How to put a password on WhatsApp on Xiaomi: all the ways to protect chats

Protecting personal WhatsApp has become a necessity for most Xiaomi users. Even if you’re careful about your smartphone, there’s always a risk that someone will accidentally or intentionally access your messages. Fortunately, the company has provided several ways to block the messenger, from standard app features to built-in MIUI tools.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current techniques, including password protection, fingerprint protection, and even notification hiding. We’ll focus on the nuances for different firmware versions (MIUI 12, 13, 14) and Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note to Xiaomi’s flagship 13). If you’re looking for a reliable way to keep your chats from prying eyes, you’re right here.

Why it’s important to put a password on WhatsApp on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones are often used in families or communities where the device can fall into the hands of others. Without WhatsApp protection, anyone who takes your phone can:

• 📖 Read personal correspondence, including work chats and family conversations.
• 📷 View media files (photos, videos, documents) sent via the messenger.
• 💬 Send messages on your behalf, which can lead to embarrassing situations.
• 🔗 Access links to cloud storage or payment systems if they were shared in chat rooms.

According to a 2023 Kaspersky study, 37 percent of personal data breaches are due to inadequate mobile app protection, while Xiaomi is the second most popular smartphone in Russia, making the owners of these devices a potential target for cyber fraudsters.

And there's a feature in MIUI that you can actually preview notifications on a locked screen, and even if the phone is protected by a pattern lock, the content of WhatsApp messages can be seen by the public, and that's done by setting the privacy of notifications, which we'll talk about later.

Method 1: Built-in WhatsApp lock (password or biometrics)

The easiest and most versatile method is to use the built-in lock function in WhatsApp itself, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the version of MIUI, and allows you to install:

• 🔑 Password (digital or alphanumeric).
• 👆 Fingerprint (if the sensor is supported by the device).
• 👁️ Facial recognition (on models with front camera and Face Unlock support).

To activate the lock:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap on it. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
2. Select Settings → Account → Privacy.
3. Scroll down to Fingerprint Lock (or Password Lock).
4. Activate the switch and follow the instructions on the screen.

Once set up, the app will require confirmation every time you open it. Important: If you use a fingerprint, make sure it is already added to Xiaomi's settings (Settings → Passwords & Security → Fingerprint).

Add your fingerprint to Xiaomi’s settings (if you plan to use biometrics)

Update WhatsApp to the latest version

Remember or save a backup password

Make sure your phone has enough charge (minimum 20%)

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⚠️ Note: If you forget your WhatsApp password, you can't restore it through support. You'll have to reinstall the app, which will result in the loss of unsaved chats.

Method 2: Locking through the "Second Space" in MIUI

A unique feature of MIUI firmware is Second Space, which creates an isolated replica of a system that hides WhatsApp and other apps, a technique that works if you want to not just block the messenger, but completely hide it from the public eye along with the notifications.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space.
2. Create a new space by following the prompts (you will need to set a separate password).
3. Once created, move to the second space and install WhatsApp as usual.
4. Return to the main space – the app will disappear from the menu and search.

To open the hidden WhatsApp, you need to:

• Swipe down the screen and tap the user's avatar in the upper right corner.
• Select the Second Space and enter your password.

This is especially useful for users who share a phone with children or colleagues, such as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro or POCO X5 Pro, the feature is stable, but on budget models like the Redmi 10A may not be available.

Method 3: Using App Lock in MIUI

If you don't have to hide WhatsApp completely, but just block access to it, the built-in MIUI tool, App Lock, will do, and it lets you set a password, a pattern lock, or a fingerprint for individual applications.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Blocking applications.
2. Enter the password for App Lock (unless previously set).
3. Find in the WhatsApp list and activate the switch.
4. Select the type of lock: password, fingerprint or Face Unlock.

After that, every time WhatsApp launches, a confirmation will be requested, and the advantage of this method is that it works systematically — even if someone deletes and reinstalls the messenger, the lock will remain.

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If you use App Lock, add system applications (such as “Settings” or “Phone”) to the exceptions so you don’t accidentally block them.

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 11 Ultra or Xiaomi 13T), the App Lock supports automatic time-locking, meaning you can set WhatsApp to lock after 1 minute of inactivity - this is handy if you often forget to close the app.

Method 4: Hiding WhatsApp notifications on the lock screen

Even if you have set a password for WhatsApp, the contents of messages can be displayed in notifications on a locked screen, and to avoid this, you need to configure the privacy of notifications in MIUI.

How to hide the text of notifications:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notifications on the lock screen.
2. Choose Hide the content of notifications or Do not show notifications (complete ban).
3. To fine-tune, tap on WhatsApp in the list of apps and turn off Show on the lock screen.

You can also set the priority of notifications:

• 🔔 Important notifications – will always be displayed (not recommended for WhatsApp).
• 📵 Regular notifications will not interfere with sound and vibration.
• ❌ Disable – notifications won’t come (for radical privacy only).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14, the Privacy Notifications feature appears, it automatically hides the text of messages if the phone is in the upside down or in the pocket. → Notifications → Confidentiality regime.

What to do if you forget your WhatsApp password on Xiaomi

If you set the password directly to WhatsApp (not through App Lock), you can't restore it, and the only way out is to reinstall the app, but that will lead to the loss of unsaved chats, to minimize the risks:

Steps to restore access:

1. Delete WhatsApp via Settings → Apps → Delete.
2. Download the messenger again from Google Play or Mi App Store.
3. When you first start, enter the phone number and confirm it via SMS.
4. If you have backed up to Google Drive, restore chats from it.

If you have used the App Lock from MIUI:

• Try to remember a password or a pattern lock.
• If you can’t, reset your lock settings through Settings → Passwords and Security → Application Blocking → Forgot your password.
• The system will request a password from the Mi Account account (if it is linked to the phone).

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 13/14 (for example, Xiaomi 12T or POCO F4), there is another way to reset security settings through Mi Account.

Settings → About Phone → All Settings → Resettings → Resetting Security Settings

After that, all passwords (including App Lock) will be reset, but personal data will remain intact.

Common mistakes and their solution

When setting up WhatsApp lock on Xiaomi, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If WhatsApp starts to freeze or fly out after you set up your lock, try:

• 🔄 Clear the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → WhatsApp → Clear the cache).
• 📥 Update the messenger to the latest version.
• 🔧 Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → WhatsApp → No restrictions).

On Xiaomi with Snapdragon processors (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro), sometimes there is a bug when the biometric lock stops working after the MIUI update.

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If none of these methods work, check to see if the phone has third-party blocking software (such as third-party appLock) that may conflict with MIUI system functions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about WhatsApp blocking on Xiaomi