Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to restrict access to certain data. Personal correspondence, banking apps or photo gallery are the information that should not be shown to outsiders. The built-in shell of MIUI and its current version of HyperOS provide powerful tools to protect privacy without the need to install third-party software.
The system's app lock feature allows you to set a password to launch a Xiaomi app, which will be requested each time you open the selected program. This works even if the phone itself is unlocked, which provides an additional layer of security in the event that someone you know uses the gadget. It is important to understand that the settings may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the general principle remains the same for all models.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the nuances of the App Lock configuration, look at the hidden menu features and answer the questions that users often have when they first try to activate protection, and learn not just to lock, but also to do it as convenient as possible for everyday use.
Preparation for security settings in MIUI
Before you go to the direct setting of restrictions, you need to make sure that your Xiaomi account is ready to work with security features. Often users ignore the Mi Account binding, believing this is unnecessary, but it is the account that serves as the key to restore access in case you forget the installed code or pattern lock.
App Lock is tightly integrated with the company’s security services. If you’ve just reset your phone to factory settings or are using the device for the first time, it will take you a few minutes to initially configure.Without this step, some features, such as cloud password recovery or app hiding, may not work properly.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the device has an up-to-date system update installed. MIUI password encryption algorithms may have been different, which led to problems in data recovery.
You also need to know the type of protection you want. PIN-Biometrics greatly speed up access, but digital backup is a must for situations where sensors fail to work.
☑️ Data protection preparedness
Step-by-step: activation of App Lock
The process of turning on protection standard programs takes no more than a minute, if you know exactly where to look for the right switches. the interface of security settings in Xiaomi is quite logical, but often hidden in the submenu, where users rarely go. To begin, open the standard Security application with a green shield icon, which is preinstalled on each device of the brand.
Inside the menu, find App Lock (or App Lock) and when you first start, it will prompt you to create a password, which is a unique code different from the one you use to unlock your smartphone screen, which allows you to give your child or colleague a phone to call without giving you access to your messengers.
Once you create the code, you'll be asked to select specific apps from the list of installed apps. Just put the switchboard in front of the desired program in the active position. Now, every time you run WhatsApp, Telegram or Gallery, the system will request verification of identity.
- 🔒 Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 🔑 Select the App Lock section and set a unique pattern lock.
- 📱 Turn on switches in front of programs that require protection.
- ⚙️ Set up additional options in the Blocker settings menu.
💡
The App Lock password is independent of the screen unlock password, which creates a double layer of protection for your data.
Set up biometrics and smart unlocking
Entering a digital code or drawing a key every time can be tedious, especially if you access a secure app dozens of times a day. Fortunately, modern Xiaomi smartphones allow you to tie unlock to a fingerprint or facial recognition, which is not only convenient, but also increases security, because biometrics are unique.
To activate this feature, go to the App Lock settings via a three-dot menu or gear in the corner of the screen. Find the "Unlock fingerprint" (or Face ID) and activate it. The system will ask you to attach your finger to the scanner for confirmation.
There is also a useful option, “Unlock within Mi Trust.” If it is enabled, when you are in a trusted area (such as at home) or when you connect to a specific Bluetooth device (smartwatch), you may not need a password. However, for maximum privacy, it is better to keep this feature off so that biometrics are always required.
⚠️ Warning: Biometric unlocking may not work if you have rebooted your phone and have never unlocked it with your primary password.
It is important to note that the fingerprint scanner works on the quality of the protective glass and the purity of the fingers. If the sensor works once in a while, consider adding a second fingerprint of the same finger to increase sensitivity.
Application Hiding Function: Second Level of Protection
One of the most sought-after features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to not only block, but completely hide the app icon from the desktop. When the program is hidden, it disappears from the launcher menu and does not appear in the list of installed applications as standard.
To access hidden programs, a special guest or code in the Themes app is used, most often by double-pressing or dividing your fingers in the Topic app, or entering a special code in the search bar. Hidden apps are not visible even in the recent task menu until you enter the correct access code.
To use this feature, go to the App Lock settings and find Hide Apps, where you will see a list of programs that can be made invisible. Once you select the icon, you will disappear, and to access it you will need to know how you set up the login (for example, through a search for Topics).
- 👻 Hiding an icon makes the app invisible in the launcher.
- 🔍 Access is made through a special gesture in the app "Themes».
- 🔢 You can set the entrance to the secret code through search.
- 🚫 Notifications from hidden apps can also be hidden.
What happens if you remove the Topic app?
Table of comparison of protection methods
Different methods of restricting access have their pros and cons. Understanding the differences will help you choose the optimal protection strategy for different smartphone use scenarios.
| Protection method | Level of security | Convenience | Difficulty bypassing |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Lock (password) | High-pitched | Average. | Tall. |
| Fingerprint. | Very tall. | Excellent. | Very high. |
| Hiding applications | Medium. | Low (code needed) | Medium |
| Guest mode | Maximum | Low. | Maximum |
As you can see from the table, the combination of App Lock and biometrics gives the best balance between security and speed, and hiding apps is best for programs you rarely use but want to keep secret about their presence on your device.
Solution: If you forget your password
The most common problem users face is a forgotten password from App Lock. Unlike the screen unlock password, recovery has its nuances here. If you have attached Mi Account, recovery will be quick and without data loss.
If you have a few incorrect password inputs, the "Forgot your password?" link will appear on the screen, and if you click on it, the system will prompt you to enter the password from your Mi Account. Once you have successfully logged in, you can reset the application lock code and install a new one, which confirms the importance of having an active Xiaomi account.
In situations where the account was not tied, the situation becomes more complicated. The only way to reset the protection is to completely reset the device to the factory settings (Hard Reset), which will lead to the deletion of all data, so backup and linking the account is critical.
⚠️ Note: Resetting via Recovery Mode will delete all photos, contacts and files. Use this method only as a last resort if the data has not been stored in the cloud.
Sometimes cleaning the data of the application itself through the application management menu helps, but in modern versions of MIUI this action also often requires password confirmation of App Lock, closing the circle.
Additional settings and automation
For advanced users, Xiaomi offers flexible settings for the behavior of the blocker. You can set the time after which you need to re-enter the password after you fold the application. This is convenient: if you switched to the browser and immediately returned to the bank, the password may not be required, but after 5 minutes of inactivity, access will be closed again.
It is also possible to block the installation of applications from unknown sources, which will prevent the accidental installation of malware that may try to bypass the protection. The App Lock menu has a “Block App Installation” switch that requires you to enter a password when trying to install it. APK-file.
Remember that system updates may change the location of some menu items. If you do not find the features described, check for updates for the Security app through the GetApps store or system updater. Current versions of system components are always more stable.
💡
Use different passwords to unlock the screen and for App Lock, which will prevent access to secure data if someone looks at your primary pin.