How to protect the application with a password on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the challenge of hiding personal emails, bank details or personal photos from prying eyes. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools to restrict access to specific programs without installing third-party software, creating a strong barrier between your data and the curious views of friends or colleagues who took a phone “just look at a photo”.

The application protection feature works at the system level, which guarantees high stability and no unnecessary battery charge. Unlike third-party “lockers” that can slow down the device, the built-in mechanism of Xiaomi is integrated into the core of the security system. You can block access to messengers, gallery, notes or even phone settings using a digital pin code, pattern lock or biometric unlock.

In this article, we will discuss the process of activating protection, configuring various types of authentication and solving common problems, you will learn how to create a "Second Space" for complete data isolation and what nuances are in the operation of the "Hidden Applications" function.

Activation of built-in application protection

The first step to ensure the security of your data is to activate the corresponding module in the system settings. This process takes no more than a minute, but requires care when choosing the main password, as it will be used to restore access in case of forgetfulness.

To start, open the standard Security app, which has a shield icon and is usually located in the Tools folder on the home screen. At the bottom of the interface, you'll see a menu bar where you want to select Application Protection. If you're using HyperOS, the path may be slightly different: go to Settings, select the Apps section, and find Application Protection there.

⚠️ Note: When you first start up, you will need to create a pattern lock or a digital code. Do not use too simple combinations like "1234" or "0000" as they are easy to pick up by pumping.

Once you create a password, you will be asked to link your Mi Account, a critical step that allows you to restore access to blocked programs if you forget the protection code. Without a linked account, you can only reset your forgotten application protection password by completely resetting your phone settings, which will delete all data.

Setup of unlock types and biometrics

Today’s Redmi and Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with advanced biometric sensors that significantly speed up the process of accessing secure data. Instead of entering a complex password every time, you can use a fingerprint or facial recognition, which is not only convenient, but also increases security, because biometric data is unique and harder to copy than a pattern lock.

To activate biometrics, go to the Application Protection menu and click on the gear icon in the upper right corner. This is the fingerprint unlock or face unlock option. Once this option is enabled, the system will request biometrics every time you try to open a blocked application. If the sensor does not recognize the owner, it will require you to enter the master password.

It's important to understand the difference between unlocking a screen and unlocking apps. You can set up a system that uses one method to log in to a phone and another to access a banking application, such as opening the screen on the face and accessing a gallery requires a fingerprint, and this two-tiered protection makes it as difficult as possible for attackers to access your files.

💡

Use different fingers to unlock the screen and protect applications if you want to have a “alarm” finger for quick access in limited mode (the function depends on the version of MIUI).

Choosing applications to block

Once you have set up security settings, you will see a list of all installed programs, automatically offer to protect the most popular messengers and social networks, such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, but you are free to choose any other programs, including a gallery, voice recorder, browser or even phone settings.

To activate the security, you just have to click the switch opposite the name of the application you want, and next to the icon, you'll see a lock icon, which will indicate that the function has been successfully activated, and now every time you run this program, the system will require authorization, and you can block both one application and the entire list at once, but this can create inconveniences with frequent use.

It's worth noting that some system applications may not appear on the block list, a limitation of the MIUI shell itself, which considers certain processes critical to the device's operation, but user programs downloaded from Google Play or GetApps are blocked without restrictions.

Function Hidden Applications

In addition to simply locking, Xiaomi’s shell offers a feature that completely hides application icons, which means that the program does not just ask for a password when you start, it disappears completely from the desktop and from the menu of all applications, and you can only find it through special input in the dialer code or through a search if it is not blocked.

To use this feature, you need to log into the Application Protection menu, click on the settings gear and select Hidden Applications. Then activate the switch and select the programs that you want to hide. After that, the icons will disappear from the screen. To access them, you need to open the standard Phone application (caller) and enter a special code that you will come up with yourself (for example, #123#).

This is ideal for those cases where you don't just need to protect data, but you need to hide the fact that a particular program is on your device. But remember, hiding an icon doesn't encrypt data inside the application. If someone knows the access code or has access to a file manager with root rights, theoretically, you can extract the data.

⚠️ Note: Remember or write the code to log into hidden applications. If you forget it, finding hidden programs without resetting the settings will be extremely difficult, even knowing the main password of the protection.

Second Space as Maximum Protection

For users who need a higher security level than standard, Xiaomi offers a Second Space feature: creating a full-fledged second profile on the phone that looks like a separate smartphone with its own settings, applications and files. You can switch between the main and second space instantly using different fingerprints or screen unlock passwords.

When you create Second Space, the system actually clones the interface, you can install separate copies of instant messengers, banking apps, and games, and the data in those two spaces is completely isolated from each other, and even if someone accesses your primary profile, they won't see the files and applications in the second profile without a fingerprint.

The Second Space is set up via the Settings menu → Additional → Second Space. The creation process takes a few minutes, as the system has to prepare the file structure, and is ideal for separating work and personal life or storing top-secret information.

Comparison of protection and troubleshooting

The choice of protection depends on your specific needs and level of paranoia: simple app locking is convenient for everyday use, icon hiding is suitable for privacy, and Second Space is suitable for maximum isolation.

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the security function stops working or requires a password constantly, even after successful biometrics, often due to a system update or a failure in the service Security Core. In such cases, it is recommended to check for updates to the Security application through the GetApps store.

Also, when you reset your phone to Hard Reset, all application protection settings and Second Space will be deleted, but the data inside the apps will remain unless you choose to clean it completely, and after reset, you will need to reset the protection and add the apps to the blocked list again.

💡

Combining methods (e.g. App Password + Hiding an icon) creates layered protection, making it much harder for outsiders to access your data.