How to scan for harmful apps with Play Protect 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 › Search: play protect › Security status › Google Play Protect

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Search Settings for play protect

   Open Settings and type play protect in the search box. Ours found Google Play Protect twice. Tap the second one, Security status/Google Play Protect.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Google Play Protect

   The Security status page opens. It lists Find device (Off on ours), Security update 2026-08-01, Google Play Protect and Google Play system update. Tap Google Play Protect.

   Done

3. 

   Tap Scan

   The Play Protect page said No harmful apps found, Play Protect scanned yesterday. Tap Scan.

   Done

4. 

   Read the result

   Ours finished in a few seconds: No harmful apps found, Play Protect scanned moments ago. Below it, Recently scanned apps shows six app icons and +66 more.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Play Protect row in Settings? We found none in the main Settings list on ours: search for play protect. The other result, under Fingerprints, face data, and screen lock, Privacy, also names Google Play Protect; we used the Security status one.
• Want to check the scan settings? Google says Scan apps with Play Protect is in Play Protect's settings. Ours has a gear at the top right of the Play Protect page; we did not open it. Source: Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe & your data private

If this does not work

• Play Store asks you to verify purchases? On ours the Play Store showed its first-run screens instead of the menu, then Verify your purchases instantly, with Use password and Use biometrics. We backed out and used the Settings search instead.
• Play Protect found a harmful app? Google says it may send a notification (tap it, then Uninstall), disable the app until you uninstall it, or remove it and usually tell you. Ours found none. Source: Use Google Play Protect to help keep your apps safe & your data private
• Find device says Off? It did on ours, on the same Security status page. That is a separate setting: turn on Find device on a Xiaomi phone.

About this guide

Google says Play Protect checks apps when you install them and also scans your phone from time to time. You can run a scan yourself too. On our Redmi the quickest way in was a Settings search.

The screenshots are from our Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G with Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0.308.0 and Android 16, in Light mode. We ran one scan and changed no settings.

Good to know

Installing an APK from outside the Play Store? Play Protect checks it too: allow installing apps from unknown sources. Keep the phone itself up to date: update a Xiaomi phone.

On a Pixel the scan is in the Play Store menu: scan for harmful apps with Play Protect on a Pixel.

In short: Search Settings for play protect, tap the Security status result, Google Play Protect, Scan.