Xiaomi smartphone owners running MIUI 12 are often faced with the need to fine-tune the display of information. The lock screen is the first thing a user sees, and an excess of pop-ups or message details can be annoying or privacy-infringing. Especially relevant is the question of how to turn off notifications on a locked screen when the device is lying on a desk in a public place.
MIUI 12 offers flexible tools to manage the flow of data, so you can completely disable any alerts or leave app icons while hiding the text of messages, which helps to maintain a balance between functionality and privacy, without missing important calls, but hiding the content of the correspondence from prying eyes.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available customization methods, the global settings, the customization of each application, and additional security features that will help you make the lock screen clean and safe. Follow the instructions to adapt the smartphone to your personal preferences.
Global display settings on a locked screen
The first step in setting up privacy is to address the basic parameters of the system, and that's where the basic behavior of the interface is set when the lock screen is active. To get to the desired section, you need to go to the Settings menu and select the Notifications and Status bar, and in some firmware versions, this section may be called simply Notifications.
Inside this menu, you'll find the lock screen switch, which is responsible for global permission or banning all alerts, and if your goal is to completely clear the screen of any icons, you just need to put the slider inactive, but more often users need a more subtle setup to manage the visibility of the content.
Below the main switch are usually optional options such as “Notification Format” or “Hide Content” activation mode of content concealment replaces the text of the message with the standard phrase “Notification” or “Hidden”, leaving only the sender app icon visible, a perfect compromise for those who want to know about the event, but do not want to show its details.
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Global settings override individual application settings if the complete display ban mode is selected.
It's important to note that the changes are instantaneous, so you don't have to restart the device or restart the system processes, but you just have to exit the settings menu to see the results on the locked screen.
Individual Notification Management for Each Application
MIUI 12 allows you to manage lock screen access rights for each application installed separately, which is especially useful if you want to hide messages from messengers, but leave visible notifications about missed calls or alarm clock. To do this, go back to the Settings menu and select the Notifications and Status bar section, then go to the Application Notifications.
You'll see a list of all the programs you've installed, and you'll find the right app, like Viber or Telegram, and you'll click on it. In the menu that opens, you'll see the "On the Lock Screen" switch, and you'll disable it, and you'll prevent a particular app from displaying information on the locked display, even if the global settings allow it.
Note that some system applications may not have this switch or it may be inactive. This is normal behavior for mission-critical Xiaomi services that should inform the user about the state of the system anyway. However, for most third-party programs from the Google Play store, this feature is available in full.
Using customization, you create a personalized flow of information, for example, you can leave notifications from banking apps to monitor transactions, but completely hide notifications from social networks so you don’t get distracted while you work or relax.
Use the "Do Not Disturb" mode for total silence
If your task is to temporarily remove all notifications from the lock screen, such as during a meeting, a movie or a dream, the most convenient way to use Do Not Disturb mode is not just to hide notifications, it blocks the sound signals and vibrations, creating complete information isolation.
You can activate the mode via the Quick Access Panel (curtain) by swiping from top to bottom. The icon is a crescent. In the more advanced settings available by long-pressing this icon or through the Settings menu → Sound and vibration → Don't disturb, you can set the schedule. For example, the phone will automatically switch to this mode every night from 23:00 to 07:00.
An important feature of MIUI 12 is the ability to create exceptions, allowing notifications and calls from selected contacts or repeat calls to be displayed, ensuring that you are notified in an emergency, even if the main data stream is blocked.
What happens to the notifications in the “Do Not Disturb” mode?
