How to pin apps on a Xiaomi phone (HyperOS 3)

Device

Android

Shown on

Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G (25080RABDG), HyperOS 3.0.308.0, Android 16

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Fingerprints

Real screenshots

11 of 11 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

3 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Find Allow pinning apps

   Open Settings and search for pin. Tap Allow pinning apps: the result shows its path, Fingerprints, face data, and screen lock/Privacy/Allow pinning apps.

   Done

2. 

   Turn on Allow pinning apps

   Tap the Allow pinning apps switch: Pinned apps will stay in Recents until you unpin them. It was off on ours.

   Done

3. 

   Read the warning and tap OK

   A box opens: Here's what pinned apps can do: Access your personal information (e.g. contacts and emails). Open other apps. Use this feature with caution while sharing this device with others. Tap OK, or Cancel.

   Done

4. 

   Verify screen lock to unpin

   With Allow pinning apps on, a new switch appears below it: Verify screen lock to unpin. It was off on ours, and we left it off.

   Done

5. 

   Check for a screen lock

   Our phone had no screen lock: Settings, Fingerprints, face data, and screen lock showed Set screen lock. Set one there first if you want Verify screen lock to unpin.

   Done

6. 

   Open Recents and hold the card

   Open the app you want to pin, then open Recents (swipe up from the bottom and hold). Touch and hold the app's card, here Settings.

   Done

7. 

   Tap the pin

   Round buttons appear beside the card, with a padlock at the top, and a pushpin button at the bottom of the card. Tap the pushpin.

   Done

8. 

   Tap Got it

   A sheet opens: This app is pinned. You won't be able to leave this app until you unpin it by sliding up from the bottom of the screen and pausing. Tap Got it.

   Done

9. 

   The app is pinned

   A message, "This app is pinned", shows near the bottom. On ours the status bar icons at the top were gone while the app was pinned.

   Done

10. 

    Slide up and pause to unpin

    To unpin, slide up from the bottom of the screen and pause. On ours it took about 2 seconds, then "Unpinned app" showed and the status bar came back. No screen lock was asked for.

    Done

11. 

    Turn it off again

    To stop apps being pinned, turn the Allow pinning apps switch off. Verify screen lock to unpin disappears again.

    Done

If you do not see this option

• Can't find it in Privacy? Xiaomi's steps for the Xiaomi 14T and REDMI 13C go through Settings, Fingerprints, face data, and screen lock, Privacy, Allow pinning apps. On our Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G, searching Settings for pin found it. Source: How to pin apps in Recents on the Xiaomi 14T? · Source: How to pin APPs in Recents on the REDMI 13C?
• No pin beside the card? Turn on Allow pinning apps first. Xiaomi says to press and hold the app in Recents, then tap the pin icon. Source: How to pin apps in Recents on the Xiaomi 14T?
• On a Google Pixel? Google calls it App pinning, under Security settings. See our guide on how to use app pinning on a Google Pixel. Source: Pin and unpin screens

If this does not work

• Using navigation buttons? The sheet on ours says to slide up from the bottom and pause. With buttons, Xiaomi says to press and hold the back and preview buttons. See how to switch between gestures and navigation buttons. Source: How to pin apps in Recents on the Xiaomi 14T?
• Want a screen lock to unpin? Turn on Verify screen lock to unpin. Ours had no screen lock set and unpinned without asking for one, so set one up first: how to set a screen lock.
• Tapped the padlock by mistake? The padlock locks the card in Recents so clearing Recents leaves it open; it doesn't pin it. See Xiaomi closing apps in the background.

About this guide

A pinned app stays on the screen, so someone you hand the phone to can use only that app. Xiaomi says pinned apps can open other apps and access your personal information.

The screenshots are from our Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G with Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0.308.0 and Android 16, in Light mode. Allow pinning apps was off. We turned it on, pinned the Settings app, unpinned it with the gesture and turned Allow pinning apps off again.

Good to know

Xiaomi says to use this feature with caution while sharing this device with others. For a separate space, see Second space and Dual apps. On a Pixel: app pinning on a Google Pixel.

To keep apps out of sight instead: how to hide apps. Other Android phones: app pinning on Android.

In short: Settings, Fingerprints, face data, and screen lock, Privacy, Allow pinning apps, OK. Recents, hold the card, pin, Got it. Unpin: slide up and pause.