How to create a folder with a password on your Xiaomi phone: all working ways

Protecting personal data on a smartphone is a key challenge for the modern user: photos, documents, correspondence and financial files are often stored in the public domain, risking falling into the wrong hands if the device is lost or temporarily transferred to third parties. Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI offer several built-in mechanisms for encrypting folders, but not all of them are obvious to the average user.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to create a folder with a password on Xiaomi phones – from standard features MIUI to third-party applications with advanced settings. You will learn what methods are suitable for MIUI 12/13/14/15, How to get around the limitations of the system and what to do if you forget your password, and we'll focus on the hidden features of "Private Mode" and "Secure Album" that many users overlook.

Why Xiaomi’s Standard Techniques Don’t Always Work

Shell MIUI Historically, it has been known for its abundance of built-in data protection tools, but their implementation is often questionable. For example, the Secure Album feature in the Xiaomi Gallery encrypts only media files, and ordinary folders with documents remain unprotected. MIUI 12 and MIUI 13 encryption algorithms differ, which can lead to loss of access after an update.

In addition, many users face problems:

• 🔐 Lack of universal solution: built-in tools work only with certain types of files (photos, videos, notes).
• 📱 Performance Limitations: Encrypting folders can slow down budget models (Redmi) 9A, Poco M3).
• 🔄 Cloud Services Conflicts: Secure folders don’t sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

According to a 2023 Kaspersky study, 68% of Xiaomi users in Russia use third-party applications to encrypt files because of these limitations, but such programs also have risks, from data leakage to file locking if they fail.

Method 1: Protected album in the Xiaomi Gallery

The easiest way to hide photos and videos is to use the built-in Secure Album feature, which is available on all devices with a secure album. MIUI 12 and newer, including Redmi Note 10 models, Xiaomi 12T, Poco X5 The encryption algorithm here is tied to the Mi Account, which adds security, but also creates a dependence on Xiaomi services.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Select the photos/videos you want to hide (click your finger for multiple selections).
3. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Move it to a protected album.
4. When first used, the system will request PIN-code.
5. Confirm the action – the files will disappear from the main gallery.

To access hidden files:

1. Open the gallery. → Swipe down to call the search bar.
2. Enter the request for Protected Album or find the corresponding section in the menu.
3. Enter. PIN-code.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 It only works with media files (JPG, PNG, MP4 etc.).
• 🔗 When you delete your Mi Account, file access is lost forever.
• 📎 Does not support file files with documents (PDF, DOCX, XLSX).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos as your primary storage, Xiaomi’s protected albums will not be displayed in it.

Method 2: Private Mode (Private Mode) MIUI

MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 have a Private Mode feature that allows you to hide not only files, but also entire applications, notifications and even call history. Unlike the Secure Album, this tool works systematically and can block access to folders through Explorer.

How to turn on the Private Mode:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Private mode.
2. Activate the function and set a password or fingerprint.
3. Back to Settings → Privacy → Hidden folders.
4. Click Add folder and select the desired directory in the device memory.

Features of the work:

• 🔒 Folders disappear from Explorer and become inaccessible to other applications.
• 🔄 To access files, you need to enable Private mode in the notification curtain.
• 📂 Supports all types of files (including: APK, ZIP, TXT).

Private mode is more universal, but has a critical disadvantage: when you reset your settings, all hidden folders become visible. So before hard reset, be sure to extract files from the private zone.

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If Private Mode doesn't show up in the settings, check the firmware region. On some global versions MIUI The function is hidden – try to switch to EU ROM through settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times on the assembly number).

Method 3: Password archivers (ZIP/RAR)

If you don't like the built-in tools of Xiaomi, you can use the classic method of archiving folders with a password. This method works on any device, including Redmi 7, Xiaomi Mi. A3 And even the old Android 9 models, the main advantages: the independence of firmware and the ability to transfer files to other devices.

Step-by-step:

1. Install an archiver from Play Market: RAR (Official application from Win.RAR) ZArchiver (supports encryption) AES-256) 7Z (open-source)

Open the archive and find the folder you want to protect.

