Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to hide personal photos, videos or documents from prying eyes. The standard Android file system allows you to see all the contents of memory, which poses risks of leaking confidential information when transferring a device to a friend or in the event of theft. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS offer built-in tools to solve this problem without installing third-party software.
Creating a secure space is not just cosmetically hiding icons, but full-fledged data encryption. The system moves selected files to a special section that can only be accessed after you enter a password or scan your fingerprint. Android 13 and later provide enhanced privacy management capabilities, which we will discuss in detail.
In this guide, you will learn how to activate a hidden folder, what alternative security methods are available, and what to do if standard functionality stops working after an update.
Standard Method: Create a Hidden Folder through the Gallery
The easiest and fastest way to hide media files on Xiaomi is to use the built-in Hidden Album feature, which is ideal for photos and videos, since it does not require the creation of complex folder structures in the file system.
To activate the function, you need to open the Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. Scroll down the album list to the very end. There you will see the Hide Albums option or the switch slider. Once turned on, the system will prompt you to set a password or use biometrics for protection. Importantly, this password will be used specifically to access hidden files, it may be different from the unlock password of the screen.
To put a photo or video in a hidden folder, select the files you want in the shared feed and click on the "More" button (three dots). In the drop-down menu, select "Add to a hidden album." Files will disappear from public access instantly. To view hidden content, go back to the album section and swipe up the screen (pull the list of albums down until the lock icon appears).
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If you forget the password from the hidden album, you can only restore access through your Mi Account account if sync is enabled. Without being linked to the cloud, data can be lost forever.
It's worth noting that this method only works for multimedia. APK-You can't hide files here. You need to use a file manager or a privacy protection feature».
Use of the Privacy Protection feature for files
To work with documents, audio and other file types in the shells MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, there is a more powerful tool called Privacy Protection, which allows you to hide not only files, but also entire applications, making them invisible to the system and third-party users.
You can set up through the Settings menu → Privacy Protection → Hide files. Here you will be asked to create a separate password or set up fingerprint access. Once activated, the file manager will have a special section where you can move any data, and unlike a hidden album, here files are physically moved to an encrypted memory area.
- 🔒 Encryption: The data in this section is encrypted, and even when connecting the phone to the computer via USB They will not be displayed without authorization.
- 📁 File Types: All formats are supported: PDF, DOCX, ZIP, APK, MP3 others.
- 👁️ Hiding applications: In the same menu, you can hide the icons of installed programs, they will disappear from the desktop and from the menu.
Users often confuse this feature with normal deletion. Remember that moving to Privacy Protection does not delete the file, but changes its path and access rights. Deletion occurs only when the appropriate command is explicitly selected within the secure folder.
☑️ Security check of hidden files
Second Space: Maximum Data Insulation
If you want a completely separate desktop with your apps and accounts, use Second Space, a unique feature of Xiaomi that creates a virtual copy of the system inside your phone.
The transition between the main and second spaces is instantaneous, either through a special widget or (more conveniently) through a fingerprint, you assign one finger to enter the main mode and the other to the second, and to an outsider, the phone will look like a regular device with one set of data until you attach a "secret" finger.
You can configure Second Space by Settings → Second Space. The system will create a clean profile where you can install separate versions of instant messengers, banking apps or games. Files between spaces are not visible to each other, which guarantees 100% privacy!
⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all data inside it will be permanently lost.Be sure to transfer important files to the main space or cloud before resetting.
This method consumes more RAM and battery power, as two instances of the system actually work. On low-end Redmi models with low RAM (3-4 GB), using Second Space can lead to more frequent unloading of background applications.
Hiding applications through system settings
In some versions of MIUI firmware (especially Global and EEA), the app hiding feature is put into a separate settings menu that does not require the creation of Second Space, which is convenient if you just need to remove the icon of the bank or personal chat out of sight.
To activate, go to Settings → Apps → Hide Apps. This will show a list of all installed programs. Just turn on the switchboard opposite the desired application. After that, its icon will disappear from the desktop and from the All Apps menu.
Launching a hidden application is possible in two ways:
- Search in the system (unless this option is blocked in the privacy settings).
- Through special code combinations in the “bell ringer” (phone book), if such a function is supported by your shell version.
How to run a hidden application without an icon?
It should be understood that simply hiding an icon does not encrypt the application data. If an attacker has access to the file system or uses advanced analysis methods, he will be able to find the cache data or database of this application.
Comparison of data protection methods on Xiaomi
The choice of method depends on what you want to protect and how high your security requirements are, and below is a table comparing the main characteristics of the methods considered.
| Method | Type of data | Level of protection | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden album | Photos, Videos | Basic (password) | Minimum |
| Protection of confidentiality | Files, Applications | High (encryption) | Low. |
| Second space | Complete system | Maximum (insulation) | Medium/High |
| Hiding applications | Application icons | Low (visual) | Absent. |
As you can see from the table, the Hidden Album is enough for everyday use of photos, and for documents and important applications, it is better to use Privacy Protection, and the second space is the choice of paranoids or those who want to share their work and personal lives on the same device.
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Combining methods (e.g. Hidden Album + Second Space) is the best way to do it, but requires discipline in remembering passwords.
Restoring access and solving problems
A common problem for users is the forgotten password from the hidden folder. Unlike the screen unlock password, resetting through a Google account doesn't always work automatically here, and it's critical to link the hidden folder to the Mi Account when you first create it.
If you forget your password, click on the input screen to "Forgot your password?" and the system will suggest sending the confirmation code to the associated phone number or email, or logging in through your Xiaomi account. Without this binding, it is almost impossible to restore access to encrypted data, since the encryption keys are stored locally.
Also, users experience hidden files disappearing after a system update or reset, which happens if you haven't synced to the Mi Cloud. Check your sync settings in Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud and make sure the tick opposite the Gallery or Files is active.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting your phone to factory settings (Hard Reset) without first logging out of your Mi Account and disabling the Find Device function can lead to a lock on your smartphone (Mi Account Lock), and hidden data will be deleted.
In some cases, the hidden folder may not open due to an error in the system application Security. Try clearing the cache of this application through the application management menu or updating it through the GetApps store.