Xiaomi and Redmi’s smartphones store a huge amount of sensitive information, from bank data to personal correspondence. Device owners often face the need to hide a particular program from prying eyes or restrict access to it even when the screen is unlocked. MIUI and the new HyperOS offer powerful built-in tools to solve this problem without the need to install third-party software.
The process of installing protection varies depending on what you want to hide: a separate application, a photo or an entire isolated environment. Data security is achieved through a combination of software constraints and biometric verification. Below we will discuss in detail all the available methods that allow you to turn your gadget into an impregnable fortress for personal content.
It’s worth noting that menu functionality may vary slightly across firmware versions, but the basic principles of privacy remain the same across the brand ecosystem, and tweaking these settings correctly is the first step to protecting your digital life from prying eyes.
Configure the Hidden Applications function in MIUI
The easiest way to hide the program icon is to use the standard Hidden Apps feature, which does not encrypt data inside the software, but makes it invisible on the shared list and on the desktop. To activate, you need to open the standard Security application, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi device.
Inside the security menu, you'll find the privacy section, and the interface may be called differently depending on the regional version of the firmware, but the logic remains the same. Once you log in, you'll need to set a special privacy password that's different from the unlock password.
⚠️ Attention: Privacy password and screen unlock password are different things. If you forget your privacy password, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to hidden data without a linked Mi Account.
Once you have installed the access code, you will see a list of all the installed programs, and you just need to switch the switchboard in front of the desired application to the active position, and from that point on, the icon will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all the applications.
- 🔒 To open hidden applications, you need to enter a pattern lock or password in a special input field.
- 📱 Access to the hidden list is via swipe up in the Security app or through a special gesture.
- 👁️ Hidden apps don’t show up in usage statistics and don’t show notifications on a locked screen.
It's important to understand that this method hides only the label. If a user knows the exact name of a packet or uses voice search, they can theoretically run the program, so it's recommended to combine this method with other system tools for maximum protection.
Use of the Second Space for Insulation
A more advanced layer of protection is Second Space, which creates a completely isolated environment on a smartphone, similar to a new phone, in which you can install a separate set of apps, add your Google accounts, and customize unique wallpapers.
Switching between the main and second spaces is instantaneous through a special shortcut on the lock screen or through settings, ideal for separating work and personal life or storing sensitive data that the main user should not have access to.
To set up the second space, go to Settings and find the Second Space section, and the system will suggest setting up a separate unlock method, so you can assign, for example, a specific finger to enter the second space, and with the other finger unlock the main one.
| Parameter | Main space | Second space |
|---|---|---|
| Access to files | Full access | Isolated (import needed) |
| Notifications | Displayed | Hidden (unless permitted) |
| Accounts. | The main Mi/Google | Individual accounts |
| Battery | General expenditure | Working in the background. |
The applications in the second space are independent, and you can install bank clients or messengers there, and they will behave as if they were installed on a separate device, which provides a high level of privacy, because without switching space, you can't find these programs.
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Use different fingerprints to enter the first and second spaces, allowing you to switch between modes with one touch, without manually entering passwords.
Blocking the launch of individual applications
If your goal is not to hide an application, but to prevent it from being run by outsiders, use the App Block feature, which allows you to set a password or biometrics to open specific programs, such as a gallery, notes or instant messengers.
Activation occurs through the Security app in the Application Lock section, where you select a list of programs that require additional authorization, and when you try to open such an application, the system will request confirmation even if the phone is already unlocked.
In lock settings, you can set a timeout, for example, requesting a password only when you first start after you turn on the screen or every time you open the program, which gives you flexibility in access control depending on the level of paranoia.
- 🚫 Locking works even for system applications such as File Manager or Settings».
- ⏱️ You can set up automatic lock after 1 minute, 10 minutes or immediately after leaving the application.
- 🔍 In the lock menu, you can hide the content of notifications from blocked applications.
This is especially useful when you give a phone to a child or colleague to call, but you want to make sure it doesn't get into your personal communications.
☑️ Checking privacy settings
Hiding files and media through Explorer
Often, you don't want to hide the application itself, but the files inside it, whether it's photos, videos or documents, and MIUI uses a Hidden Album or Hidden Files feature that you can access through a file manager.
To hide a file, highlight it in Explorer, click the menu (three dots) and select Hide. The file will move to a secure folder that is only accessible after you enter your privacy password.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning the cache or removing the Gallery app, hidden albums are not deleted, but when resetting the phone to factory settings without first unlocking and transferring files, files may be lost.
Hidden files are physically moved to a system folder with a changed name, making them invisible to most third-party scanners and galleries.It is a reliable way to protect personal pictures or scans of documents from random viewing.
To access hidden files through a computer, you will need to connect your phone in file transfer mode and enter a password through a mobile Explorer application, since direct navigation through system folders without root rights will be limited.
Guest mode setting for temporary access
If you have to give your phone to another person temporarily, the best way to do this is to use Guest Mode, which is not really a security installation on the app, but a safe environment for someone else to use, and in guest mode, you don't see your apps, contacts, or browser history.
You can activate the mode through the control panel (curtain) or in the account settings, the guest gets a clean interface with a basic set of programs, all guest actions are isolated and do not mix with the owner's data.
Once the session is over, the guest profile can be deleted and all the data created inside the guest profile will be destroyed, which is a great way to keep privacy when you give the device away for calls or navigation.
How is the guest mode different from the second space?
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Users sometimes face a situation where hidden applications stop working correctly or the possibility of entering a protected zone disappears, often due to a system update or launcher failures.
If you forget your privacy password, the system will suggest that you restore it through your Mi Account, but this is only possible if the account was linked in advance, and without the binding, data recovery is almost impossible due to encryption.
In some cases, antivirus scanners may mistakenly respond to hidden processes. If an application stops running, try removing it from the hidden list, clearing the cache and adding it again. Also make sure the application has all the necessary permissions in the system settings.
- 🔄 When you change region in your phone settings, some security menu items may move or disappear.
- 📉 Hiding a large number of heavy games can have a slight impact on the speed of the launcher.
- 🔐 Updating the screen unlock password does not change the privacy password automatically.
Regularly checking your security settings helps you avoid unpleasant situations, and remember to check which apps have access to your data and whether there are any extra programs on the hidden list.
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The combination of security techniques (hidden + lock + second space) ensures the maximum level of data security on Xiaomi devices.
Additional System Protection Measures
In addition to hiding applications, it is important to ensure overall device security: Use two-factor authentication for a Mi Account, regularly update your security system, and avoid installing applications from unknown sources.
The Find Device feature also needs to be activated, and in the event of a phone loss, it will allow you to remotely lock the gadget or erase all data, including the contents of hidden folders and second spaces.
And don't neglect biometrics. Fingerprints or facial recognition add an extra layer of protection, making access to secure partitions fast but secure, and the combination of biometrics and passwords is the gold standard in mobile security.