How to put a password on a folder in Xiaomi: 5 proven ways (MIUI 14/15)

Protecting personal data on Xiaomi’s smartphone is a challenge that every owner cares about. Photos, documents, correspondence and financial files are often kept in the public domain at the risk of falling into the wrong hands. Creating a password folder solves this problem, but not everyone knows that MIUI offers several built-in and third-party ways to protect confidential information.

In this article, we will analyze all current methods - from standard functions. MIUI 14/15 You will learn how to set a password to a folder without root rights, what limitations each method has, and how to get around common errors. And also – compare the reliability of each method in the table and give recommendations on choosing the best option for your model (Redmi Note). 12, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T etc.).

1. Built-in "Secure folder" function in MIUI

The easiest way to hide files is to use the built-in Secure Folder (formerly called the Private Folder) feature, which is available on all devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the latest versions of MIUI 14/15. The main advantage is that it does not require the installation of additional applications and works at the system level.

To activate it:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Privacy → Secure folder.
• 🔒 Set a password (other than locking the screen) or use a fingerprint.
• 📁 Select files/folders to transfer to secure storage via the Add button.

Note that files in the Secure folder are not displayed in the gallery or file manager, but take up space in the device's memory, and are only accessible after you enter your password in the appropriate settings section.

⚠️ Warning: If you forget the password from the Secure Folder, you can't restore it through your Mi Account. The only way to get it back is to reset the settings to the factory settings, but that will delete all the data!

Make sure that MIUI updated to the latest version|Remember your password or save it in your password manager.|Check the free space on the device (files duplicated)|Turn off gallery sync with cloud for hidden files-->

2. Hidden folders through the file manager (without password, but with disguise)

If you don't need a password, but just hide the folder from prying eyes, you can use Xiaomi's built-in File Manager, which doesn't encrypt data, but makes the folder invisible in the standard interface.

Instructions:

1. Open the files. → Internal storage.
2. Find the folder you want to hide and rename it by adding a dot at the beginning of the title (e.g.,.Personal Photos).
3. Reboot the file manager (close and reopen).

Now the folder will not appear in the main list.

• 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings (⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
• 📂 Or enter the path manually: /storage/emulated/0/.Name-daddy.

⚠️ Attention: This method does not protect data from power users. Anyone who knows about the existence of hidden folders can find them and open them without a password!

3. folder encryption apps: TOP-3 options for Xiaomi

If MIUI's built-in features aren't enough, you can install third-party applications, which offer advanced features like AES-256 encryption, cloud backup, even screenshot protection, and we tested dozens of programs and selected the three most reliable ones.

For installation:

1. Download the selected application from Google Play (links checked for viruses).
2. Open it and follow the setup wizard (usually you need to set a password and provide access to the storage).
3. Select folders to lock through the program interface.

File Lock|AppLock|Vault-Hide|Built-in functions MIUI|Other-->

4. Protection of folders through archiving with a password (method for experienced)

This is a way for those who are willing to sacrifice convenience for maximum security, by packing a folder into a ZIP or RAR archive with a password and removing the original, and it works on any device, including Xiaomi, and requires no special applications.

Step-by-step:

• 📦 Install an archiver (for example, RAR Or ZArchiver from Play Market).
• 🔐 Select a folder in the file manager → Additionally. → Archive.
• 🔑 In the archive settings, select Set a password and set a secure key (we recommend at least 12 characters with numbers and special signs).
• 🗑️ Delete the original folder after creating the archive.

Important: If you use this method for photos, they may lose metadata (date of shooting, geolocation) after unpacking. To avoid this, export the metadata to a separate file through applications like ExifTool before archiving.

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For additional archive protection, use two-factor authentication: for example, divide your password into two parts and store one of them elsewhere (for example, in Mi Account notes).

5. Create a hidden partition through TWRP (for advanced users)

If you are ready for radical measures and have experience with custom firmware, you can create an encrypted partition on internal memory via TWRP. This method provides a military level of protection, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing an unofficial backup.

Warning: the procedure is risky and may result in data loss or device blinking.

• 🛠️ You have a backup of all the data.
• 🔧 You know how to work with ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 The model of your Xiaomi supports unlocking the bootloader (check on the official website).

Short algorithm (details depend on the model):

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool.
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model.
3. In TWRP, go to Advanced → Partition SD Card and create an encrypted ext4 partition.
4. Move the files to a new section and mount it if necessary.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14/15 and Snapdragon processors 8 Gen 2/3 Unlocking the bootloader can lead to loss of Widevine features L1 (no HD Netflix, Disney.+). Check compatibility before taking action!

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TWRP is the most reliable, but it's also the most dangerous, and only use it if the other methods don't provide the right level of protection and you're prepared for the risks.

6. How to restore access to the password folder if you forgot the password

Forgotten passwords from a secure folder are one of the most common problems, and unfortunately, in most cases, it is impossible to restore access without reset, but there are several ways to minimize losses:

If you used a secure folder in MIUI and forgot your password:

1. Try the standard combinations (date of birth, last digits of the phone).
2. If it doesn’t help, back up your important data (via Mi Cloud or ADB) and reset to Settings → About Phone → Reset settings.

For password archives, you can try programs like ArchPR or RAR Password Unlocker, but success depends on the complexity of the password. Simple combinations (such as 123456) are hacked in a few minutes, and reliable ones (with characters and a length of >10) can remain inaccessible forever.

7. Method comparison: which one to choose for your Xiaomi model

The choice of how to protect a folder depends on the device model, the MIUI version and the level of privacy you need, and we have analyzed all the methods and made recommendations for different scenarios:

• 📱 For most users (Redmi Note) 11/12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 12/13): Use the built-in Protected folder in MIUI. It's the easiest and most secure way to do this, and it doesn't require any additional applications, and it's suitable for storing personal photos, documents and screenshots.
• 🔒 For enhanced safety (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro: Combine a Secure Folder with a third-party application (Vault-Hide or AppLock), for example, store the most valuable files in an archive with a password inside a secure folder.
• 🛡️ For corporate data or extreme privacy: Consider the method with TWRP, But only if you're a power user and you're willing to take risks. Alternatively, you can buy a smartphone with hardware encryption (like BlackBerry or Samsung Knox).

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On devices with MIUI 15 (such as Xiaomi 14), you have the dual application feature (Settings → Applications → Dual applications) you can create a second instance of the file manager and password-protect it, and then store sensitive files only in it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about password folders on Xiaomi