How to remove the blocking of applications on Xiaomi: full ways

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where a particular application stops running, displays a “Blocked” error or simply disappears from the list. This can be due to system restrictions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, parent locks set, or even regional developers’ bans. In some cases, the operating system mistakenly labels secure software as malicious and forcibly stops it from working.

Unlocking these programs requires a comprehensive approach, because the methods of solving depend on the root cause of the problem. If you are trying to run a banking application on a Chinese version of a smartphone or restore access to the utility after a failure, you will need to change the security settings or hidden system settings, ignoring these measures can lead to complete failure of the software you need.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the known ways to eliminate blocking, including working with Parental Control, setting up hidden apps, and how to circumvent regional restrictions for Google services and third-party software, and carefully following the instructions will help you regain full control of your device.

⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings or installing third-party certificates, be sure to back up important data, as experiments with access rights can lead to interface failures.

Diagnostics of the type of lock on MIUI and HyperOS

The first step is always to pinpoint the reason why the app doesn't work: Xiaomi shells have multiple layers of protection, and each locks programs in different ways, and users often confuse a system error with a targeted ban, leading to improper recovery actions.

Check to see if the Closed Folder or Hidden Applications mode is activated, where programs run in an isolated space, and if you look at the notifications from the built-in antivirus that could have quarantined the file, you may not be able to take any further action without understanding the source of the problem.

For accurate diagnosis, use built-in logs or just try to run the application in safe mode, which will eliminate conflict with third-party launchers or antiviruses.

  • 🔍 Check the notifications in the curtain for messages from "Security».
  • 🔒 Try to find the application through a global search system.
  • 📱 Restart the device in Safe Mode to avoid conflicts.
  • 🛡️ View the list of blocked numbers and applications in the security settings.

If the application is displayed in the installed list, but nothing happens when you click, or a pop-up with a request for permission appears, then the lock is software. In the case where the icon is not at all, it is most likely hidden by privacy settings.

📊 What problem are you facing?
App hidden
Banning the launch of antivirus
The region's mistake
Parental control

Removal of Parental Control Restrictions

One of the most common reasons for blocking is activated Parental Controls (Family Link or built-in MIUI), which allows you to limit the time you use specific applications or completely prohibit them from running at certain times of the day. If the device has a child profile set up, you can not remove these restrictions without an administrator password.

To disable restrictions, you need to have access to the family organizer account. In your phone settings, go to Settings → Digital Well-Being and Parental Controls. This shows usage statistics and limits. If you see a timer next to the app you want, it's timed out.

In some cases, especially on older versions of Android in the shell MIUI, There was a vulnerability that allowed you to reset the restrictions through a date change, but HyperOS closed the method. PIN-Parent code or deletion of management account.

☑️ Checking the control settings

Done: 0 / 1

If you forget your password from parental control, you may need to reset your Google Family Link app settings or completely clear your service data, but this may result in a 24-hour security lock, and be prepared for the phone to become unusable for calls during this period.

Unlocking hidden applications and a closed folder

In the MIUI shell, there's a Hidden Apps feature that visually removes the program icon from the desktop and menu, and to access it, you need to know a special gesture or password, and often users hide the apps themselves, forget about it, and then can't find them, thinking they're blocked.

To enter Hidden Object Management mode, open the Security app and scroll down to Hidden Apps. If the feature is enabled, the system will ask you to enter a password or fingerprint. Once logged in, you will see a list of programs that are not currently displayed on the menu.

There's also a "Second Space" feature that creates a completely separate desktop with its own apps and passwords. If you switch to the main space, the apps from the "second" will be unavailable. Check for a space switch in the notification curtain or in the settings.

Type of concealmentHow to find outRequirements
Hidden applicationsSecurity AnnexPassword/Printprint
Second spaceSettings → Second SpaceSeparate login password
Closed folderFile manager → Closed folderMi Account password
Guest modeSettings → Special OpportunitiesProfile switcher

To return the application to normal mode, just switch the switchboard opposite its name to the "Off" position. After that, the icon will immediately appear on the desktop. If you do not remember the password to log into the hidden partition, the only way out is a complete reset of the device.

⚠️ Warning: Repeatedly incorrectly entering a password to log into a closed folder or hidden apps can result in a feature being blocked for several hours or requiring you to log in to your Mi Account.

