How to Open Hidden Albums on Xiaomi: All Ways to Get a MIUI 12-14

Hidden albums on Xiaomi smartphones are secure folders that users create for sensitive photos and videos. They do not appear in the standard gallery and require special access. However, many people face the problem when they forget their password or can not find these files after resetting. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to open hidden albums on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices with MIUI 12-14 firmware.

It's important to understand that the hidden folder mechanism in Xiaomi is different from standard Android encryption. It uses a combination of MIUI system tools and third-party applications. We'll look at both official methods through Gallery and Security, and alternative solutions for cases where standard access is blocked. Particular attention will be paid to restoring access after a phone is reset to factory settings - this is the most common cause of data loss in hidden albums.

What are hidden albums in Xiaomi and how do they work?

Hidden albums are a MIUI feature that allows you to hide media files from prying eyes. Unlike the standard dot-hiding feature in a folder title (e.g.,.hidden), it uses:

• 🔒 Hardware encryption – files are stored in encrypted form in the system partition /data/system/users/0/.
• 🔑 Link to Mi Account – access is possible only after authorization in the account that created the album.
• 📱 Gallery integration – managed through the Gallery app (Hidden Albums folder) or Security (Privacy section").

Files in hidden albums are not indexed by the system or displayed in third-party galleries (e.g. Google Photos), but they take up space in the device's memory and can be detected through the root file manager. Importantly, when you delete your Mi Account or reset your phone, these files disappear without recovery if you didn't have a backup.

Official method: access through the MIUI Gallery

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which works on all devices with original firmware (no custom builds).

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Slip along three horizontal lines in the upper right corner (menu).
3. Select Hidden Albums (may be called Closed Folders on older versions of MIUI).
4. Enter a password or scan your fingerprint (if biometric access has been configured).

If the Hidden Albums item is not on the menu, it means:

• 🔄 The function is disabled in the settings (see the next section).
• 📱 You have custom firmware (like LineageOS) where this feature is removed.
• 🔧 System applications failed (solution – resetting the Gallery settings to Settings) → Annexes).

Sign in to the account Mi who created the album |

Update the Gallery to the latest version|

Check for the "Hidden Albums" item on the menu |

Reboot your phone if the album is not displayed-->

Enable hidden albums through MIUI settings

If the hidden folder function is deactivated, you can manually enable it.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Gallery → Gallery settings.
2. Find Hidden Albums (or Confidential Folders) option.
3. Activate the switch and set a password (minimum 4 digits) or link biometrics.

On some devices (e.g., POCO F3 with MIUI 13), the path may be different:

Settings → Password and security → Privacy → Hidden albums

If there is no option, it means:

• 🌍 Your firmware has been modified (e.g. global version) MIUI China).
• 📉 Installed outdated version MIUI (Update through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🔧 System applications failed (solution – cleaning the Gallery and Security cache).

Restoring access after resetting settings

Once the phone is reset to factory settings, the hidden albums disappear from the interface, but the files remain in the device's memory.

• 🔑 You remember the password from the Mi Account that created the album.
• 📱 You have a backup in Mi Cloud (automatic backup of hidden files disabled by default!).
• 🛠️ You're ready to use it. ADB or root access for manual extraction.

Step-by-step instructions for recovery:

1. Sign in to the same Mi Account that was used to create the album.
2. Install the latest version of the Gallery from Google Play (if it has been removed).
3. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Data Recovery and select backup (if any).
4. If there is no backup, use ADB to access your system folders (instruction below).

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone and don't remember the password from your Mi Account, you can't recover hidden albums. The files are stored encrypted and linked to your account. The only way out is to contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device (check, IMEI).

Manually extract hidden files via ADB (no root)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can try extracting files via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which does not require root rights, but you need to:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and allow debugging.


2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:




adb shell




su -c "cp -r /data/system/users/0/media/0/.hidden /sdcard/"




3. The files are copied to the root of the internal memory under the hidden folder.




4. Turn off the phone and find the folder through any file manager.

If the su command doesn't work, then there are no root rights on the device, in which case try an alternative path:

adb pull /data/system/users/0/media/0/.hidden C:\Xiaomi_Hidden

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB This can lead to loss of warranty if you accidentally delete system files. /data or /system For safety, back up adb backup before work begins.

1. Reinstall the Xiaomi USB Driver drivers.

2. Use another USB-cable (preferably original).

3. Enable File Transfer (MTP) mode when connecting.

4. Launch. ADB on behalf of the administrator (Windows).-->

Alternative methods: third-party applications and root

If the official methods don't work, you can use third-party tools.

To use FX File Explorer or MiXplorer root:

1. Install the app and provide root access (via Magisk or SuperSU).
2. Go to /data/system/users/0/media/0/.
3. Find the folder.hidden or miui_hidden (may be called differently).
4. Copy files to a secure location (e.g., to a secure location) SD-map).

If you don’t want to get root, try Simple Gallery.

• 📥 Install the app from Google Play.
• 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in settings (Show hidden folders).
• 🔒 Go to Settings. → Privacy and set a password to the folder.

💡

The application side does not guarantee 100% recovery of hidden MIUI albums. They work only with files that are stored in the user partition (/sdcard/), but can not access system encrypted data without root or ADB.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When working with hidden albums, users face typical problems.

• 🔄 "Hidden albums are not displayed after the update MIUI" → Solution: Clear the Gallery and Security cache in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔑 "I forgot my password from the hidden album" → Solution: Reset password through Settings → Password and security → Password reset (Mi Account required).
• 📱 "After the phone was dropped, the albums disappeared" → Solution: Restore data from Mi Cloud or use it ADB (see above).
• 🚫 "I can't copy files through ADB (denied access)" → Solution: Get a temporary root through Magisk or use it TWRP.

If you see a message saying “It is impossible to open a hidden album”, check:

• 📌 Correctness of the entered password (check the register and layout).
• 📡 Internet connection stability (to verify your Mi Account).
• 🔄 Relevance of Gallery Version (update to Google Play).

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or HavocOS), the hidden album feature MIUI In this case, the only way to return the files is to restore the official firmware through the Mi Flash Tool or retrieve the data through the Mi Flash Tool. TWRP.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions