How to put a password on a folder in Xiaomi: from standard tools to hidden MIUI chips

Why put a password on folders in Xiaomi and what risks it carries

Have you ever given your Xiaomi smartphone to a friend to show you photos and then caught yourself thinking, "What if they accidentally or intentionally open personal files?" Folders with documents, screenshots of correspondence or financial reports are often a target for prying eyes. MIUI does not have a built-in "password folder with one click," but this does not mean that your data should be left unprotected.

On the other hand, folder passwords in Xiaomi don’t replace full disk encryption, which can be bypassed through a recovery menu or by connecting your phone to a PC. However, for 90% of everyday situations (when your phone falls into the hands of colleagues, relatives or even children), even basic protection is enough to prevent unauthorized access, the main thing is to choose a method that does not conflict with system updates and does not slow down the device.

Method 1: Built-in "Private Album" feature in Xiaomi Gallery

The easiest way to hide photos and videos is to use the Private Album, which is in the standard Gallery app on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (starting with MIUI 12), which does not encrypt files, but hides them from public access and requires a password (or fingerprint) to view.

How to turn on:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Private album.
3. Set a password (minimum length is 4 characters) or link a biometric.
4. Select the files you want to hide and click Move to Private Album.

Limitations of the method:

• 📁 It works only with media files (photos, videos). APK fail to.
• 🔍 Files remain in the phone’s memory and can be found through the file manager (path: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/).
• 🔄 After resetting settings or updating MIUI album could be dumped.

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If you are using a Private Album, check its contents regularly through the Settings menu → Privacy → Private Album. Sometimes, after MIUI updates, files “drop” back into the general gallery.

Method 2: Password Archive (ZIP/RAR)

If you want to protect a folder with documents or other types of files, the best option is to archive it with a password. RAR (The method is universal: it works on all versions. MIUI It does not depend on system updates.

Step-by-step instructions for ZArchiver:

1. Install ZArchiver from Google Play.
2. Open the application and find the folder you want to password.
3. Hold your finger on the folder → select Add to the archive.
4. In the archive settings, select either ZIP or 7z (the latter supports stronger encryption).
5. Activate the option to Encrypt file titles and set a password (recommended length is 12+ characters).
6. Click OK and wait for the archive to be created.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔐 Supports encryption AES-256 (format 7z), hard-to-crack.
• 📂 Works with all types of files (PDF, DOCX, APK etc.).
• ☁️ The archive can be uploaded to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) for additional backup.

Make sure there are no temporary files in the folder (e.g..tmp or.nomedia)

Remember your password (it is impossible to restore it!)

Check the space available – the archive can weigh 10-30% more than the original

Backup important files on the PC

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⚠️ Note: If you forget your password, you can't restore access to files. Do not use this method for a single copy of critical documents (passports, contracts.

Method 3: Third-party applications for folder locking

There are dozens of apps on Google Play that promise to "password folder in 1 click," but most of them either contain ads, require root rights, or simply create.nomedia files (which doesn't protect against power users), and we tested 5 popular solutions and selected the two most reliable ones:

Selection recommendations:

• 🔒 For maximum security, choose File Lock – it encrypts files, not just hides them.
• 📱 If you want to block access to a folder without encryption (for example, for children), AppLock is suitable.
• 🚫 Avoid apps called “Folder Lock” or “Smart Hide Calculator” – they often contain malicious code.

How to set up File Lock:

1. Download the application and set a master password.
2. Select a folder to lock (e.g. Download/Secret).
3. Activate the option to Encrypt files (in folder settings).
4. Turn on Hide the app icon so it won’t be found on the menu.

Method 4: Hidden folders via file manager (no password but with disguise)

If you don't need full encryption, but just hide the folder from prying eyes, you can use the standard Xiaomi File Manager, which does not protect data, but makes it less visible.

How to hide the folder:

1. Open the File Manager (Blue folder icon).
2. Find the folder you want to hide and hold it.
3. Tap it on three points. → Rename.
4. Add a point at the beginning of the title (for example,.secret_folder).
5. Confirm the change.

To make the folder visible again, you need to use the file manager:

1. Press three points. → Settings.
2. Enable the display of hidden files.

Limitations of the method:

• 👀 The folder can be easily found if you know its name.
• 🔍 It is still available via PC when connected to USB.
• 📱 It does not work for system folders (for example, DCIM or downloads).

A private album at the Gallery

Password Archive (ZIP/RAR)

Third-party applications (File Lock, AppLock)

Hidden folders (.number)

Don't protect the folders.

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Method 5: Encrypting a folder via Termux (for advanced users)

If you are willing to spend 10-15 minutes setting up, you can encrypt the folder using Termux and openssl. This method requires basic command line knowledge, but gives the highest level of protection (military encryption AES-256).

Instructions:

1. Install Termux from Google Play (not F-Droid!).
2. Update packages by entering commands: pkg update & & pkg upgrade pkg install opensssl
3. Go to the folder with the files you want to encrypt: cd /sdcard/Download/secret_folder
4. Create an encrypted archive (replace password with your password): tar czf - * | openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -out encrypted.tar.gz -pass pass:password
5. Delete the original files (optional): rm -r *

To decrypt the folder:

openssl enc -d -aes-256-cbc -in encrypted.tar.gz -out decrypted.tar.gz -pass pass:password


tar xzf decrypted.tar.gz

⚠️ Note: If you delete the original files before checking the archive, you risk losing the data forever. First, make sure the archive is decrypted correctly! Also remember that Termux may conflict with certain features MIUI (For example, with "Battery Optimization").

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Termux encryption is the only method that protects data even when a phone is stolen (if the attacker does not know the password), but it requires caution: one incorrect character in the command can lead to file loss.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users sometimes have problems trying to password a folder, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

1. If you used ZIP/RAR or File Lock, you can’t restore access without a password. Solution: store passwords in a manager (like Bitwarden) or write them down on paper (but not on your phone!).
2. The folder disappeared after the update MIUI Sometimes, after a system update, hidden folders or a Private Album are reset.Solution: check the settings after each major update (for example, with a private album). MIUI 13 on MIUI 14).
3. Conflict with “Security" MIUI Some folder locking applications (such as AppLock) may conflict with the built-in Security utility Solution: Add the application to exceptions in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
4. If you encrypted a large folder (like a video), the phone may start to slow down.Solution: Use light encryption formats (like ZIP instead of 7z) or break folders into pieces.

It is also worth remembering the false sense of security:

• 🔓 Password to folder does not protect against viruses that can steal files over the Internet.
• 📡 If the phone is connected to public Wi-Fi, data can be intercepted even with a password.
• 🔧 On root-access phones, any lock is 5 minutes.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions