How to view hidden files on Xiaomi: all ways to MIUI

Hidden files on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones are system data that by default are not displayed in the standard file manager. They can contain important information from app backups to MIUI configuration files. But what if you need to access them, for example, to restore deleted photos, edit system settings or diagnose problems?

In this article, we’ll break down all the current ways to view hidden files on Xiaomi devices – from built-in tools to the best of your experience. MIUI to third-party applications and ADB-We'll focus on the nuances for different firmware versions (MIUI 12/13/14) and models (from Redmi Note) 10 Xiaomi 14 You will also learn which files can be safely deleted and which ones are not recommended to be touched.

Why are files hidden and can they be deleted?

The MIUI (Modified Android from Xiaomi) operating system hides some files for two reasons:

• 🔒 Protecting system data – Accidental deletion or change can cause smartphone malfunctions.
• 📁 Simplification of the interface – only current files (photos, videos, documents) are shown to the user, without technical “garbage".
• 🛡️ Security – some folders (e.g, /data/data/) contain personal data of the applications.

Can you delete hidden files? Depends on the type:

⚠️ Note: Even if you see a folder called Android or MIUI — Don't rush to clean it. Android/obb/ It contains game data, and MIUI/sound_recorder/ — Recordings from the recorder, deleting user data.

Method 1: Enable the display of hidden files in a standard MIUI Explorer

The easiest method is to use Xiaomi's built-in file manager, which is available on all devices with a file manager. MIUI It doesn't require any additional applications. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
3. Select "Settings" item.
4. Activate the "Show hidden files" switch.
5. Return to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) – now hidden folders and files (their names start with a dot, for example.config) will be visible.

If this item is not in your version of MIUI, then the manufacturer has limited the functionality, in which case use Method 3 (application side) or Method 4 (ADB).

Update. MIUI last-minute|Check the administrator's rights|Use an alternative conductor|Try the way with ADB-->

Method Limitation: In some firmware (e.g. Redmi 9A with MIUI Global), the option may be blocked, and standard Explorer does not show system folders outside the user partition (e.g. /data/ or /system/).

Method 2: Total Commander or FX File Explorer

If the built-in Explorer doesn't work, install a third-party app. We recommend Total Commander or FX File Explorer, which are free (with ads) and support root rights.

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and tap the button "..." (menu) in the upper right corner.
3. Select "Settings" → "Display" → "Show hidden files".
4. Root may be required to access system folders (/data/, /system/).

The FX File Explorer has a similar functionality, but with a more modern interface.

• 🔍 Support for root access (if the device is unlocked).
• 📂 Opportunity to mount cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex Disk).
• 🔄 Built-in FTP-server.

⚠️ Note: When using root access, you risk disrupting the integrity of the system, such as changing files to /system/build.prop This can lead to a bootloop. Always back up before editing!

Standard. MIUI|Total Commander|FX File Explorer|Solid Explorer|Other-->

Method 3: Viewing hidden files via PC (MTP or ADB)

If you need to access files from a computer, connect your smartphone over a cable and use one of two methods:

Method A: File Transfer Mode (MTP)

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. On your computer, open "This Computer" - your smartphone will appear as a removable disk.
4. Enable the display of hidden files in the Windows Explorer settings (View → Hidden Items).

Method B: ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If MTP doesn’t show all files (e.g. system folders), use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) which requires USB debugging enabled:

1. Activate Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the build number.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-drivers and execute the command:

adb shell ls -la /storage/emulated/0/

This command will display a list of all files (including hidden ones) in the main memory of the device.

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/.hidden folder C:\path\on\pk

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If ADB not seeing the device, try reinstalling drivers or using the original USB-Xiaomi cables, cheap cables often don't support data transmission.

Method 4: Getting root permissions to access ALL hidden files

Without root rights, you will not be able to view or edit files in system partitions (/data/, /system/, /vendor/).

• 🚫 Loss of warranty (if the device is under warranty).
• 🔄 Risk of “bricking” in case of error in the process.
• 🛡️ Vulnerability to malware (applications get extended rights).

If you are prepared for risk, follow the instructions:

1. Unlock the bootloader through Xiaomi’s official website (en.miui.com/unlock) and it will take 7-30 days (depending on the model).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP) for your model.
3. Sweep Magisk through recovery to get root.

After getting root, you can:

• 📁 View all hidden folders (including the /data/data/ application-data).
• ⚙️ Edit system files (e.g. build.prop to change system settings).
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary system applications (bloatware).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13/14 Android 12+ Xiaomi has tightened protection, such as changing files to /system can cause the operation of Anti-Rollback - a mechanism that blocks the boot when you try to roll back firmware.

Method 5: Alternative methods (for specific tasks)

Sometimes hidden files are used to solve specific problems, and let's look at three common scenarios:

1. Recover deleted photos from the hidden folder.thumbnails

The miniatures are stored in the DCIM/.thumbnails folder. If you accidentally deleted the photo but the thumbnails are left, you can restore them using DiskDigger or Recuva (on PC).

• 📸 Do not save new files to your device until recovery!
• 🔄 Use a memory card (if the photo was on it).

2. edit the build.prop file without root

The /system/build.prop file contains system settings (e.g. device model, screen resolution) and can only be changed without root via ADB:

adb pull /system/build.prop

Edit the file on PC (for example, in Notepad++)



adb push build.prop /system/




adb reboot

On MIUI 14 with Android 13+, this method may not work due to /system partition protection, which would require a patch through Magisk.

3. Access to MIUI backup files

Backups created through Settings → Additional → Backup are stored in:

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/

To extract data from the backup:

1. Copy the AllBackup folder on your PC.
2. Rename the backup file (for example, backup_20260515_123456.ab) zip.
3. Unlock it with 7-Zip or WinRAR.

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Not all data from a MIUI backup can be manually restored, such as SMS and call logs stored in encrypted form and require special tools.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When working with hidden files, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

If you encounter an error not described in the table, check the logs through ADB:

adb logcat | grep -i "error"

This will help diagnose the problem by keywords.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions