Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to hide personal correspondence, banking applications or a gallery from prying eyes. The standard shell of MIUI and its successor HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools for this, without requiring the installation of third-party software. To put locks on the application in Xiaomi through the system utility “Security”, which is deeply integrated into the Android operating system.
This feature allows you to protect access to specific programs using a pattern lock, PIN-It is important to understand the difference between simply hiding icons and fully blocking them, because the mechanisms of their work are different. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods to protect your privacy on the devices of the Chinese brand.
Using built-in tools is preferable to downloading dubious blockers from the Play Market, which can collect data themselves. The App Lock system works stably and does not drain the battery with background processes. Next, we will consider a step-by-step algorithm for activating protection.
Activation of the standard application blocker
The main security tool is in the Security system application, which is preinstalled on each device. To start, you need to open this program and find the Application Protection (or App Lock) section. If you see this item for the first time, the system will prompt you to create an unlock password that will differ from the password of the lock screen of the phone.
Once you have the access code installed, you will be asked to select the applications you want to protect, and a pattern lock or digital pin will be requested each time you try to open the program you want, and this creates the first and most reliable barrier for the curious.
- 🔒 Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 🔑 Go to the Application Protection section and set a password.
- 📱 Select from the list instant messengers, gallery or banking applications to block.
⚠️ Note: Do not use too simple combinations (e.g., 1234 or straight lines) as they are easy to peek from the side when unlocked in a public place.
It is worth noting that when the feature is first activated, the system may suggest linking a Mi Account to restore access in the case of a forgotten password, an important step that is often ignored, leading to problems with accessing your own data.
☑️ Security check
Set up biometric unlocking
Password entry can be tedious every time, so modern Xiaomi smartphones allow you to use biometrics. You can set up unlocking blocked applications using a fingerprint or Face ID, which greatly speeds up access to secure data, while maintaining a high level of security.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the application protection settings themselves. In the upper right corner of the App Lock settings screen, there is a gear icon, where you need to find "Use your fingerprint" or "Use face unlock" and activate the corresponding switches.
However, if you change the password of the phone lock screen, the biometric settings for App Lock may reset and have to be turned on again.
- 👆 Go to the Application Protection settings through the gear.
- 🧬 Activate the option to use your fingerprint.
- 👤 If necessary, enable Face Unlock for quick access.
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If your hands are dirty or wet, the system may not count the fingerprint, in which case, always remember the digital code or pattern lock installed for emergency access.
Use of the function "Hidden space"
For users who want maximum privacy, MIUI and HyperOS have a "Second Space" feature, which is not just locking, but creating a full-fledged second working environment inside a smartphone, and you can set a separate password, your own apps, and even another Mi Account in that space.
Switching between the main and hidden spaces is unobtrusive to outsiders, often through a special gesture on the lock screen or entering a specific pin code when unlocking the phone.To an outsider, your phone will look like normal, even if you enter code from a hidden profile.
This method is ideal for storing compromise photos, second social media accounts or work documents that should not be visible in the main interface, but it is worth considering that having two spaces takes up more RAM and may have a slight effect on autonomy.
| Parameter | Main space | Hidden space |
|---|---|---|
| Access to data | Complete. | Only after authorization |
| Visibility of applications | You see it all. | Hidden from the main menu |
| Notifications | Displayed | Hidden or duplicated |
| Booting the system | Standard. | It requires more resources. |
How to activate the hidden space?
Blocking through the “Second Profile” mode
An alternative to hidden space is to create a second user profile, if that option is available in your firmware version. Unlike hidden space, the second profile is more focused on separating work and personal use than on secrecy.
The second profile allows you to have separate settings, wallpapers and application sets, and you can switch between profiles through the Quick Settings Panel or the user menu, which is convenient if you have multiple people using the phone and you want to restrict access to your data.
Switching to a guest profile or a child’s profile will completely shut down your personal files and installed programs, a cruder but more effective method of data isolation that is harder to get around without knowing the password of your main account.
- 👥 Go to Settings. → Advanced settings.
- 🆕 Find the second profile or two applications.
- ⚙️ Set up separate rules and apps for a new profile.
⚠️ Warning: Removing the second profile or hidden space will result in the complete removal of all data and applications installed inside it.
Limitations and nuances of the blocker
Despite its high efficiency, the system blocker has its own features, for example, some system applications or Google services may not be supported by the App Lock function. In addition, when you update the system, security settings can sometimes be reset, which requires re-activation.
Also, note that notifications from blocked applications can still be displayed on the lock screen or in the curtain if you do not configure the appropriate privacy settings. The text of the message can be visible until the password is entered, which negates some of the efforts to hide information.
In newer versions of HyperOS, memory algorithms have become more aggressive, and the background processes of the blocker can sometimes be terminated by the system to save energy. To avoid this, it is recommended to fix the Security application in memory or allow it to auto-start in the battery settings.
Critical: If you forget your App Lock password and don't link your Mi Account, the only way to reset protection is to completely reset your phone to factory settings, which will delete all data.
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System protection of applications is effective only in conjunction with a strong password lock screen and a tied account for recovery.