Xiaomi Secure Apps: What They Are, Why They Are Needed, and How to Manage Them

If you've ever looked at the security settings of your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, you've probably noticed a strange section called "Secure App List." What is it, why is it hidden from the eyes of the average user, and how to use it correctly? In this article, we'll look at which apps make it to this list, why MIUI "protects" them, and what happens if you add third-party programs.

At first glance, this may seem like another option for paranoids who want to block access to their data, but in fact, the mechanism of secure applications is closely related to the operation of system services, battery optimization, and even payment security, and in fact, the wrong handling of this list can lead to malfunctions in the smartphone, from sudden reboots to blocking access to banking applications.

We’re not going to be limited to dry theory: in this article you’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-life examples (including user errors), and answers to the questions that most often arise when working with secure applications. If you want to understand why your Xiaomi 13 Ultra suddenly started to “glut” after the update, or why Google Pay stopped working on the Redmi Note 12 – this article is for you.

What are “Secure Apps” in Xiaomi and Why You Need Them

The Protected Apps (MIUI) is a hidden system mechanism that prevents the operating system from forcing mission-critical processes to shut down. Unlike the standard list of “autostart” or “battery optimization,” secure applications are given maximum priority even when the system is under-resourced.

By default, this list includes:

• 🔒 System services (e.g. com.android.phone – phone calls, com.miui.securitycenter – security center).
• 💳 Payment applications (Google Pay, Mi Pay, banking clients such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff).
• 📱 Xiaomi Services (Mi Cloud, Mi Account, Finder) to search for a device).
• 🔄 Background processes for synchronization (e.g. Google Play Services).

The main purpose of the mechanism is to prevent situations where an important application suddenly dies due to battery optimization or lack of RAM. For example, if Google Pay were not on the protected list, it could close at the most inopportune moment — say, when you are trying to pay for a purchase contactlessly. The same applies to phone calls: without protection, the system process of com.android.phone could “hang” during a long conversation.

But there’s a downside: adding too many apps to the list will overload the system, slow down, discharge faster, and in some cases overheat. Xiaomi, by default, hides this section from users, only providing access through Settings → Special Features → Developer Menu (or alternative ways we’ll talk about later).

How to find a list of secure applications on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

Depending on the version of MIUI and the smartphone model, the path to the list of protected applications may differ, and below we will give you the current methods for different firmware (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).

Method 1: Through the Developer Menu (most reliable)

This method works on all Xiaomi devices, regardless of regional firmware.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → Developer (or Special Features → Developer Menu on newer versions).
4. Scroll down and find the list of protected applications (in English firmware - Protected Apps).

Method 2: Through the Security Center (for MIUI 12-14)

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50), the list can be found here:

1. Open Security (Icon with Shield)
2. Go to Application Management → Autorun.
3. There may be a badge in the upper right corner «⚙» (settings) – tap it and select the List of Secure Applications.

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If you have HyperOS (new firmware for Xiaomi 14 and newer), try to search for the settings query “protected apps” – the system will tell you where this section is.

Method 3: Through ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, on custom firmware), you can use ADB:

adb shell am start -n com.miui.securitycenter/.protectapp.ui.ProtectedAppActivity

This command directly opens the window with the list of protected applications. For more information about setting up ADB, see our instructions.

What apps can and cannot be added to a protected list

Not all programs should be protected from closure by the system. Below we will discuss which applications are allowed to add to the list, and which are strictly impossible, so as not to disrupt the stability of the smartphone.

✅ What to add (safe options)

• 📱 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) – if you need to receive notifications without delay.
• 🎵 Music players (Spotify, Yandex Music) – so that background playback is not interrupted.
• 📊 Fitness trackers (Google Fit, Mi Fitness) - for correct step counting in the background.
• 🔄 Sync Services (Google Drive, Dropbox) – if you need automatic file downloading.

❌ What not to add (risky options)

• 🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact – they already consume a lot of resources, and protection will only aggravate overheating.
• 🔄 Cleaners and Cleaners (CCleaner) – can conflict with system processes.
• 🛠️ AutoClicker (MacroDroid) – High risk of being blocked for “suspicious activity».
• 🔓 VPN Proxies (1.1.1.1, Psiphon) – can cause network connection problems.

For example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff are already protected by default, and adding them to the list can lead to the blocking of push notifications (since some banks check the integrity of the system through SafetyNet).

Check if it is a game or resource intensive

Make sure that the application does not conflict with system services.

Test your smartphone after adding it (does it get hotter?)

Do not add more than 5-7 apps at the same time.-->

What happens if you remove the system application from the protected list?

One of the most dangerous experiments is to remove system processes from the protected list, for example, some users try to disable com.miui.securitycenter to get rid of intrusive notifications, but the consequences can be unpredictable:

Deleting com.android.phone is especially critical, as it can lead to loss of mobile communication, up to the point of needing to flash the device. If you accidentally delete the system application from the list, try:

1. Reboot the smartphone.
2. Return the application back through the protected application menu.
3. If the problem persists, reset the network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).

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Never remove apps with com.android. or com.miui from the protected list, which can cause key smartphone features to fail.

How Secure Apps Affect Battery and Performance

Many users mistakenly believe that adding an application to a protected list will increase its operating time in the background without causing battery damage, but it is not true that the protected processes are not optimized by the system, which leads to:

• ⚡ Faster battery discharge (up to 10-15% per night if there are many apps on the list).
• 🔥 Overheating of the processor during long-term operation in the background.
• 🐢 Slowing down the interface due to a lack of RAM for other tasks.

For example, if you add Telegram and Spotify to your protected list and then forget to close them, your smartphone will spend resources keeping them running even when the screen is off, and instead of the usual 5-7% discharge per night, you can get 20-30%.

To check how protected applications affect the battery:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Use
2. See which programs consume the most power in standby mode.
3. If the app is on the top of the protected list, remove it from there and watch for changes.

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On HyperOS smartphones (like the Xiaomi 14), battery optimization works differently: the system prioritizes itself, so adding apps to a protected list can backfire, so instead of running smoothly, you get lags.

Common User Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi owners sometimes make mistakes when working with secure applications, and here are the most common ones – and how not to repeat them.

Error 1: Adding all applications in a row

Some users, trying to "improve" the smartphone, add to the protected list all installed programs.

• The smartphone begins to slow down due to a lack of RAM.
• The battery sits down in a few hours even in standby mode.
• The system can automatically restart, trying to free up resources.

Error 2: Removing System Applications from the List

As we said earlier, deleting com.android.phone or com.miui.securitycenter can result in loss of mobile connectivity or blocking access to settings, sometimes only through a full reset.

Error 3: Ignoring updates after list changes

If you make changes to a protected list and then update MIUI to a new version, some apps may disappear from the list or be duplicated. Always check the list after major updates!

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The optimal number of secure applications is 3-5 (not counting system ones), and if there are more, the risk of performance problems increases significantly.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Secure Apps