How to hide applications Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: the full guide

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 store a huge amount of personal information, from banking apps to private correspondence. Often there is an urgent need to restrict access to certain programs to prevent prying eyes from seeing what should remain confidential. Owners of devices based on MIUI are faced with the question of how to effectively organize screen space and protect data without installing third-party software.

Android’s MIUI system offers several built-in security mechanisms, each with its own features and use cases. In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available, from simply removing shortcuts to creating a full-fledged isolated space, you will learn how to manage the visibility of applications and ensure the proper level of security of your device.

The methods discussed below are relevant for current firmware versions, but may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the software. It is important to understand the difference between completely removing the program and simply hiding its icon from the desktop.

Use of the “Second Space” function

The most radical and reliable way to hide apps on the Redmi Note 8 is to create a Second Space, which actually creates a second, completely isolated profile inside your smartphone with its settings, accounts and, most importantly, apps, switching between the main and second profiles instantly, often by fingerprint or pin code.

To activate this option, you need to go to Settings and find the Second Space section. The system will suggest you set up a new profile by setting a separate password or biometric data. Once you have completed the setting, a switch icon will appear on the screen, as well as the ability to move some applications from the main profile.

The main advantage of the method is that it is completely isolated, and even if someone unlocks your phone in the main profile, they will not be able to physically access the files and programs installed in the second space without authorization, which is ideal for separating work and personal life or storing sensitive data.

However, it is worth considering that creating a second profile takes up an additional amount of internal memory of the device, which can be critical on models with a small number of gigabytes, and notifications from the hidden profile do not arrive in the main one by default, which requires addiction.

Hiding icons through launcher settings

A simpler, but less secure, method is to routinely hide application icons through system launcher settings, which don't protect data with a password, but only remove the visual display of the program from the desktop and from the menu of all applications, and you can only find the hidden application through search or knowing the exact route to launch.

To use this feature, open Settings, then go to the Apps section and select Application Settings. In the upper right corner of the screen, there is a menu of three points where you need to select Hide the Apps. In the list that opens, just activate the switchboard opposite the desired program.

Once activated, the icon will disappear from the screen, but the app itself will continue to work in the background and receive notifications. This can be a great way to remove rarely used but necessary system utilities or games that you do not want to show to friends.

It's important to understand that this is a purely cosmetic method, and anyone familiar with MIUI can guess where to look for hidden labels and easily restore visibility, so you shouldn't rely on this method to protect your bank data or your personal correspondence.

Application protection through built-in lock

If your goal is not so much to hide the presence of an application as to restrict access to its content, then Application Protection is perfect, it allows you to set an additional password, PIN or fingerprint to run selected programs, and when you try to open a secure application, the system will request authorization.

You can set up protection in the Settings -> Applications -> Application Protection menu. In this section, you will be asked to create a security password, which may differ from the unlock password, and once you set the password, you can select from the list all programs that need additional protection.

A unique feature of this feature in Xiaomi is the ability to hide the fact that protection is available. If you activate the option “Hide protected applications” in the settings, then when you try to open such an application, it will ask for a password even before its interface appears, without even showing a preview.

This is a way of balancing convenience and security, and you see all your apps on the screen, but you can't open critical apps without your permission, and this is especially true for gallery, messengers and file managers.

Creating a hidden folder in a conductor

To hide the files they create, not the applications themselves, but the files they create (photos, documents, videos), MIUI has a built-in Hidden Folder tool that is integrated into the standard file explorer and allows you to create secure storage inside the device’s memory.

To create this folder, open the standard Explorer app and go to Images or Documents, swipe it from the bottom up on the screen and hold it for a few seconds, and if the action is done correctly, you will be asked to create or log in to a hidden folder.

Inside a hidden folder, files don't just hide, they're encrypted and invisible to other apps and galleries, and they're only accessible through a Explorer using a password or fingerprint, and it's a great way to hide personal photos from prying eyes.

It's worth noting that moving files to a hidden folder actually copies them, taking up double space on the disk if you don't delete the originals, and when you reset your phone to factory settings without first leaving the hidden folder, the data can be lost irretrievably.

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Check periodically if the hidden folder is full, as it takes up space in the device’s shared memory and can slow down the system.

Comparison of data protection methods

The right method depends on what you want to protect and against whom. Each of the methods examined has its own strengths and weaknesses, which must be considered when setting up a Redmi Note 8 smartphone. Below is a comparison table to help determine the choice.

As you can see from the table, Second Space offers the best protection but requires resources. Hiding icons through launcher settings is only available in global firmware versions and may not be available in Chinese builds. Application protection is the middle ground for most users.

Combining these methods to maximize the results, for example, you can create a second space for banking applications, and in the main profile you can use protection for messengers, and this approach provides multi-layered security.

⚠️ Note: When using the icon hide feature, remember that apps continue to run in the background and consume battery power, even if they are not visible on the screen.

Frequent problems and their solution

While configuring hidden applications, Xiaomi users may encounter a number of typical problems, often resetting or changing menu paths after updating the firmware, and conflicting security practices may occur.

One common problem is that icons disappear after hiding, when the user forgets how to return them, in which case cleaning the launcher data through the recovery menu or searching the settings for the word “hide” helps.

If you stop logging into the second space, check if your device is full. Lack of space can block virtual profiles, and make sure that Google and Mi Account are updated to the latest version.

In some cases, antivirus programs may falsely respond to encryption processes in the second space, and it is recommended to add MIUI system processes to the antivirus exceptions for the correct operation of all security functions.

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The best security strategy is a combination of a phone login password, protection for individual applications, and regular backup of important data.

⚠️ Note: Do not use simple passwords (such as 1234 or 0000) to protect applications, as they are easy to pick up by pumping in a few seconds.

Additional security measures

Beyond hiding apps, it's important to take care of the overall security of the device. Android's regular security update closes vulnerabilities through which attackers can access your data.

Use two-factor authentication for all important accounts, and even if someone accesses the app, without a second login factor, they won't be able to access your data, which is especially true for social media and email services.

Periodically check the list of devices that have access to your Mi and Google account, and if you notice an unfamiliar device, change your password immediately and end all sessions, which will help prevent remote access to your information.

Be careful when installing applications from unknown sources, even if the program is hidden, it may contain malicious code that will pass data to third parties, use only the official Google Play store or GetApps.

⚠️ Note: When selling or transferring a phone to a new owner, be sure to perform a full Wipe Data reset, since simply removing icons or logging out of your account does not guarantee complete deletion of personal information.