How to unlock and open a closed application on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Have you ever encountered a situation where the app you want on Xiaomi suddenly stops opening? Does the system say "App Stopped," "Not Reply," or hides it from the menu? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones based on MIUI, Xiaomi's proprietary shell. The reasons can range from system failures to intentional locking by the manufacturer.

Unlike Android, MIUI actively intervenes in the operation of applications: optimizes them, suspends background activity and even blocks startup if it considers the program potentially dangerous or unnecessary. But what if you really need this application? In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to unlock — from simple to advanced, including working with ADB and hidden settings.

Importantly, some methods require root rights or unlock the bootloader, which may take you out of warranty, and we'll highlight these cases separately, starting with the safest options that don't require deep technical knowledge.

Why Xiaomi is blocking apps: the main reasons

Before you start unlocking, you should understand why MIUI limits applications, and here are the most common reasons:

• 🔍 Battery optimization: The system automatically freezes underutilized applications to reduce charge consumption, even for popular messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp.
• 🛡️ Protection against malware: MIUI has built-in Security antivirus that can block applications with suspicious permissions (for example, access to the security system) SMS geolocation).
• 📱 shell conflict: Some applications (especially custom launchers or widgets) may conflict with MIUI, Which leads to their forced closure.
• 🔄 Errors after the update: after installing the new version MIUI Android or some programs may stop working due to changes in the API.
• 🚫 Regional restrictions: on smartphones for the Chinese market (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) Some Google services or social networks are blocked at the system level.

Fun fact: MIUI 14 and later introduced App Vault, which can hide applications from the user if they haven't been used for a long time, and sometimes you just need to find them in a list of all the programs to get them back.

⚠️ Note: if the application has been blocked due to malicious code (e.g, MIUI Security gives you a "Virus detected" warning, so don't be too quick to unlock it. APK-file via VirusTotal.

Method 1: Checking in application settings (without root)

To start with, the simplest method, which works 70 percent of the time, is that often MIUI doesn't remove an application completely, it just hides it or restricts background activity. Here's how to get it back on track:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show All Apps (or System Processes if not in the main list).
3. Find the blocked application in the list and open its card.
4. Check the following parameters: 🔄 Auto-Start: Must be on. 📱 Background activity: select Without restrictions. 🚫 Block notifications: turn off if enabled. 🔒 Special permissions: check if critical rights (e.g. access to contacts or camera) have been revoked).

Restart your smartphone and try to start the app again.

If the app is not listed, it may have been uninstalled by the system, in which case only re-installing the APK will help. Download files only from trusted sources, such as APKCombo or APKMirror.

Auto-start is on

Are there no restrictions on background activity?

Are not notifications disabled?

Have all the necessary permits been issued?

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Method 2: Reset application settings (without data loss)

If an application opens but closes immediately or doesn’t work properly, resetting it will help, which does not delete user data (such as messaging), but returns all settings to factory settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app and tap the Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Cache and Reset Settings (or Erase Data if the first option didn’t help).
4. Restart the app.

System applications (e.g. Camera or Gallery) may require an additional step:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

Replace com.miui.gallery with the application package you want (you can find out through the App Inspector).

⚠️ Note: Resetting data for WhatsApp, Viber or banking applications will result in logging out of your account!

Social networks (VK, Telegram)

Messengers (WhatsApp, Viber)

Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact)

Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff)

System utilities (Camera, Gallery)

Other

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Method 3: Unlocking through MIUI Optimization (for advanced)

MIUI has a hidden MIUI Optimization feature that manages application optimization, and disabling this option can bring back blocked programs, but it requires caution.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears.

Settings → Additional → For Developers

MIUI Optimization

Optimization of MIUI

Turn it off.

Reset the device.

After this function is disabled:

• ✅ Applications will cease to be arbitrarily closed.
• ✅ Increased background time (for example, for Google Maps or music players).
• ⚠️ Increased battery consumption (up to) 10-15%).
• ⚠️ Some system animations may not work properly.

If after disabling MIUI Optimization, lags appear, return the setting to its original state.

Method 4: Using ADB to unlock (without root)

If previous methods didn’t work, Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool for Android devices, will help, allowing you to manually unlock applications even if they are hidden by the system.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Turn on your smartphone to debug via USB: Go to Settings → Additional → For developers. Activate Debugging via USB.

Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.

adb

adb devices

The serial number of your device should appear.

adb shell pm enable com.example.app

Replace com.example.app with a real application package (you can find out through the App Inspector).

adb shell pm install-existing com.example.app

To massively unlock all disabled applications, use:

adb shell pm list packages -d | awk -F: '{print $2}' | xargs -n1 adb shell pm enable

⚠️ Attention: do not use ADB to unlock system components with com.miui. or com.android packages..This can lead to the inoperability of the smartphone and the need to flash the flashing.

💡

If you don’t know the application package, install the Package Name Viewer, which shows the identifiers of all installed programs.

Method 5: Install custom firmware (for power users)

If none of the methods worked, and the application is critical, the last option is to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which removes all the limitations of MIUI, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (will result in resetting all data).
• 🛠️ Custom recovery installations (TWRP).
• 📱 Compatible firmware for your model (check on the XDA Developers).

Advantages of custom firmware:

Cons:

• 🚨 Loss of warranty (if the bootloader is unlocked).
• 🔋 Possible battery problems (on some firmware).
• 📱 Not all camera and sensor functions can work properly.

If you decide to do this, follow the official LineageOS guides for your model. For Xiaomi, firmware is popular:

• Pixel Experience is a pure Android with Pixel features.
• ArrowOS is the balance between performance and stability.
• MIUI EU is a modified version of MIUI without Chinese restrictions.

💡

Installing custom firmware is an extreme method. Try all other methods before you do it and back up with adb backup or TWRP.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all of these methods fail, the problem may be deeper:

• 🔍 Damaged system files: only flashing through the Mi Flash Tool will help (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunctions: If the application does not open due to memory problems (for example, com.android.phone constantly falls), contact the service center.
• 📱 Android version incompatibility: Some older apps don’t work on newer versions of the OS. Check the requirements on the program page in Google Play.

If the lock is due to regional restrictions (e.g., on the Chinese versions of Redmi or POCO), try:

1. Change the region in settings (Settings → Additional → Region).
2. Install a VPN (like ProtonVPN) and select the country where the app is allowed.
3. Use Google Play with another account (such as a US account).

To diagnose the exact reason, install Logcat Reader and check the error logs when you try to run an application. Look for lines with Crash, ANR (Application Not Responding) or Permission Denied.

FAQ: Frequent questions about blocking apps on Xiaomi