Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to restrict access to certain data stored on the device.Personal photos, bank customers or instant messengers may contain sensitive information that should not be shown to prying eyes. The MIUI shell (and its modern version of HyperOS) offers built-in tools to solve this problem without installing additional software.
There are several ways to ensure privacy, from simply hiding icons to creating a completely isolated environment. Hidden space allows you to move applications into a separate container, access to which is protected by a password or fingerprint. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods in detail so that you can choose the most suitable option for your model.
It's important to understand that the methods may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system and the regional firmware, but the basic principles of security have remained the same for many years.
Use of the built-in function Hidden space
The most reliable and efficient way is to use the native Hidden Space feature, which creates a virtual environment inside your phone that functions as a separate smartphone, and the apps that are moved here disappear from the home screen and from the menu of all apps, becoming visible only after authorization.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings. Find the Applications section and select Hidden Space. The system will prompt you to set a pin code or use biometric data to log in. This creates an additional layer of protection, since without unlocking, you can not see the content.
Once you turn on the feature, you'll see a desktop-like interface, which you can add any installed programs to. It's important to note that the data inside the Hidden Space is encrypted separately from the main system, which means that even when you connect your phone to your computer in debugging mode, files from the hidden area will not be accessible.
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Use different fingerprints to enter the main system and Hidden Space, for example, the thumb of the right hand opens the normal mode, and the thumb of the left hand opens the hidden one.
- 🔒 Complete isolation of data from the main system
- 📱 The ability to install two copies of the same application (for example, two WhatsApp)
- 🚫 No notifications from hidden apps in the main screen curtain
- ⚙️ Independent settings for each space
It’s worth considering that it can take a little longer to launch applications from hidden space, as the system needs to run an additional virtual profile, but the level of security you get in return fully justifies these second delays at start-up.
Configure access through the application menu
If you don't want complete isolation, but just take the icons out of sight, you can use a less radical method. In some versions of MIUI, you can hide applications directly from the desktop settings menu, which allows you to leave the programs installed, but make them invisible to the casual look.
To find this option, go to Settings → Desktop. Look for Hide Apps. Note that new firmware versions may move this item or replace it with a recommendation to use Hidden Space, in which case the system will suggest switching to a more secure method.
An alternative way through settings often leads to the Security section. The Security app (green zipper icon) that is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones has a Hide App tool. When you click on it, you'll see a list of all the installed programs. Just switch the switchboard against the desired app, and its icon will disappear.
Once you hide it through this method, you need to do an action to open the application, which is usually a two-finger swipe from the edges of the screen to the center of the desktop or app menu, and you'll see a password field, and then you'll see the list of hidden programs.
| Access method | Level of protection | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden space | High-pitched | Medium | Minimum |
| App Hiding Menu | Medium. | Low. | Absent. |
| Third-party launcher | Depends on the software. | Tall. | Average. |
Creating secure folders and restricting access
Another way to organize and hide the extra is to use restricted folders. While the standard shell doesn't always allow you to password a particular folder without third-party tools, the combination of features allows you to achieve a similar result. You can group applications into folders and hide the folders themselves through the desktop settings.
For more flexible management, consider using Second Space, which is not exactly a cover-up, but a second user profile, so you can switch between your main profile (for work or friends) and your second profile (for personal data), and switch quickly, often by fingerprint or notification panel.
⚠️ Note: When you remove an application from Hidden Space, it is only removed from a hidden profile. The main copy of the application (if installed in the main system) will remain intact.
If you use folders for grouping, try not to call them by obvious names like "Banks" or "Personal." Better use neutral names like "Utilities" or "Services" to avoid drawing too much attention to content. This is a basic principle of social engineering in data protection.
You can also change your icons and names in folder settings, allowing you to disguise important applications as system or uninteresting utilities, for example, a gallery with personal photos can be renamed "Calculator" or "Weather" by changing the corresponding icon in the theme editor.
Using third-party launchers to hide
The built-in MIUI is powerful, but sometimes users need to fine-tune the interface, and in such cases, third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or specialized shells like Calculator Vault come to the rescue, allowing apps to be hidden from the menu and replaced with icons.
To use a third-party launcher, you need to download it from Google Play or GetApps. Once installed, the launcher needs the necessary permissions, including the right to display on top of other windows and access to the list of applications. Without these permissions, the hide functionality will not work.
☑️ Installation of a third-party launcher
Some launchers offer a Hide Apps feature that simply removes the shortcut from the menu, but does not protect access to the application itself with a password. For real protection, you need to look for launchers with built-in encryption or use them in conjunction with the application lock function in the phone's security settings.
Using third-party software has its own risks. A low-quality launcher can collect data about which apps you use and how often, so choose only proven solutions with high ratings and a lot of feedback from real users.
Blocking the launch of applications with a password
Hiding an icon is a half-measure if anyone can run an app through search or voice assistant. It's much more effective to use the app lock feature. It doesn't hide the icon, but it requires you to enter a password, a pattern lock or a fingerprint every time you run a program.
You can find this feature in the Security app or by the Settings path → Applications → Application lock. Here you can choose a list of programs that should be restricted, perfect for instant messengers, gallery and banking applications.
In the lock settings, you can activate the option to Hide the contents of notifications, in which case, even if the application is not running, the text of the incoming message will not be visible on the locked screen or in the notification curtain, this prevents information from leaking when the message arrives.
⚠️ Attention: Don't forget the password to block apps. You can reset it through your Mi Account, but it will take time and require an Internet connection.
Combining icon hiding and startup locking has the maximum effect. Even if an attacker finds a way to open a hidden application (for example, through voice search), they will run into the password screen. Two-factor protection at the interface level significantly increases the security of your data.
Solving problems and security issues
Users often experience situations where hidden applications fail to work properly or notifications arrive with a delay, due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which can "kill" processes in hidden space to save power.
To avoid notification problems in hidden applications, you need to go to the battery settings and allow auto-start for the desired programs. Also, it is worth removing background activity restrictions. The path usually looks like: Settings → Applications → All Applications → (Select Application) → Battery → No restrictions.
Why does the app fly out after hiding?
Security is also a security issue for cloud backups: Data from Hidden Space is not synced to Mi Cloud by default. If you lose your phone or make a factory reset, the data in the hidden partition will be lost forever unless you make a local copy of it or move it to the main space before resetting.
Check regularly what permissions apps have in their hidden profile. Sometimes malware can disguise itself as system processes. Use the built-in antivirus in the Security app to scan both the main and hidden space.
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Regular backup of important data from Hidden Space is the only guarantee of its preservation when the device breaks or resets.