How to enable application blocking on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to hide personal correspondence, financial data or simply restrict children’s access to certain games. The built-in MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer powerful tools to solve this problem without installing third-party software. The application lock feature allows you to set a separate password or use biometrics to log into selected programs, providing a reliable level of privacy.

The process of activating protection does not require deep technical knowledge, but it has its own nuances depending on the version of the firmware. You do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to configure your gadget. It is enough to follow the step-by-step algorithm described below to turn your smartphone into an impregnable fortress for prying eyes.

Xiaomi’s security system is integrated at a deep level, ensuring stable operation even with active background activities of other processes. Data protection becomes especially important when you lose your device or hand over your phone to family members for a call.

Preparing the security system before setting up

Before you start directly blocking specific programs, you need to activate a common security mechanism. In Xiaomi devices, a special system component is responsible for this, which often requires authorization through a Mi Account. This is necessary to restore access in the case of a forgotten password, so it is not recommended to ignore this step.

The initial setup takes only a couple of minutes, but it creates the foundation for all the further work with sensitive data. You will need to come up with a reliable pattern lock or digital code that will differ from the screen unlock code, although it may be the same for convenience.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from blocking applications and do not link Mi-account, it will be almost impossible to restore access to hidden data without completely resetting the settings.

To get started, make sure your device is updated to the latest available version of the software. Older versions of MIUI may have a slightly different security menu interface. Go to settings and check for system updates, as newer patches often contain improvements to security modules.

Step-by-step activation of protection through settings

The main way to access control is through the main settings menu of the smartphone. The interface may differ slightly on different models of the Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the section responsible for security and privacy.

Open the Settings app and scroll through the list to Apps, where permissions and access control is hidden, and in some firmware versions, this item may be called Application Protection and is listed in a separate menu under Passwords and Security.

Once you log in, you'll be asked to turn on the function and set the login parameters, and the system will tell you what steps to take, and activation will occur immediately after you've confirmed your actions.

Selection and configuration of protected programs

Once you set a common password, you'll see a list of all the programs installed on your device, and you can apply the restrictions selectively, and the logic is simple: a slider in front of the application means that you'll need confirmation to run it.

It is recommended to immediately protect instant messengers, gallery, banking applications and notes. Social networks also often contain personal correspondence that should be hidden from outsiders. You can change this list at any time, adding or eliminating programs as needed.

An interesting feature is the ability to hide the content of notifications. If this option is activated, even when the phone screen is unlocked, the text of the message will not be visible in the notification curtain.

To fine-tune it, you can use the Hide Content feature, in which case the program can appear as Unknown App in the list of blocked applications, or require a double tap to show the name.

Using biometrics for quick access

Entering a password every time you open a messenger can be tedious. Xiaomi’s modern smartphones allow you to use a fingerprint scanner or facial recognition system for instant authorization. This is not only convenient, but also safe, since biometric data is stored in a secure processor module.

To activate this feature, go to lock settings and find “Use fingerprint” or “Use face unlock.” The system will request confirmation of the current password to make changes, then logging into the secure applications will take a fraction of a second.

And you have to consider that biometrics only works if it's already set up to unlock the phone's screen itself. If you're only using a pattern lock for the screen, you're going to have to use it for applications, too. Biometric identification dramatically speeds up your everyday smartphone use.

Hidden Space Function for Maximum Privacy

For users who require the highest level of secrecy, there is a Hidden Space mode in the MIUI shell, which is actually a second desktop that is accessed only through a special gesture or password, and the applications installed in this space disappear completely from the main menu and the list of installed programs.

To get into the hidden space, you need to make a special gesture on the lock screen or in the application menu (for example, spread two fingers in the list of applications), you can move the most important files and programs, to an outsider, the phone will look as usual, without any hint of the existence of a second profile.

A hidden profile is ideal for storing work documents or personal photos that should not be visible even when connecting your phone to your computer.

The table below compares the usual lock and the hidden space:

Solving problems and resetting settings

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the security system fails or the password is forgotten. If you forgot the pattern lock, the system will suggest resetting it through the attached Mi Account.

In some cases, the Security app may stop asking for a password, which often happens after updating the firmware or cleaning the cache of system services. Check if the feature itself is disabled in the settings. Also make sure that the Security app has all the necessary permissions to work on top of other windows.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your phone to factory settings will remove all installed app lock passwords, but will also destroy all your personal data without the ability to recover.

If nothing works, you can try to clean up the security data from the application management menu, but it can reset the antivirus and optimization settings, and resetting the protection settings is a last resort, which should only be resorted to in a desperate situation.

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Change your password from blocking apps regularly, especially if you often give your phone to your kids or colleagues for simple tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The integrated use of application locking and hidden space provides the maximum level of protection of personal data on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones.