How to set a password for applications in Xiaomi: all ways to protect personal data

Protecting personal data on Xiaomi’s smartphone is a task that many users only solve after an incident: someone accidentally saw a correspondence, a child deleted important files, or a phone fell into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, MIUI has built-in tools to block applications with a password, as well as third-party solutions with advanced features, but not everyone knows where to look for these settings and how to set them up correctly.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to set a password for applications in Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from the standard functions of Protected Space to the hidden features of MIUI 14. We will pay special attention to the nuances: why sometimes locking does not work, how to circumvent restrictions on some models and what to do if you forgot your password.

Why you should block applications with a password on Xiaomi

The smartphone has become a repository of the most sensitive information, from banking apps to intimate correspondence, and even if you don't hand over your phone to outsiders, the risks remain:

• 👶 Children may accidentally delete important files, make purchases in games, or send messages to the wrong people.
• 👥 Friends/colleagues who have taken the phone to call often click through the gallery or social networks out of interest".
• 🚨 Theft or loss of the device – without blocking applications, the attacker will have access to all data.
• 🔍 Accidental taps in your pocket or bag can open unnecessary apps (e.g., a mobile bank).

In MIUI 14, password blocking works even when the internet is off — unlike many third-party applications that require a constant connection to the network, which makes built-in tools more reliable for protection in emergency situations.

But there's a downside: if you forget the password for Secure Space, you can't unlock it without resetting your phone to factory settings, and that's what I'm talking about in the Access Restoration section.

Method 1: Built-in locking through "Secure Space"

The most reliable and official method is using the Protected Space feature (formerly called Second Space), which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5 and the flagship Xiaomi 12/13/14 series.

Algorithm of action:

1. Open the Settings. → Protection and confidentiality.
2. Select Protected Space (if no option, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI).
3. Click Create Protected Space and follow the instructions.
4. Set a password (at least 6 characters, preferably with numbers and letters).
5. After creating the space, go back to Settings → Apps.
6. Select the desired application (such as WhatsApp or SberBank Online) → Block the application → turn on the switch.

Now, when you try to open a blocked application, the system will require you to enter a password. Importantly, the password to block the applications and the password to secure space are the same. You can change it to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization → Secured Space Password.

Make sure MIUI is updated to the latest version|

Remember or write your password to a secure location|

Turn off autocomplete passwords in the browser |

Check that there is enough memory in the protected space (if you plan to hide files)-->

Method 2: Blocking through Privacy (for older versions of MIUI)

If you have Xiaomi on MIUI 11 or older (such as Redmi 8 or Mi A3), you may not have Secure Space.

1. Go to Settings. → Confidentiality.
2. Select Application Lock (if there is no item, update the firmware).
3. Set a password (you can use a pattern lock or PIN).
4. Check the boxes of the applications you want to block.

This method is less reliable than a protected space because:

• 🔓 Password can be reset via Mi Account (if linked).
• 📱 The lock is removed after the phone is restarted (in some versions). MIUI).
• 🚫 No way to hide notifications from blocked applications.

If your model doesn’t support either of these methods, go to Way 3, which is using third-party apps.

Method 3: Third-party applications for blocking

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t suit you, you can use third-party apps, which offer additional features:

• 🔐 Different types of locking (PIN, pattern lock, fingerprint).
• 📊 Login Attempts (Who and When Tried to Open the Application).
• 🔔 Fake mode (shows false content with incorrect password).
• 📱 Remote lock through SMS (If the phone is stolen).

Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi:

⚠️ Note: Third-party applications for blocking may conflict with MIUI, Especially if you have Chinese firmware installed:

⚠️ Attention: Disable battery optimization for the blocker app in Settings → Battery. → Battery optimization, otherwise the lock may be reset after the phone sleeps.

Also remember: some banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) can block your phone if they detect third-party protections, in which case only use the built-in MIUI tools.

Method 4: Hidden MIUI features for additional protection

In addition to the standard lock, MIUI has little-known features that enhance privacy:

1. Hiding notifications on a locked screen

To prevent the contents of messages from blocked applications from appearing on the lock screen:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → On the lock screen.
2. Choose Not to Show Notice Content.
3. In the Exclusions section, add apps whose notifications can be shown (e.g., Calls or Alarm).

2. Prohibit screenshots in protected applications

In MIUI 13/14, you can prevent screenshots from being taken in certain applications:

1. Open Settings → Special features → Ban screenshots.
2. Add to the list of apps where screenshots should be blocked (for example, Telegram or VC).

Blocking through the "Children's Mode"

If you need to temporarily restrict access to apps (for example, when you give a child a phone), use the Child Mode:

1. Activate the mode in Settings → Special features → Mode for children.
2. Set a password and select the apps that will be available.
3. All other applications will be blocked before leaving the mode.

💡

If you need to quickly hide the app from prying eyes, use the gesture of double-clicking on the home button (configured in Settings → Gestures → Double-clicking the home button), which will instantly roll all windows and lock the screen.

What to do if I forget the password from the lock

When you forget your password from a Secured Space or a third-party blocker, it's one of the most frustrating situations, and depending on the locking method, there are several ways to recover:

1.For built-in MIUI locking

If you have forgotten the password for the Protected Space:

• 🔑 Try to restore access through the Mi Account (if it was linked:

single-handed

resetting the phone to factory settings

2. For third-party applications

If you have forgotten your password in AppLock or similar programs:

• 📧 Try to restore access via the email specified during registration.
• 🔄 Some apps (like Norton App Lock) let you reset your password through Security Questions if you have asked for it.
• 🚨 If nothing helps, delete the app through Settings. → Annexes → Remove (blocking will be removed, but settings will reset).