How to hide icons on Xiaomi: ways to hide applications

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or the new HyperOS, have a huge functionality that does not always lie on the surface. One of the popular tasks that users have is the desire to remove unnecessary elements from the desktop or hide confidential applications from prying eyes. Often device owners wonder how to hide icons on the shiomi to maintain order in the interface or ensure the privacy of data.

Unlike standard Android, where such features often require third-party launchers, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers built-in tools to manage app visibility. However, their location in the settings menu can vary depending on the firmware version and region. Understanding these mechanisms allows you not only to clear visual noise, but also to create a personalized space that is convenient for you.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from using the built-in functionality of Hidden Applications to more radical measures like disabling system components. You will learn to manage your workspace efficiently without losing access to important functions. Prepare to turn the chaos on the screen into a model of minimalism.

Using the built-in application hiding function

The most reliable and safe way to get icons out of sight is to use the native MIUI shell function. This method does not remove the application, but only hides its label from the general list and from the desktop, making it possible to access it only through a special set of actions. Hidden applications remain installed in the system, continue to receive updates and can work in the background.

To activate this mode, you need to go to the standard Security app, which is preinstalled on each smartphone of the brand, and in the menu of this tool you need to find the Hidden Apps section. If you do not see this option right away, try clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner or scroll down to Hide Apps.

Once the feature for the selected programs is enabled, their icons will disappear from the desktop. To access them, you will need to enter a preset password or use a fingerprint if this option was activated. that in some regions of the firmware this functionality can be limited or renamed, which requires finding alternative ways to solve the problem.

⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone settings to factory settings, all hidden apps can become visible unless you first back up the data or manually delete it.

It's important to understand the difference between deletion and concealment. Deletion frees memory, and concealment only changes the way you display it. In this case, privacy is ensured by having a password that is not possible to find a program without standard search tools, which is ideal for protecting personal photos, banking applications or messengers from prying glances.

Customize access through gestures and passwords

A unique feature of Xiaomi’s interface is the ability to access hidden content through special gestures. Once the application hide feature is activated, the system will prompt you to set an unlock password if it has not already been set, which will serve as the key to your secret storage.

There are two main ways to open a hidden partition: the first is through the Security app, where you need to enter a password; the second, faster and more convenient, involves using a special gesture in the Phone or Gallery app. For example, you can set up so that when you set a certain PIN-The phone opened a hidden menu.

• 🔐 Unlock password: The main method of protection, requiring the entry of a digital code or pattern lock.
• 👆 Gallery gestures: fingers up or down the screen viewing photos to access hidden albums.
• 📞 Secret code in the call: enter a combination of numbers, after which the hidden partition of applications automatically opens.

These settings are set up in the settings section, "Passwords and security." You can change the type of protection, add a fingerprint for quick access or change the password itself. Biometrics greatly speeds up the process, allowing you to access hidden icons in a second, but you need to pre-register the fingerprint in the system.

Use simple combinations like "1234" or "0000" to nullify all security. Xiaomi's security system allows you to use complex alphanumeric codes, which is best practice for protecting personal data. Remember that the security of your data depends primarily on the complexity of the access key you choose.

Hiding system icons through interface settings

In addition to third-party apps, users often want to remove system shortcuts such as Music, Video, Themes or Mi Browser, which are pre-installed and take up space. Recent versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 offer more flexible desktop settings to hide even some system components.

This requires you to pinch the empty space on your desktop with your finger to edit. From the bottom menu, select Settings or Additional. There may be a Hide Apps option or the ability to control the visibility of system folders. However, it is worth noting that deeply integrated services from Google or Xiaomi are not always hidden in this way.

If standard methods don't allow you to remove a particular icon, you can use the "Second Space" feature, which creates a completely isolated environment in the phone where you can not install unnecessary applications, leaving them only in the main profile, or vice versa. The second space acts as a separate smartphone inside your device with its own settings and app visibility.

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Use folders to group, and even if you can't hide the icon completely, putting it in a folder called System or Services visually cleans the desktop.

Also worth noting is widgets. Often, cluttering isn't due to app icons, but to active widgets. Deleting them or moving them to separate screens helps create a sense of cleanliness and order. Regular desktop revision is a good habit for any smartphone user.

Application of third-party launchers for customization

When built-in MIUI capabilities aren’t enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue. These are apps that completely replace the standard desktop, providing advanced icon, font and element hiding management features. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher.

Installing this launcher gives you complete control over the interface, so you can make the icons transparent, resize them to zero, or simply remove them from the list of displayed applications, leaving them available only through the search or the All Apps folder, which gives you maximum flexibility in configuration.

• 🎨 Nova Launcher: the king of customization, allows you to hide any applications from the application box.
• 🚀 Microsoft Launcher: great integration with Windows services and the ability to hide desktop pages.
• 🧩 Smart Launcher: automatically sorts applications and has a built-in function to hide confidential programs.

However, the use of third-party launchers on Xiaomi has its own nuances: the system can aggressively unload them from memory, which leads to resetting settings or delays in unlocking. To avoid this, you need to fix the launcher in memory and give it all the necessary permissions in the “Start” and “Battery” menus.

⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, Xiaomi navigation gestures may not work properly. It is recommended to switch to classic three-button management or use compatible launcher gestures.

Also, some deep shell features, such as swipes to open apps or one-handed control, may stop working or require additional customization.compatibility is a key factor when choosing an alternative desktop.Always check the reviews of other users of your phone model before installing.

Disconnecting system components through ADB

For advanced users who want to remove icons of system applications that cannot be removed in the usual way (bloatware), there is a method of using USB debugging and ADB command line. This method allows you to actually "freeze" or delete the application for the current user, making his icon disappear forever.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. Then, in the Developer menu that appears, turn on "Debugging on USB." Connect the phone to your computer and use the command to delete the package.

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packet.applications

This command does not physically remove the application from the recovery partition, but only disables it for your user. The icon disappears, the application stops consuming resources. However, ADB requires caution: removing critical system components can lead to unstable phone operation or cyclical reboot.

Before you use a command, you need to know exactly the name of the package, you can find it using analyzer applications or the adb shell pm list packages command. Always check the information on the Internet whether you can remove a particular service on your Xiaomi model. The error can cost you to flash the device.

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ADB is the most powerful tool, but it requires technical knowledge, and inexperienced users are better off limiting themselves to standard application hiding.

Organization of workspace without concealment

Sometimes the problem is not having to hide apps, but being able to organize the apps that are available properly, so instead of hiding icons, you can use the capabilities of the MIUI shell itself to create a logical structure, which allows you to keep all the features quickly accessible without cluttering the screen.

Use folders not only to group, but also to create visual blocks. Call folders minimalist or use special characters to make them take up less space. You can also remove the captions under the icons if the launcher or theme allows it, which visually frees up space.

Another effective method is to use the second screen exclusively for widgets, and leave the first screen only for the most important applications, which segmentation helps focus on tasks. Digital hygiene begins with the order on the screen of your smartphone.

Regularly remove applications that you don't use. If you don't need an app, it's easier to remove and re-install it as needed than to store it just in case, taking up space and creating visual noise. Modern app stores allow you to quickly recover your download history.

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