How to remove application protection on Xiaomi: all ways (MIUI 14/15)

Application protection on Xiaomi smartphones is a built-in MIUI feature that blocks access to installed programs with a password, fingerprint or pattern lock, and is most often required to disable it after buying a used phone, a forgotten password, or transferring the device to another person. However, standard ways to remove protection (via the settings menu) do not always work — especially if you do not remember the data to unlock.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current methods for resetting application protection on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (including models on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS). From simple actions in the interface to advanced solutions through ADB or hard reset – with step-by-step instructions, risk warnings and data recovery tips. If you’re looking for a way to get around locking without losing files or want to understand why protection turns on on its own, here are the answers.

Why Xiaomi is Enabled to Protect Applications and How to Avoid It

The application protection function (App Lock) in MIUI is activated for several reasons:

• 🔒 Manual setting: the user has enabled the lock for specific applications (messengers, gallery, banking programs).
• 🛡️ Automatic activation: after the update MIUI or resetting the system can return previous security settings.
• 👤 Second user profile: If multiple accounts are set up on the device, the protection can be duplicated.
• 🔄 Data portability: When you restore from a backup of Mi Cloud, lock settings are sometimes restored.

To prevent unexpected activation of protection, check the following points:

• 📱 Security settings: Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Protect applications and disable unnecessary locks.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: After installing a new firmware version, always check the Security section – sometimes the settings are reset.
• 👥 Multiplayer: If you use multiple profiles, make sure that protection is not duplicated.

⚠️ Note: If you buy Xiaomi with your hands, be sure to ask the previous owner to untie the Mi Account and reset the application protection. Otherwise, you will have to perform a full reset, which will delete all data.

Method 1: Disable protection through MIUI settings (if you know the password)

If you remember the password, fingerprint or pattern lock used to lock, you can remove the protection in a few steps:

1. Open the settings on your Xiaomi.
2. Go to the Passwords and Security section (on some models – Security).
3. Select Application Protection (App Lock).
4. Enter the current password/print/pattern lock.
5. Turn off the switch next to unnecessary apps or click Remove All (if you want to remove protection completely).

On MIUI 15 and HyperOS, the path may be slightly different:

Settings → Privacy → Application Protection

If the Application Protection section is missing, it means that the function is not activated or hidden in another menu. Try searching by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO F5) Application protection is integrated into Second Space, a separate work profile, and to turn it off, you first need to deactivate Second Space in your account settings.

Method 2: Reset protection through your Mi Account (if tied)

If you forget your application protection password, but your phone is tied to your Mi Account, you can try resetting your security settings via the web interface. This method doesn't work on all models, but it costs Attempt:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. In the Devices section, find your smartphone and select Find the device.
3. Click Reset the lock screen password (if the option is available).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.
5. After resetting the lock screen password, application protection can also be deactivated.

Important: This method does not guarantee 100% results, as Xiaomi limits remote control of security settings. If the option to Reset password is not available, move to other methods.

💡

If a reset through Mi Account didn’t work, try temporarily disabling two-factor authentication in your account settings – sometimes this helps activate hidden options.

Method 3: Using ADB to remove protection (without root)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try disabling application protection via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method does not require root rights, but requires a computer and USB-Important: the method only works if the developer's settings include debugging. USB.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until a notification appears.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.

ADB Tools

cmd

ADB

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.applock

Reboot the phone.

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It may cause some settings to reset or conflict with updates. MIUI. After completing the commands, check the operability of other functions (for example, NFC or Google Pay).

Method 4: Hard Reset (full reset) - last resort

If no other method has worked, you can still reset your device completely, which deletes all data from your device, including photos, messages and installed apps, and only use it if:

• 🔐 You have forgotten your password and cannot recover access through your Mi Account.
• 📱 The phone was bought with hands and the previous owner did not turn off the protection.
• 🔧 Other methods (ADB, settings have failed.

Instructions for Hard Reset:

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press the button combination: For most models: Volume up + Power. For POCO F4/F5: Volume down + Power.

Mi

Recovery Mode

Use volume buttons for navigation and power button for selection.

Wipe Data → Wipe All Data

Factory Reset

Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

Reboot

Once reset, the device will return to factory settings and application protection will be disabled, but you will have to reconfigure Xiaomi, including binding Mi Account and recovering data from the backup (if any).

💡

Hard Reset is the only way to guarantee that you will not be able to secure your application if you don’t know the password and can’t use ADB. However, it is also the most radical method that leads to data loss.

How to recover data after resetting protection

If you have to perform a Hard Reset or other activity that caused your data to be lost, try the following recovery methods:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud: If sync was previously enabled, data (contacts, notes, photos) can be restored through Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Restore.
• 💾 Local backup: if you did backup through Settings → System system → Backup, connect your phone to your PC and copy files from the folder MIUI/backup.
• 🔍 Third-party utilities: programs like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData can recover deleted files, but require root rights.

To recover photos and videos:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Use programs like Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery to scan your internal memory.
3. If the files were on SD-Remove the map and scan it on another device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not write new data to your phone after a reset, which reduces the chances of recovering old files. The faster you start the recovery process, the higher the probability of success.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to reset application protection, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

Another common problem is that application protection turns on itself after the MIUI update, which is due to a failure in the security settings, to avoid re-activation:

• 📵 Turn off automatic updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔄 Check the Application Protection section regularly after installing updates.
• 🛠️ If the problem recurs, reset security settings: Settings → Passwords and security → Resetting security settings

FAQ: Answers to popular questions