Owning a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone involves a powerful MIUI shell or a new HyperOS that provides users with extensive personalization options. One of the popular features is the ability to hide application shortcuts from prying eyes, whether it is protecting confidential information or simply wanting to remove rarely used programs from the desktop. Standard system tools allow you to do this without installing additional software, but the process is not always obvious to beginners.
There are several proven ways to hide the app shortcut on Xiaomi Android, and the choice of the specific method depends on your version of the operating system and the add-ons installed. You can use the built-in Hidden Space, set up Parental Control, or use third-party launchers. Each of these options has its own unique features, level of security and usability in everyday life.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available icon hiding techniques, compare their effectiveness, and answer frequently asked questions. You will learn how to create a password to access hidden applications and what nuances to consider when updating your system. On some global firmware versions, the hidden space function may not be available without changing the region. This is a critical point that is often overlooked when configuring a device.
Use of the built-in hidden MIUI space
The most reliable and integrated way is to use the Hidden Space system function, which allows you to move selected applications to a secure folder that is only accessed through a special code or biometrics, and to activate this option, you need to go to the settings menu and find the corresponding partition, which is usually hidden by default.
Once the feature is enabled, the system will prompt you to set a pin, pattern lock or password that will be different from the main password of unlocking the screen. This code will serve as the “key” to enter the hidden partition. You can configure the display of hidden applications in system search so that they do not horn your eyes even when trying to find them through a global search.
To manage the hidden program list, you use a special interface where you can add or remove shortcuts as needed. It's important to understand that the application is not removed from the device, but only hides its label and access is limited. Hidden space is a separate profile that runs parallel to the main one.
☑️ Activation of hidden space
It's worth noting that once an app is hidden, its notifications also stop coming into the standard curtain until you enter hidden mode, which provides an additional layer of privacy, since no one will see pop-up messages from messengers or social networks. However, if the app is running in the background before hiding, it can continue to work.
Set up parental controls to restrict access
Another effective method that is often ignored is the use of Parental Control or Second Space features, which, while designed to limit children's access to smartphones, are great for hiding labels from the curious gaze of adults. The second space creates a completely isolated environment on your phone.
Unlike simply hiding a shortcut, creating a second space actually clones the system, allowing you to have two sets of applications. You can install the applications you want to hide in a second space, and then just not use its desktop shortcut or hide the second space shortcut itself. This creates a double layer of protection.
It takes a little longer to set up than just hiding, but it gives you more flexibility to manage it, you can set up different wallpapers, different accounts, different set of settings for each space, and switch between them quickly and conveniently, often by fingerprint.
⚠️ Note: When using the second space, make sure you remember the password or how you log in.Resetting settings to factory settings can cause data loss in the second profile if no backup is made.
And parental controls can also limit the time you use certain apps, or completely block them from running without entering a password, which doesn't hide the label visually in the classical sense, but makes it useless for someone who doesn't know the access code, and is effective for protecting in-app purchases or accessing personal correspondence.
Hiding through third-party launchers and themes
If Xiaomi’s standard methods don’t suit you or the hidden space feature isn’t available in your region, third-party launchers will come to the rescue. Apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher allow you to hide shortcuts directly from the launcher’s settings menu, often even in free versions.
To implement this method, you'll need to install the launcher you select from Google Play and assign it to the default app, and then you'll need to find the section in the interface settings that displays shortcuts, usually called Hidden Apps or Hide Apps, where you just tick the boxes against the programs you want to take out of your sight.
The advantage of third-party launchers is that they are cross-platform and rich in customization functionality. You can not only hide applications, but also change icons, animations and desktop behavior. However, it is worth considering that third-party software can consume more battery resources than a standard shell manufacturer.
There are also calculator apps that mask hidden files and applications as a conventional calculator, and when you type in special code, they open a hidden partition, which is a popular method, but it requires additional software to be installed, which can cause security issues when scanning.
Method of removing the label from the desktop
The easiest but less secure way is to remove the shortcut from the home screen. It's important to understand the difference between removing the shortcut and removing the app itself. When you drag an icon into the cart or click "Delete," the system often offers two options: "Delete the app" or "Delete from the desktop."
If you choose the second option, you leave the program installed on the system, but its icon disappears from the home screen, you can find it only through a full list of all applications (app-driver) or through search, this method is suitable if your goal is simply to remove visual noise, not protect data from hacking.
For users who value minimalism, this is the perfect way to keep only the most important tools on the desktop and hide everything else in the back of the menu, but if someone gets access to your menu of all the apps, they can easily see the hidden.
How to Restore a Removed Label?
Some launchers allow you to create folders on your desktop and put in rarely used applications, and then hide those folders or put them on remote desktop pages, which creates a hidden effect for the surface observer who does not flip the screens beyond the first page.
Comparison of methods of hiding applications
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table of basic methods, which will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your security and convenience needs.
| Method | Level of security | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI's Hidden Space | High-pitched | Low. | Minimum |
| Second space | Very tall. | Medium | Average. |
| Third-party launcher | Medium. | Tall. | Notable. |
| Removal of label | Low. | Minimum | Absent. |
As you can see from the table, Xiaomi’s built-in tools are often preferred to third-party solutions, are better optimized and do not require additional software, but for older phone models or specific versions of Android, third-party launchers may be the only way out.
When you choose a method, you should be guided by who you want to hide the apps from, if it's children, parental controls, if it's coworkers, if it's detaching the label, if it's someone else who loses your phone, it's just encrypted hidden space or a second space.
Restoration of access and frequent problems
Sometimes users forget exactly how they hid the application, or encounter bugs after updating the system. If you forget the password from the hidden space, it will be extremely difficult to restore access without resetting data, since this feature is tied to encryption.
If the app is missing after the update, check the hidden app display settings, maybe the launcher settings have reset or the shell version has changed, and the hide function works differently. Try retracing the activation path in the settings.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use dubious applications from unknown sources to hide files. They may contain malicious code that will steal your data instead of protecting it.
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If you plan to sell your phone, make sure to complete a full Wipe Data reset. Simply removing shortcuts or logging out of your account doesn't guarantee a complete cleanup of personal data.
It’s also worth remembering that some Xiaomi system applications cannot be hidden by standard methods, which may require superuser rights (Root), which are insecure and can disrupt the operation of banking applications.
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The built-in hidden MIUI space is the most secure and stable method, which does not require the installation of additional software and minimally affects the autonomy of the device.