The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 remains one of the most popular smartphones among users who value balance of price and functionality. However, the standard MIUI gallery does not always provide sufficient privacy for personal photos. If you store on phone pictures - documents, family photos or work materials - their protection becomes critical.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to set a password for the gallery in Redmi Note 9: from built-in features MIUI You will learn how to hide individual albums, block access to photos through a fingerprint, and what nuances it is important to consider so as not to lose access to your data. MIUI 12+, which works even after resetting the phone to factory settings.
Why the standard gallery lock in Redmi Note 9 isn't always reliable
Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to block the Gallery application itself through security settings, but this method has critical vulnerabilities:
- 🔓 File Manager bypass: Even with a blocked gallery, photos remain accessible via Explorer or PC connection.
- 📁 Lack of selective protection: Standard locks block access to ALL albums, whereas often only part of the images must be hidden.
- 🔄 Reset after updates: after major updates MIUI Privacy settings may be reset.
More reliable alternatives are hidden folders (the Locked folder feature in newer versions of MIUI) or specialized applications like GalleryVault or KeepSafe, which provide:
- 🔐 Hardware encryption (in some applications) – photos are stored in encrypted form.
- 👆 Two-factor authentication – for example, a password + fingerprint.
- 📱 Screenshot protection – some apps block the ability to take a screenshot in a protected gallery.
Method 1: Locked folder in MIUI (the most reliable method for Redmi Note 9)
Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi added a Private Safe feature that encrypts selected files at the system level, which is superior to the usual locking of an application, since:
- 🔒 Files are not displayed in the gallery or file manager.
- 🔄 It works even after the phone is reset (unless you format your internal memory).
- 👆 Supports unlocking by fingerprint or face.
To activate the Locked folder on Redmi Note 9:
- Open the Files app (yellow folder icon).
- Go to the Category section → Images.
- Choose the photos/videos you want to hide and click More (⋮) → Move it to the Locked Folder.
- When you first use it, the system will ask you to create a password (at least 4 digits) or to link a biometric.
Update MIUI to version 12 or later
Create a backup of important photos
Remember your password (it cannot be restored!)
Check the space available (encryption increases the file size on the file size) ~5%)-->
Important note: if you forget the password from the Locked folder, it will be impossible to restore access to files - even through the Xiaomi service center.
⚠️ Warning: Do not store only copies of important documents (passports, tickets) in the Locked folder; it is recommended to duplicate them in encrypted cloud storage (for example, Google Drive with a password for a file).
Method 2: Block the Gallery application through Security Settings
If your version of MIUI is older than 12 or you don't need excessive protection, you can block access to the entire gallery through system settings.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Blocking applications.
- Enable the function by setting a password (other than unlocking the screen!).
- In the list, find the Gallery and activate the switch.
- Set up additional parameters: 🔹 Hide notifications – so that the contents of the gallery do not appear in the curtain. 🔹 Requesting a password at each opening (recommended).
| Parameter | Recommended value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Type of lockdown | Password (not PIN) | Passwords are harder to find than 4-digit PINs. |
| Biometry | Print + face | It speeds up access but reduces protection (biometrics can be fooled). |
| Hiding notices | Included. | Prevents leakage of preview photos in the curtain. |
| Auto-unlock | Disconnected. | Otherwise, the gallery will be unlocked along with the screen. |
The main disadvantage of this method is that files remain accessible through:
- 📂 Conductor (folder) DCIM/Camera).
- 🖥️ Connection to PC by USB.
- 🔍 Search by file in MIUI.
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To make it harder to access through Explorer, rename the folder with the photo (for example, in the.hidden_photos). System folders that start with a point are hidden by default in MIUI.
Method 3: Third-party applications for gallery protection
If built-in MIUI features aren’t enough, consider specialized applications that offer advanced features such as:
- 🔐 Encryption by standard AES-256 (GalleryVault).
- 📤 Fake Mode – Shows ‘clean’ albums when forced to open.
- 🚨 Alarm at unsuccessful attempts to enter (photo of the intruder from the front camera).
Top.-3 applications for Redmi Note 9:
| Annex | Features | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| KeepSafe | Cloud backups, PIN-code + print | Advertising in the free version, limit on the number of photos |
| GalleryVault | Encryption, fake password, hiding from system scanners | Complicated interface, premium features fees |
| Private Photo Vault | Video masking (the app looks like a calculator) | No Russian language, slow uploading photos |
To install and configure GalleryVault:
- Download the app from Google Play (avoid third-party APKs!).
- When you first start, create a primary password (minimum 8 characters).
- In the settings, activate: 🔹 Hide the application icon (access by typing code on the keyboard). 🔹 Blocking screenshots. 🔹 Fake mode (optional).
Import photos through the built-in file manager.
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. GalleryVault) may conflict with energy saving settings MIUI. Add them to the Autostart Exclusions list (Settings) → Battery → Power management applications, otherwise notifications about attempts to log in will not work.
What to do if the app is not visible on the menu?
How to hide a photo without a password: alternative methods
If you do not need hard protection, but only the desire to remove the photo from view, use these methods:
- 📂 Rename folder: Add a point to the beginning of the name (for example,.private_photos). V MIUI These folders are hidden by default.
- 🔄 Archiving with a password: pack the photo in ZIP or RAR Encrypted (use it) RAR for Android).
- ☁️ Cloud Storage with Private Links: Upload Photos to Google Photos and Make the Album Personal.
For archiving with a password:
- Install RAR for Android from the Play Market.
- Select a photo in the application and click Add to the archive.
- In the archive settings, activate Set a password and enter the combination.
- After creating the archive, delete the original photos.
The downside of this method is the inconvenience of viewing, which means that you have to unpack the archive every time, but the files will be protected even if you steal your phone.
💡
Password archiving is the only method that protects a photo even if an attacker gains physical access to the phone and resets it to factory settings.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When setting up gallery protection, Redmi Note 9 users often face typical problems:
- Forgotten password from the Locked folder: 🔹 Xiaomi does not provide any recovery methods. 🔹 The only way out is to reset your phone to factory settings (photos will be lost!).
- Photos missing after update MIUI: 🔹 Check the folder. MIUI → Backup → Gallery. 🔹 If files are encrypted, try rolling back the firmware via Fastboot.
Third-party apps don't see photos
- 🔹 Give permission to access the storage in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
- 🔹 V MIUI Access to system folders can be blocked – use the built-in import in the application.
To minimize the risks:
- 📌 Export protected photos to external media regularly.
- 📌 Recovery Test: Try to transfer a photo from the Locked Folder back to the Gallery.
- 📌 Turn off automatic cloud upload (such as Google Photos) if you use encryption.