gallery are not encrypted – they can be seen through the file manager if you know the path (/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/). For full protection, use third-party applications like KeepSafe or Vaulty.

⚠️ Note: Some models (Redmi Note 11 and older) will not receive notifications when the protection for Messages is activated. SMS. To fix this, go to Settings. → Notifications → Messages and manually enable notification display for the blocked application.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions