How to disable messages on the lock screen Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s lock screen is not just a window into your smartphone, but a window into the notification world. However, not everyone likes private messages, emails or alerts from messengers displayed on a locked screen. This can be uncomfortable if you often leave your phone on the table during meetings, or even unsafe – a random glance at your SMS or WhatsApp correspondence can lead to leakage of confidential information.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to disable notifications on the Xiaomi lock screen, including system settings, message content hiding, and selected options for popular messengers. The instructions are relevant for all devices on MIUI 12, MIUI 13, and MIUI 14, including Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi 11/12/13 series and earlier. If you want your lock screen to remain clean or show only basic information (such as time and date), you’ll find a solution here.

Why are notifications displayed on the lock screen?

By default, MIUI is set to keep the user informed of new events as quickly as possible, not only for system alerts (such as low battery life), but also for:

• 📱 SMS and MMS — The text of the message may be displayed in whole or in part;
• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – show the name of the sender and a fragment of text;
• 📧 Mail (Gmail, Mail.ru) – the subject of the letter and sometimes the beginning of the text;
• 🔔 System notifications – application updates, reminders, calendar events.

This functionality is convenient if you're waiting for an important message, but it poses privacy risks, for example, if you get a bank confirmation code or a personal correspondence, anyone can see their content just by looking at a locked screen.

In addition, some users complain of a cluttered lock screen, where notifications overlap, preventing them from seeing the time or wallpaper, and in the following sections we will show you how to fix this.

Method 1: Completely disabling notifications on the lock screen

The most radical method is to completely hide all notifications from the lock screen, which means you won't see any alerts until you unlock the device, suitable for those who value privacy over convenience.

To do this:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar.
2. Go to Notifications on the lock screen.
3. Select the option Do not show notifications.

After that, the lock screen will only display the time, date, wallpaper and, if necessary, weather or calendar widgets.All notifications will remain in the curtain, but will be hidden from prying eyes.

Notify us not to show notices → chosen|Notification curtain → available after unlocking|Widgets on the lock screen → disabled (optional)|Testing with SMS → notice not displayed-->

⚠️ Note: If you use a Smart Lock (location or device unlock), this method will not affect the display of notifications in "trusted" zones. To hide them completely, disable Smart Lock in Settings → Passwords and security → Screen lock settings.

Method 2: Hide the content of notifications (show only icons)

If you want notifications, but you don't want their content to be visible, you can set up only the application icons without text, which is a compromise: you know where the message came from, but the content will remain hidden.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notifications on the lock screen.
2. Select Show notification icons.
3. (Optional) Activate Hide Sensitive Content if it is available in your version of MIUI.

Now, the lock screen will only display app icons (such as an SMS envelope or Telegram logo) and you will need to unlock the device to read the message.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5) offer an optional Hide notifications from certain applications, which allows you to leave only important alerts visible (such as from banking applications), hiding others.

Method 3: Set up notifications for individual applications

If you only need to hide notifications from specific messengers or programs (like WhatsApp or VK), you can customize them individually, which is convenient if you want to leave only the most important alerts visible.

How to do this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application you want (such as Telegram).
3. Go to Notifications.
4. Turn off the option to Show on the lock screen or select Hide content.

For WhatsApp and some other messengers, the settings may differ, for example, WhatsApp needs to:

1. Open the application → ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Notifications.
2. Select Thin Settings → Notifications on the lock screen.
3. Install without text message or disable.

Important: Some applications (like Viber) ignore the system settings of MIUI and require a separate setup in their interface. If notifications still appear after changes, check the parameters inside the messenger itself.

Method 4: Use of the "Do Not Disturb" mode

If you need to temporarily hide notifications (for example, during a meeting or sleep), it is convenient to use Do Not Disturb (DND) mode. In this mode, all notifications will be hidden, but you can set exceptions for important contacts or applications.

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb.
2. Activate the Do Not Disturb switch.
3. (Optionally, set up exceptions: 📞 Allow calls from whom (for example, only from selected contacts); 🔔 Allow notifications – from which applications (e.g. alarm clock); ⏰ Schedule - automatic switching on time.

In Do Not Disturb mode, notifications will not only appear on the lock screen, but also in the curtain, but they will remain in the notification history and will be available after the mode is turned off.

💡

If you need to quickly turn on Do Not Disturb, add its widget to the Quick Settings Panel. To do this, swipe down from the top edge of the screen, tap the pencil icon and drag Do Not Disturb to the active area.

Method 5: Disable notifications via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard MIUI settings do not allow you to completely disable notifications on the lock screen (for example, on some firmware for POCO), you can use the ADB command. This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and basic knowledge of working with Android Debug Bridge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until you have become a developer.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

ADB

Platform Tools

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 0

To return notifications, use:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 1

This method is applicable to all versions of MIUI, but requires caution. Incorrect use of ADB can lead to system failures.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI settings established through ADB, Check them after every major update.

💡

ADB-commands allow you to bypass the limitations of the standard interface MIUI, But they require developer rights. Use this method only if other methods have failed.

Additional Tips for Setup of the Lock Screen

In addition to notifications, other elements can be configured on the Xiaomi lock screen to make it more convenient and secure:

• 🔒 Turn off widgets: Go to Settings → Lock screen and remove unnecessary widgets (weather, calendar) that can be distracting.
• 📱 Customize wallpapers: Use Dynamic Wallpapers or Super Wallpapers to make the lock screen look stylish but not overloaded with information.
• 🔍 Hiding Missed Call Notifications: C Settings → Notifications and status bar → Missed calls can be turned off on the locked screen.
• 🛡️ Two-step authentication: Add a password or pattern lock to Settings → Passwords and security to prevent accidental unlocking.

If you use NFC or Google Pay frequently, make sure your lock screen settings don’t conflict with these features, for example, some banking apps require the screen to be fully unlocked to make payments.

FAQ: Frequent Notification Questions on Xiaomi's Lock Screen