How to put a password on the gallery on Android Xiaomi: all ways to protect personal photos

You want to hide personal photos and videos from prying eyes, but don’t know how to put a password on the Xiaomi gallery? MIUI There are several built-in tools to protect confidential data – from a standard application blocker to hidden folders. PIN-But not all users know how to use it properly.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 working ways to protect your gallery on Redmi, POCO, and other Xiaomi devices, from official MIUI 14/15 features to trusted third-party apps, how to hide individual photos, block access to the entire gallery, or even encrypt media files, and how to avoid and avoid the most common security mistakes users make.

1. Built-in application locking in MIUI

The easiest way to protect a gallery is to use the built-in app lock feature that MIUI has been using since version 12, which allows you to set a password, fingerprint or pattern lock to any application, including the standard Google Photo Gallery or Xiaomi Gallery.

To activate the lock:

  • 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application lockdown
  • 🔒 Set your password (if you haven’t done it before)
  • 📷 Find the Gallery app in the list and turn on the switch next to it.
  • ⚙️ In the locking settings, you can select the type of protection: PIN, graphical key

After that, every time you open the gallery, the system will require you to enter a password, and the important thing is, if you use a fingerprint, make sure it's saved correctly in the system, otherwise unlocking can be unstable.

📊 What type of lock you prefer?
PIN-code
pattern lock
Fingerprint.
Face (Face ID)

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from blocking applications, you can only reset it through a complete reset of the phone to the factory settings!

In smartphones Xiaomi on MIUI 12 and later there is a hidden function Private Folder, which allows you to hide selected photos and videos behind the camera. PIN-This folder is not displayed in the main gallery and is only available after authorization.

How to set up a Private Folder:

  1. Open the Gallery app
  2. Choose the photos or videos you want to hide
  3. Click More (three dots) → Move to a closed folder
  4. When first used, the system will be asked to install PIN-code (minimum 4 digits)
  5. Once confirmed, the files will disappear from the main gallery and will only be accessible through the Albums. → Closed folder

To view hidden files, go to Gallery → Albums → Closed folder and enter PIN. Private Folder securely protects content – even if someone connects the phone to a computer, these files will not be visible without unlocking.

☑️ Checking the hidden folder

Done: 0 / 4
ProtectionLevel of securityCons
Locking the application⭐⭐⭐Does not hide files when connecting to a PC
Private Folder⭐⭐⭐⭐You need to manually transfer files
Third-party annexes⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐They can collect data about the user

If you don't have enough built-in MIUI, you can install specialized applications to protect the gallery, and they offer advanced features: file encryption, masking for other programs, remote locking.

Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi:

  • 🔐 AppLock – blocks access to the gallery, supports fingerprint and masking under the calculator
  • 📁 GalleryVault – creates encrypted storage for photos and videos, hides the app icon
  • 🛡️ KeepSafe – automatically hides new photos, there is a cloud backup

Before installing, check reviews and rankings on Google Play - some apps may contain ads or collect excess data. AppLock and GalleryVault are the most popular among Xiaomi owners due to their stable MIUI work.

💡

Before installing a third-party blocker, disable the built-in application lock in MIUI to avoid conflicts.

4 Encrypting a photo folder through a file manager

For advanced users, there's a way to protect the gallery at the file system level by encrypting the photo folder, which will make files inaccessible without a password even when you connect your phone to your computer.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

  1. Install an encryption-enabled file manager, such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer
  2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera (where the photos are stored)
  3. Select a folder or files → Encrypt → Set a password
  4. After encryption, the original files will be replaced with encrypted ones, which can only be opened through this application.

This method is robust, but it has downsides: if you forget your password, you can't restore access to files, and some gallery apps may not see encrypted media.

⚠️ Note: File encryption can slow down the gallery when you see a photo. If you notice a lag, try encrypting only the most sensitive files, not the entire folder.

5. Hiding Photos via Google Photos (for cloud backups)

If you use Google Photos to back up, you can hide individual photos in cloud storage, and they will stay on your phone, but they won't show up in the main feed.

How to hide photos in Google Photos:

  • Open the Google Photos app
  • Select a photo. → press ⋮ → Archiving or moving to the basket
  • Archived photos will be hidden from the main stream, but will remain in the folder Archive
  • To remove completely from view, move to the Recycle Bin (stored for 60 days)

This method does not protect files with a password, but allows you to quickly remove them from the visible gallery. For complete security, combine it with other methods, such as Private Folder.

What if hidden photos reappear in the gallery?
Sometimes, after updating MIUI or resetting the settings, hidden files may become visible again. In this case, check: 1. Have Private Folder settings reset (reset the PIN). 2. Have the path to the DCIM folder changed (sometimes MIUI creates duplicates). 3. Has the phone connected to another device via MTP (this can reset the access rights).

Even after setting a password to the gallery, it is worth taking additional measures to prevent data leakage:

  • 🔄 Turn off automatic upload to the cloud (e.g. Google Photos or Mi Cloud) if you don’t want your photos stored on servers.
  • 📴 Disable notifications from the gallery in the app settings so that the preview does not appear on the lock screen.
  • 🔌 Turn off the debugging. USB In Settings → For developers to prevent access to files through a computer
  • 🔄 Update regularly MIUI — Newer versions often fix vulnerabilities related to media access

If you often transfer your phone to other people (for example, for calls), set guest mode to Settings → System and Device → Additional → Guest mode. In this mode, access to the gallery and other personal data will be limited.

💡

The combination of app lock + Private Folder + disabling cloud sync gives maximum protection for personal photos on Xiaomi.

Can I put a password on individual albums in the Xiaomi Gallery?
No, in the standard MIUI gallery, you can only block the entire application or transfer files to Private Folder. To block individual albums, you will need a third-party application, such as GalleryVault.
What to do if you forget your private flyer password?
Unfortunately, you can't restore access to Private Folder without a password. The only way is to reset the phone to factory settings, but that will delete all the data. If you've had Mi Cloud sync enabled, try recovering files from there after resetting.
Will the gallery lock work after the phone is dropped?
No, all lock settings (including Private Folder and application lock) are reset when you return to factory settings, and you have to reset the protection after the reset.
Can I hide the gallery from displaying in the app menu?
Yes, install a launcher app with icon hiding (like Nova Launcher) or use the built-in Hidden Applications feature in MIUI (Settings → Applications → Hidden Applications).
How to protect a gallery on Xiaomi from access via a computer?
To prevent access to photos when connecting to a PC: Use Private Folder - files from it are not visible through MTP. Encrypt the DCIM folder through a file manager (for example, Solid Explorer). Turn off File Transfer mode in USB settings (Settings → Connected Devices → USB).