Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI or HyperOS shells, store a huge amount of personal information that is often accessible even without unlocking the device. Standard behavior involves displaying previews of incoming messages, which creates an obvious vulnerability to privacy in public transport or the office. A user who takes a phone in his hands risks showing outsiders codes from banking applications or correspondence in instant messengers.
Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have developed flexible tools to manage data visibility, both globally for all applications and selectively for specific programs, while maintaining the functionality of audible alerts, balancing the convenience of the gadget with strict digital hygiene without sacrificing the speed of information acquisition.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the privacy setting algorithms that are relevant for current firmware versions. We will look not only at standard methods through the settings menu, but also at the nuances of working with system limitations that owners of different Redmi and Poco models may have.
Configure global display parameters on the lock screen
The main alert visibility control center is in the system settings section. To change the behavior of the lock screen, you need to go to the Settings menu and select the Notifications and status bar, and this is where the key switches that are responsible for how the system handles incoming events before the owner is authorized are concentrated.
In the menu that opens, you should find the option of Notification Format or Lock Screen. Depending on the version of MIUI, the interface may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same. You will need to find the switch responsible for displaying content. The standard setting "Show content" should be replaced with "Hide content" or "Application name".
Once the concealment mode is activated, instead of the full text of the message, only a title will appear on the locked screen, such as, "WhatsApp: 1 new message." This is a fundamental security measure that prevents visual reading of data by unauthorized persons (shoulder surfing).
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Changing the global notification format is instantly applicable to all applications that do not have individual exceptions to the settings.
- 🔒 Accessing the notification settings menu requires unlocking the device once to make changes.
- 📱 On different Xiaomi models, the path to customizations may vary slightly, but the keywords remain similar.
- 🔄 After changing the settings, it is recommended to check the result by sending a test message from another number.
It is important to note that these changes do not affect the operation of notifications inside the unlocked interface. The text of messages will still be displayed in the curtain and on the desktop in full, ensuring comfort of use after the lock is removed.
Individual privacy settings for specific applications
Global text hiding is convenient, but sometimes requires finer customization, such as wanting to see previews of messages from work chats, but hiding the contents of SMS from banks, and for this purpose, MIUI has a system of individual rules for each application installed.
To set this up, go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. In the list of all installed programs, find the desired application, such as Viber or Telegram. By clicking on it, you will be taken to a detailed menu where you can manage the category of importance and the way you display.
The On lock screen is a three-way option: show everything, hide content or not show it at all. The choice of Hide content for a particular application redefines global settings, allowing you to create a flexible prioritization system.
Some system applications may not have a full set of options in this menu due to Android limitations, and in such cases, content hiding is often regulated within the app itself through its own privacy settings.
⚠️ Note: When you update the operating system or the application itself, individual settings may be reset to factory values.
- 📂 Notification categories within the application (e.g., “Calls” and “Messages”) may have independent visibility settings.
- 👁️ The option “Hide sensitive content” in some applications duplicates system settings.
- ⚙️ For Google system services, the customization path may differ from third-party applications.
Use of the Pocket Regime and Additional Protection
In addition to the standard display settings, Xiaomi offers additional layers of protection that are activated in situations, one of which is Pocket Mode, which prevents accidental clicks and sometimes limits the display of information when the proximity sensor is closed.
While this feature is primarily designed to prevent false calls, it indirectly affects the visibility of notifications: If the phone is in a pocket or bag, the screen often stays black even when an incoming signal arrives, which is the maximum degree of stealth.
To activate, go to Settings → Blocking and Protection (or Passwords and Security) → Pocket mode. Make sure the switch is active. This is especially true for owners of models with a AMOLED-screens where Always On Display can highlight notifications even in the dark.
How does the proximity sensor work?
Also worth mentioning is the Lock Privacy feature, which can be accessed in advanced security settings, which allows you to completely disable the display of any previews if the device has not recognized the owner’s face or fingerprint since the last successful unlock.
| Protection function | Place on the menu | Impact on notifications | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global cover-up | Notifications and status bar | Hiding text for all applications | Maximum privacy in the office |
| Set-up of the application | Management of notifications | Hiding text selectively | For banking and personal applications |
| Pocket regime | Lockdown and protection | Screens when the sensor is closed | When carried in your pocket |
| Always On Display | The screen is always on. | Can show a preview on a black screen | Shut down in public places |
The Best Practices for Always On Display (AOD)
Owners of Xiaomi smartphones with AMOLED-matrixes often use the Always On Display feature, which displays time and notifications on the screen off. However, this mode poses the greatest risk of leakage, since the preview of the message is visible even if the phone is just lying on the table with a screen up.
To protect yourself, you need to go to the settings of the Screen is always on and lock. Here you can find the option to Show items on the locked screen. Disabling this option will hide the icons and text messages on AOD, leaving only the clock or completely extinguishing the screen until the phone is lifted.
A more advanced scenario is using a schedule, and you can set the AOD to only display notifications at certain hours (like when you’re at home) or turn off previews during business hours, via the Schedule menu inside the AOD settings.
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Use the "Raise to Activate" function in the AOD settings. The notification screen will only light up when you pick up the phone, which will hide information from prying eyes while the device is lying on the table.
Keep in mind that constantly updating the information on the lock screen can slightly increase battery consumption, although modern Xiaomi algorithms have optimized this process. If the priority is maximum autonomy and stealth, completely disabling previews on AOD will be the best solution.
Problems with notifications from banking applications
Banks and financial institutions have special applications, and unlike instant messengers, they often use a special notification channel with a higher level of security that ignores the standard system settings for hiding content.
This is because banks encrypt the preview of messages at the server or application level, and even if Xiaomi’s system settings say “Show everything,” the bank can force the text to be hidden by displaying “Notice from the Bank.”
For guaranteed data hiding in banking applications (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, etc.), it is recommended:
- 🏦 Open the banking application itself and find the Security or Notifications section".
- 🚫 Disable the option “Show message text” or “Notification content” within the application.
- 🔐 Make sure that the phone settings for this app do not have a forced concealment ban.
⚠️ Note: Some banking applications may require re-authorization or reboot after changing internal security settings for notifications.
If the bank sends SMS, The rules of operation shall apply to SMS-Standard annex "Messages" in MIUI It has its own protection. Go to the Messages app. → Settings (three points) → Notifications and check if there is a tick "Show text".
Additional security measures and hiding icons
Hiding text is a half-measure if the lock screen shows the icons of the apps from which the message came: The attacker, seeing the logo of the bank or messenger, already receives information about the context.
MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS have the ability to hide notification icons on the locked screen, so in the Notifications and Status bar → Lock screen, you need to find the Notification Format and select the option that shows nothing but time and date, or activate the Do Not Show Notifications mode.
Another effective method is to use Second Space, where you can install sensitive applications in a second space that is protected by a separate password or fingerprint, and notifications from the second space will not appear on the main profile lock screen until you switch to it.
☑️ Checklist of full privacy
A comprehensive approach that combines Xiaomi’s system settings with app internals creates an almost impenetrable barrier to curious looks, and checking these settings regularly after major firmware updates will help maintain a high level of digital hygiene.