The modern Android operating system, as well as the proprietary shell MIUI or HyperOS, is a complex ecosystem where each application requires a certain level of access to device resources. When you first launch a game or messenger, the system requests access to a microphone, camera, geolocation or contacts. This is not just a formality, but a fundamental security mechanism designed to protect your personal data from unauthorized use.
Xiaomi devices have unique features that are different from pure Android, and they have an additional layer of control that allows users to fine-tune access rights even after installing programs, and every smartphone owner needs to understand how these mechanisms work to ensure digital hygiene.
Incorrectly configured rights can lead to quick battery drain, intrusive advertising or, in the worst case, leakage of confidential information. In this article, we will examine in detail where hidden settings are located, how to properly issue and withdraw rights from applications, and also consider the specific features of the Xiaomi shell, which often go unnoticed by ordinary users.
Basic Android Security Architecture on Xiaomi
The basis of the permission system in Xiaomi smartphones is based on the sandbox model. Each application runs in an isolated space and by default does not have the right to interact with other programs or system components. To access user data or equipment, the application must explicitly request this right, and the user must confirm the action.
Unlike older versions of Android, where permissions were issued in bulk when installed, modern versions of MIUI allow you to manage each item separately at any given time, which gives flexibility, but also requires attention from the user.
Normal rights do not require confirmation and concern basic features that do not threaten privacy. Dangerous rights such as access to a camera or SMS require mandatory consent. Special rights such as overlaying on top of other windows or accessing notifications are in deep system settings and are often used by malware.
⚠️ Warning: Never give an application a Device Administrator or Accessibility unless you are 100% sure of its developer.
Control over these parameters is through the system service App Ops, which is integrated deeper in the shells Xiaomi than in the stock Android, which allows you to block queries at the kernel level, even if the application itself tries to circumvent standard restrictions.
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Use the "Allow only during use" feature for geolocation, which will prevent you from tracking your movement when the application is closed or running in the background.
Where to find and how to manage access rights
There are two main ways to manage rights in Xiaomi: through the settings of a particular application and through a global privacy center, the first is suitable for quick edits, the second is for a comprehensive security audit of the entire smartphone.
To change the settings for a particular program, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Select the desired application from the list and find the "Application Permissions" item. Here you will see a list of all requested accesses with the ability to switch switch switch switch switch switch switch switches.
☑️ Access rights verification
A more advanced tool is in the Privacy Protection section. In the new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14+, this section is put into a separate menu, where all the statistics are collected, you can see which apps have accessed the camera or microphone in the last 24 hours, and you can get a detailed report.
- 📱 Access to camera and microphone: Allows you to take photos or record sound without your knowledge.
- 📍 Geolocation: Determines your location through GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks.
- 📞 Contacts and calls: authorizes you to read the phone book and call history.
- 💾 Files and Storage: Full access to all photos, videos and documents on your device.
Special attention should be paid to the section "Additional permissions": it hides features such as access to the clipboard, start when you turn on the device and access to the list of installed applications, disabling unnecessary rights in this section greatly increases privacy.
| Type of permit | Risk to the user | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Location (Exact) | High: Tracking movements | Allow only navigators |
| Contacts | High: Theft of the number database | Only for messengers. |
| Microphone | Medium: audition | Strictly on demand |
| Camera. | Medium: Hidden shooting | Photo/video only |
Special permissions and access to system functions
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, there are permissions that go beyond the standard Android suite, which are necessary for specific shell features to work properly, but can also be used by attackers, including rights to display over other windows, auto-start and manage Bluetooth devices.
Autostart setup is one of the most important features for battery optimization. Autostart is prohibited by default in MIUI for all applications to save charge. However, messengers and smartwatches require this feature to be enabled, otherwise notifications will not arrive.
⚠️ Warning: If you turn off auto-start for the messenger (WhatsApp, Telegram), you will stop receiving messages in the background.
Another important aspect is access to Accessibility, a tool designed for people with disabilities, but often required by memory cleanup applications, ad blockers, or task automatizers, which is tantamount to giving full control of the screen to third-party software.
To manage these settings, search the settings menu, enter "Special Features" or "Access to Use" to get to the corresponding menu, and you can see the full list of programs with advanced privileges.
What is “Displaying on top of other windows”?
Virtual Permissions in MIUI and HyperOS
A unique feature of Xiaomi smartphones is the virtual permissions (or “dummy”) feature. When an app insists on accessing contacts or geolocation for its work, but you don’t want to provide real data, the system can give a fake response.
When activated, the app will have access to an empty list of contacts or coordinates pointing to the city center (usually a point in the ocean or the center of Beijing / Moscow).
To activate this protection, go to Settings → Privacy Protection → Special Permissions → Virtual Permissions. Turn on the switch for the desired application and select what data it will see. This is especially true for games and little-known utilities.
- 🛡️ Data Protection: The app doesn’t get your real contacts.
- 📍 Hiding geo-position: useful for delivery services or maps if you don't want to shine the address.
- 📱 Maintaining functionality: the application does not “fly out” because it thinks that access is available.
- 🔄 Flexibility: You can switch to real data at any time.
The technology is based on the App Ops engine, which was modified by Xiaomi engineers, and standard Android often required root access rights to implement this scenario, making the procedure difficult for the average user.
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Virtual permissions are the best way to run a questionable application without sacrificing privacy, and the system will replace real data with blank stubs.
Diagnostics: who and when used your data
Modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS have advanced application logging tools, so you can check at any time which program has accessed sensitive sensors, which helps you identify hidden miners or spyware.
In the Privacy Protection section, there's a Behavior tab, and it shows the timeline of events, for example, you'll see a entry that says, "Application X accessed the location at 14:30." If this happened when you weren't using the navigator, you should consider the need for such an app.
It can also highlight the use of a camera or microphone in real time with an indicator (a green dot in the corner of the screen), and if you flip through the news feed and the indicator catches fire, then some program is recording or shooting right now.
For deep diagnostics can be used ADB-commands if you connect the phone to the computer. --uid <package_name> ALL Detailed statistics of all operations for a particular package.
adb shell dumpsys package <name packet> | grep -A 50 "granted=true"This method requires that you have ADB installed on your PC and USB debugging mode enabled on your smartphone, and it allows you to see even the permissions that were automatically granted by the system.
Optimization and resetting of permission settings
Over time, a lot of apps accumulate on your smartphone that you stopped using but that have retained their rights. Regular revision helps not only protect data, but also speed up the device. Xiaomi has a feature called “Memory Cleanup”, which also affects background processes related to permissions.
If you encounter a situation where an application is not working properly after a system update, it is recommended to reset its permissions. This will return the program to the “first start” state, and it will again request the necessary rights. You can do this in the Settings menu → Applications → All Applications → [Select the application] → Other permissions.
There's also the ability to reset all application settings at once, a radical method that will return all permission switches to factory values, and the application data will not be deleted, but you'll have to respond to all access requests again the next time you run the programs.
⚠️ Warning: Complete resetting of app settings can disrupt widgets, alarm clocks and automations. Use this method only if standard cleaning has not helped.
Remember that some Xiaomi system applications (e.g., Security, Explorer, Gallery) require extensive permissions to function, and their limitations can lead to unstable operation of the entire shell.
Regularly update the system component of Google Play Services and Xiaomi services, these modules are responsible for the correct processing of permission requests and the implementation of new security features.