How to securely password the application on Xiaomi Redmi

The modern smartphone has become a digital storehouse for our lives, where bank cards, correspondence and sensitive photos are stored. Xiaomi and Redmi device owners often wonder how to restrict access to certain programs so that outsiders can not use them. Fortunately, the MIUI shell offers built-in and powerful tools to solve this problem without having to download dubious software.

In this article, we'll go into detail about how to set passwords for specific applications. You'll learn about the intricacies of setting up biometrics, hiding icons and using special mode. The built-in protection mechanism in MIUI works at the system level, which provides a higher level of security than conventional launchers. Let's move on to practical steps.

MIUI's built-in security features

The Chinese company’s shell is designed to maximize customization and protection of user data, and the application blocking feature is implemented natively, meaning that there is no need for third-party programs that often contain advertising or collect data. To activate the protection, a single security center is used, where all antivirus and privacy parameters are controlled.

The main tool is Application Protection, which allows you to set a separate pin or graphical key to run selected programs, especially for messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, as well as for gallery and banking customers, and requires identification at each run of the secure software, even if the phone itself is already unlocked.

It is important to note that the settings may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS. However, the logic of the work remains the same for the entire range of Redmi Note, Xiaomi Mi and budget series. Before you start setting up, make sure that the device has a password to unlock the screen, as the security system requires it.

Step-by-step: set password through Settings

The most effective and reliable way to restrict access is to use the system menu, which ensures stable operation and no conflicts with other processes, and you first need to get into the main settings menu of your smartphone.

Find a section called Apps or Application Protection. In some firmware versions, this item may be hidden inside the Passwords and Security menu. If you can't find the item right away, search the settings by typing in "lock."

Once you log in, you'll be asked to create a password that's protected, which can be a 4-6 digit digital code or a pattern lock. Attention: don't use too simple combinations like 1234, because they're easy to match. Once you create a password, the system will suggest you link your Mi Account to restore access if you forget the code.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the application protection password and do not link the Mi Account for reset, the only way to access the data will be a complete reset of the phone to the factory settings with the loss of all information.

Then you'll see a list of all the programs you've installed. Just switch the slider against the ones you want to hide from the public eye. Now, when you try to open, for example, Contacts or Messages, the phone will ask for additional code.

Use of the Security App

An alternative and often faster path to settings is through the standard system application “Security” (green icon with a shield), which is a central hub for managing performance and privacy in Xiaomi devices.

Run the app and scroll down the tool list. You need the Application Protection section. Here, the interface is as simple as possible: you see a list of programs with switches. Turning on the switch activates the password requirement when you start.

• 🔒 Select the application from the list to activate the protection.
• ⚙️ Click on the gear to configure the password type (graphic or digital).
• 👁️ Enable the “Hide Content” option so that notifications don’t display text messages.
• 🕵️ Activate Hide Icons so that the application disappears from the desktop and appears only after entering the code in a special menu.

The icon hiding feature deserves special attention. When it is activated, the protected application icon disappears from the desktop and from the menu of all programs. To open such an application, you need to go to the Security app, scroll to the bottom and find Hidden Applications (or enter the code in the search bar, if such a feature is configured).

Using the built-in Security app is preferable to third-party counterparts, as it has deep system access rights and cannot be easily bypassed or removed by an outsider who took your phone in his hands.

Set up biometric unlocking

Entering a password can be tedious every time, especially if you open messengers dozens of times a day. Modern smartphones Redmi and Poco allow you to replace digits with a fingerprint or unlock on the face.

To set up, go back to the Application Protection menu and look for Settings (usually in the upper right corner or as a gear) and you will see the option “Unlock fingerprint” or “Unlock face” here.

It will ask you to put your finger on the scanner or look into the camera to confirm the biometrics, and then you can access the secure applications instantly, which is not only convenient, but also safer, because the password can be peeked and the fingerprint can be very difficult to copy.

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For maximum security, use the combination: fingerprint unlock for quick access during the day and mandatory input PIN-code after restarting the device.

Keep in mind that biometric unlocking only works when the phone is already unlocked. If you just turned on your phone, the first sign-in to any application will require you to enter your primary password or pattern lock.

Second Space Mode: Complete isolation

If you need to not just password an app, but completely hide its existence and share data, use the Second Space feature, which is a unique feature of MIUI, creating a second, completely independent profile inside the phone.

Imagine you have two different smartphones in your hands: one profile ("Main Space") contains your work files and your regular apps; the other one ("Second Space") has personal photos, secret chats and games, and you switch between them by fingerprint or settings.

To create a second space, go to Settings → Second Space → Enable Second Space. The system will suggest setting up a separate password or fingerprint to log in to this mode. This is the perfect way to password an app on Xiaomi, making it invisible to the main user.

• 📂 Complete file isolation: photos from the gallery of the second space are not visible in the first.
• 📱 Individual accounts: You can log in to the same Instagram or Viber from a different number.
• 🔐 Independent Protection: Entrance to the second space is protected by its unique code.

This method consumes more battery and memory, as it essentially runs two systems in parallel, but for storing sensitive information, it is perhaps the most reliable method available on Android without obtaining root rights.

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The second space is not just hiding an icon, it is creating a separate operating environment with its own data, which guarantees privacy even when connecting the phone to the computer.

Third-party solutions: AppLock and analogues

Built-in tools are usually enough, but sometimes users need features that are not in MIUI, such as the ability to take a photo of an attacker who has entered a password three times incorrectly, or remotely lock through a web interface.

There are many blocking apps in the Google Play store, such as AppLock, Norton App Lock, or CM Locker, that run on top of the system and intercept other programs, but the risks are that you trust a third-party developer to access your data.

When installing such software, the system will need to issue special permissions, such as the “Above Other Windows” right and access to “Use” without these rights, the blocker will not be able to function correctly, and it is often necessary to turn off battery optimization for the blocking application itself so that the system does not “kill” its process in the background.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party blockers can lead to conflicts with system protection MIUI, This can cause unstable phone performance or a quick battery drain, and only use them if the built-in features are severely lacking.

If you do decide to install, choose apps with a lot of positive reviews and a long history, avoiding little-known programs that require suspiciously wide permissions.

Frequent problems and their solution

Users may encounter various difficulties in setting up, such as App Protection, which may be inactive or disappear after a system update, often due to a change in region in the phone's settings.

If you have switched region to India or the United States, some MIUI security features may work differently or may not be available. Try returning the Russia or Ukraine region to Settings → Additional Settings → Region. Reboot the device after changing region.

Another common problem is that locking doesn’t work when you log in through widgets or notifications. To fix this, in your application protection settings, make sure to include “Block Launch Through Notifications” or the like, which will close the loophole when the text of the message is visible on the locked screen.

Also remember that resetting your phone to the factory settings does not remove protection if you activate the binding to your Mi Account. After reset, the phone will require you to enter the username and password from the account that was set before locking, which is an anti-fraud mechanism that protects the device from theft.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)