Modern smartphones like the Poco X3 store vast amounts of sensitive information that owners often seek to hide from prying eyes. The MIUI operating system, which runs the POCO Launcher shell, has several layers of protection and concealment of content. Users often face a situation where the installed application simply disappears from the desktop, ceases to appear in the menu or becomes available only after entering a special code.
The need to hide certain programs can arise for various reasons, from the desire to protect banking data to the banal hiding of games or social networks from children. Standard tools of the system allow you not only to hide icons, but also to create entire isolated environments. Understanding how to manage these features is a key skill for any Xiaomi owner.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can access hidden content, how to activate guest mode, use Hidden Space, and find apps that have been removed from public access through system settings, which will be useful for both beginners and advanced users who want to clean up their device’s digital space.
Use of the function of Hidden Space
The most efficient and reliable way to isolate applications on the Poco X3 is through the built-in “Second Space” feature, which creates a completely separate profile on the device that looks like a clean phone, logged in either through a special pin code or a fingerprint other than the main one.
To activate this mode, you need to go to Settings → Hidden Space. The system will offer you to configure a separate password or biometric access key. Once activated, you can switch between the main and hidden profiles, simply using on-screen lock or biometric settings.
☑️ Preparation for the creation of a hidden profile
It's important to understand that applications installed in a hidden space are not visible in the main profile and vice versa, which means you have to re-download and configure all the necessary programs inside this isolated circuit, but the data inside Second Space is encrypted separately, which ensures a high level of security.
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Use different fingerprints to log into the main and hidden profiles – this will allow you to switch between them instantly, simply by putting your finger on the scanner on the side button.
Hiding icons through launcher settings
If you think it's unnecessary to create a separate profile, you can use a simpler method, which is to hide the icons directly in the POCO Launcher. This feature does not encrypt the application data, but makes it invisible on the menu and on the desktop. To access the hidden programs in this way, you use a special set of characters or log in through settings.
The setup process is quite simple and doesn't require any deep knowledge of the system, so you have to go to the launcher settings, select the appropriate item, and activate the function, and then you have all the programs installed on the list, and you can choose the ones that you want to hide.
To find and open hidden applications, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Hide applications (the path may differ depending on the version) MIUI).
- 🔍 In the list that opens, turn on the switchboard opposite the desired programs.
- 🔢 To access them, enter a code in the phone book, for example #1234# (the code is set by the user).
- 📂 Alternatively, open the Security app and find the Hide Apps section».
It is worth noting that in different versions of the firmware, the location of the menu can change. If you do not find an item in the specified places, use the search by settings, entering the request “hide”.
Guest mode and user profiles
The Android operating system behind Poco X3 supports multiplayer, allowing you to create separate accounts, such as a Guest or a Child. Unlike Hidden Space, guest mode is often used to temporarily transfer a device to another person, but it can also be adapted to hide your data.
When you switch to a guest profile, the main screen is cleared of your personal apps, photos and messages, the guest sees only the standard set of programs, and to return to your data, you need to switch again to the owner of the device through the quick settings panel or lock screen.
⚠️ Warning: Guest mode may have restrictions on installing new apps or using some system features, such as calls, if not allowed in the settings.
To manage user profiles, go to Settings → System → Multiple Users, where you can add a new user or adjust guest access settings, and it’s a great way to temporarily “hide” the entire phone by handing it to someone to play or watch a video.
Search through Application Manager
Even if the app icon is hidden from the desktop, it still stays installed on the system and consumes resources, and you can find such programs through the application manager system, which is a universal method that works even if you forget exactly how you hid the program.
The Manager displays a complete list of all installed software, including system processes, and you can see which applications are "hidden" or simply do not have a desktop shortcut, and you can force the program to stop or delete it through this interface.
Algorithm for searching hidden software through the Manager:
- 🛠 Open the Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 👁 Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Show Hidden Apps (if available in your version).
- 📉 Sort the list by size or installation date to find unfamiliar programs.
- 🗑 Click on the suspicious app and select “Delete” or “Disable».
What to do if the application is not removed?
Comparison of concealment methods
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages depending on what you want to protect, some users are interested in speed, others are the maximum security of data, and below is a table that helps you choose the best option for the Poco X3.
| Method | Level of security | Accessibility | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden space | High-pitched | Average. | High. |
| Hiding icons | Low. | High. | Low. |
| Guest mode | Medium. | Low. | Average. |
| Application lockdown | Medium. | High. | Low. |
As you can see from the table, Hidden Space provides the best protection, but requires more system resources, as it actually runs a second instance of Android. Hiding icons is more of a cosmetic measure that won't protect data from a knowledgeable user knowing where to look.
Blocking access to specific applications
Often, users don't have to hide an application completely, just stop it from running without a password. MIUI has an integrated Application Protection tool that allows you to set a separate password or use a fingerprint to log in to selected programs.
This feature is ideal for instant messengers, gallery or bank customers, and when you try to open a secure application, the system will request authentication, and in the security settings, you can also hide the content of notifications from these programs on a locked screen.
To set up, go to the Security app → Application protection. Here you'll see a list of all installed programs. Activate the switch next to those that need protection, PIN-code.
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The combination of hiding icons and setting a password to launch apps creates a double layer of protection, making data access almost impossible for outsiders.
⚠️ Warning: Don't set the same passwords to log in to your phone and to protect your apps. If an attacker learns the unlock code, they'll have access to all the contents.