How to hide the app on Xiaomi 9: the full guide

Xiaomi smartphones have long proven to be devices with a sophisticated shell MIUI, offering many features for personalization and security. One of the most popular features is the option to make certain programs invisible to prying eyes. This is especially true if your phone is used by children or if you want to keep your correspondence and personal photos confidential. On the Mi 9 model, this functionality is implemented at the system level, which guarantees stable operation without installing third-party software.

Unlike many other manufacturers, the Chinese giant has implemented a mechanism to hide icons directly into the launcher. You don't have to look for complicated workarounds or download dubious utilities from the Google Play store. All the necessary tools are already built into the device's Settings. However, despite the simplicity, many users do not know exactly where to look for this feature, since it is often hidden in the depths of the security menu.

In this guide, we will discuss in detail the process of hiding applications on the Xiaomi Mi 9. We will look at the creation of hidden space, setting a password and the nuances of this feature in different versions of the firmware, and pay attention to alternative methods of protection, such as Second Space and blocking the launch of programs, which in the complex will ensure maximum privacy of your data.

MIUI's built-in security tools

The MIUI shell is based on Android, but it has a radically changed interface and advanced security functionality. The centerpiece of this is the Security app, which combines antivirus, memory cleanup and permission management. It is in this system application that the key to hiding programs is located. Xiaomi developers have focused on ensuring that the user can protect their data in a few touches.

It's important to understand that the hidden application is not removed from the device. It continues to run in the background, receive notifications (unless configured otherwise) and consume system resources. The only difference is that its icon disappears from the desktop and from the menu of all applications.

⚠️ Warning: After hiding the app in standard ways, its icon disappears. Don't panic if you don't find the program - it hasn't gone anywhere, just became invisible to normal viewing.

The system delimits access rights, so even if someone picks up an unlocked phone, they can't run a hidden program without an extra code or fingerprint, which creates a double barrier of protection: first you need to find an application, and then log in to use it.

Preparation for the setting of hidden space

Before you start hiding programs, you need to make sure your Mi Account is activated and linked to the device. In some versions of MIUI, creating hidden space requires proof of identity through the manufacturer's cloud service, so that you can restore access to data in the event of a reset or loss of your phone.

It is also recommended to set up a reliable method of unlocking the screen in advance.Shiding applications is closely related to the general security system Mi 9.If you have a simple pattern lock or no password at all, the system may require you to set it before activating the concealment function.Use a complex digital code or Mix password for maximum protection.

Make sure the device has the latest available system update. App hiding functionality is constantly being improved, and older firmware versions may have bugs or some options missing. Check for updates from Settings → About Phone by clicking on the system version.

Instructions: How to hide the application in the standard way

The main method of hiding programs on Xiaomi Mi 9 is implemented through the desktop settings menu. This method does not require the creation of separate profiles and hides icons in the current user space.

In the menu that opens, scroll down to "Tools" or "Advanced." Find a section called "Hide Apps." If you see this item, click on it. The system will ask you to agree to the terms of use of the feature and possibly set a password if it has not already been specified.

Security → Hide applications → Add

Once activated, you'll see a list of all the programs installed. Just tick or switch against the apps you want to make invisible. Changes take effect instantly. To find the hidden, you open the menu of all the apps (swipe up from the center of the screen) and enter the special code or password you previously set in the search bar.

• 🔒 Open the Security app on the home screen.
• 🔍 Find and select Hide Apps in the Tool List.
• ✅ Check the boxes against the programs you want to hide.
• 🔑 Create an access password or use biometrics to log in.

There's an alternative way through the launcher settings. Click on the empty space on your desktop to call the edit menu, and select Settings. In some versions of MIUI, the concealment option is right there, in Hide Apps. The logic of the job remains the same: you pick programs from the list, and they disappear in plain sight.

Use of the Second Space for Total Isolation

If standard icon hiding doesn't seem reliable enough, the Xiaomi Mi 9 offers a more powerful tool, Second Space, which is a full-fledged virtual copy of your smartphone, essentially running two independent phones with different accounts, files and apps on the same device.

The second space is ideal for separating work and personal life, or for creating a safe for sensitive data, applications installed in the second space are not physically visible in the first, and vice versa, and you can switch between them through settings or a special fingerprint assigned to enter the second profile.

To activate, go to Settings → Second Space → Enable. The system will create a new profile and you will be asked to configure it as a new phone, you can transfer the shortcuts to the desired applications or download them again.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all data, apps and photos inside it will be permanently deleted.

Blocking applications as an alternative to hiding

Sometimes you don't have to hide an application, you just have to stop it from being run by someone else. Application blocking in MIUI works better than simple concealment, because it requires proof of identity every time you try to open a program, and this is true for instant messengers, gallery and banking customers.

You can set up locking via the same app Security. Select Application Lock, set a password (this may differ from the screen unlock password), and select programs from the list. Now, when you try to open, for example, WhatsApp or Telegram, the system will require you to enter a code or attach a finger.

• 🛡️ High level of protection even when the screen is open.
• ⏱️ The ability to set the lock timer (immediately or after 1 minute).
• 📸 Hidden browsing function: hides the content of notifications on a locked screen.

The thing about blocking is that the app icon stays in place, and it can be a plus: an attacker sees the app but can't open it, and when combined with hiding the icons, it has a double effect: the program is not visible on the menu, and if someone finds it through a search, they can't run it.

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Use different fingerprints to unlock your phone and to log into locked apps, such as your thumb opening your phone and your index finger opening your hidden programs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The comprehensive use of icon hiding, app locking and Second Space creates layered protection, making your data on Xiaomi Mi 9 virtually inaccessible to outsiders.