Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9T store vast amounts of personal information, from banking apps to instant messaging. Often, you have to use your phone to someone else: a child to play, a colleague to watch a photo or a guest to call, and at such moments you run the risk of accidentally deleting important files or, worse, unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The solution to this problem is the application attachment feature, known in MIUI as Screen Mode, which allows you to lock a device within one particular application, preventing the user from going beyond it or switching to another tab. Owners of Redmi 9T can activate this mode through standard system settings without installing third-party software.
In this article, we will discuss how to properly configure and use the app attachment function. You will learn about the intricacies of Android security on the MIUI shell, learn how to block the screen from random clicks and be able to safely transfer the device into the wrong hands.
Why you need to fix applications on a smartphone
The fixing function, or Pinning, solves several digital hygiene and safety problems at once, primarily, it is a protection against random actions. When playing a game, a child may accidentally press the home button or swipe to go into settings, knocking down important parameters of the system. The attachment of the application blocks navigation buttons and gestures, leaving only the interface of the running program active.
The second aspect is privacy, and if you want to show someone a photo or document, securing the app will prevent that person from going to the gallery and starting to flip through other albums or open personal chat rooms, and it creates a virtual security perimeter that is only broken at your request.
The third important thing is to prevent unauthorized purchases: Many apps contain built-in stores or subscriptions, and once you have secured the app, you control the payment process, since the user will not be able to go to Google Play or AppGallery to confirm the transaction without your knowledge.
- 🔒 Blocking the transition between windows and return to the desktop without a password.
- 👶 The perfect tool for parental control while playing or watching videos.
- 🛡️ Protection against accidental removal of applications or changes in system settings.
⚠️ Note: App attachment does not encrypt data inside it. If the application has already opened a chat or document, the user will have full access to it until the moment of unlocking.
Understanding these mechanisms allows you to use your smartphone effectively in the family or when working with customers. Data security on Redmi 9T depends on the proper configuration of these features.
Preparation of MIUI system for work with screen mode
Before you activate the fix, you need to make sure that the system allows the use of this feature.In the MIUI shell installed on the Redmi 9T, the security settings can be hidden or require additional activation, this is done so that ordinary users do not accidentally lock themselves off the system.
The first step is to check if you have a password or a pattern lock on your device. Android requires a lock screen method to work with the fix function. This is logical, because the exit from the fixed state must be protected by an authentication procedure. If you only have a face unlock or a pin-free fingerprint, the system may require you to set a digital password.
Next, you need to find the appropriate switch in the special features menu, and the path to it may differ depending on the version of MIUI (12, 12.5 or 13), but the general logic remains the same. You need access to advanced settings, which are sometimes hidden from the surface.
☑️ Pre-activation check
It is also important to check if you have third-party launchers or memory cleanup programs installed that may conflict with system security features.The Standard System Launcher runs with anchoring the most stable.
Step-by-step activation of the anchoring function
The process of enabling the feature on Xiaomi Redmi 9T requires care, as the settings menu is quite extensive.Follow the instructions to activate the necessary security module.We will look at the path through the basic system settings, which is universal for most firmware versions.
Open the Settings app and go to the optional section, which, depending on the location, may be called Advanced Settings or Advanced Settings, and that's where the developer tools and special features are hidden.
Find “In-app Lock” or “Window Lock” and in some versions of MIUI, this feature can be integrated into the “Security” or “Privacy” section. Once you click on the menu, you will need to move the activation slider to the “On” position.
- Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy.
- Scroll down to the "Special Opportunities" item.
- Find the “Block in the Application” option and activate it.
- The system will warn you how to exit the mode - read the information.
After activation, the system may suggest adjusting the notification behavior. It is recommended to allow notifications to be displayed only from the attached application, so that third-party messages do not pop up on the screen and do not distract the user or give out unnecessary information.
💡
If you can’t find a menu item, use the Settings search: type the word “fix” or “block” in the top line of the Settings search.
Now that the function is activated at the system level, you can move to direct use. The mechanism is ready to work and will wait for your command to run in a special mode.
How to launch the application in fixed mode
The application is launched in anchor mode on Redmi 9T via the menu of recent apps, which is a standard interface called by a swipe from the bottom up with a delay or press of a square navigation button, and this is where the window is captured.
Open the application you want to pin. Then go to the task menu, find the card of the application you want, and click on the icon above or next to the program name, usually an icon that resembles a lock or a window symbol.
In the context menu that appears, select "Pin" and then the screen blinks and you're inside the app. From that point on, the navigation buttons ("Home", "Back") and the control gestures will be blocked, and trying to go outside the app will result in a password request or a fingerprint.
| Action. | The result | Necessary rights |
|---|---|---|
| Single tap "Home" | Nothing's happening. | No. |
| Swipe to close the application | Nothing's happening. | No. |
| Long-term pressing "Home" + "Back" | Request unlock | Password/Biometry |
| Attempt to notify | Blocked or hidden | Privacy settings |
To exit the mode, you need to perform a combination of actions. On Redmi 9T with its navigation buttons, this is usually a long-term simultaneous pressing of the Back and Home buttons (or Menu, depending on the configuration of the buttons). If you have gesture control enabled, you will need a bottom-up swipe with a delay and subsequent confirmation.
⚠️ Warning: When you exit the fixed mode, all notifications accumulated during the locking time can appear on the screen.
Make sure you remember the exit combination before handing over the device. You can't get stuck in a fixed mode without knowing the password, but you can create inconvenience if you forget the sequence of actions.
Features of working with navigation and gestures
Xiaomi Redmi 9T offers two types of navigation: classic buttons and gesture control. The anchoring mode works differently in each of these cases, and it's important to understand these differences for comfortable use.
When you use navigation buttons (three virtual buttons at the bottom of the screen), the mechanism is simple: the system ignores single taps. However, to prevent accidental exit, a combination is used: If you press the home button, the application will not close, which gives the user the illusion of freedom, but the output is blocked.
The gesture situation is more complicated. Since swipes are the main part of the interaction with MIUI, the system must clearly distinguish between a regular swipe and an exit command. Usually, the output is done by swipe from the bottom edge of the screen upwards with the finger held for 1-2 seconds, and then the unlock request will appear.
It is important to consider that in fixed mode, some system gestures, such as calling a voice assistant or a control panel, may not work.
What if the sensor does not respond to the output?
If you often switch between navigation modes, practice leaving the attached application in advance.