Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones store vast arrays of personal information, from work documents to intimate snapshots. The standard MIUI or HyperOS gallery is often the first place to look when you give a phone to a friend or child. To avoid embarrassing situations and leaking sensitive data, developers have implemented powerful encryption tools directly into the system application.
The process of installing security is simple, but it has its own nuances depending on the version of the operating system. A hidden album is not just a folder with password access, it is a full-fledged storage that encrypts files and hides them from standard viewing. Below we will discuss all the ways to secure your media files and what additional security measures you need to take.
Owners of devices with the shell MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the latest HyperOS have access to a single security mechanism that is based on biometric data or digital code. It is important to understand that forgetting the password from a hidden album is much more dangerous than the password from the lock screen, since data recovery without the code is almost impossible without an attached Mi Account.
The main methods of protecting the gallery on Xiaomi
Xiaomi's security system offers multiple levels of access to personal files. The most popular and reliable method is the use of the Hidden Album feature, which allows you to move photos and videos to an encrypted area that is only accessible after successful authorization. Biometrics such as a fingerprint or face unlock significantly speeds up the login process, making it invisible to outsiders.
The second option is to use a Second Space, which is a fully isolated environment inside your smartphone that works as a separate phone with its own apps and gallery, and if you have to separate work and personal photos or hide content from children, this is the best way to do this, because it visually hides even the presence of certain apps.
The third layer of protection is application locking, and you can prevent the Gallery or Files application from running without typing in the code, and it doesn't hide the files inside the memory, but it doesn't allow you to open them through the standard interface, and the combination of these methods creates a layered defense system for your data.
- 🔒 Hidden Album: Encrypts specific files and hides them from shared tape.
- 📱 Second Space: Creates a separate user profile with a full suite of applications.
- 🛑 Application Blocking: Requires a Password at Every Launch of Gallery Program.
- 👁️ Hiding Albums: Makes Entire Folders Invisible.
How to create a hidden album: step-by-step instructions
To get started, you need to activate the hide function. Open the standard Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. Find the three-dot button or the gear settings in the top corner of the screen. From the menu, select Hide Albums and click Enable. The system will suggest setting a privacy protection password if it is not already set.
☑️ Checklist of activation of protection
Once you have a password (or a fingerprint), the interface will change, and to see hidden albums, you need to make a special gesture: swipe your finger from the bottom up in the center of the screen in the Albums section and hold your finger for a second, you will see a password field or a biometric request, and after you successfully log in, you will see a list of hidden folders.
To move a photo or video to a secure area, select the files you want in the shared gallery, click on the "More" button (three dots) and select "Add to Hidden Album." Files will disappear from public access instantly and only appear after you make a special gesture and enter the code. Remember that moving files to the hidden album actually changes their path in the file system and encrypts the content.
⚠️ Note: When moving, the original files are removed from public access. Do not try to find them through the Explorer without authorization in the hidden album - they will look like corrupted or hidden system files.
Setting up password and biometrics for access
The security of your storage depends on the complexity of the authentication method chosen. In the privacy settings (Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy), you can change the type of protection. It is recommended to use a mixed password consisting of letters and numbers, since a simple pin code of 4 digits is easily selected by the pump method.
Biometric data, such as Face ID or fingerprint scanner, are added to the "Fingerprint Management" or "Face Recognition" menu. Once you add biometrics, the system will request it when you try to open a hidden album. However, always keep a digital code in mind in case your finger sensor is contaminated or you are in the dark.
What to do if you forget the password from the hidden album?
You should also pay attention to the Recovery Question feature, which, when you set a password, the system may suggest you ask a check question, which will help you regain access if you forget the main code, but this method only works when you have an active Internet connection and an associated account.
- 🔢 Digital. PIN: It is quickly introduced, but less reliable.
- 🔤 pattern lock: easy to remember, but there may be traces on the screen.
- 👆 Fingerprint: The fastest and most modern way.
- 👤 Facial recognition: convenient but less reliable in poor lighting.
Using the Second Space for Maximum Secrecy
If a standard hidden album isn't enough, Second Space is the perfect solution. It's a feature that creates a completely isolated environment on your device. In fact, you'll have two phones in one: the main space and the second, each with its own set of apps, passwords and gallery.
To activate, go to Settings → Second Space and click “Enable.” You will be asked to create a separate password or set up a quick transition between spaces (for example, a specific fingerprint). Photos taken in the second space automatically enter its local gallery and are not visible in the main profile.
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Use different wallpapers for the main and second spaces to visually distinguish which profile you are in and not confuse them when transferring your phone.
The advantage of this method is that even when you connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode, the second space folders will not be displayed without unlocking the second profile itself, which provides a double layer of protection: data encryption and logical separation.
| Parameter | Hidden album | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Level of protection | Medium/High | Maximum |
| Speed of access | Quick (gesture + biometrics) | Requires profile switching |
| Visibility of files | Hidden from the gallery | Completely isolated. |
| Use of memory | General. | General (files duplicated) |
Blocking the launch of applications Gallery and Files
An additional barrier can be blocking the launch of applications, which does not hide files, but does not allow you to open the Gallery, Explorer or Files application without verifying your identity, which is effective if you give someone a phone to call or play, but you want to make sure that the user does not want to watch the photo.
You can set this up through the Settings menu → Applications → Application Lock. In the list, find the Gallery and activate the switch. Now, every time you run the application, the system will ask for a password or a fingerprint. You can set a timer so that the password is not asked immediately, but, for example, 1 minute after unlocking the screen.
⚠️ Attention: Locking the application does not encrypt files. If an attacker connects the phone to a PC or uses another file manager, he will be able to access media files bypassing the locking of the application itself.
For maximum efficiency, combine this method with a hidden album, and even if someone can open a gallery, they won't see your personal folders without a special gesture and a second password, which creates an illusion of cleanliness for the casual observer.
Frequent errors and problems in setting up
Users often experience resets or menu paths when they upgrade to MIUI or HyperOS. If you can't find the hide feature, make sure you have China or India installed in some cases, although the feature is usually available by default for global versions. Sometimes you need to update the Gallery app through the GetApps store.
Another common problem is the Mi Cloud cloud desynchronization. If you have sync enabled, hidden albums may not be displayed on other devices or tablets, even if you are signed in to the same Mi Account.This is done specifically for security reasons: hidden files are often not synced to the cloud to prevent them from leaking when an account is hacked.
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Always link the hidden album to Mi Account.This is the only way to restore access to data when you change your phone or reset your settings, if you remember your account.
Also worth remembering is performance: If a hidden album contains thousands of high-resolution photos, opening the album may take longer because of the decoding process and permission checks. Regularly cleaning the gallery cache helps speed up work.