Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have a powerful security system that by default hides the text of incoming messages from prying eyes. It is a useful feature for maintaining privacy in public transport or the office, but it can be uncomfortable when you need to quickly assess the importance of a message without unlocking the device. Many users get lost in the variety of settings of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS without finding an obvious switch.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how to return text messages to the lock screen and notification curtain. We will look not only at the standard menu paths, but also at the specific settings for popular messengers such as Telegram and WhatsApp, which often ignore system settings. You will learn to manage privacy flexibly, leaving only selected applications hidden.
It’s worth noting that menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the shell version, but the logic remains the same for the entire ecosystem of the Chinese manufacturer, and the right settings will allow you to avoid missing important confirmation codes or urgent work chats.
Basic lock screen settings in MIUI and HyperOS
The first step to solving this problem is to check the global lock screen settings, and this is where the master switch controls the visibility of the content, and if this is disabled at the system level, no settings for individual applications will help, and the system forcibly replaces the text of the message with the standard phrase "New Notice".
To access the menu, you need to open the Settings app and go to Notifications and Status bar. In some firmware versions, this item may be simply called Notifications. Inside you're interested in the Lock Screen subsection, and here's the Show Contents switch, which allows the system to display text messages while the smartphone screen is off or locked.
It's important to understand the difference between having an app icon and texting a message. Even if you turn off the content option, you'll see that a message has come, but you won't know who it's from. Turning on this feature makes it easier to use your smartphone because it allows you to filter information noise without having to move your finger across the screen.
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If you use a third-party theme, it can override the notification system settings. Try temporarily switching to a standard theme to check the feature.
After making changes, the system may require confirmation of your actions, especially if a pin or pattern lock was previously installed.This is a security measure that ensures that only the owner of the device accesses the notification content. In new versions of HyperOS, the algorithm remains the same, only the visual part of the menu has changed.
Display settings for individual applications
Global settings are only half the battle, and users often want to see text messages from work chats but hide the content of personal emails or banking applications, with Xiaomi’s shell providing a flexible notification management system for each app installed separately.
To set this up, go back to the Settings menu. → Notifications and status bar, and select Notification Management, which will open a full list of all installed programs, and search for an app you're interested in, such as Viber or Instagram, and click on it. You need to find the lock screen switch and make sure it's active. Also check the sound and vibration to make sure notifications aren't jammed.
- 📱 For WhatsApp and Telegram, it is important to check the internal privacy settings within the apps themselves, as they can take precedence over system settings.
- 📧 Email: Email apps often have a separate tick “Hide text message” in the privacy section.
- 🛒 Banks and marketplaces: For applications with financial data (Sberbank, Tinkoff, Ozon) it is better to leave the content hidden for the sake of security OTP-code.
Note that in some cases, after updating the firmware, the settings for individual applications can be reset to default values. So if you upgraded your smartphone to the new version of MIUI, it makes sense to quickly go through this list and update your preferences. This will take a couple of minutes, but save you nerves in the future.
Specificity of settings in popular messengers
The settings inside the messengers themselves deserve special attention: Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber have their own data protection mechanisms that work independently of Android settings. If everything is on and text is not visible, the problem almost certainly lies here.
Telegram needs to go to Settings → Privacy → Password and password (or just “Privacy” depending on the version). There is a Hide Content item. If it is enabled, Telegram will only show “New Message” while ignoring system permissions. On WhatsApp, the path is similar to: Settings → Account → Privacy, where you need to turn off the “Preview” switch.
For Viber users, the situation is similar. → Privacy is Show text message. Make sure it's activated. What's remarkable is that these menu changes are instantaneous and don't require the app or the smartphone to be rebooted.
⚠️ Note: If you use Incognito mode or hidden chats inside messengers, their content will never appear on the lock screen, regardless of the system settings.
It is also worth mentioning that some corporate versions of instant messengers (for example, WhatsApp Business with its security policies set up) can forcibly hide the text of notifications, in which case you will not get around the restriction through the phone settings, since this requirement is not possible. IT-department.
Do Not Disturb and Other Restrictions
Often the cause of the disappearance of the text notifications is accidentally activated mode "Do not disturb". In this mode, the smartphone limits not only the sound, but also the visual display of content on the locked screen, so as not to distract the user. Check the status of this mode in the curtain of fast settings or through the Settings menu → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb.
There is a separate section inside the Do Not Disturb mode settings that regulates notification behavior. Make sure that there is no content disallowance. In addition, Xiaomi has a "Notifications in your pocket" or "Mode in your pocket" feature that can lock the screen when the proximity sensor falsely activates, although this affects the ability to read the message rather than its presence.
| Mode of work | Impact on notifications | Where to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Don't disturb. | Hiding text and icons (often) | Curtain/Sound settings |
| Saving energy | Could delay the parish. | Battery settings |
| Game mode (Game Turbo) | Blocks pop-ups | Security Annex |
| Sleep (on schedule) | Limits notifications | Digital well-being |
Hidden Game Turbo settings
Another factor could be energy saving mode: With strong battery savings, the system can restrict the background activity of applications, which causes notifications to arrive with a delay or without text. If you notice such a problem, add important messengers to the battery exception list.
Solving problems with the "Security" application
In Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, the system app Security plays a key role: it manages permissions, memory cleansing and notifications. Sometimes its aggressive “cleanup” algorithms interfere with the normal operation of notifications. If text is lost suddenly, it is worth checking the optimization settings.
Go to the Security app, click on the gear icon in the top right corner, and select Notifications. Here, you can activate the Format Notifications function, which groups messages and hides their contents to save space.
- 🔍 Memory Cleansing: Don’t use the “Accelerate” feature too often, it can unload messengers from memory, resetting the connection.
- 🔒 Ad Blocking: In some regions, built-in ad blocking may conflict with push notifications from apps.
- 📂 AutoRun: Make sure that the AutoRun section includes apps for all important instant messengers.
☑️ Diagnostics of Notification Problems
Also worth mentioning is the "Notifications from Favorites" feature, if you accidentally activate filtering only for favorites, messages from other subscribers may not be fully displayed. Check the priority notification settings in the "Do Not Disturb" section.
Frequent errors and their elimination
Despite its apparent simplicity, users often encounter bugs when the settings seem correct and the text doesn't appear. One common mistake is using third-party launchers (desktop shells), launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher have their own notification settings on the lock screen that override the system.
If you use a third-party launcher, you need to look for settings in its menu, not in the phone settings. Often there is a “Hide confidential content” checkmark that you need to remove, and some “cleaners” of memory from third-party developers can block the display of text.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting all settings to factory settings is a last resort.Be sure to back up your data to the Mi Cloud cloud or your computer before you do so so you don't lose contacts and photos.
In rare cases, cleaning the notification service cache helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Notification Center (or simply “Notifications”) in the list, and click Clear → Clear cache. This will not delete your messages, but reset their display settings.
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If nothing helps, try creating a new user in your system settings. If the new profile notifications are working, then the problem is a software conflict or damage to the system files of the main profile.