How to put a password on a folder in the phone Android Xiaomi

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to hide personal data from prying eyes. The standard Android file system does not always provide obvious tools for this, but the MIUI shell offers built-in protection mechanisms. The question of how to put a password on a folder is solved not by installing one “magic” lock on a particular folder, but through the use of special hidden storage facilities, access to which requires biometrics or code.

There are several layers of protection, each suited to different use cases: you can completely hide applications, create isolated space, or simply encrypt certain files. Understanding the differences between these methods will allow you to choose the most appropriate option to keep your personal information private on your device.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available data protection options, the functionality of the built-in Security app, the capabilities of the Second Space mode and proven third-party solutions, and it is important to configure these features correctly so that you do not lose access to your data in the event of a reset or password change.

Use of built-in hidden storage

The easiest and fastest way to hide files is to use the native MIUI shell function. The built-in Security app already contains the necessary tools to encrypt photos, videos and documents, which does not require additional software installation and works at the system level, providing a sufficiently high level of protection for basic needs.

To activate the function, you need to open the Security application and scroll down to the Hide Files section. Once you have enabled this option, the system will prompt you to set an unlock password or use a fingerprint. Attention: this password will be used specifically to access hidden files, it may differ from the screen unlock password, although users often set the same values for convenience.

Once access is configured, the hidden files are managed through a standard Explorer, and to move the files to a secure area, you need to do the following:

• 🔒 Open the Explorer app and go to the folder with files you need to hide.
• 🔒 Select the desired objects (photos, videos or documents) with a long press.
• 🔒 Click the “More” button (three dots) and select the “Hide” option".
• 🔒 Confirm the action if the system requests confirmation.

⚠️ Note: Files hidden through the standard menu disappear from the usual gallery and explorer. To view them, you must enter a special code in the Explorer search bar or go to the Hidden Files section inside the Security application.

This is ideal for people who want to quickly remove personal pictures or documents from the casual eye, but it's worth remembering that technically it's more "hiding" than deep encryption. For most users, that's enough, but if you're storing government-issued data, it's worth considering more sophisticated methods.

Second Space Mode for Total Isolation

If you want a higher level of protection than just hiding files, MIUI offers Second Space, which creates a second, independent user profile on your phone, and allows you to install separate apps, create folders, and store files that are completely invisible in the main space.

Switching between spaces is instantaneous and can be tied to different fingerprints, such as unlocking the right thumb to the main profile, and the left thumb to the hidden one, allowing you to keep a "secret" phone at hand, just using the other finger to enter.

To activate this mode, follow the following steps:

• 🚀 Go to your smartphone settings.
• 🚀 Find the Second Space section (usually in the About Phone or Advanced Settings category").
• 🚀 Click "Enable Second Space" and follow the instructions on the screen.
• 🚀 Set up a password or fingerprint to log in to a new profile.

Inside the Second Space, you can create any folder, install messengers for the second SIM card, or store sensitive documents. The data in these two spaces are isolated: applications from the main profile do not see files in the second, and vice versa, making the method ideal for separating work and personal life or for creating a "safe" for sensitive data.

Blocking access to applications through Mi Lock

Often users don’t need to protect a specific file folder, but rather access certain applications, such as Gallery, Files or Messengers, which is enabled by Android Xiaomi’s Application Lock feature, which allows you to set an additional password or fingerprint request when you try to open the selected application.

This method is effective if you want the folders inside the Explorer or Gallery to be inaccessible without authorization. Even if an attacker gains access to an unlocked phone, they will not be able to log into secure applications.

Algorithms of actions to enable protection:

• 🛡️ Open the Security app and select "Application Lock".
• 🛡️ Create an unlock password (if you haven’t already done so).
• 🛡️ In the list, find the desired applications (for example, "Gallery", "Conductor", "WhatsApp").
• 🛡️ Activate the switch in front of each application that needs to be protected.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from blocking applications, it may be impossible to restore access to them without resetting data.Use a reliable but memorable code or be sure to link Mi Account to restore.

Using application locking in conjunction with file hiding gives you a double layer of protection: first, the file is hidden from public access, and access to the hidden file viewer is also password protected, which makes data extraction extremely difficult for outsiders.

Comparison of data protection methods

The best way to protect your data depends on what data you want to protect and how often you need to access it. Each of the methods examined has its advantages and disadvantages. Below is a comparison table that will help you decide on your choice.

As you can see from the table, the Second Space provides the best insulation by turning your phone into two different devices. However, it's more convenient to use standard file hiding to quickly access a couple of photos. App locking is good as an added measure, but it doesn't hide the fact that the app is on the device.

For maximum security, it is recommended to combine these methods, for example, important documents can be stored in the Second Space, personal photos can be hidden in a hidden folder, and access to messengers is protected with a personal password, such multi-layered protection will make it much more difficult for anyone who tries to access your information.

Third-party solutions and file managers

If you don't have the built-in capabilities or the MIUI interface seems inconvenient, you can turn to third-party developers. The Google Play Store features a variety of storage apps (Vault) that offer pseudo-calculators, hidden browsers and encrypted storage. Popular solutions are KeepSafe, Calculator Vault and other analogues.

These apps often offer more advanced features, such as the ability to take photos when you fail to enter a password or remotely control access via a web interface. However, using third-party software always carries risks: you trust your data to an application developer who, in theory, can have access to the contents of the storage.

When choosing a third-party solution, pay attention to the following criteria:

• 📱 Local encryption (data should not be sent to the cloud without your knowledge).
• 📱 Developer reputation and number of installations on Google Play.
• 📱 Possibility of data export in case of deletion of the application.

A unique feature of some advanced third-party applications is the ability to create “fake” repositories with a simple password that open when you enter a special code, while real data remains hidden behind the main password.

Using third-party file managers like ES Explorer or Solid Explorer also allows you to create secure folders.These managers often have an encryption feature built in that requires you to enter a password when you try to open a specific directory.

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Before using any new file hiding app, be sure to check its permissions. If a simple calculator requires access to contacts and a microphone, that's an alarm bell.

Frequent errors and access restoration

The most common problem with hiding features is a forgotten password. Unlike the screen unlock password, the password from hidden files or Second Space is harder to reset. If you haven't tied a Mi Account or set a control question, the data can be lost forever.

When you reset your phone to a factory setting, all the hidden files and data in the Second Space are deleted. Xiaomi's security system is designed so that even when you flash your phone, an outsider can't access the encrypted data without a key, so regular backups are critical.

To avoid data loss, follow these guidelines:

• 💾 Regularly copy important hidden files to your computer or cloud storage.
• 💾 Write passwords to a secure location (notebook, password manager).
• 💾 Make sure that the Find Device function and Mi Account binding are active.

Recovery is only possible through Mi Account, if this option was enabled in advance. If you forgot the Second Space password, the only way to get rid of it is to delete this space along with all the data through the main profile settings, which once again highlights the importance of backups.

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Forget the password from the hidden files, you lose the data forever. Xiaomi does not store your passwords in plain form and cannot recover them technically.