Add to the archives

Compress

• Format: ZIP or RAR (last-most reliable).
• Compression method: Good or maximum.
• Check the Encrypt Files or Set Password box.
• Create a complex password (it is recommended to use 12).+ symbols with numbers and special signs).
• Confirm the archive. The original folder can be deleted.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔐 Cross-platform: the archive will open on any device (Windows, Mac, Android).
• 📦 Data compression: saves memory space (especially relevant for Redmi with 64 GB of memory).
• 🔄 Backup: archives can be uploaded to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Disk).

⚠️ Note: If you forget your password from the archive RAR, It is impossible to restore it - even the developers of Win.RAR do not provide such a service. ZIP-There are password utilities (such as ArchPR), but the process can take weeks.

Method 4: Third-Party Applications for Encrypting Folders

If you want full folder encryption with cloud services and additional features (such as file self-destruction), you should pay attention to third-party applications. 10 popular programs and selected the top-3 Xiaomi.

How to set up File Lock:

1. Download and install File Lock from Play Market.
2. When you first start, create a master password (save it in a safe place!).
3. Press Add Add Add. → select Folder.
4. Specify the path to the folder in the device memory (for example, /storage/emulated/0/Download/Secret).
5. Activate the option Hide the folder - it will disappear from the Explorer.
6. To access, open File Lock and enter your password.

Security advice:

• 🔑 Use different passwords for the app and the folder itself.
• 📱 Turn off the debugging. USB In Settings → Developers to prevent access through ADB.
• 🔄 Regularly update the application – in older versions found vulnerabilities (for example, in AppLock 4.2.1 was a hole to bypass the password).

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Third-party applications are the most flexible way, but you need to be careful. Before installing, check the permissions of the program: if it requests access to the software. SMS or calls, it's suspicious.

Method 5: Hidden folders through Explorer (without password)

If you don't need full encryption, but just hiding folders from prying eyes, you can use the built-in Android feature of adding a dot in front of the directory name, which does not protect data, but makes it invisible in standard Explorer.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with hidden file support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Open the manager and find the folder you want to hide.
3. Rename it by adding a dot to the beginning of the title. Example: New folder →.New folder.
4. The folder will disappear from the standard Explorer and Gallery.

How to regain visibility:

• In Solid Explorer, enable the display of hidden files in the settings.
• Find the folder (it will be translucent) and rename it, removing the dot.

Limitations:

• 👀 The folder will remain visible in Google Photos and other cloud services.
• 🔍 Any file manager with the option to show hidden files will display the directory.
• 📎 It does not work for system folders (for example, DCIM download).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (for example, MIUI 13 Global) hidden folders may accidentally appear in search results. To avoid this, disable file indexing in Settings → Additionally. → Search.

What to do if I forgot my password from the folder

Forgotten passwords are one of the most common problems with secure folders, and depending on the encryption method, the chances of recovering data vary.

1. Protected album (MIUI):

• If the password is tied to Mi Account, try to restore access through Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Forgot the password?.
• If used PIN-code or pattern lock, it is impossible to restore it - you will have to reset your phone to factory settings (data in the album will be lost).

2.Private regime (MIUI):

• Try resetting your password through Settings → Privacy → Private regime → Forgot your password? (requires an answer to the check question).
• If it doesn’t help, turn off the mode in safe mode: Press the power button → Safe Mode. After you restart, open Settings. → Privacy and disable the function.

3. Archives (ZIP/RAR):

• For ZIP-You can try out programs like archives. ZIP Password Cracker (Efficiency) ~30% for simple passwords).
• For RAR There are no chances – use backups or remember your password.

Third-party annexes:

• File Lock and AppLock have a recovery function via email (if it was set up in advance).
• For Cryptomator, you can try resetting the master password through Settings → Security → Reset the key (data will be lost!).

Extreme measures:

• If the phone is on debugging USB, You can try to extract files through ADB (Requires skills to work with the command line).
• For models with unlocked loader (Xiaomi) 11T, Poco F3) You can also use custom recovery (TWRP) and copy files to the PC.

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If you often forget passwords, set up key backup in Google Smart Lock or Bitwarden.For critical files, use the rule "3-2-1": 3 copy 2 carrier, 1 house-house.

FAQ: Frequent questions about folder protection on Xiaomi