Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the challenge of hiding certain information from prying eyes. Whether it’s personal photos, sensitive documents or just files you don’t want to show to guests, a standard gallery or file manager doesn’t always provide the right level of privacy. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools to protect data without the need to install third-party apps.
Xiaomi’s security system allows you to create isolated storages that can only be accessed after you have entered a password, a pattern lock or a fingerprint. It’s not just hiding icons, it’s full-fledged encryption of content. In this article, we’ll go through all the ways you can make files personal so that your information remains solely yours.
Before you start setting up, you need to understand the difference between simply hiding and creating a secure space. Conventional hiding can be easily bypassed by an experienced user, whereas Hiding content or Second space creates an additional security barrier. It is important to set these settings correctly when you first start up to avoid access problems in the future.
Use of the “Hide Content” function in the Explorer
The fastest and most effective way to make files personal is to use the built-in concealment feature in the standard Explorer app, which allows you to move selected photos, videos, audio and documents to a special secure folder that does not appear in the shared file list. To activate this feature, open the Explorer app and go to the Documents section or any other file area.
After selecting the files you want, click on the "More" button (three dots) and select the "Hide" option. The system will ask you to set a password or use biometrics for protection. Attention: if you forget the password you set, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to hidden files, since they will be encrypted. Once set up, these files will disappear from normal viewing and will only be accessible through a special login in Explorer.
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Use a complex numerical password for a hidden folder, different from the screen unlock password, to increase security.
To access hidden files, you need to open the Explorer app, go to any category (like Images), and pull the file list down until the lock icon appears. Enter your password and you will see your personal data. It is a convenient mechanism for quickly working with confidential information without switching between profiles.
☑️ Set up a hidden folder
Creating a Second Space for Total Isolation
If you want a more serious approach than just hiding files, Second Space is the perfect solution. It creates a completely separate environment on your Xiaomi smartphone, with its apps, contacts, gallery and files, and in fact, you get two phones in the same device, which can be switched between with a single touch or a fingerprint.
To enable this feature, go to Settings and find the Second Space section. Click "Enable Second Space" and follow the configuration wizard's instructions. You can select which apps will be available in the second profile and configure a separate login method, which allows you to make files personal at the system level, rather than individual folders.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all the data inside it will be permanently destroyed.
The use of Second Space is especially important if you hand over your phone to your children or colleagues, and you can give them access to the main profile with games and a browser, while your personal photos and documents remain in the second, secure profile, switching between them is instantaneous and does not require rebooting the device.
Protecting individual applications through blocking
Often users don't have to hide the files themselves, just restrict access to the applications in which these files are stored. MIUI and HyperOS have an integrated "App Lock" feature, which allows you to set an additional password or fingerprint requirement when you run selected programs, such as Gallery, WhatsApp, Telegram or Bank.
You can find this setting by Settings → Applications → Application Lock. Activate the function, set a password (if it is not already set for the security system), and select from the list of programs that need additional protection. Now, when you try to open any of the selected applications, the system will request verification of identity.
This method is convenient because it doesn't require moving files to other directories, and your photos are left in the general gallery, but only those who know the unlock code can view them, a trade-off between convenience and security that suits most users.
Comparison of data protection methods on Xiaomi
The right method depends on how sensitive your data is and how often you need to access it. Below is a table comparing the main ways to protect files on Xiaomi devices to help you make an informed decision.
| Protection method | Level of security | Accessibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden folder | Medium. | High. | Minimum |
| Second space | High-pitched | Average. | Average. |
| Application lockdown | Medium. | High. | Minimum |
| Encryption of the device | Maximum | Low (when loading) | It doesn't. |
As you can see from the table, Second Space provides the highest level of isolation, but requires more system resources. Hidden folder and application lock are easy ways to quickly close access to information. The choice of a particular tool should be based on your personal priorities between speed and confidentiality.
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For maximum protection, combine methods: use the Second Space for Secret Files and lock apps for instant messengers.
Setting up the Security profile and encryption
Xiaomi's security focus is on the "Security" app (green shield icon) and that's where all the security tools are aggregated. In addition to the features already mentioned, you can find "Hidden Photo" (to hide images in the gallery through a swipe down) and application permission management.
It is important to make sure that the device is fully encrypted. On modern Xiaomi smartphones with Android 10 and above, it is turned on by default, but it is worth checking the status in the Settings → About the phone → All settings → Encryption and credentials. If the device is encrypted, then even with physical memory extraction (which in modern monoblocks is difficult to do), the data will not be read without the unlock key.
Also in the "Security" app, it is recommended to regularly check for viruses and use the "Cleanup" function, which can sometimes accidentally delete cached data from hidden applications unless exceptions are configured.