How to hide the application on Android Xiaomi: the Complete guide

In today’s digital world, smartphones have become repositories of our personal lives, financial information, and work documents. Xiaomi, equipped with MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offers users advanced privacy protection tools. However, a standard desktop often exposes all installed programs to the public, which is not always convenient or secure.

Hiding apps isn’t just a way to clean up the interface, it’s a necessary measure of digital hygiene. Redmi and Poco owners often face the challenge of getting things out of sight, whether it’s a banking app, personal photos or games that kids shouldn’t see. Fortunately, the company’s engineers have set up several layers of data protection.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to hide applications on Xiaomi smartphones, we will look at the regular features of the system that do not require the installation of additional software, and also touch on alternative methods for those who do not have standard tools, you will learn to create reliable barriers for prying eyes.

The standard function of hidden applications in MIUI and HyperOS

The most reliable and integrated way to hide the program icon is to use the built-in system functionality. Unlike third-party solutions, this method works at the launcher level and does not require additional permissions or background processes. To activate this feature, you need to go to the Settings menu and find the Application section. Next, select Hidden Applications (sometimes it can be called simply Hidden Applications depending on the firmware version).

Once the switch is activated, the system will suggest setting a password for protection or using biometrics.This is a critical step, since without a password, anyone who knows about the existence of the feature will be able to easily access hidden content.The password can be a pattern lock, a digital code or a fingerprint unlock if your Xiaomi is equipped with the appropriate scanner.

The mechanism of this function is based on the principle of a “secret gesture”: once you hide the application, its icon disappears from the desktop and from the menu of all programs, and to return the hidden application to the screen or launch it, you need to perform an action in the Security application or on the desktop.

It is worth noting that in the latest versions of HyperOS, the logic of the work may differ slightly from the classic MIUI 14.In the new shell, the emphasis is shifted to deeper integration with the Mi Account and cloud services, which increases security, but requires careful attention when setting up an account.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from hidden applications, it will be impossible to restore access to them using standard methods without resetting the system settings, which will lead to data loss.

Activation through the Security Application

An alternative and often faster way to manage hidden programs is through the system application Security.This is the central link in protecting your Xiaomi device, combining antivirus, memory cleanup and privacy tools. Open the application, usually it has a green icon with a shield, and scroll down to the Tools section.

Here you will find the Hidden Apps icon, and when you first start up, the system will ask you to confirm your intentions and install a security code, and the unique thing about this method is that it works even if the standard settings menu has been changed or simplified in a particular regional version of the firmware.

The management interface in the Security app is more visible. You see a list of all the programs installed with switches next to each. Turning on the switch instantly hides the application. It is important to understand that hiding does not mean deleting: the program continues to run in the background, receive notifications (if allowed in the notification settings for hidden applications), and spend resources.

To access hidden content in older versions of MIUI used a special gesture in the application "Themes" or "Gallery", but in current builds, the developers have simplified the process. Now just enter a password or fingerprint in a special window, which is called by swipe or search.

Use of guest mode and second space

If you don’t just hide the icon, but completely isolate certain applications from the main use, Second Space is the perfect solution, creating a virtual copy of the system inside your smartphone with a separate desktop, gallery and set of applications.

Switching between the main and second spaces is instantaneously through a password, a fingerprint, or a special shortcut in the curtain. For an outsider who took your phone, the second space will be completely invisible unless you leave a clear trace of its existence. It's a full-fledged sandbox inside your Android.

You can configure Second Space via Settings → About Phone (or Advanced Settings) → Second Space, and the system will suggest creating a separate user profile, so you can set up copies of the apps you want to hide or move existing ones to that profile.

• 🔒 Complete isolation: Files and photos in the second space are not visible in the main gallery and file manager.
• 📱 Separate accounts: You can use different Google and Mi accounts for different spaces.
• ⚙️ Flexible settings: For each space, you can set your own wallpaper, themes and interface settings.

Guest mode, in turn, is designed to temporarily transfer the device to another person, which hides all your personal apps, contacts and call history, and activates it through the notification curtain or user settings.

💡

Use different fingerprints to enter the main and second spaces, for example, the thumb of the right hand opens the main profile, and the thumb of the left hand opens the hidden one, which allows you to instantly switch between worlds with one touch.

Hiding through third-party launchers

Xiaomi’s regular tools are powerful, but sometimes users need a more flexible approach or hide system applications that are blocked by the manufacturer.

Installing a third-party launcher replaces the standard MIUI interface. Many of them have a built-in application hider function. Once the launcher is installed, you need to go to its settings (usually by long tap on an empty space on the desktop) and find the Hide Apps or Hide Apps section.

The advantage of this method is the ability to hide even those elements that are systemically protected in HyperOS. In addition, third-party launchers often allow you to create secure folders that are accessed only by password or biometrics.

However, third-party launchers can consume more battery life and are not always perfectly optimized for Xiaomi gestures, and some system features, such as Second Space, can conflict with an external launcher.

Blocking the launch of individual applications

Sometimes it is not necessary to hide the application, just to prevent it from running without authorization.App Lock is built into Xiaomi security and works regardless of the visibility of the icon.

To activate the protection, go to Settings → Annexes → Application locking. You can choose from any program, from messengers to system settings. If you try to open a blocked application, the system will require you to enter a password, PIN-fingerprint.

This is particularly effective when combined with concealment, so you can hide the icon through a standard feature, and put an additional lock on the app itself (if it is found in any way through search or widgets), creating a double security barrier.

In lock settings, you can also set a timer after which the application will again require a password, or allow fingerprint-only unlocking, which greatly speeds up access for the owner, but remains an insurmountable obstacle for outsiders.

⚠️ Attention: Blocking applications does not encrypt the data inside them. If you physically extract the file system of the device, the data can be read by specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

Combining concealment and launch locking techniques ensures the best possible protection of personal data on Xiaomi devices.