How to securely lock a folder on your Xiaomi phone: from standard features to hidden MIUI chips

Protecting personal data on a smartphone is a key challenge for the modern user. Photos, documents, correspondence and other sensitive files are often stored in folders that need to be restricted from prying eyes. Xiaomi phone owners (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) have several built-in and third-party folder locking tools, but not everyone knows how to use them correctly.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven ways to block a folder on a Xiaomi phone – from standard features MIUI We'll focus on the nuances of what to do if the function doesn't work, how to restore access when you lose your password, and what methods are most reliable for different versions of the firmware. MIUI You can’t block the phone without risking stability.

1. Lock the folder through the built-in “Secure folder” function in MIUI

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the standard Secure Folder tool, which is available on most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later firmware, which allows you to hide folders with photos, videos and documents behind a password or biometric authorization.

To activate it:

1. Open the Gallery or Files app.
2. Select the folder you want to block and hold it with your finger.
3. In the menu that appears, tap on three points (⋮) and select Move to a secure folder.
4. When first used, the system will be asked to install PIN-code or use a fingerprint.

After that, the folder will disappear from the main list and will only be accessible through the Secure folder section in the application menu, Importantly, the files inside it are not displayed in search results and are not available to other applications (for example, messengers).

⚠️ Attention: If you forget PIN-code from a secure folder, access can only be restored through resetting all phone settings. Xiaomi does not provide official tools for unlocking without losing data.

Update the Gallery app to the latest version|Make sure that your settings enable sync with Mi Account (if you need backups)|Remember or write down. PIN-safe-place|Check that there are no system files in the folder (for example, with the.db or.apk extension)

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2.Use of the MIUI file manager to hide and block

The standard File Manager app on Xiaomi has a Hidden Folder feature that works differently than Secure Folder, which doesn't encrypt data, it just hides it from being displayed in the main interface, which is less reliable, but it's suitable for temporarily hiding files from the eye.

Instructions:

• 📁 Open the files and find the right folder.
• 🔧 Tap it on three points (⋮) → Hide.
• 🔐 The folder will disappear, but will remain available through the Category section. → Hidden files.

To return it back, go to Settings → Show hidden files. This method does not protect against targeted search, so for sensitive data, it is better to combine it with other methods (for example, archiving with a password).

3. Blocking through archive with password (ZIP/RAR)

If your version of MIUI doesn’t have built-in locking features, you can use a universal method – archive the folder with a password. This method works on any Xiaomi phones, including older models with MIUI 10-11.

For this:

1. Install an archiving app (such as RAR or ZArchiver from Google Play).
2. Select the folder in the file manager and select Compress.
3. In the archive settings, set the Encrypt box and come up with a complex password (at least 8 characters with numbers and letters).
4. Once the archive is created, the original folder can be deleted.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Password protection at the archive level (hacking is almost impossible with a complex password).
• 📱 It works on all versions of Android and MIUI.
• 💾 The archive can be transferred to a computer or cloud for additional redundancy.

⚠️ Note: If you lose your password from the archive, it will be impossible to restore access to files - even specialized programs for hacking. ZIP/RAR They do not guarantee results with complex passwords.

Built-in "Secure folder" MIUI| Password Archive |Third-party applications (e.g. AppLock)| Hiding through file manager | I don't block folders

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4. Third-party applications for folder lock

If standard MIUI features aren’t enough, you can install specialized apps from Google Play.

Before installing, check the reviews and rating of the application — some programs may contain advertising software or collect data.

• 📥 Give the application access to files (Settings) → Annexes → Permits).
• 🔐 Select folders to lock and set a password.
• 🛡️ Enable the option to Hide from the Gallery if you have one.

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5. Hiding folders by changing permissions (for power users)

This method is suitable for users familiar with ADB or Termux, which allows you to restrict access to a folder at the file system level, but requires root or debugging permissions.

Instructions via Termux:

pkg install termux-api


termux-setup-storage




cd /sdcard/Your Pad




chmod 700 .

The folder will only be available to the owner (your user) but:

• ⚠️ Some system applications (such as a gallery) may lose access to files.
• ⚠️ The method does not work for folders on SD-Map (due to Android restrictions).
• ⚠️ After resetting the phone, permissions are reset.

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6. Features of folder locking on different Xiaomi models

Folder locking functions may vary depending on the phone model and MIUI version.

On older models (such as the Redmi 5/6 or Mi A2 with Android One), the built-in locking features may not be available.

• 📦 Password archive.
• 🔒 Third-party applications (e.g. Solid Explorer with encryption support).
• 🖥️ Transferring files to an encrypted external drive.

7.How to restore access if you forgot your password

If you lose access to a locked folder, the recovery options depend on the method of blocking:

For MIUI's Protected Folder:

• 🔑 Try to remember. PIN-code or pattern lock (the system gives 5 attempts).
• 📱 If you have Mi Account attached, try resetting your password through Settings. → Xiaomi account → Security.
• ⚠️ If you lose your password and no backup, the only way is to reset your phone to factory settings (data will be lost).

For archives (ZIP/RAR):

• 🔓 Use programs like ArchPR or RAR Password Unlocker (Efficiency) ~30% for weak passwords).
• 💻 If the archive was created on a PC, try to recall the password through the browser password manager.

For third-party applications:

• 📧 Check the registration letter (some applications send backup codes).
• 🔄 Reinstall the app – sometimes it resets lock settings (but not always).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi phones with Find Device enabled, after 10 failed password attempts, the system can block access to files for 24 hours, including Protected Folder and some third-party apps.

Frequently asked questions