How to find hidden files on Xiaomi Redmi: from system folders to user data

Hidden files on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are not only system data, but also user folders that the manufacturer or applications deliberately hide from view, which may be needed to free up memory, restore deleted photos, edit configuration files or even debug MIUI. However, the standard Explorer from Xiaomi shows not everything: many directories are hidden for security or stability reasons.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to access hidden files on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13 and other models - from simple conductor settings to use ADB And third-party file managers, and we'll focus on system folders. /data/data/ and /system/, which contain key application and OS settings, but require root rights or special commands to view.

1. enable the display of hidden files in the standard MIUI Explorer

The fastest way to see a portion of hidden folders is to activate the corresponding option in the native File application (or File Manager on global firmware), which works without superuser rights, but only shows files that are not locked by the system.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Files app (Folder icon on the desktop).
• 🔍 Slip along three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner.
• ⚙️ Select Settings → Additionally.
• 👁️ Activate the switch Show hidden files.

After that, the.miui folder (with the theme settings),.thumbdata (cache of image sketches) will appear in the root directory, as well as hidden directories of some applications, for example,.nomedia for media files, which should not be displayed in the gallery.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.db or.xml extension in the.miui and.android_secure — This can lead to malfunctions in the shell. MIUI.

Remove the contents of.thumbdata (cache sketches)|Clear the file. Download/.temp|Delete old log files in /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log|Clear the application cache in /sdcard/Android/data/*/cache

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2. Use of third-party file managers (without root)

Xiaomi’s standard Explorer is limited in functionality, so it is recommended to use alternative applications to access deeper hidden folders.

• 📁 Solid Explorer - Supports FTP/FTPS, cloud storage and displays system files (you need to enable Root access settings if you have rights).
• 🔍 FX File Explorer – has a built-in Hex viewer and can open hidden folders /data firmware.
• 🛠️ MiXplorer – optimized for Xiaomi, can bypass restrictions MIUI reading.

Example of Solid Explorer configuration:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the side menu → Settings → Access to the root directory.
3. Enable the option to Show Hidden Files and System Files.
4. Go to /storage/emulated/0/ and all hidden folders (with a dot at the beginning of the name) will be displayed here.

With the help of these managers, you can see, for example, a folder.android_secure (encrypted application data,.face (face recognition data) or.backups (backups) MIUI).

Standard Conductor MIUI|Solid Explorer|FX File Explorer|MiXplorer|Other-->

3. Access to hidden files via ADB (no root)

If you want system files but you don't have root rights, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a debugging tool that lets you execute commands directly on your device, which works on all Redmis, including models with a locked bootloader.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 Times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Linux/macOS) and type in: adb shell ls -la /sdcard/ This command will show all files, including hidden ones (with a dot at the beginning).

To copy a hidden file to a PC, use:

adb pull /sdcard/.folder/file C:\path\on\PC

⚠️ Note: Adb shell rm or adb shell mv commands to delete/move system files can cause a device to blink. Use them only if you are sure of the actions.

4. view hidden files via TWRP (requires unlocking the bootloader)

If your Redmi has a custom TWRP recap on it, you can use its built-in file manager to access hidden partitions, including /data and /system.This is one of the most powerful methods, but requires the bootloader to be unlocked beforehand.

Instructions:

• 🔧 Boot in. TWRP (Turn off the phone, then press the power. + Loudness up).
• 📂 Tap Advanced → File Manager.
• 🔍 Move to the /data/data/ — This is where all the applications are stored (for example, /data/data/com.android.chrome/ Chrome).
• 📋 To copy the file, select it and press Copy to SD.

TWRP also allows you to edit system files, such as build.prop or hosts, but any changes to this require caution – incorrect editing can lead to a cyclical reboot.

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Before editing system files in TWRP, back up /system through the Backup option in the main recovery menu.

5. Getting root rights for full access to hidden files

Root access gives you the maximum ability to work with hidden files, and with it you can view and edit /data, /system, and other users’ files (on multi-purpose devices), but this method has risks:

• 🚫 Loss of warranty (on most Redmi models).
• 🔒 Risk of blocking Mi Account in case of incorrect rooting.
• 🛡️ Vulnerability to malware (applications will gain access to system data).

If you are prepared for these risks, follow the instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Mi Unlock Tool (requires a binding Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP for your model (download the image from the official website).
3. Sweep Magisk (a popular root rights manager) through the Recovery.

Once root is available, install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer with Mount as R/W (read/write partition mounting) option. Now you can even edit files in /system/priv-app/ (system applications).

⚠️ Note: On Redmi models with MIUI 13/14 And with the new DM-Verity mechanism, editing system files can lead to soft-brick (the device will only boot in fastboot!

Comparison of methods of access to hidden files

Frequently asked questions