Notifications don't disappear. They accumulate in the notification center and in the curtain, but they don't show up on the lock screen and make no sounds. Once you turn off the mode, all the accumulated messages will appear immediately. Using the Do Not Disturb schedule is the best way to automate the process of cleaning the lock screen. You don't have to manually check the settings every night, the system will do it for you. Security settings and hiding sensitive content on the locked screen is a priority for many users. There is a separate layer of privacy settings in MIUI 12. Go to the Confixes, then you can find the controls, the options. One of the key features is to prevent previewing of the content of notifications, and even if notifications are allowed, the text of the message, the name of the sender and the preview of the photo can be hidden, and instead, only the name of the application will be displayed. This prevents leakage if the phone is on the screen up in front of colleagues or acquaintances, and it is also worth checking the Smart Lock settings. This feature allows you to keep your phone unlocked in certain conditions (for example, when it’s connected to a Bluetooth headset or in a safe place). While the phone is unlocked through the Smart Lock, the lock screen is not active, and therefore the question of notifications on it is not worth it - you see the desktop (PIN-code, pattern lock or fingerprint). If the phone does not have a password, some features of hiding confidential content may not be available or work correctly, because the system considers the device unprotected. Specifics of working with messengers and social networks Messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber have their own internal notification settings that can overlap the system. Going to the settings of the application itself, find the Notifications section. There is often a pop-up notice or Show on the lock screen. If you turn off the display in the system, but turned on the application, priority is usually given to the system settings of MIUI. However, to ensure that the security level of the phone, you can even check for the result of the additional measures, for example, you can check the Telegram. Social networks such as Instagram or VK, They often use “heavy” picture notifications, which can occupy a significant part of the lock screen, and disabling them not only hides the content, but also visually unloads the interface, making watch and date widgets more readable. 📊 What app is most likely to interfere with your lock screen?WhatsAppTelegram System notifications Advertising push notifications Other Pay attention to push notifications from the apps themselves. These are often disguised as important messages. In the settings of each such application, in the Notifications section, you can find the category “Marketing” or “Recommendations” and disable them, leaving only private messages. Solving missing or non-receiving notifications After careful setup, users sometimes face the opposite problem: notifications stop coming at all or do not show up even after unlocking. MIUI 12 is responsible for this, and the aggressive energy saving system, if the application is asleep, it can't send a push notification. To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings. Open Settings. → Battery and performance. Find the problem app on the list and select the No Limits strategy. This will prevent the system from killing the application process in the background. Also check autorun. In the Security app (standard Xiaomi app with lightning icon) go to the Permissions section → Autostart. Make sure the switch opposite the messenger is activated. Without this notification, it may come with a delay or only after manually opening the application. Problem Possible reason Notifications Notices do not come Application limited by system Select "No Limits" in battery settings No sound at notification Included silent mode Check side switch or sound settings Text message hidden Activated protection Privacy Disable “Hide Content” in Notification Settings Notices Disappear Memory Cleanup or History Settings Check Notification History and Autoclear Why Notifications Are Delayed? MIUI 12 is severely restricted in the background. If you didn't give the application permission to run in the background and auto-start, the system will freeze it, and the connection to the server will be interrupted until the next run. If after all the manipulations the problem persists, try resetting the notification settings for a specific application. → Find all apps, select Notifications and click Reset Settings (if available) or simply reconfigure the configuration manually. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Can I completely remove application icons from the lock screen, leaving only time? Yes, it is possible. To do this, you need to turn off notifications on the lock screen completely in the Notifications and Status settings. It's also recommended that you turn off widgets and wallpapers with animation in the theme of the design, so that the screen is as minimal as possible. MIUI Notification settings are lost? With major firmware updates (e.g., MIUI 11 to 12), the security system can be reassembled and old permissions can be reset to protect user data. You need to recheck the settings in the Privacy section and for each important application. Does disabling notifications on the lock screen affect the alarm? No, the Xiaomi system alarm is of high priority and will work even in the Do Not Disturb mode and with the lock screen completely turned off. However, notifications from third-al alarm applications can be blocked unless exceptions are made for them. How do you hide the content of the alarm, but you need to leave the notification on the global display? The sound is played by the system when a data packet is received, regardless of whether the text of the message is displayed on the screen or hidden by asterisks.