How to hide the application on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 from the desktop

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to restrict access to certain programs installed on the device. Redmi Note 7, despite its age, remains popular due to its functionality, but the standard shell MIUI does not always offer an obvious way to remove the icon from the home screen without completely blocking.

There is a misconception that this requires third-party software that can request redundant permissions. In fact, the Android ecosystem and proprietary add-on MIUI provide built-in tools to solve this problem. In this article, we will discuss native methods that do not require the installation of additional software, and consider alternative options.

It's important to understand the difference between deleting, temporarily disabling, and hiding, and we're going to focus on visually removing the icon from public access while keeping the program functional, so you can keep important data close to you, but you can keep it out of the sight of the casual observer.

The standard feature of Hidden Albums in MIUI

The most popular way MIUI offers Redmi Note 7 users is called Hidden Album, which was originally designed to protect photos and videos, but it also hides the apps themselves.

When you open the gallery, go to the Album tab, swipe your finger from the bottom up in the center of the screen, and hold your finger for a few seconds. If the function is activated, you'll see an animation of the lock appearing, and the system will suggest you set a password or use your fingerprint to access this partition.

Once you have the security set, a new section will appear in the menu, and by clicking on the Add button, you can select not only the media files, but also the programs you have installed, and importantly, once you add the app to the hidden album, the icon will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all the apps.

• 🔒 Access to hidden applications is only possible through password entry or fingerprint scanning in the gallery.
• 📱 Notifications from hidden programs stop appearing in the notification curtain.
• 👁️ Visually, only the Hidden Album label remains in the system, the contents of which are protected.

⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to factory settings without first removing it from a hidden album, access to data can be lost forever!

Using the built-in MIUI functionality is the most stable option, as it is deeply integrated into the system. However, it is worth considering that some system applications may not be supported by this method of hiding. Also, if you decide to change the launcher, the functionality of the hidden album may become unavailable without returning to the standard interface.

Use of Second Space (Second Space)

A more radical but effective method of isolating programs is the Second Space feature, which creates a virtual second profile on your Redmi Note 7, with its own desktop, settings, and suite of apps, which is like having two different phones in the same case.

To set up, go to Settings → Second Space. The system will prompt you to create a new profile, which will take some time. Once created, you will be able to switch between the main and second space through the settings or a special widget on the desktop.

In the space you create, you install the apps you want to hide from the public in your main profile, and for an outsider who picks up your phone, these programs simply don't exist until you log in to the second profile.

• 🔄 Switching between spaces occurs instantly through a notification curtain or widget.
• 📂 Files and media in two spaces are separated and cannot be seen without special transfer.
• 🔋 The function consumes additional battery resources, as background processes can work in both profiles.

This method is ideal for separating work and personal life, or for handing over a phone to a child. You can give the device in a second space with games while your banking apps remain in the first, secure profile.

Hiding through notification and access settings

If your goal is not so much to visually hide the icon as to protect content from viewing at the time of notification, Redmi Note 7 offers flexible privacy settings, often users want to hide not the fact that the application is present, but its activity.

In Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification format can be selected to display content only after unlocking. This prevents third parties from seeing text messages or application names in a locked state.

In addition, MIUI has an application lock feature that doesn't hide the icon, but requires you to enter a password or fingerprint every time you run a selected program, which creates an additional layer of security.

Combining these methods yields the best results, for example, you can use a lock-in for applications for commonly used programs and a hidden album for those that you rarely use but want to keep secret.

Application of third-party launchers

Xiaomi’s standard launcher is limited in customization options. If built-in methods don’t suit you, you can install a third-party launcher from Google Play. Popular options like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher often have built-in icon hiding features.

Once the launcher is installed, you have to give permissions, and the new launcher usually has a Hidden Apps or Hide Icons section in its settings, and adding it to that list removes it from the desktop.

However, using third-party launchers on MIUI can lead to some limitations, such as control gestures, design themes, or the Second Space feature, and some system applications may not be stable.

⚠️ Warning: When installing a third-party launcher, make sure you remember how to return a standard launcher if you don't like the new one.This is done through the Default Apps settings».

For users who care about the stability of the system and the preservation of all the features of MIUI, this method may be less preferable, but if the priority is the flexibility to hide icons without creating additional profiles, launchers are a great solution.

Creating folders and renaming for disguise

The simplest, old-fashioned method that doesn't require technical knowledge is to create folders, so you can put the application you want to hide in a folder with a neutral name, like Tools or Systems, and remove that folder on the last desktop screen.

Another trick is renaming the app. Some launchers let you change the name of the shortcut, you can rename "Personal Photos" to "Calculator" or "Weather," which doesn't hide the icon completely, but it masks the contents.

This method does not provide real security, since anyone who opens the folder will see the contents, but it effectively protects against “random” glance or quick browsing of the desktop.

• 📁 Create folders with a large number of system applications to lose the desired.
• 🏷️ Use neutral folder names that are not of interest.
• 📉 Remove these folders at the end of the list of applications or on the second or third screen.

It is worth noting that on the Redmi Note 7 with a MIUI shell, renaming shortcuts is not possible in all cases without third-party software.

Comparison of methods and final recommendations

The choice of method depends on who you want to protect from access, if you're talking about children or inattentive friends, you can use folders or simple concealment through the gallery, and if you're talking about serious data, you better use Second Space.

Each method has its trade-offs between convenience and security: a hidden album is convenient but specific to use; a second space is reliable but addictive; third-party launchers are flexible but can disrupt the system.

💡

Check MIUI system updates regularly. In newer firmware versions, Xiaomi often adds or improves security features that can replace the need for third-party solutions.

Keep in mind that the physical security of the device is also important: A strong login password is the first and foremost line of defense without which all methods of hiding applications lose their meaning.

⚠️ Note: No method of concealment is 100% guaranteed to protect against professional hackers or intelligence services.

💡

The best strategy for Redmi Note 7 is to combine a strong login password, block critical apps, and use the Hidden Album for rarely used programs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)