How to password folder on Xiaomi: all the ways from standard to hidden

Why Password Folders to Xiaomi and What Risks It Eliminates

Have you ever given a phone to a friend to show a photo but worried that they would accidentally (or intentionally) look into personal documents? or stored passport scans, bank statements, work contracts on your smartphone and feared that if you lost your device, that data would fall into the wrong hands? At Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) there are at least 5 ways to password a folder, and each of them solves its problem.

Standard MIUI tools allow you to hide files without additional programs, but they have limitations: for example, the Secret folder in the gallery does not protect against access through the file manager. Third-party applications like Folder Lock or AppLock provide more flexibility, but require permission to access files — a potential vulnerability. In this article, we will analyze all methods from the simplest to the most advanced, including hidden features of MIUI 14/15, which are not written in the official guides.

Method 1: Secret folder in the standard MIUI gallery

The fastest method is to use the built-in Secret Folder feature in the Gallery app. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with a single device. MIUI 12 and newer, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13T. The main plus is that you do not need to install third-party programs, and the minus is that protection applies only to photos and videos (documents and videos). APK-You can't hide files like that).

How to turn on:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Secret folder.
3. Create a password (minimum length is 4 characters) or use a fingerprint.
4. Move files to a secret folder: highlight a photo / video → More → Move to a secret folder.

Important: If you forget your password, it will be impossible to restore access to files - even through a reset. Xiaomi does not store backups of passwords from secret folders.

Make sure MIUI version is at least 12| Backup important files | Remember password or write it to a secure location | Check that fingerprint is added in security settings-->

Method 2: Password Archive (ZIP/RAR)

If you need to password not only photos, but also documents (.pdf,.docx), archives or APK-Files, use the built-in archiver MIUI or third-party applications like RAR or 7-Zip. This method is universal: the archive can be opened on any device knowing the password, and the original files are deleted after archiving.

Instructions for a standard archiver:

1. Open Files (or any file manager)
2. Select the folder or files that need to be protected.
3. Slip again. → Squeeze.
4. Choose the ZIP or RAR format (the latter supports more secure encryption).
5. Activate the option Encrypt and enter a password (recommended length is 8+ characters with numbers and special characters).
6. After creating the archive, delete the original files.

Warning: If you use a cloud service (Google Drive, Mi Cloud), don't upload unencrypted archives there. Even if the folder on your phone is password-free, it can be accessed in the cloud without protection.

💡

Use a password manager (like Bitwarden or KeePassDX) to store passwords from archives. Never save them in notes or SMS!

Method 3: Third-party applications for folder locking

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, use specialized software that allows you to:

• 🔒 Block access to folders with a password, PIN-code-print.
• 📂 Hide folders from the file manager (they become invisible without unlocking).
• 🛡️ Protect against removal or displacement through ADB.
• 🔄 Automatically block folders when connecting to a PC.

Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi:

1. Folder Lock – supports file encryption, fake password for disguise, backup to the cloud.
2. AppLock (by DoMobile Lab) - blocks not only folders, but also applications, has a burglary mode.
3. Hide Something – hides files under the guise of a calculator (stealth mode).

How to set up Folder Lock:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Set a master password (do not use date of birth or simple combinations!).
3. In the Lock Files section, select folders to lock.
4. Activate the Stealth Mode option (hidden mode) so that the app icon does not appear in the menu.

Folder Lock|AppLock|Hide Something|Standard facilities MIUI|Other/not using-->

⚠️ Note: Some blocking apps (such as Vault or GalleryVault) have been removed from Google Play for collecting user data.

Method 4: Hidden MIUI capabilities (for advanced)

MIUI 14/15 has hidden features that allow you to protect files without third-party applications, which are not known about, but they are more stable than many programs from the Play Market.

Method 1: Protection through "Private Storage"

This feature is available on flagship models (Xiaomi 13/14, Mix Fold) and allows you to create an isolated storage that is unlocked by a separate password:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Private Storage.
2. Create a storage and set a password (different from the lock screen password!).
3. Transfer files to a private storage through Files → Private.

Method 2: Blocking through the "Second Space"

If your Xiaomi has a Second Space feature (available on most models with MIUI 13+), you can:

• 🔐 Create a separate profile with your own applications and files.
• 📁 Transfer confidential folders to the second space.
• 🔑 Block access to it with a password or pattern lock.

How to turn on:

1. Settings → Special Opportunities → Second Space
2. Create a second space and reboot your phone.
3. In the main space, transfer files to Files → Second Space.

Method 5: Disk Encryption (for tech-savvy)

If you need to protect all the data on your phone (not individual folders), use full disk encryption.This method is suitable for Xiaomi based on Android 10+, but has nuances:

• ⚡ Requires a password for every phone load.
• ⏳ Increases the system start-up time by 10 to 30 seconds.
• 🔧 It does not work on some custom firmware (for example, LineageOS).
• 🚨 When resetting the settings, the data will be lost irretrievably.

How to turn on encryption:

1. Connect your phone to charge (the process takes 30-60 minutes).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Encrypt the phone.
3. Set your password (remember it!).
4. Wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt it!).

⚠️ Attention: on devices with Dynamic RAM Expansion (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) encryption can lead to a performance decrease of 5-15%. Before activation, check the free space - encryption requires at least 10% of free memory.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users make mistakes when protecting folders.

1.Use one password for everything

If you put the same password on a secret folder, archives, and application blocker, you just hack one system and the attacker gets access to everything. Solution: use different passwords or a password manager.

2. Storing passwords in notes or screenshots

Many save passwords in Notes or take screenshots - it's the equivalent of leaving the safe key under the mat.Solution: use KeePassDX or Bitwarden with two-factor authentication.

3. Ignoring backup copies

If you password a folder and then forget your password, the files will be lost.Solution: Before blocking, create an encrypted backup in the cloud (for example, Cryptomator + Google Drive).

4. Use of simple passwords

Passwords like 123456, qwerty or birthdate are hacked in seconds. Solution: generate passwords that are 12+ characters long using!@#$%^&*.

💡

No one method is 100% secure. Combine a few things: for example, archive files with a password, and then transfer them to a Secret folder or a Private Storage.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions