Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 9 store a huge amount of personal information, from banking apps to personal correspondence. Device owners often face the need to hide certain programs from prying eyes, whether they are curious children or colleagues. MIUI shell features provide powerful privacy tools that go far beyond simply locking the screen.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can hide applications, how to use the built-in Hidden Space, how to secure access to specific programs with a password, and what alternative methods are available, and fine-tuning these settings will make your smartphone an impregnable fortress for your data.
The setup process does not require deep technical knowledge, but it is important to follow the steps carefully so as not to get confused with the levels of access. We will look at the nuances of working with multiple accounts on a single device and explain how simple hiding an icon is different from full data isolation.
Principles of working confidentiality in MIUI
The MIUI shell that is installed on the Xiaomi Mi 9 is based on Android, but it has profound security changes, and the main tool here is the concept of splitting profiles, so when you hide an application using standard system methods, it doesn't just disappear from the desktop, it moves into an isolated environment.
This environment is often called "Second Space" or "Hidden Space," and the data in this space is encrypted separately and requires separate authorization to log in, and it's important to understand that simply unlocking your phone will prevent you from accessing hidden programs.
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Hidden space in MIUI works as a separate virtual smartphone inside your physical device, with its own settings and files.
Android’s system limitations don’t allow you to completely remove or hide critical system processes, but custom apps are completely controllable, and you can customize wallpaper, tunes, and even fingerprints for the main and hidden profiles.
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to a factory setting, the Hidden Space data will be permanently deleted along with the main data. Always back up!
Set up the Second Space on Xiaomi Mi 9
The most reliable way to hide applications is to create a Second Space, a full-fledged second profile that is activated by a separate fingerprint or pattern lock. On the Xiaomi Mi 9, this feature works steadily due to sufficient RAM.
To activate, you need to go to the system settings. Find Settings → Advanced Settings → Second Space. By clicking on Enable, you start the process of creating an isolated environment. The system will suggest setting up an unlock method that will differ from the main one.
☑️ Configuring the Second Space
After switching, you'll see a desktop that looks like a new phone, and that's where you want to install or migrate the apps you want to hide, and for outside observers, the phone will look unlocked in the main profile until you use a special finger or code.
- 🔒 Complete data isolation: photos and files from the second profile are not visible in the main gallery.
- 👆 Quick switching: just apply the registered finger on the locked screen.
- 📱 Independent Notifications: Notifications from Hidden Apps Don’t Resurface in Main Mode.
Using a second profile is the maximum level of protection available without installing third-party software, but it is worth remembering that running in the background of the application of the second space can consume battery power, even if you are in the main profile.
Use of the “Hide Apps” feature in topics
If you think it's unnecessary to create a full-fledged second profile, you can use the easier feature of hiding icons, which is not creating a separate environment, but simply hiding application shortcuts from the menu and from the desktop, accessing them through special code or search.
The feature is often built into the Themes or Security app. Open the Security app (green lightning icon), scroll down to Hide Apps. Here you will see a list of all installed programs.
How to log into hidden applications?
Once the Hidden mode is activated, the icons of the selected programs will disappear. To run them, you will need to enter a predefined code in the Themes app or in the search bar, which is convenient for quick camouflage, but less secure than the Second Space, since the data is not isolated.
| Characteristics | Second space | Hiding in the themes |
|---|---|---|
| Level of protection | High (separate password) | Low (tag concealment) |
| Data isolation | Complete. | Absent. |
| Battery consumption | Above (two profiles are working) | Standard. |
| Difficulty setting up | Medium | Low. |
When choosing between these methods, consider how sensitive the data is. For banking applications, it is better to use the Second Space or Application Protection feature, which will be discussed below.
Blocking access to specific applications
Part of the solution to this privacy problem is Application Protection, which doesn't hide the program icon, but requires you to enter a password, a pattern lock, or a fingerprint every time you run it, and it's effective if you have a phone in your hands.
You can find this feature in the Security app. Scroll down the tool list and select Application Protection. The system will ask you to set a security password, which may be different from the screen unlock password.
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Use the same biometric sensor (fingerprint) to protect your applications as you used to unlock your phone so you don’t enter your password manually every time.
All the programs you've installed will be displayed on the list, and just switch the switchboard to the right app, like WhatsApp or the Gallery, and now you're going to get an authorization request when you try to open them.
- 🛡️ Admission Protection: Children will not be able to play YouTube or games without permission.
- 👁️ Hiding the content of notifications: you can configure the text of messages not appear on the locked screen.
- ⏱️ Lock timer: the ability to set up automatic lock immediately or 1 minute after exit.
The good thing about this method is that it doesn't disrupt the desktop structure. The icons stay in place, which is not suspicious, but access to content is strictly limited. For the Xiaomi Mi 9, with its fast fingerprint scanner, it's a very convenient option.
Working with the guest mode
Another way to secure your data is to transfer your phone in Guest Mode, a temporary profile with limited features and applications, which is ideal when you need to give someone a phone to call or navigate, but you don't want to show your personal files.
Guest mode can be activated through the notification panel or in user settings. Unlike the Second Space, this mode often does not save data after leaving it, which ensures the cleanliness of the main profile.
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI Guest mode can be eliminated in favor of Second Space. Check if the "Users" item is in the "About Phone" section or in the advanced settings.
If your Xiaomi Mi 9 is running the current version of MIUI 12/13/14, the guest functionality can be integrated into your Google account settings or replaced with a Phone Only profile, in which case the device becomes a simple caller without access to the gallery and browser.
Using temporary profiles is a digital security hygiene that prevents the accidental deletion of important files or the installation of malware while another person is using the phone.
Remote management and device search
Hiding apps is important, but equally important is the ability to find or control a phone remotely in the event of a loss. Xiaomi Cloud and Google Find My Device allow you to lock a device or erase data remotely.
To work these functions, you need to have the Internet and geolocation enabled on the Xiaomi Mi 9. Check the settings in advance in the Settings → Mi Account → Find the device. Make sure the sliders are activated.
Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Find the device → On-lineIf you lose it, you can log into the cloud service from your computer and execute the "Erase Data" command, which will remove all applications, including hidden ones, but save your data from outsiders, which is a last resort, but necessary.
- 🌍 Geolocation: Tracking the movement of the phone on the map in real time.
- 🔊 Sound signal: the ability to turn on a loud sound even if the phone is silent.
- 🚫 Blocking: Prohibition of using a device with a message displayed on the lock screen.
Don’t neglect these settings in the pursuit of privacy, and balancing the secrecy of apps with the ability to regain control of the device is a key aspect of security.