Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro have evolved into powerful handheld computers that can hold hundreds of programs. Often, it is necessary to remove unnecessary icons from the desktop or hide access to certain services from prying eyes, this may be due to the desire to clean up the interface or provide additional data privacy.
The MIUI operating system that you have installed on your device has a flexible feature management mechanism, but the standard approach to space management may not be obvious to new users. There are several proven methods to effectively mask shortcuts without removing the programs themselves.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can hide icons, learn about the built-in shell features, use guest mode, and install alternative launchers, and pay attention to detail will help you customize your device exactly as your situation requires.
Use of the Hidden Applications function in MIUI
The MIUI shell offers a native tool for masking programs, which not only hides the icon from the desktop, but also hides the application from the list of all installed programs, and access to it is possible only through a special system gesture or search.
To activate the mode, you need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Applications section and find the Hidden Applications. Here you will see the switch that you need to activate. Once turned on, the system will prompt you to select those programs that should become invisible.
⚠️ Note: Once you hide an app in the standard way, it may not be possible to find it through a regular menu search. Remember the name or use a system search for keywords.
To open a hidden application, you need to swipe up on the desktop (if folder hiding is enabled) or enter a special request in the search bar. Some firmware versions allow you to set a password to access this partition, which increases security.
It's important to understand that this is a system-level approach, and notifications from hidden applications can still come in the curtain if you don't turn them off separately in the notification settings, and this is worth considering if the purpose of the concealment is complete privacy.
Setup via the Security and Privacy Menu
In the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, a separate system component is responsible for data protection, which is integrated deep into the OS structure and provides advanced access control capabilities, and you can not only hide shortcuts, but also set startup restrictions.
Go to the Security app (a green lightning icon). At the bottom of the screen, look for a tab or a privacy-related section, and that's where the Hidden Space or Second Space settings often hide.
The second space creates a completely isolated environment with a separate set of applications and files, so you can install applications in the second space and just stay away from it, leaving the main desktop clean, and switching between spaces is done through settings or a special widget.
- 🔒 Data isolation: Applications in the second space are not visible in the main profile.
- 📱 Individual Accounts: The ability to use different accounts for the same services.
- 🚫 Hiding the fact of existence: without a password or fingerprint, it is impossible to know about the second space.
Using the second space is a radical but effective method: it requires more RAM resources, because it actually runs two virtual machines. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, with its RAM capacity, this works consistently, but it may have a slight effect on autonomy.
Application of third-party launchers for customization
If standard MIUI tools aren’t enough, third-party shells come to the rescue, launchers allow for a complete change in the interface’s look and provide advanced elements visibility management tools, ideal for those who want to flexibly customize each pixel of the screen.
Popular solutions like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher have built-in hide-out features, and once you install the launcher and assign it to the main one, you go to its settings, usually called Hidden Applications or App Drawer.
Unlike system methods, launchers often allow you to hide shortcuts selectively without affecting the applications themselves. You can create a trap folder or use gestures to display hidden content, which gives you more freedom in organizing your workspace.
| Launcher | Difficulty setting up | Functional concealment | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI (Standard) | Low. | Basic | Minimum |
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Expanded | Average. |
| Smart Launcher | Tall. | Automatic. | High. |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low. | Folders. | Average. |
When installing a third-party launcher, there may be restrictions on the Android system, prohibiting the change of some system icons, in which case you will need to provide the launcher with special permissions through the Special Features menu or ADB.
☑️ Check before installing the launcher
Creating secure folders and restricting access
Another way to visually remove the extra is to use secure folders, which in the Xiaomi ecosystem is done through the application protection feature, which, while it doesn't hide the icon completely, it blocks the program from running with a password or biometrics.
To set up, go to "Security» → «Application protection. Activate the function and select the programs you want to protect. Each time you run, the system will require proof of identity.
Some users combine this method with renaming shortcuts, and using third-party shortcut editing tools, you can change the name and icon of the app to something neutral, such as “Calculator” or “Weather”.
⚠️ Note: Rename system applications or change their icons may disrupt some widgets or updates.
It's also worth considering using guest mode, which you can turn on, and you get a clean desktop without your personal apps, which is convenient when you have to give someone a phone to call or navigate.
Hiding through work modes and profiles
Newer versions of Android and MIUI introduce job profiles. While the Redmi Note 8 Pro may have limited functionality depending on the firmware version (Global or China), the principle remains valid, with profiles allowing apps to be separated into Personal and Workers.
You can activate the profile through quick settings in the notification curtain, and when the Job profile is turned off, all corporate applications and their shortcuts disappear from the screen, which creates the effect of a complete absence of programs.
To manage profiles, you use the Settings → Digital Well-being → Modes of Work, where you can set a schedule for automatically turning profiles on and off, for example, work applications can be hidden automatically after 18:00.
If the standard profile functionality is not available, you can use parallel applications such as Parallel Space, which create a virtual copy of the application inside themselves, hiding the original or its clone in an isolated environment.
Solving problems with displaying icons
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the shortcuts disappear on their own or, on the contrary, do not want to hide, this can be due to the launcher cache or errors in the work of the theme, the first thing to do is to clear the cache of the system application "Themes" and "Security".
If shortcuts are acting strange after you install a new theme, go back to the standard MIUI theme. Third-party themes may not properly handle the visibility settings set by the system. Also check if the "Simple Mode" mode for older people is turned on, which changes the size and number of icons.
In case the hidden application stopped running, try resetting the launcher settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → MIUI Home (or your launcher) → Clean. This will return the desktop to its original state.
It is important to remember that removing the shortcut from the desktop does not always mean removing the application. the program remains in the device memory.