How to hide files on your Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi’s modern smartphone has become a digital store of privacy, where not only work documents, but also personal photos, passport scans and confidential videos are stored. Standard access to a gallery or file manager can become a vulnerability if the device is used by an outsider, which is why the question of how to securely hide files on the phone becomes critical for many users.

Xiaomi’s MIUI (and new HyperOS) shell has layers of data protection that go beyond simply locking the screen, hiding not only individual images but entire directories, making them invisible to standard applications. Hidden files in Xiaomi’s system are not deleted, but only moved to a secure container that requires password or biometrics.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods of hiding content, from built-in security features to using third-party tools, learn how to hide photos in the Gallery, create hidden folders in Explorer, and use Second Space mode to completely isolate data, which will allow you to feel confident handing over your phone to friends or colleagues.

Use of the Hidden Folder function in the Gallery

The fastest and most convenient way to hide personal photos or videos is to use the built-in Hidden Album feature, which is integrated directly into the Gallery system application, which ensures maximum compatibility and ease of use. You do not need to install additional software, since everything you need is already in the firmware.

To use this method, you just have to open the image, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Hide, and then the photo disappears from public access, but to see the hidden albums, you have to do a specific thing: pull the list of albums down until the lock icon appears.

To access content, you'll need to enter a security password or fingerprint if it's been configured before, which creates a strong barrier to curious eyes, and it's important to understand that when you clear a gallery cache or reset an app, access to that data can be lost without a prior backup.

• 📸 Open the Gallery and select a photo or video to hide.
• 🔒 Click the menu (three dots) and select the Hide option».
• 👆 Pull the album screen down to access hidden files.
• 👁️ Enter a password or attach a finger to view the contents.

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Before you delete the Gallery app or reset your phone, be sure to extract all files from the Hidden Album, as they may not sync with the Mi Cloud cloud by default.

Creating Hidden Folders in File Explorer

If you want to hide not only media files, but also documents, archives or audio, the best way to do this is to use the File Manager system application. Unlike the Gallery, it has a Hidden Folder feature that works as an isolated container for all types of files, and it is ideal for storing document scans and worksheets.

To activate the function, you need to open Explorer, go to the Documents tab or click on the folder icon, and then select the hide option. The system will suggest setting a password or using biometrics. After activation, the files move to a secure area that is not displayed in the normal file system.

A feature of working with the Hidden folder in Explorer is that the files moved there become invisible even when connecting the phone to the computer through the USB-This provides an additional level of privacy when physically accessing the device.

It is worth noting that the amount of space available in the hidden folder can be limited to the free space on the internal drive. When moving large video files, make sure that there is enough space on the disk, otherwise the operation can result in an error or damage to the data.

Set up the Second Space for Total Insulation

When standard file hiding isn't enough, Second Space comes to the rescue, a unique feature of the MIUI shell that creates a completely isolated environment inside a single smartphone, and in fact, you have two phones in one: a primary profile and a hidden one, each with its own set of apps, photos, contacts and settings.

Switching between spaces is instantaneous through settings or a special widget on the desktop, and you can also set different fingerprints to enter different spaces, for example, unlocking the right thumb opens the main profile, and the left one opens the hidden Second Space.

The data in the Second Space is completely separate from the main system, and the apps installed there are not visible in the main profile, and the photos are not displayed in the general gallery, which is ideal for those who want to completely separate their work or personal life from prying eyes.

Apply folder hiding through MIUI settings

Some versions of HyperOS and MIUI have the ability to hide entire folders through security settings, which allows you to make certain directories invisible in all file managers. To activate, go to Settings → Applications → Hide applications or search by settings.

But you have to distinguish between hiding applications and hiding folders. Hiding folders often requires you to turn on a special mode in Explorer. Once activated, you can select any directory and add it to the exception list. The files inside will remain in place, but the path to them will be hidden from display.

And the way that this works is that you don't have to move files, you just put a label on the folder, and if you forget which folder you've hidden, it's going to be very difficult to find the contents without resetting the conductor or using special commands.

⚠️ WARNING: When using folder hiding feature, make sure you remember the password.Resetting your phone settings to factory ones may not delete hidden files, but access to them will be lost without a security password.

For advanced users, there is a possibility of using ADB-commands to change file attributes, making them hidden at the Linux file system level, but this requires a computer connection and drivers installed.

adb shell am start -n com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer/.activity.HiddenKeyActivity

Using such commands allows deeper integration into the system, but carries risks. Incorrectly changing system files can lead to unstable work of the Explorer. It is recommended to use only proven methods through the GUI.

Third-party applications for data encryption

If Xiaomi's built-in tools aren't enough, the market offers a lot of third-party solutions. Locker applications like Calculator Vault or KeepSafe allow you to hide files under the mask of other programs. For example, an application can look like a regular calculator, but when you enter special code, open secret storage.

Such programs often offer additional features, such as creating a fake storage. If an attacker requests to unlock the phone, you can enter a "duty" password and show him a set of innocuous photos while the real data remains hidden behind the second password.

However, using third-party software has its own risks: unlike system solutions, such applications can have vulnerabilities or collect user data, and when you delete an application, files can remain hidden and become inaccessible without reinstall.

• 🛡️ Calculator Vault - masking as a calculator.
• 📂 KeepSafe – Cloud backup of hidden photos.
• 🔐 File Lock – Encrypting specific files and folders.
• 👻 Ghost Mode – Hiding App Icons from the Launcher.

Frequent questions and access issues

Users often face situations where access to hidden files is lost or the function is not working properly. One of the common problems is the disappearance of hidden albums after the system update, in which case it is recommended to check the display settings in the Gallery.

Another issue is data portability: When you move to a new phone, hidden files are not automatically transferred through Mi Mover, they must be pre-extracted from the hidden state, and this applies to cloud services, because hidden folders are often ignored by synchronization.

⚠️ Note: The Memory Cleanup feature in the system optimizer may perceive hidden files as unused garbage if they have specific extensions.

Also worth mentioning is format compatibility: Some hidden containers may not support new video formats, such as HEVC or AV1, which will lead to playback errors, in which case files are best stored in the open but in a secure profile.

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Regularly back up your hidden data to an external medium or to a secure cloud to avoid permanent loss of information in the event of a system failure.