How to Open a Container on Xiaomi Smartphones: From Mi Secure Folder to Hidden System Folders

What is a “container” on Xiaomi and why do you need it?

Xiaomi smartphone users often come across the term “container,” but not everyone understands what it is. In the context of MIUI (the Xiaomi brand shell), “containers” usually mean secure data stores – from the standard Mi Secure Folder to hidden system folders, where the operating system puts backups, app cache or personal files with increased protection.

The main types of containers on Xiaomi:

• 🔒 Mi Secure Folder - the official application for encrypting files (photos, videos, documents) with a password or fingerprint.
• 📁 Hidden folders are system directories such as.miui,.thumbdata, or MIUI/Backup, which are not displayed in the standard file manager.
• 🔐 Encrypted backups – files with the.mbk extension (created through Settings) → The phone. → Backup).
• 📱 Application cloning containers – isolated spaces for duplicate messengers (for example, a second WhatsApp or Telegram).

The problems with accessing these containers are caused by a number of reasons: a forgotten password, a reset, a file system corruption, or even a firmware bug, and then we'll look at how to open each type of storage, from the simplest to the most secure.

Method 1: Opening the Mi Secure Folder (official method)

Mi Secure Folder is an analogue of Samsung Secure Folder or Private Mode on other brands.

1. Open the Safe folder app (an icon with a lock on your desktop or in the app menu).
2. Enter a password, a pattern lock, or use a fingerprint (if configured).
3. If you forgot your password, click Forgot your password and confirm your identity through your Mi Account.

⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to factory settings, all data in Mi Secure Folder is deleted without recovery, unless a backup to the Mi Cloud has been created.

Check your internet connection (to reset your password through Mi Account)

Make sure you remember the username/password from your Mi Account.

Have a backup on hand SIM-Card (may be required for two-factor authentication)

Take a screenshot of the error (if access is blocked for unknown reasons)

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Method 2: Access to hidden folders through file manager

Many users are unaware that Xiaomi has hidden folders with backups, thumbnails of photos (.thumbdata) or app cache to see:

1. Install a file manager that supports hidden files, such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. In the manager settings, enable the option to Show hidden files (usually in the Settings → View section).
3. Go to the root directory of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/) and find folders with a dot at the beginning of the name:

⚠️ Note: Delete files from the folder Android/obb It can lead to the crash of games (eg, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.

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If you can’t see the DCIM/.thumbnails folder, but the gallery is running slowly, clear the Gallery app cache in the settings (Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear Cache).

Method 3: Decrypt backups (.mbk files)

Files with the.mbk extension are created through standard MIUI backup (Settings → Phone → Backup). They are encrypted and require special tools to open. Here's how to decrypt them:

1. Download Mi Backup Extractor (available on XDA Developers)
2. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode and copy the.mbk file to your computer.
3. Run the utility and specify the path to the file. You will need to enter a password (if it was installed when you created the copy).

If you forgot your password:

• 🔄 Try the standard combinations: date of birth, last 4 digits IMEI 123456.
• 📧 Check emails from Mi Cloud – when creating a copy, the password could be sent to the mail.
• 🔧 Use Brute-force tools (such as MiBrute) but it will take hours or days.

Method 4: Unlocking Containers for Clone Applications

The dual apps (or App Cloning) feature in MIUI creates isolated containers for duplicate messengers, if you forget the password from a cloned WhatsApp or Telegram:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Double Apps.
2. Find the desired app in the list and click Delete Data (this will reset the password but delete the chat history!).
3. Alternative: Remove the cloned app and recreate it.

⚠️ Note: When you remove the cloned Telegram container, the secret chats and media files from them will be irretrievably lost, even if the main account is saved.

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The containers of cloned applications are not synchronized with the cloud; all data (chats, media) are stored only locally and deleted when the container is reset.

Method 5: Restoring access via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, try accessing containers via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

• 🔓 Resetting the Mi Secure Folder Password (requires root rights).
• 📂 Extracting files from hidden system folders.
• 🔧 Correction of errors with section mounting /data.

Instructions for extracting files from Mi Secure Folder:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and run it in ADB: adb shell su cd /data/data/com.miui.securefolder/ ls.
3. Copy the files you want on your PC: adb pull /data/data/com.miui.securefolder/files/C:\SecureFolderBackup\

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB No root rights, limited access to full access to /data Requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk, which voids the warranty and can lead to a device blink.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When working with containers on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

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If you open.mbk with an Unsupported version error, upgrade to the latest version of Mi Backup Extractor or use an alternative utility MiPCSuite (Windows only).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions