How to view hidden files on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Have you ever encountered a situation where an important file disappears from your phone even though it takes up memory? Or tried to find system configurations, but the.data or.miui folders don't seem to exist? Hidden files on Xiaomi are not a bug, but a feature of MIUI and Android. The manufacturer hides service data, backups and even some user files to "not confuse" the owner. But what if these files are the ones you need?

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to display hidden files on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark smartphones, from standard MIUI 14/15 settings to advanced methods using ADB and root-rights file manager. You’ll learn how to enable the display of hidden folders in Explorer, why some files remain invisible even after that, and how to safely access them, and what system folders on Xiaomi are strongly discouraged from editing to avoid turning the phone into a brick.

Important: the instructions in this article are relevant for Android 12/13/14 devices with a MIUI shell (including global and Chinese versions). If you have custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some points may differ.

1. Standard method: enable the display of hidden files in MIUI Explorer

The easiest method is to use the built-in Explorer (aka Files or File Manager), which works on all Xiaomi models without any additional applications and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Additional section and activate the Show Hidden Files switch.
4. Return to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and you will see folders and files that start with a dot (e.g..thumbdata,.nomedia).

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI (particularly POCO F5 and Redmi Note 12) this item may be called Show Hidden Items or be in the View submenu. If you don't find it, update the Files app via Google Play.

Restart your phone after changing your settings|Check if files are hidden through third-party apps (e.g. gallery)|Update the Conductor MIUI last-minute|Try an alternative file manager (see Section 3)-->

This method shows most hidden files, but not all. For example, system folders like /data/data/ or /system/ will remain unavailable – they need root rights or ADB. Also, some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) can create their own hidden directories that will not appear even after this option is turned on.

2.Why do some files remain hidden even after the option is turned on?

You've turned on the hidden file display, but you still can't see the folder you want to see, and there's a lot of reasons.

• 🔒 Systemic constraints MIUI: Folders, sort of. /data/ or /system/ They're hidden at the Android kernel level.
• 📱 Manufacturer blocked access: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) access to certain memory parts is limited even for the user.
• 🛡️ Application protection: Messengers and banking applications can encrypt their data, making it invisible to the file manager.
• 🗑️ Files deleted but spaced: Sometimes files "disappear" from the Explorer, but remain in memory (for example, after incorrect deletion). → Memory.

If you need to access system folders (for example, for backup or modification), you will need to use ADB or custom recovery (for example, TWRP).

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

Alternative File Managers: Which Shows More Hidden Files?

The built-in MIUI Explorer doesn't always work with all hidden files, especially with encrypted storage devices (such as the Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), where a third-party file manager can help, and we've tested some popular options:

💡 If you need to see hidden files without root, try it. FX File Explorer with a plugin FX Root Access. It allows you to view some system folders through ADB, It doesn't have full superuser rights, but it does require you to connect the phone to your computer and execute the command:

adb shell "su -c 'setenforce 0'"

⚠️ Warning: This command temporarily disables SELinux, the Android security mechanism, only use it if you understand the risks.

4. View hidden files through ADB (no root)

If the standard methods don't work and you don't want to get root rights, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for advanced users and allows you to see files that are not displayed in Explorer.

1. Download and install ADB on your computer (for example, through Google’s Platform Tools).
2. On your phone, enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the line with the version, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and execute: adb shell ls -la /storage/emulated/0/ This command will show all files, including hidden ones (their names start with a dot).
5. To copy a hidden file to your computer, use: adb pull /storage/emulated/0/.name file C:\path\on\computer

🔹 Example: To see the contents of the hidden.thumbdata folder (where the thumbnails of images are stored), type:

adb shell ls -la /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or edit files in folders /system/, /vendor/ or /data/data/ through ADB — If you want to clear the app cache, use the standard settings: → Annexes → Select an application → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

💡

If the adb shell command doesn't work, try running adb devices first to make sure the phone is connected correctly.If the device doesn't show up, reinstall the Xiaomi ADB Interface drivers.

5. Root Access: How to See ALL Hidden Files (for Power Users)

If you want full access to all Xiaomi folders, including system partitions, you'll need to get root rights.

• 🚨 Cancels the guarantee
• 🔓 It can cause a bootloop to be blocked)
• 🛡️ Deprives protection from malware
• 📱 It may disrupt some features (such as Google Pay or Widevine) L1 for Netflix HD)

If you are prepared for these consequences, here is a brief instruction:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).
2. Install custom recovery (e.g. TWRP) via fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
3. In TWRP, file Magisk (to get root without changing the system partition).
4. After the reboot, install Root Explorer or MiXplorer and grant them superuser rights.

You can now view and edit any files, including:

• 📁 /data/data/ — Application data (for example, saving games or setting messengers)
• 🔧 /system/ — system-file MIUI
• 📱 /vendor/ — drivers and firmware modules (camera, modem, etc.)

⚠️ Note: Modifying files in /system/ or /vendor/ This can cause the phone to fail, such as deleting a file. /system/priv-app/MiuiGallery/MiuiGallery.apk It'll break the standard gallery. TWRP before editing!

6. How to find hidden files of specific applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)

Many applications create hidden folders to store backups, cache, or temporary files.

💡 If you want to make room, first check the.thumbnails and.trashes folders, which often take several gigabytes, and can be deleted through any file manager with the hidden files displayed enabled.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files from application folders unless you know their purpose. com.whatsapp/SharedPreferences/ Reset all WhatsApp settings and erase com.miui.gallery/cache/ This can lead to errors in the standard gallery.

7 Hidden Files and Security: What Can Be Deleted and What Cannot Be Deleted

Not all hidden files are equally useful. Některé can be safely deleted to free up space, and some cannot be touched.

• ✅ Can be removed: 🗑️.thumbnails - cache of miniatures (free up to) 1–3 GB) 🗑️.trashes – File Manager Recycle Bin 🗑️.nomedia – Empty files that hide folders from the media scanner 🗑️ com.mi.application/cache/ — cache of specific applications
• ❌ You can't remove it: 🚫 /data/data/ — Application data (will cause failures) 🚫 /system/ — System Files (Bootloop Risk) 🚫.android_secure — application-data 🚫 miui/ or MIUI/ — shell-configuration

If you're in doubt about whether you can delete a file, use the rule: if you don't know what it's responsible for, don't touch it.

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Choose Deep Cleaning and wait for analysis.
3. Delete unnecessary files (cache, temporary data, duplicates).

💡

Never delete files with.odex,.apk or.so extensions in system folders, which are components of apps and libraries that will not boot your phone without.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden files on Xiaomi