Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 9T store a huge amount of personal information, access to which is desirable to restrict from prying eyes. Device owners often face the need to remove certain programs from the desktop or from the general menu, whether they are bank customers, personal galleries or instant messengers. The standard shell MIUI offers built-in tools for this task, but their functionality may not be obvious to the beginner.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to hide applications on the Xiaomi Mi 9T. You will learn about standard methods of protection through system settings that do not require additional software installation, and alternative options using third-party launchers for deeper customization of the interface will be considered.
The security of your data depends on the right setup, and the hidden space is not just a way to get icons out of sight, but also a full-fledged level of protection with a separate password, and we will analyze the pros and cons of each method so that you can choose the most suitable one for your situation.
Built-in Hidden Space Function in MIUI
The most reliable and secure way is to use the native Hidden Space feature, which is built into the MIUI shell on the Xiaomi Mi 9T. This tool creates effectively a second user profile inside your phone, isolated from the main system.The applications installed in this space are not visible in the regular menu, do not appear in notifications and do not consume resources in the background until you activate the mode itself.
To activate this feature, you need to go to security settings. The path may vary depending on the firmware version, but most often it is located at Settings β Passwords and Security β Hidden Space. When you first start, the system will suggest creating a separate password or fingerprint for login. This is a key security point: without this biometric or digital key, access to hidden data will not be possible even if the main screen is unlocked.
Using a separate fingerprint to enter a hidden profile allows you to instantly switch between normal and hidden modes, for example, unlocking the right thumb opens the main desktop, and the left thumb opens the hidden space, which provides a high level of privacy and usability.
- π Complete data isolation: applications in a hidden profile do not have access to the main profile data.
- π Biometric access: the ability to use different fingerprints for different spaces.
- π Resource savings: Hidden applications donβt work in the background while space is closed.
- π« No Traces: There is no sign of hidden programs working in Task Manager and notifications.
π‘
Use different fingerprints for the main and hidden spaces so that switching between them takes a fraction of a second and does not cause suspicion in outsiders.
It's important to understand that Hidden Space is not just a folder, it's a full-fledged virtual machine, and you install applications there separately, so you have to re-sign in to accounts inside a hidden profile, which creates an additional barrier for the curious, but takes time to set up the initial setup.
Access configuration and profile management
After activating the Hidden Space in front of the Xiaomi Mi user 9T It opens up an interface that is almost identical to the main one, but it's empty, and you have to re-install the applications you want to use, and you can do this through the built-in GetApps store or you can move it over. APK-These profiles are managed through the same security menu where you can change passwords, delete space or transfer data.
Special attention should be paid to notifications. In the hidden space settings, you can allow notifications from hidden applications to be displayed in the main profile, but with the content masking, which allows you to stay informed of important events, without revealing the essence of messages when unlocking the phone.
βοΈ Set up a hidden profile
Removing the hidden space is instantaneous, along with all the data inside it, a convenient mechanism for emergency cleaning of the phone, but it requires regular backup of important data if it is only stored in the local application store.
| Parameter | Main profile | Hidden space |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility of applications | Seen by all. | Password-free hidden. |
| Background work | Active. | Stopped on the way out |
| Access to the gallery | Complete. | Isolated. |
| Notifications | Complete. | Masquerading or concealed |
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The hidden space on the Xiaomi Mi 9T works like a separate smartphone inside your device, requiring all apps to be re-installed.
Using third-party launchers to hide icons
If built-in methods seem too complex or require dual application installation, third-party launchers can be used. Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Apex Launcher allow you to hide application icons from the app menu, making them invisible to the average user. However, it is worth remembering that this is only a cosmetic hiding: the applications themselves remain installed and can be found through system search or settings.
To implement this method, the Xiaomi Mi 9T must install the selected launcher from Google Play and assign it to the default application. The launcher settings usually have a section called "Hidden Apps" or "App Hider." By adding the desired programs, you will remove their icons from the desktop and from the general list.
The main disadvantage of this approach is the lack of real data protection, anyone who knows about the existence of hidden applications or knows how to search in Android settings will be able to access them, so this method is more suitable for protecting against children or casual glances, but not for protecting confidential information.
- π¨ Customization flexibility: the ability to completely change the appearance of the interface.
- π Visual Hiding: Icons disappear from the app menu.
- β οΈ Low security: applications are available through search and system settings.
- π Energy consumption: Third-party launchers may consume more battery than standard launchers POCO Launcher.
β οΈ Warning: Hiding icons through the launcher does not encrypt the application data. If an attacker enters the application into the search for Android settings, he will be able to open it without a password.
Alternative methods: storage applications and calculators
There are many apps in the Google Play store that masquerade as harmless utilities, such as calculators or voice recorders. On the Xiaomi Mi 9T, they work as independent containers. The principle of their operation is simple: you open the calculator, enter a special pin code, and instead of mathematical calculations, you open a hidden gallery or a list of applications.
Software like Calculator Vault or Hide My Applist creates an isolated environment, but its effectiveness on modern Android versions is limited by security policies, and it cannot completely hide the fact that the container app itself has been installed, even though it masks its name and icon.
Using such solutions is advisable if you need to quickly hide several photos or documents, but for constant use of instant messengers or banking applications, they can be inconvenient due to the limitations of background work and push notifications.
Risks of using third-party storage
Comparison of data protection methods on Xiaomi
The best way to choose depends on what you want to protect and against whom. For the Xiaomi Mi 9T, which has powerful hardware and optimized MIUI, native methods are always preferable to third-party methods, they guarantee stability of work and no conflicts with the update system.
Third-party solutions give more visual freedom, but sacrifice security, and a combination of techniques is also possible: for example, using Hidden Space for banking applications and a launcher to hide social media icons in the main profile.
Remember that no method is 100% guaranteed if a device is physically in the hands of a professional, but these methods are more than enough to protect against everyday curiosity.
- π‘οΈ Maximum protection: Built-in Hidden Space MIUI.
- π Visual disguise: Third-party launchers.
- π For files: Container applications (Vault).
- βοΈ Balance: Combination of launcher and system constraints.
β οΈ Note: When installing third-party launchers on MIUI It can insist on going back to the standard interface, and it's normal shell behavior, requiring you to confirm your choices every time you run until you get used to it.
π‘
The most balanced solution for the Xiaomi Mi 9T is to use the built-in Hidden Space, as it does not require additional software installation and is deeply integrated into the system.