How to Password Apps in Xiaomi: Data Protection

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones contain a huge array of personal information, from instant messaging to banking applications. Standard screen locking is often not enough, especially if the phone is used by children or the device is briefly in the hands of strangers. That is why the feature of hiding and protecting applications is one of the most popular features of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS.

The built-in features not only allow you to set an additional barrier, but also completely hide the program icon from the desktop. This creates a double level of security, making access to sensitive data almost impossible for the casual user. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to configure protection, what are the nuances of working with biometrics, and what to do if you forget the created access code.

Why do you need additional protection for applications?

Many users underestimate the risks of physically accessing an unlocked smartphone. If you hand a phone to a colleague to see a photo, or let a child watch a cartoon, nothing prevents them from opening your Telegram, WhatsApp, or bank app. The built-in app blocker solves this problem by requiring ID verification every time you run your chosen programs.

It also allows you to create what's called digital boundaries, you can allow guests to use social media, but you can block access to gallery or files, and this is especially true for business owners who keep trade secrets in notes or email clients, and using biometric security in conjunction with a pattern lock makes the login process fast but reliable.

Xiaomi’s system protections are low-end, meaning that even removing an application doesn’t always remove the lock if it was configured through a Mi Account system account, which ensures that your data remains secure even when you try to access unauthorized data through third-party utilities.

• 🔒 Protection of correspondence in messengers from prying eyes when unlocked screen.
• 🛡️ Preventing Accidental Purchases or Transfers by Children through Gaming and Banking Apps.
• 👁️ Hiding the fact that certain programs are on the device (hidden space function).
• ⚡ Quick access to secure data via fingerprint scanner or facial recognition.

It's important to understand the difference between simply locking a screen and protecting specific applications: the first protects the device as a whole, the second segments access within an already running system, and combining these techniques creates a robust security perimeter.

Preparation for the Blocker Configuration

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your device is signed in to Mi Account, which is a critical requirement, since it is the account that binds the security settings and allows you to restore access in the event of a password loss. Without an associated account, the risk of losing access to your own data increases significantly.

It is also recommended to install a reliable method of unlocking the screen in advance (PIN-A system application blocker often uses this data as a backup method or requires it to be created during the initial setup process. Make sure you remember this code, as it may be needed to reset the security settings.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the application blocker and do not link Mi Account, it will be almost impossible to restore access to hidden data.

Check for system updates. In newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS, the security menu interface may be different from older versions. Up-to-date software ensures that all the latest security patches are available and the settings menu is up-to-date.

Step-by-step: setting a password through settings

The process of activating protection with built-in tools is quite simple, but requires careful choice of parameters. Open the main settings menu of your smartphone and find the section responsible for security. Depending on the version of the firmware, it can be called simply “Security” or have a separate menu “Application Protection”.

Once you log in, you'll be asked to create a password. The system will ask you to choose the type: pattern lock, digital key. PIN-A pattern lock is usually faster to enter, but the digital code is considered more secure in terms of entropy.

Then the system asks you to link your Mi Account to restore, which is a must-do step, and once you confirm your account, you'll see a list of all the apps you've installed, and you just need to switch the sliders against the programs you want to protect, and the changes will take effect instantly.

For ease of use, it is recommended to immediately enable the option “Unlock by fingerprint” or “Unlock by face” to open protected applications with one touch, without entering the password each time manually, and you can find this option in the upper right corner of the app selection screen or in the settings of the blocker itself.

The sequence of actions in the menu is as follows:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select the Application or Security item.
3. Click on Application Protection.
4. Set a password and connect an account.
5. Activate the switches of the desired programs.

Use of the Security App

Xiaomi smartphones pre-installed the system application “Security” (green shield icon), which duplicates the functions of the settings menu, but provides faster access. This is especially convenient if you need to quickly add a new application to protection or change the lock settings.

Inside the Security app, you need to scroll down to the Application Protection menu. If you are setting up your device for the first time, the system will prompt you to create a password. If the password is already set, you will immediately be placed in the list of programs. Here you can configure additional settings, such as lock time (immediately, 1 minute, 15 minutes or 1 hour).

One of the useful features is the ability to hide the contents of notifications for secure applications. Even if the phone is unlocked, the text of the message from WhatsApp or Viber will not be visible in the notification curtain until you enter the password, which prevents information from leaking through the lock screen.

• 📱 Quick access to protection settings through the Security widget».
• 🔔 Flexible notification display settings for hidden applications.
• ⏱️ Set up an autolock timer for different use cases.
• 👆 Support for unlocking your fingerprint directly from the list of applications.

Using a regular Security app is preferable to installing third-party counterparts from the Play Market. Third-party programs often require extra permissions, consume more battery and can run unstable on the MIUI shell due to aggressive energy savings.

Configure the hidden space and the second space

For users who want maximum privacy, Xiaomi offers a “Second Space” feature, which is actually creating a second profile on a smartphone that looks like a completely new device, and is logged in either through a separate fingerprint or through a special password.

In the second space, you can set up your apps, your accounts, and store files that are completely isolated from the main space, and the person who gets access to the main screen will not even know that the second profile exists, which is ideal for separating work and personal life or storing sensitive data.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Additional Features → Second Space. The system will create a separate desktop. You can switch between spaces through the notification curtain or using the assigned fingerprint on the lock screen.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting the second space will completely destroy all the data stored inside it.Be sure to back up important files before reset if they are not stored anywhere else.

There is also a simpler version of Hidden Apps, which does not create a separate profile, but simply hides the icons of selected programs from the desktop, and to get into hidden applications, you need to make a special gesture in the Explorer app or on the desktop (usually spreading two fingers to the sides), then enter the password.

Comparison of protection methods and their features

Different security methods have their pros and cons, and the choice depends on your specific needs: blocking applications is convenient for everyday use, the second space is for radical data separation, and hidden applications are for hiding the fact that the program is present.

The table below provides a comparison of the main characteristics of each method so that you can choose the best option for your situation.

It’s worth noting that the “Second Space” feature may not be available on some budget smartphone models or in global firmware versions for certain regions, and in such cases, the combination of “App Protection” + “Hidden icons” is the best alternative.

Solution: Forgotten password or not working fingerprint

The most common problem is that the user forgets the installed pattern lock or digital code. If you have attached a Mi Account, the password entry screen will appear after several unsuccessful attempts, the link "Forgot the password?" By clicking on it and entering the data from the account, you can reset the protection and specify a new code.

If the fingerprint is no longer recognized (for example, due to wet hands or contamination of the sensor), the system will automatically prompt you to enter the password. Don't panic if the scanner is working with errors - this is a normal situation. In the locker settings, you can add several fingerprints to improve reliability.

If the Mi Account is not tied and the password is forgotten, the situation becomes complicated. The only way is to completely reset the device, which will delete all data, so linking the account at the time of setting the password is a critical step that cannot be ignored.

• 🔄 Regularly check the relevance of the password from the Mi Account.
• 🧼 Keep your fingerprint scanner clean for stable operation.
• 📝 Write complex passwords to a secure location (not in your phone’s notes!).
• 🔐 Use different types of locks for different access levels.

There are also situations when the system updates reset protection settings, which is a rare bug, but it happens, and it is recommended that after major Android or MIUI updates, check the protection status of your applications and activate it again if necessary.

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Tip: If you often forget passwords, use as a pattern lock a complex, but memorable figure, for example, the first letter of the last name, drawn in a non-standard way.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main conclusion: Xiaomi’s system protections (application blocker, second space) provide a sufficient level of security for 99% of users, and the use of third-party programs is justified only in rare cases of incompatibility.