How to remove messages from the lock screen on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Xiaomi’s smartphone lock screen defaults to incoming notifications, from SMS and messengers to system alerts. It’s convenient for some users, but uncomfortable for others: sensitive information can catch the eye of outsiders, and the constant flashing of the screen drains the battery. Fortunately, MIUI offers multiple levels of privacy settings, from completely hiding notifications to selectively turning off for individual applications.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to hide messages on a locked screen, including the little-known features of MIUI 14 and workarounds for older versions of firmware. We will pay special attention to configuring Sensitive Content in MIUI 13+, a feature that automatically hides notifications with personal data (phone numbers, confirmation codes, etc.).

1. Completely disabling notifications on the lock screen

The most radical way is to completely ban notifications from the locked screen, which is for those who value privacy over convenience. MIUI 12-14 has the same path to setup, but newer versions have added additional options.

To disable the display:

1. Open Settings → Notifications and Status bar
2. Select Notifications on the lock screen
3. Activate the option to not show notifications (older versions may call Hide Notification Content)

Once the changes are applied, the lock screen will be clean — no message text or app icons. Please note: this does not turn off the notifications themselves, they will still come into the curtain and on the main screen after unlocking.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 13.5+ This parameter can be reset. To fix the settings, after you change, restart the device.

2. Hiding the contents of notifications (without disabling icons)

If you want to see that a new message has arrived but you don’t want to show its content, use the hidden text mode, in which case the lock screen will only display the icons of the applications (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram), but not the text itself.

Algorithm of settings:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notifications on the lock screen
2. Select Show notification icons (in MIUI 14 may be called Hide the Contents)
3. Enable Hide Sensitive Content (available with MIUI 13)

This method is especially useful for instant messengers: you will see that a message has arrived in Viber, but its text will only be revealed after unlocking. On the Xiaomi 13 Pro and new flagships, this feature works together with the Always On Display without conflicting with its display.

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If you still have text after you set up the notification, check the security permissions in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Special Rights. Sometimes, resetting the rights causes privacy issues.

3. Selective disabling of notifications for individual applications

Not all notifications are equally important, for example, you can hide alerts from games or news apps, leaving only messages from messengers visible, and in MIUI, this is implemented through the individual settings of each application.

How to set up:

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

For convenience, you can use the filter by category:

• 📱 Social networks: Instagram, TikTok, VKontakte
• 💬 Messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber
• 🎮 Games: PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Clash Royale
• 📰 News: Yandex.News, Google News, Meduza

Selected all unnecessary applications|For messengers left "Show icons"|Notification rights do not conflict with other settings|Checked display after rebooting-->

4.Setting up Sensitive Content in MIUI 13 and later

With the release of MIUI 13, Xiaomi added an automatic concealment feature for sensitive notifications, which analyzes the text of the alert and hides it if it finds:

• 🔢 Confirmation codes (SMS from banks, social media)
• 💳 Card or account numbers
• 📞 Phone numbers in messages
• 🔑 Passwords and tokens (e.g. from Google Authenticator)

To activate:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Additional
2. Find Sensitive Content (in English firmware - Sensitive Content)
3. Turn on the slider and select the concealment level: Always Hide or Hide in public places (determined by geolocation)

The feature works at the system level and does not depend on the settings of individual applications, but it can conflict with some messengers (for example, Signal), which have their own mechanisms for encrypting notifications.

5.Use of Do Not Disturb mode for temporary concealment

If you only need to hide notifications at certain times (such as during a meeting or while you sleep), use Do Not Disturb (DND) mode. Unlike a complete shutdown, you can flexibly configure:

• ⏰ Schedule (daily from 23:00 to 8:00)
• 📵 Exceptions (allow calls from selected contacts)
• 🔔 Type of notifications (to hide only sounds or icons too)

Setting:

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb
2. Activate the mode and set the rules in the table below

Do Not Disturb mode can be quickly activated via the Quick Settings Panel (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).The Xiaomi 12T and new models have a separate button for a temporary turn on for 1 hour.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 When activating Do Not Disturb Schedule, all visual notifications, including the AED display, automatically turn off. To leave the clock on the screen, select Allow Always On Display in the mode settings.

6. bypasses for older versions of MIUI (up to 12th)

On devices with MIUI 11 and below, the notification settings interface is very different. There is no Sensitive Content feature, and some options are hidden deeper. If your Redmi 5 Plus or Mi A2 is still running on the old firmware, use these methods:

Method 1: Through Security Settings

1. Open the Security app (shield icon)
2. Go to Privacy → Notifications on the lock screen
3. Choose Hide the Content of Notifications

Method 2: Through ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If the system settings do not work, you can manually turn off the display via ADB:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 0

To get back:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 1

This will require:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver
• 🔌 Included Debugging by USB phone-on
• 📱 Connection by cable (Wi-Fi) ADB This team is not supported by this team)

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On devices with MIUI 10 and below after use ADB-commands need to restart the phone, otherwise the settings will not take effect.

7.Why settings are reset and how to fix it

Many Xiaomi users face a problem: after a system update or device reboot, the notification settings on the lock screen are reset, which is due to the peculiarities of MIUI Optimization, a system process that resets some parameters to default values.

Decisions:

1. Turn off MIUI optimization (requires developer rights): Activate Developer Mode (7 taps by build number in Settings → About phone) Return to Settings → Additional → For developers Find MIUI Optimization and turn it off
2. Use Automate or Tasker to automatically apply settings after a reboot. Tasker task example: Profile: Device boot Task: 1. ADB Command: settings put global lock_screen_show_notifications 0 2. Wait. 5 seconds 3. Reset the interface (action: com.android.settings/.MiuiSettings)
3. Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that has its own notification settings that are not dependent on MIUI.

On the Poco F3 and other devices with a “clean” Android (such as the Mi A3), the problem is less common, as it uses the standard notification manager from Google.

8 Additional security measures

In addition to hiding notifications, consider additional privacy protection measures on Xiaomi:

• 🔒 Encrypting the device: Settings → Additionally. → Encryption and credentials. Encrypted data won't be available even when you connect your phone to your computer.
• 👤 Hidden annexes: B MIUI You can hide applications from prying eyes through Settings → Annexes → Hide apps. They won't show up in menus and search.
• 📱 Second Space: Dual Applications (c Settings) → Special features) allows you to create a separate work profile with other notification settings.
• 🛡️ Blocking apps: Set a password for individual messengers through Settings → Confidentiality → Application lockdown.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra and 2023 flagships have hardware protection, a security chip that encrypts notifications at the iron level, but even on budget models (like the Redmi 10C), you can achieve high levels of privacy with the right settings.

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The combination of hiding notifications on the lock screen + locking applications with a password gives maximum protection against unauthorized access.

FAQ: Frequent questions