How to block a gallery on Xiaomi: hide the photo from prying eyes

Privacy of personal photos and videos on smartphones is one of the main concerns of users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. Even if you do not transfer the phone into the wrong hands, casual tapping or curiosity of loved ones can lead to awkward situations. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to block the gallery on devices with MIUI 12/13/14, including built-in functions and third-party solutions.

It’s important to understand that the term “block gallery” can mean things from hiding individual files to fully password-protecting the entire app. We’ll look at both options, and we’ll also explain how to get around the typical bugs that suddenly make photos available. If you’re using Xiaomi with custom firmware or older versions of MIUI (below 12), some methods may not work — we’ll warn you about this too in advance.

Before you get to the instructions, check the version of your shell: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help avoid confusion with the menu location. Also note that after resetting the phone to factory settings, all hidden files and passwords will be deleted - they will have to be configured again.

Method 1: Built-in “Secure Storage” function in MIUI

The most reliable and simple method is to use a secure MIUI storage that encrypts files at the system level, which requires no additional applications and works on all modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11.

To activate the function:

1. Open the standard Gallery app.
2. Select the photos or videos you want to hide (press your finger on the file → mark the rest).
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Move to the secure storage.
4. When you first use it, the system will ask you to set a password or a pattern lock (it will be different from unlocking the screen!).

After that, the files will disappear from the main gallery. To see them, go to the Gallery → Albums → Secure Storage and enter the password. The important thing is that if you forget the password from the secure storage, you will not be able to restore access to the files - even through your Mi Account!

⚠️ Please note: Do not use simple combinations like 123456 or date of birth. MIUI There is no limit to the number of attempts to enter a password, so an attacker can pick it up by brute force.

• ✅ Pros: built-in function, does not require root, reliable encryption.
• ❌ Cons: password cannot be restored, files take up space in memory.

Method 2: Hiding Albums Through Gallery Settings

If you don't need full encryption, but you just need to get the albums out of your sight, MIUI has a folder-hiding option, which is a technique that's good for temporarily hiding photos, like before you give your phone to friends.

Instructions:

1. Open Gallery → click on the three lines in the upper left corner (album menu).
2. Press your finger on the album you want to hide (like Screenshots or Downloads).
3. In the menu that appears, select Hide the album.

Hidden albums won't show up in the main list, but they can be returned back in the same way.This method doesn't protect files with a password - they can still be found through a file manager or by connecting the phone to a computer.

Method 3: Using third-party applications (without root)

If the built-in MIUI features aren't enough, you can install customized applications to block the gallery, and we tested some popular solutions and selected the most reliable ones:

• 🔒 AppLock - blocks access to the gallery and other applications by password or fingerprint.
• 📁 GalleryVault – creates an encrypted storage for photos and videos, supports a fake password for the “guest” mode.
• 🔐 KeepSafe – automatically hides new photos, there is a cloud backup.

Before installing, check the app's permissions in Settings → Apps → Permissions. Reliable programs only ask for storage and camera access, not SMS or contacts, and avoid apps with suspiciously low ratings or a lot of advertising.

⚠️ Note: Some antiviruses (e.g. Avast or Kaspersky) may block applications to hide files, mistaking them for malicious. If after installation the gallery stopped opening, add the program to the exceptions of the antivirus.

Check the rating and reviews on Google Play

Download only from the official store

Prohibit access to SMS and calls

Create a backup of important photos

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Method 4: Rename folders (for power users)

This is a method that works for people who are willing to work with the file system of a phone, and the idea is to rename the folder of photos so that the gallery doesn't recognize it. DCIM Pictures can be renamed into.hidden_DCIM (The point at the beginning makes the folder hidden in the Linux systems on which Android is based).

How to do this:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/ (internal memory).
3. Find a folder with photos (usually DCIM or Pictures).
4. Rename it by adding a point at the beginning (e.g,.DCIM_old).

After that, the photos will disappear from the gallery, but they will remain available through the file manager. To return them back, just delete the dot from the folder name.

Method 5: Blocking access to the gallery through the "Second Space"

The MIUI’s Second Space feature allows you to create a separate user profile with your own apps and data, which is useful if you want to completely isolate personal photos from the guest mode.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings. → Second space.
2. Create a new space and set a separate password for it.
3. In the main space, remove the Gallery app (or hide it through Settings → Apps → Hide apps).
4. In the second space, re-establish the gallery and transfer your personal photos.

Now, when you switch between spaces (swipe down the lock screen → user icon), the gallery will only be available in a secure profile, a method that is more reliable than simply hiding files, but requires more action to switch.

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If you often switch between spaces, add a shortcut to quickly transition to the main screen: press your finger in free space → Widgets → Space Switch.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems blocking a gallery, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔄 Photos reappear after update MIUI → Reset the gallery settings in Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data and reset the protection.
• 🔓 Forgot the password from the secure storage → Unfortunately, it can't be restored. The only way out is to reset the phone to factory settings (but that will delete all the data!).
• 📱 Third-party app doesn't block gallery → Check if permission is included for it to Overlay other apps in the settings.

Another common problem is that photos are visible in other apps (e.g. Google Photos or messengers). To avoid this, turn off autoload media files in the settings of these programs. For example, in Google Photos: Settings → Backup and Sync → Turn off.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

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The most reliable way is to combine secure MIUI storage and disable autoload to cloud services, ensuring that photos are not available locally or online.