Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have become powerful multimedia centers, where thousands of personal photos and videos are stored. However, access to the gallery is often unlimited, putting sensitive information at risk when transferring a device to others or in the event of theft. Many users are looking for ways to restrict access to certain media files without deleting them from their phone’s memory.
With MIUI and the new HyperOS, developers have built-in security that allows content to be hidden from prying eyes without installing third-party software. The hidden album is a special section in the system gallery that is protected by an additional password or biometric data, ideal for those who want to keep their privacy without cluttering their memory with unnecessary applications.
It is worth noting that the process of activating this feature may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and regional build of the device. In some cases, the desired option is hidden by default and requires manual activation through settings or changing the region. Understanding these nuances will allow you to quickly configure secure storage for your personal archives.
Activation of the hidden album function in the System Gallery
Before moving files, you need to make sure that the hidden album functionality itself is activated in your device settings. By default, on some global firmware versions, this option may be disabled or simply not displayed in the interface. First, open the Gallery app and go to the Album tab.
Then pull the list of albums down to open the menu of additional features. If you see Hide albums, then the function is already available. If there is no such item, you need to go to the gallery settings. Click on the three dots in the top corner of the screen and select Settings. Here you need to find the Hide albums switch and activate it.
⚠️ Note: Once the hide function is activated, standard access to these files through a normal viewer will be blocked. Make sure you remember the password or link a Mi Account to restore it.
It's important to understand that hiding albums is not the same as deleting. Files remain on the device, but their indexing for normal viewing stops. The system gallery stops displaying the contents of tagged folders until you enter the correct access code, which creates a first layer of protection against random viewing.
☑️ Checking readiness for concealment
Once you turn on the feature, the interface will change a little bit. Now, when you swipe down, the password field will appear in the album section. This is where your protected media files will be displayed. Remember that the lock screen must be active on the device to work with this feature.
Configuring password and biometric protection methods
The security of hidden content depends on the complexity of the security installed. Xiaomi offers a flexible authorization system that can include a digital code, a pattern lock, a fingerprint or facial recognition. These settings are set up in the Security -> Privacy Protection section.
When you first log in to a hidden album, the system will suggest setting a privacy password that will be the same for hidden albums, hidden apps, and a second space (if used), and it is recommended to use a combination other than the screen unlock code to improve security.
- 🔒 pattern lock is a convenient way to quickly unlock, which is easy to remember with muscle memory.
- 👆 Fingerprint is the fastest and most reliable method available on most modern Xiaomi smartphones.
- 👁️ Facial recognition is a convenient option, but less safe in bright lights or if someone is holding a phone in front of your face.
- 🔢 Digital. PIN-Code is a classic option that can be changed at any time in the security settings.
You can also find password recovery in the privacy settings menu, and it's very important to link your Mi Account or phone number here, and it's the only way you can restore access to your media if you forget the primary code, and without an account link, your data can be lost forever.
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Use different biometric techniques to unlock the screen and access hidden albums, which will create an additional barrier for an attacker who gains access to an unlocked phone.
The process of moving video to a protected area
Once the function is activated and the password is set, you can start hiding specific video files. There are several ways to do this, and the choice depends on whether you are working with a single file or a whole folder. The easiest method is through the context menu.
Open the gallery, find the video you want, and click on it to highlight. At the bottom of the screen, a toolbar will appear. Select More (three dots) and in the drop-down menu, click Hide. The file will instantly disappear from public access and move to a protected partition.
If you want to hide an entire folder of videos, like those shot on a particular camera or those received from a particular messenger, the algorithm will be different. Go to the Album tab, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Hide Albums. In the list that opens, just activate the switch opposite the desired folder.
| Coverage method | Availability | Difficulty | Speed of operation | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Through the "More" menu. | All models. | Low. | Instantly. | Separate files |
| Hiding an entire album | MIUI 12+ | Medium | Quickly. | Groups of files |
| File manager | All models. | Tall. | Middle-Average | Mass displacement |
| Third-party annexes | Depends on the software. | Tall. | Slowly. | Additional encryption |
Once moved, the videos will no longer appear in gallery search and will not be visible in preview when sent in messengers until you select them from hidden storage.
Use of the Second Space for Total Isolation
For users who want the highest level of privacy, Second Space is the perfect solution, creating a completely isolated environment inside your smartphone, effectively turning one phone into two independent devices.
The second space has its own desktop, its own apps and, most importantly, its own gallery. Videos uploaded or shot in the second space are not physically visible in the first.Switching between spaces occurs through a special shortcut in the notification curtain or through a fingerprint assigned to quickly log in.
To activate this feature, go to Settings -> Second Space and follow the instructions of the Settings Wizard. You will be prompted to create a separate password or use a different thumb to log in, allowing you to instantly switch between "work" and "personal" mode without much manipulation.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all data inside it, including hidden videos, will be permanently destroyed.
The advantage of this method is that it is completely process isolation, and even if someone gets access to your primary profile, they won’t be able to find files in the second space without a special password or fingerprint, which is the most reliable way to hide videos on Xiaomi.
How quickly do you switch between spaces?
Hiding files through the built-in File Manager
An alternative way to protect video recordings is to use the File Manager system application, which also has a Hidden Files feature that works independently of the gallery, but provides a similar result, which is convenient for working with video files obtained from different sources.
To access the feature, open the file manager, go to the Folder or Files tab, click on the menu (three bars or dots) and select Hidden Files. When you first start, you will need to set a privacy protection password if it has not already been created.
To hide the video, find the file in the device's memory, click on it and hold your finger. From the menu that appears, select "Elect" -> "Hide"; the file will be moved to a special secure directory. It will not be possible to find it in the usual way through a file system search without root rights.
- 📁 Files are not only hidden visually, but also change their path in the file system.
- 🔐 The protection is provided with the same password as for hidden albums in the gallery.
- 📹 All video formats, including heavy video formats, are supported. 4K file.
This method is especially useful if you want to hide not only videos, but also other types of documents or archives. (unified management) passwords simplify the process of using: one code opens access to all hidden data on the device.
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Using the File Manager allows you to hide video files of any format that may not be supported or displayed incorrectly in the standard Gallery.
Restoring access and solving problems
Despite the convenience of security features, users may experience a situation where access to hidden videos is lost, most often due to a forgotten password or reset of phone settings. If you have attached a Mi Account, recovery will take several minutes.
On the privacy password screen, click on the Forgot Password button. The system will prompt you to enter an answer to a secret question (if it was installed) or send a confirmation code to the associated phone number or email. After successful verification, you will be able to specify a new access code.
If the account was not tied, it is impossible to restore access to hidden files by standard means. Xiaomi's encryption system is built so that without a key (password), the data is unreadable. The only option is a complete reset of the device, but this will lead to the loss of all data, not only hidden.
Users also sometimes complain that hidden videos disappear after a firmware update, usually due to a change in folder structure in new versions of Android or MIUI. Before major system updates, it is recommended to temporarily unlock and copy important files to the cloud or to your computer.