Digital privacy is becoming increasingly important for smartphone owners, and Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers sophisticated tools to protect privacy. When you pick up a phone to show a friend a photo or a map, you don’t have to show the entire list of installed programs, especially if there are bank customers or personal correspondence. Hide the application on Xiaomi’s Android in several ways without resorting to complex manipulation of root rights.
The modern MIUI shells and the new HyperOS provide built-in mechanisms that make icons invisible to prying eyes. It's not just a cosmetic feature, but a full-fledged security layer that requires a password or fingerprint to access. We'll look at all the methods available, from standard features to using third-party launchers, so you can choose the most convenient option for your model.
Use of the built-in function Hidden mode
The most reliable way to protect data is to use a system function that is deeply integrated into the operating system. In most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, this tool is called Hidden Apps. It works at the system level, so you can't find hidden programs through search or file manager without authorization.
To activate the security, you'll need to go through the security settings, and note that the interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the regional firmware, but the logic remains the same: you pick the apps you want to hide and you set a unique access code.
- 🔒 Open the “Security” app (green icon with lightning), preinstalled on all smartphones of the brand.
- 📂 Find the Hide Apps section at the bottom of the screen or in the Tools menu".
- ✅ Activate the switch and select from the list those programs that should become invisible.
Once the function is enabled, the icons of selected applications will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all programs. To access them, you need to perform a special action. Usually, this is the separation of two fingers on the desktop screen in different directions ("gesture "pinks") or enter a password in the area. Without this action, you can not launch a hidden application.
⚠️ Warning: If you forget your password or pattern lock from Hidden Mode, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to data inside hidden applications.
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Use a complex password for Hidden Mode, other than the screen unlock password, to increase security.
Configure via the Home Screen menu (Desktop)
An alternative method available in MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS shells allows applications to be hidden directly through desktop settings. This method is often more convenient for users who prefer classic management without additional gestures. Here, hidden applications do not require a separate password unless additional encryption is configured, but they disappear from the general list.
To take advantage of this method, you need to go to the design settings. Unlike the system "Hidden mode", here the applications simply stop appearing in the launcher, but can be found through a global search, unless additional restrictions are put in place, it is more a way to remove visual noise than serious data protection.
The adjustment process is as follows:
- Press the empty area on your desktop to open the editing menu.
- Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the lower right corner.
- Select the "Hidden Apps" option.
- Add the desired programs to the list of hidden ones by switching the switch next to their name.
It is important to understand the difference between this method and full-fledged Hidden Mode. In desktop settings, applications are often left in the Settings -> Applications section, where you can see their traffic or memory consumption, so for banking applications, it is better to use the first encryption method described.
Hiding through third-party launchers
If you don’t like Xiaomi’s standard features or want more flexible control over icon visibility, you can install a third-party launcher. Popular solutions like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer their own hideout mechanisms that work beyond system constraints.
Installing a third-party launcher requires extensive permissions, you'll need to allow the app to draw over other windows and control the home screen. Once you install and configure a new launcher, it usually has a Hidden Apps or App Hider section in its settings.
The advantage of this method is customization: you can not only hide the application, but also replace its icon with a neutral image or calculator, which when you enter special code opens hidden content, this creates an additional layer of stealth mode.
- 🎨 Complete customization of the appearance of hidden elements.
- 🔄 The ability to use different launchers for different user profiles.
- ⚙️ Additional features such as blocking ads inside the launcher.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party launchers may consume more battery power than a standard launcher MIUI. They can also conflict with system gestures, requiring additional navigation adjustments.
The use of Second Space (Second Space)
One of the most powerful features of Xiaomi's ecosystem is Second Space, which is not just hiding apps, but creating a completely isolated environment inside a single smartphone, and in fact, you have two phones in your hands, the main one and the hidden one, each with its own set of apps, photos, contacts and accounts.
The second space is ideal for separating work and personal life or for storing highly sensitive information, and the second space is either logged in via a special password/fingerprint when unlocking the screen or through a switch in the notification curtain.
The applications installed in the Second Space are not physically visible in the first space, and even if you connect the phone to your computer, the files in the second profile will not be available without unlocking, which is the maximum level of privacy that you can access without flashing the device.
| Comparison parameter | Hidden regime | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Level of isolation | Medium (hiding icons) | High (complete OS isolation) |
| Password access | Separate need | A separate entry into the system is required |
| Application data | General (mostly) | Completely separated |
| Notifications | They can come in the main. | They only come in the second space. |
How quickly do you switch between spaces?
Advanced Methods: ADB and Hiding System Components
For power users who want to hide Xiaomi system applications that cannot be removed by standard methods (such as an embedded browser, GetApps store or system services), there is a method of using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and having basic command line knowledge.
ADB allows you to send commands directly to the operating system without the GUI. With pm disable-user, you can freeze or hide virtually any component of the system. This doesn't remove the application, but it makes it inactive and invisible to the user.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.mi.globalbrowserIn this example, the system browser is hidden. To get it back, the pm enable command is used. Be very careful: disabling critical system components can cause the phone to malfunction or "bootloop".
- 💻 A PC with platform tools installed is required ADB.
- 🔌 You need to include "Debugging by USB" In the menu "For developers".
- ⚠️ High risk of system failure if the name of the package is mistaken.
⚠️ Attention: Before use ADB We strongly advise you to make a complete backup of your data, do not disable system applications that you do not know the purpose of, especially those related to the use of the system. MIUI Home or Google Services.
☑️ Pre-use checks ADB
Problem Solving and Frequently Asked Questions
When configuring hidden applications, users often encounter the nuances of the HyperOS shell and MIUI. For example, after updating the firmware, the settings of hidden applications may reset, or the gesture to enter hidden mode will stop working due to a conflict with another application.
If you can't find hidden apps, check to see if Guest or Second Space mode is activated. Also make sure the security settings don't include the "Steal Protection" feature, which can block access to certain features when you change. SIM-map.
To restore access to hidden data, if the password is forgotten, often the only way out is to clear the data of the Security application or completely reset the phone, which emphasizes the importance of remembering credentials.
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Xiaomi system tools provide a high level of security, but require careful attention to saving access passwords.