How to add a photo to a hidden folder on Xiaomi: all the methods of 2026

Hiding personal photos on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is a challenge that every second user faces. The manufacturer offers several built-in privacy protection mechanisms, but not everyone knows about their existence or proper use. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to hide photos on MIUI devices (including versions 12-14), and also talk about the nuances that can make your files vulnerable.

Xiaomi’s feature is that hidden folders work differently here than on “pure” Android. For example, standard hiding through the gallery does not protect files from access through the file manager, and the password to the folder can be bypassed through resetting. We tested all methods on current models (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+, POCO F6) and identified those that provide maximum protection even if you lose your phone.

1. Built-in Hidden Albums feature in MIUI

The easiest way is to use the built-in option in the standard MIUI gallery, which is available on all devices with MIUI 12 and later, but has limitations: files remain in the phone’s memory and can be found through the file manager.

To hide the photo:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Select the photos you need (clasp your finger and tick).
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Hide.
4. Confirm the action by clicking Move.

Access to hidden files:

• 🔍 In the gallery: Albums → Hidden albums (requires a password or fingerprint).
• 📁 Through File Manager: The.hidden folder in the root directory (visible only when you enable the display of hidden files).

⚠️ Note: This method does not protect files from access via ADB Or after you reset your phone to factory settings, use additional encryption for complete privacy.

2. password protection of the folder through "Secure folder"

The Safe Folder feature (formerly called Private Folder) appeared in MIUI 13 and provides a more secure level of protection, and the files are encrypted and do not appear in either the gallery or the file manager without authorization.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Secure folder.
2. Create a password (at least 6 characters) or use biometrics.
3. Return to the gallery, select a photo. → More. → Move it to a secure folder.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔐 Files are encrypted at the system level.
• 📱 Not visible in MIUI File Manager Even When Hidden Folders Are Enabled.
• 🔄 Synced with Mi Cloud (optional).

💡

If you use a Safe Folder, update your password regularly and do not store it in notes or messengers. In case of loss of access, you can only restore files through your associated Mi Account.

3. Hiding through a file manager (manual method)

For power users, there is a way to hide a folder manually by renaming it with a dot at the beginning (e.g., a dot at the beginning,.private_photos). This method works on all versions. MIUI, But it has a critical disadvantage: files remain accessible through ADB or after connecting the phone to the PC.

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager (MIUI File Manager)
2. Go to the Inner Memory → DCIM (or another photo folder).
3. Create a new folder and name it with a dot at the beginning (for example,.my_secret).
4. Move the files there.
5. In the file manager settings, enable the option to Show Hidden Files (to see the folder later).

Limitations:

• 🖥️ The folder is visible when connecting to the PC through MTP.
• 🔧 Available through ADB on command: adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/.my_secret
• 📲 Does not protect against removal when resetting settings.

⚠️ Note: This method is only suitable for basic concealment from random glances. Use encryption to protect against targeted search (see section 4).

4. Encryption of photos with archivers

One of the most reliable ways is to file a photo with a password, and that's something that can be done with apps like RAR, 7-Zip, or ZArchiver, and the advantage is that even if the archive gets into the wrong hands, without a password, the contents of the archive will not be available.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ZArchiver from Google Play.
2. Open the app and find the folder with the photo.
3. Select files → Press Archive.
4. Select the ZIP or 7z format and set a password (minimum 8 characters with numbers and special characters).
5. After creating the archive, delete the original photos.

Comparison of archive formats:

• 📦 ZIP: compatible with all devices, but less protected (vulnerable to brute force).
• 🔒 7z: supportive AES-256, It requires special programs for unpacking.
• 🗜️ RAR: A good balance between protection and compatibility.

Store password separately from archive |Use password manager (e.g. Bitwarden)|Verify archive integrity after creation |Delete originals after archiving-->

5. Transfer to SD-Encrypted card (for models with support)

If your Xiaomi supports microSD (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro or POCO X5 Pro), you can transfer the photo to a memory card and encrypt it, a method that is suitable for long-term storage of large amounts of data.

How to set up:

1. Insert microSD into the slot (if supported).
2. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Map.
3. Select Format as internal memory (the data will be encrypted automatically).
4. Transfer the photo to the folder SD-map through the file manager.

Important nuances:

• 📱 The card will only work on this phone (binding to the device).
• 🔄 When you retrieve the card, the data will be inaccessible without resetting the phone.
• ⚠️ If the phone breaks down, extract the data from the encrypted SD It's very difficult.

6. Third-party applications for hiding photos

If you don't like the built-in MIUI methods, you can use specialized applications. We tested 5 popular solutions and selected the best ones:

Selection recommendations:

• 🆓 For basic concealment: KeepSafe or GalleryVault.
• 🔐 For maximum protection: Private Photo Vault (paid, but with a AES-256 and screenshot protection).
• 📱 For device-to-device sync: Google Photos with Locked Folder (available from 2023).

💡

Third-party apps offer better protection than built-in MIUI tools, but require regular updates. Check reviews and permissions before installing (e.g., no camera or microphone access).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many Xiaomi users make critical mistakes in hiding photos that nullify all security efforts, among them:

1. Use simple passwords: passwords like 123456 or dates of birth are hacked in seconds. Use combinations of 12+ characters with capital letters, numbers and characters (P@ssw0rd!2026).
2. Storing backups in the cloud without encryption: By uploading photos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud without protection, you make them available to service employees.
3. Ignoring Updates: Vulnerabilities in older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12.5) can bypass hidden folder protection.

How to check the reliability of the concealment:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and try to find files through Windows Explorer.
2. Use another file manager (such as Solid Explorer) with Root enabled (if you have superuser rights).
3. Ask your friend to try to find a photo without knowing the password.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling or transferring a phone, it is not enough to simply delete hidden photos. Use the Fastboot feature to ensure that all traces are erased:

fastboot erase userdata


fastboot erase metadata

FAQ: Answers to popular questions