Bypassing regional locks and installing certificates

Owners of Chinese versions of smartphones (CN Version often faces the inability to run applications that require Google Play services or banking programs that are sensitive to regional settings. APK-files from unknown sources, claiming that the file is corrupted or dangerous.

To solve this problem, you need to activate the advanced permissions for the package installer. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the list of “Package Installer” (or “Package Installer”). In the menu that opens, select “Permissions” and enable all available items, especially “Install unknown applications”.

Then you should disable the Google Play Protect check if it interferes with the installation. Open the Play Market store, click on the profile avatar, go to Play Protection and disable the scan. This will allow you to install an application that the system considers suspicious due to regional restrictions.

Secret code for the region
Enter the code ##6484## in the Phone app to enter the engineering menu, where you can check the region of the device, but you can't change the region using this code on new versions of MIUI, you need to use special tools like Xiaomi.eu.

If the application is blocked during the launch phase due to lack of certificates (a frequent problem with Netflix or banking applications on re-flashed phones), you may need to install backbone certificates. To do this, you need to find the “Certificates” item in the developer menu (Settings → About Phone → 7 times click on the MIUI version) and download the current keys.

Set up exceptions in antivirus and optimizer

Aggressive battery optimization is another reason Xiaomi kills or blocks background apps, and the system automatically shuts down processes to save power, which looks like a lockdown: notifications don’t come, widgets don’t update, and when it launches, the app opens from scratch.

To remove this lock, you need to set up autostart and work in the background. Go to the Security application → Permissions → Autostart and activate the desired application. Then to Settings → Applications → (Selected Application) → Battery select No Limits mode.

It’s also worth checking the list of blocked apps in the built-in antivirus. Sometimes users accidentally add the program to a black sheet, after which it stops functioning correctly. Open Security, click on the shield icon and check the Block or Blacklist tab.

  • 🔋 Set the energy saving mode "Without restrictions».
  • 🚀 Enable auto-run for mission-critical messengers.
  • 🔒 Fix the app in memory through the multitasking menu.
  • 📉 Turn off “Advanced Optimization” in the Developer Menu.

So, the way you do this is to open the menu of running apps, press the window of the program you want to use, and click the lock icon, and you can't let the system clean it from the memory when you clean up the garbage.

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Use Advanced Optimization with caution: Disabling it from the developer menu can temporarily increase battery consumption, but solve problems with the background work of complex applications.

Using ADB to Force Unblock

In complex cases, when the system interface does not allow you to remove the restrictions (for example, blocking the launch of system components or hidden critical settings), the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging comes to the rescue. This method requires a connection to the computer and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to manage hidden parameters.

First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on the line “MIUI Version.” Then, in the “Additional” → “Development by USB” menu, turn on “Debugging by USB” and “Debugging by USB (Security Settings)”.

Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB drivers, and enter a command to unlock a particular package, for example, to unlock an installation from unknown sources for a particular installer application, a command is used:

adb shell pm grant com.android.packageinstaller android.permission.INSTALL_PACKAGES

If the application has been blocked by the device administrator (for example, a corporate profile), you can delete the administrator rights through ADB. The adb shell pm list device-owners command will show the name of the packet, and the adb shell pm clear <packet name> will clear its data and remove the lock.

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ADB is the most powerful tool to circumvent software limitations of the interface, but requires caution when typing commands to avoid damaging system files.

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB To remove system components or change access rights may cause the device to "brick" and use this method only if you are sure that the input commands are correct.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I unlock applications without losing data?
Yes, in most cases (removing parental controls, setting permissions, hiding icons), data is saved. Data loss is possible only when you reset the settings to factory or when you delete the administrator's control profiles if you don't make a backup.
Why does the app say “Installation is blocked”?
This error is most often caused by the fact that the MIUI security settings prohibit installation from unknown sources for a particular installer (e.g., browser or file manager) and you need to manually allow installation in the application settings.
How to remove the lock if the password from hidden applications is forgotten?
If the password from hidden apps or a closed folder is forgotten and the associated Mi Account is also not available, the only way to access the data is a complete reset of the device (Wipe Data).
Does the phone region affect app blocking?
Yes, Chinese firmware versions can block Google services and some Western applications, and global (Global) and European (EEA) versions usually do not have such problems, but they can block local Russian applications due to sanctions restrictions.