How to watch a personal album in Xiaomi: hidden photos and videos MIUI

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO firmware-based MIUI They offer users a convenient feature called a personal album (or "private album"), a secure storage for photos and videos that is restricted to a password, fingerprint or pattern lock, but many device owners have difficulty: Can't find this album, forget your password, or don't know how to restore access after resetting your settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to view a personal album on Xiaomi, including hidden folders in the file manager, gallery settings and workarounds for a forgotten password. MIUI 12/13/14/15 and models from the Redmi Note 10 Xiaomi 14 If you're looking for ways to hide photos or move them to a private storage facility, you'll find answers here, too.

What is a personal album in Xiaomi and where it is stored

Personal album in MIUI — It's not just a folder of photos, it's part of the security of a smartphone, and it's integrated into the standard Gallery app, and it uses the same security mechanisms as unlocking the screen:

• 🔒 Protection: Access only after authentication (PIN, Password, fingerprint or Face ID).
• 📁 Storage: Files are encrypted and placed in the system folder /data/system/users/0/private/ (Invisible to the user without root rights).
• 🔄 Sync: Not supported with cloud services (e.g. Google Photos or Mi Cloud).
• 📱 Models: Available on all devices with MIUI 10 and newer (including POCO X5, Redmi 12, Xiaomi 13T).

It is important to understand that a personal album is not the same as hidden folders in a file manager (e.g.,.nomedia), the latter simply do not appear in the gallery, but they can be found through Files or Total Commander, and the personal album is completely isolated from the rest of the system.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings via Settings → The phone. → Reset, all data from the personal album will be permanently deleted, and can only be restored from a backup created in advance.

How to find and open a personal album in the gallery MIUI

The easiest way is through the standard Gallery app. MIUI 14/15:

1. Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
2. In the bottom menu, tap on the Albums (or swipe right if you use gestures).
3. Scroll the list up - there should be a folder "Personal Album" (or "Private Album" in English firmware).
4. Touch the album. The system will ask for a password, PIN or biometrics (depending on the screen lock settings).

If the folder is not on the list, check:

• 🔍 Filter: The gallery can have a filter on date or file type, tap the filter icon (in the form of a funnel) and reset the settings.
• 🔄 Update: Sometimes the album doesn't show up due to a glitch.Reboot your phone or update the Gallery app via Play Market.
• 📱 Firmware Region: on some global versions MIUI This function is called Private Safe (for example, in the POCO F5).

If you forget the password for your personal album, go to the section on retrieval. If the album is empty but you're sure there were files, check the hidden folders.

How to hide photos from Xiaomi’s personal album

To transfer photos or videos to a secure storage:

1. Open the Gallery and select the files you want (press your finger on one file, then mark the rest).
2. Slip on Another (three dots in the upper right corner) → Move it to a personal album.
3. Confirm the action with a password or biometrics.

Alternatively:

• 📷 Open the photo in full screen mode.
• Put it on the icon. ⋮ → Hide. → Personal album.
• 🔐 Enter a password to confirm.

Please note:

• 📤 Files move, not copy. They disappear in the original folder.
• 🚫 You can’t hide photos that are already in cloud albums (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🔄 If you delete a photo from your personal album, it will not fall into the cart - the removal is permanent.

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To quickly hide the photo directly from the camera, after shooting, tap on the thumbnail in the lower left corner. → Choose a picture → Hide. → Personal album.

Where to store files of personal album: the path to the folder

Files from the personal album are physically located in a secure system folder that is not accessible through a standard File Manager, but if you have root rights or through a secure system folder. ADB You can access them. You can access them:

To view these folders without root:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap. → return to → For developers).
2. Install. ADB to the computer and execute the command: adb shell ls /data/system/users/0/private/
3. Use the following file copy: Adb pull /data/system/users/0/private/Pictures/ C:\Xiaomi_Private\

⚠️ Note: Extracting files through ADB This can cause damage to your phone if your phone is not unlocked (bootloader locked), and it also violates Xiaomi’s privacy policy – use the method only to recover your own data.

How to Restore Access to a Personal Album If You Forgot Your Password

If you forget the password from your personal album, there are not many options — MIUI It doesn't provide an official way to dump:

Method 1: Reset password through your Mi Account

This method works if:

• 🔑 My phone has a Mi Account attached.
• 📶 Internet access.
• 🔄 Find the device activated.

Instructions:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Select your device in the Device Management section.
3. Press Find the device. → Lockdown.
4. Set a new screen lock password – it will also be used for a personal album.

Method 2: Delete the key file (root required)

For experienced users:

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install Root Explorer and go on the way: /data/system/locksettings.db
3. Delete or rename the file. Once you reboot, the password will reset.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting locksettings.db will reset all passwords on your phone, including screen and app locks.It can also disrupt Mi Account – use at your own risk.

Method 3: Restore from backup

If you have created a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup,:

1. Reset your phone to factory settings.
2. When you first start, select Restore from backup.
3. Specify a backup file (e.g., with Google Drive or Mi Cloud).

The only reliable way to keep access is to regularly export files from your personal album to your storage or cloud. → More. → Export.

Alternative ways to hide photos on Xiaomi

If a personal album seems uncomfortable, consider the alternatives:

• 📂 Hidden folders: Create a folder with a dot at the beginning of the name (such as.secret) and place files there. In the Gallery, they will not be displayed, but will remain accessible through Files.
• 🔐 Third-party applications: KeepSafe - encryption with PIN-GalleryVault - Simulated error when trying to access. 1Gallery — Hidden albums with cloud synchronization.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Upload photos to Google Photos (private album) or Mi Cloud with limited access.
• 📱 Second profile: in Settings → System system → Multiple users can create a separate profile with their own data.

Advantages of alternatives:

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Personal album MIUI — The safest option for storing sensitive files, but only if you remember your password and make regular backups.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Let’s look at common mistakes and ways to eliminate them:

1.Personal album disappears after update MIUI

Reasons:

• 🔄 Reset gallery settings.
• 📱 Conflict with the new version of the firmware.

Decision:

1. Update the Gallery app through Play Market.
2. Clear the cache of the gallery: Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. If it doesn’t help, try to revert to the previous version. MIUI via Mi Flash Tool.

2. biometrics for access is not working

What to do:

• 👆 Re-register your fingerprint: Settings → Passwords and security → Fingerprint.
• 🔄 Make sure that your personal album settings include the option to Allow Biometrics.
• 📱 Restart your phone – sometimes the sensor will crash after prolonged use.

3.Photos in personal album damaged

Possible causes:

• 🛠️ Interrupted encryption when moving.
• 🔋 Abrupt power outage during work with the album.

Decision:

1. Try opening files on another device through ADB (see section above).
2. Use image recovery software such as DiskDigger.

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If your personal album photos don't open, try renaming their extension from.enc to.jpg (via PC), which sometimes helps if the encryption hasn't been completed.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions