How to hide the app icon on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users a huge amount of customization, but one of the most popular features is the ability to hide certain apps from prying eyes, whether it’s to protect personal data, bank customers, or simply to remove rarely used games from the desktop by keeping them on the system.

Unlike standard Android, where it often requires third-party launchers or complex manipulation of ADB, the Xiaomi ecosystem provides native tools for this task. Hiding icons here is implemented at the system level, which ensures the stability of the work and the absence of bugs characteristic of third-party solutions.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from the standard Hidden Space to secret folders, and how to make sure that the app doesn’t just disappear from the screen, but also stops showing up in the recent task menu or search, a level of privacy that is rare in stock versions of the operating system.

Use of the built-in function of Hidden Space

The most effective and secure way to remove an app from public access is to use the standard Hidden Space feature, which creates an isolated environment inside your smartphone that you can access only after you type in a special password, a pattern lock or a fingerprint, and the apps that are moved here disappear completely from your desktop and from the list of all programs.

To activate this option, go to the settings menu. Find the Apps section and select Hidden Apps. In some firmware versions, the path may differ: Settings → Passwords and Security → Hidden Apps. The system will prompt you to set an unlock password if it is not already set, or use biometrics for quick access.

Once activated, you'll see a list of all the installed programs, and just switch the switchboard against the right software, and the icon will disappear instantly. It's important to understand that notifications from such applications will also stop coming into the standard curtain until you enter the hidden space, which is ideal for messengers or social networks that you want to keep secret.

⚠️ Warning: If you forget the password from the Hidden Space, it will be almost impossible to restore access to the applications inside it without completely resetting your phone.

It is worth noting that the functionality can be called differently depending on the regional version of the firmware. In global versions of MIUI, it is often simply “Hidden Applications”, whereas in Chinese versions or older builds, the term “Second Space” may be found, which is a deeper form of isolation that creates an actual copy of the system.

Creating a secure folder through a Explorer

An alternative, but equally effective, method is to use Xiaomi’s built-in Explorer, which hides not only the apps themselves, but also their installation files (APKs) and the media files associated with them, and creates a special folder that does not appear in the normal file system browsing mode.

To implement this method, open the Explorer app and go to any folder. Now you need to enter a special code in the address bar or rename the folder by adding a point to its name at the beginning and at the end (for example,.secret.). However, in newer versions of MIUI, it is easier to use the Hide Files function. Select the desired files or shortcuts, click “More” and select “Hide”.

The good thing about this method is that it doesn't require root rights and it works at the file system level. But it's worth remembering that simply moving the app shortcut to a hidden folder isn't enough to keep the app itself completely invisible on the menu, if it's already installed, and it's better for hiding installers or backups.

• 🔒 Security: Accessing a hidden folder requires entering a password set in the security settings.
• 📂 Isolation: Files inside the folder are not indexed by the gallery or music players.
• ⚙️ Flexibility: You can hide any type of file, not just app shortcuts.

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For maximum efficiency, combine methods: hide the application itself through the MIUI settings, and remove its installation file (APK) into the hidden Explorer folder.

Password blocking as an alternative

If your goal is not so much to hide the fact that the application is available as to prevent unauthorized access to it, then the application lock function is best. In this case, the icon remains visible, but when you try to start the system requires you to enter a password, PIN-fingerprint.

You can find this feature by Settings → Applications → App Locking. Here you will see a list of all the software installed. Once you activate the protection for a particular application, you can also adjust its behavior: hide the content in notifications or require a password even when you try to open it through Recent Tasks. This creates a powerful barrier to curious glances.

The thing about the HyperOS blocker and the new MIUI is that it's smart to integrate with biometrics, so you don't have to type in a long password every time, you just put your finger on the scanner or look at the front camera (Face ID), and the app will open. For an outsider, the phone will look like normal, but he won't be able to run the bank or the gallery.

Hiding through third-party launchers

Xiaomi’s regular tools are powerful, but sometimes users need a more flexible approach, which third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer.These programs completely replace the desktop and often have built-in privacy features that allow you to hide icons in separate tabs or hide them behind a password.

Installing a third-party launcher requires advanced permissions. You will need to give access to desktop management, as well as possibly permission to “use over other windows” to run widgets. Once installed in the launcher settings, there is usually a Hidden Applications or Private Box section where you can drag any shortcuts.

The main advantage of this method is versatility. If you are used to a certain interface, the launcher will save it by adding a concealment function. However, there is a disadvantage: some system functions of MIUI, such as gestures or deep memory cleansing, can work incorrectly with a third-party launcher.

Hiding system applications and services

Advanced users often seek to hide not only user software, but also system components of Android or MIUI that occupy a place in the list of applications or annoy with their presence.

To hide system shortcuts or disable system applications, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is often required, a debugging tool that allows you to send commands directly to the operating system from a computer. By connecting your phone over USB and enabling debugging, you can use pm hide or pm disable-user for specific packages.

adb shell pm hide --user 0 com.example.package

Using ADB requires caution. Misrepresenting a critical system component (such as a system framework or input service) can lead to a cyclical restart of the phone (bootloop) or complete interface failure.Be sure to make a full backup of the data before any manipulations.

• 🛠️ Toolkit: Requires PC, cable USB and installed drivers ADB.
• ⚠️ Risks: High risk of system stability disruptions due to incorrect actions.
• 🔄 Recovery: Hidden Through ADB The application can be returned by pm unhide.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

The process of hiding applications on Xiaomi usually goes smoothly, but users may face a number of typical problems: for example, after updating the firmware, the hidden space settings may reset, or the application may stop hiding, starting to show up again in search, often due to changes in the security policy of Google or Xiaomi itself.

Another common problem is popping up hidden apps in Frequent Apps recommendations or widgets. To avoid this, you also need to go to the search widget settings and disable the display of history or sentences. Sometimes cleaning the search or security cache helps.

If the hidden app continues to consume traffic or battery in the background even though you are not using it, check the energy saving settings. Hiding an icon does not mean completely stopping the process. Use the Freeze feature (if available in your version of MIUI) to completely stop or limit background activity in the battery settings.

⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to Factory Reset, all hidden apps and passwords from the hidden space will be permanently deleted. Remember to back up important data before resetting.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)

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Hiding an icon is only a visual measure. Always use password or biometric locking to protect your data, either inside the application itself or through a system blocker.