How to set a lock on applications on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality and flexibility of settings of the operating system MIUI or HyperOS. One of the most popular features for users is the ability to hide personal data from prying eyes. This is especially true when children use the phone, or if you often give the device to colleagues to call.

Built-in shell tools allow you to do this in a number of ways: you can set a password for applications, create a separate user profile, or use the icon-hiding feature, each of which has its own features, benefits, and use cases, and the specific method you choose depends on how much protection you plan to implement.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available options for protecting your data, we will look at the standard system tools that do not require the installation of third-party software, and we will also pay attention to the nuances of biometric protection in conjunction with program locks.

Use of the built-in function “Application Locking”

The easiest and most popular way to protect instant messengers, gallery or banking applications is to use a regular security tool that allows you to put an additional barrier when you run selected programs. To activate this feature, you need to open the standard Security application (green zipper icon), which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices.

In the app menu, find the Application Lock section. The system will prompt you to create a special password or use a pattern lock. It is important to understand that this password will differ from the unlock password of the screen, although it may match it at your request. Once you set the password, you will be asked to select the applications that you want to restrict access to. Just move the slider opposite the desired program to the active position.

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It is recommended to enable the “Block on Exit” option so that a password is requested each time you fold the app, not just when you first start after rebooting.

It's worth noting that this feature works at the system level, which means that even if you remove the shortcut from the desktop, when you try to run it through search or settings, the password will still be requested, which provides a high level of privacy.

• 🔒 Open the Security app and select “Block Apps».
• 🔑 Come up with a strong pattern lock or digital code to access.
• 📱 Select from the list all the programs that you want to hide from strangers.
• ⚙️ Set up additional options, such as unlocking from your fingerprint.

Set up biometric unlocking for applications

Entering a password every time you open a messenger can be tedious, especially if you use your smartphone actively throughout the day. Today’s Redmi and POCO smartphones feature fast fingerprint scanners and facial recognition systems. These technologies can be integrated with the application lock feature for maximum convenience.

To activate this feature, go to the application lock settings and find Settings (usually the gear icon in the corner) where you need to activate the "Fingerprint unlock" or "Face unlock" switch, and then when you try to open a secure application, the system will not ask for a pattern lock, but instantly reads your biometrics.

⚠️ Note: Biometric unlocking only works if you have pre-set the primary password for blocking applications.

It’s important to keep in mind that Android biometrics is an additional, not the primary, method of authorization. If you’ve rebooted your phone or more than 24 hours have passed since your last device unlocked, the system may require you to enter your password, not your fingerprint. This is the standard security measure of the Android Keystore protocol, which prevents unauthorized access to data in the event of loss of consciousness or other critical situations.

Also worth mentioning is speed. Side-button fingerprint scanners on Xiaomi’s budget models can run a little slower than the under-screen optical scanners in flagships. However, for unlocking applications, this delay is almost imperceptible and takes a fraction of a second.

The Second Space (Second Space)

If you want to split data more radically than just a folder password, you should look at Second Space, which is a unique feature of the MIUI shell that creates a virtual second, completely isolated smartphone on the phone that has its own photos, its contacts, its Google accounts and its installed applications.

The transition between the main and second spaces is instantaneous. You can set the entrance to the second space with a separate fingerprint. For example, unlocking the right hand index finger opens the main profile, and the left thumb opens the hidden profile with private data. For an outsider, the phone will look like normal if they do not know the special finger to unlock.

Creating a second space requires some preparation. Make sure your device has enough free memory, as the system must reserve space for the second dataset and application cache.The creation process takes a few minutes and requires rebooting some system services.

• 📂 Go to "Settings» → «About the phone" or "Advanced settings».
• 🔄 Select “Second Space” and click “Enable».
• 👤 Follow the instructions of the setup wizard to create a new profile.
• 🔐 Assign a separate unlock method (password or fingerprint) to log in.

Hiding applications from the desktop

Sometimes the user doesn't need a complete password lock, but only a visual concealment of the icons from curious glances. There's a Hidden Apps feature in the MIUI shell, which allows you to remove the shortcuts of selected programs from desktops and from the menus of all applications. The icons disappear, but the programs themselves continue to work in the background and receive notifications.

To use this feature, open the Settings app, go to the Apps section and find Hidden Apps. In the list that opens, just activate the switches next to the programs you want to hide, and then the icons disappear from the screen.

There's a gesture to access hidden applications, usually by placing two fingers sideways on the desktop (swiping up with two fingers), and in the Hidden Apps window that appears, you'll see all the programs you've hidden before, and you can also unblock them if they've been installed separately.

Keep in mind that icon hiding is a measure of interface privacy rather than real data protection, and if an attacker is technically savvy, they can find a hidden application through system settings or global search, so for banking applications, this method is better combined with password setting.

Limitations of parental control and digital well-being

If your goal is to limit your child’s access to games or social media, rather than protecting their personal communications, then Digital Wellbeing tools are best suited, built into Android and allow you to set time limits for specific applications.

Unlike a simple password lock, you can set a schedule here, like stopping YouTube or TikTok from running in the evening or after two hours of use a day, and when the limit is exhausted, the app icon turns gray, and you can't run it without entering a special code (which only you know).

Using these tools not only helps to protect data, but also to improve digital hygiene, you can limit your time on social networks to increase productivity, or control what your children do online.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The combination of security methods (password + biometrics + hiding icons) ensures maximum security of your personal data on Xiaomi smartphones.