How to hide photos and videos on Xiaomi Android smartphones: the complete guide 2026

Smartphone privacy is a key concern for today’s users. Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark models) offer several built-in mechanisms to hide photos and videos, but not all owners know about their existence or know how to use them. This article will help you figure out how to securely hide media files from prying eyes without having to delete them or resort to radical measures like resetting.

We’ll look at both standard MIUI features (including hidden folders and password protection) and third-party solutions with additional features. We’ll focus on the nuances of working on different versions of the firmware — from MIUI 12 to HyperOS, and also see what methods will save files when resetting your phone to factory settings. If you’re looking for a way to hide not only photos, but also videos, screenshots or documents, here you will find the latest solutions for any task.

1. Built-in "Hidden Albums" feature in Xiaomi Gallery

The easiest way to hide a photo on Xiaomi is to use the built-in Hidden Albums feature in the standard Gallery app, which works on all devices with MIUI 11 and later, including HyperOS, and does not require installing additional programs. Files remain on the device, but become unavailable through normal browsing.

To hide photos or videos:

• 📂 Open the Gallery app and find the file you want.
• 🔘 Highlight it with a long press (or multiple touches for multiple choices).
• 🔒 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Hide.
• 🔐 When first used, the system will be PIN-code or pattern lock to access hidden files.

Important: files hidden through the Gallery remain in the device’s memory and can be found through the file manager if you know the path: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/. For full protection, it is recommended to combine this method with others.

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If you forgot. PIN-code from the hidden album, it can be reset via Settings → Passwords and security → Confidentiality → Reset the password of the hidden album, you will need to enter the password from the Mi Account.

2. password protection of folders through "Secure Storage"

Secure Storage (or Private Safe in international firmware) allows you to not only hide files, but also encrypt them with a password or fingerprint, and unlike hidden albums, these files will not show up even when you connect your phone to your computer. This method works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and above.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Secure Storage.
2. Create. PIN-Use or use biometric authentication.
3. Click Add Files and select photos or videos from the Gallery.
4. Confirm the transfer of files to a secure storage.

⚠️ Note: If you use Secure Storage on a HyperOS device, please note that when you flash it to a custom version of Android (like LineageOS), file access will be lost.

3. Hiding files through the file manager (without third-party applications)

A lesser-known but effective way is to rename the media folder by adding a dot to the beginning of the name, which is hidden from most applications, including the Gallery, and works on all versions of MIUI and does not require root rights.

Step-by-step:

• 📂 Open Files (Standard File Manager Xiaomi).

To see files again, turn on the display of hidden folders in the file manager settings (Settings → Show hidden files). This method does not encrypt data, but makes it inaccessible to standard applications.

4. Third-party applications for media hiding: top-3 decision

If Xiaomi's built-in features aren't enough, you can use specialized applications, and we tested the three most reliable options that are compatible with MIUI/HyperOS:

1. KeepSafe is an encryption and cloud backup app that supports hiding over the cloud. PIN-Fingerprint, code, and even fake PIN (false password to display "clean" storage).
2. GalleryVault offers additional features like masking under the calculator and automatic concealment when trying to take a screenshot.
3. Hide Something is a minimalist open source solution that does not require superuser rights.

Before installing third-party apps, check their permissions in Settings → Apps → Permissions. These file hiding programs only request access to storage and camera (to create photos inside the application). If the application requires access to SMS, contacts or geolocation, this is a reason to be wary.

⚠️ Note: Some file hiding apps (such as Vaulty or Hide It Pro) have been removed from Google Play for collecting user data. 4PDA or XDA-Developers.

Check out reviews on independent sites (not just Google Play)|Check the permissions requested|Make sure the app has been updated in the last 6 months|Test on unnecessary files before hiding important data-->

5. Hiding files through password-archiving

If you need to not just hide files, but encrypt them, you can use password-enabled archivers, a method that is suitable for long-term storage of sensitive data and is compatible with any device, including Xiaomi on HyperOS.

Instructions:

1. Install an archiver (such as RAR or 7-Zip from Google Play).
2. Select files in the file manager and select Compress.
3. In the archive settings, select the ZIP encryption format or RAR.
4. Set a complex password (at least 12 characters with numbers and special signs are recommended).
5. After you create the archive, delete the original files (if necessary).

To extract files, you need to enter a password, which is reliable, but it's not convenient for frequent use, you have to unpack the archive every time, but the files will be protected even when you connect the phone to your computer or flash it.

6. Hiding by creating a second user (for MIUI 12+)

The multiplayer feature in MIUI allows you to create a separate profile with your own apps and files, which is suitable if you want to completely isolate personal data from your main profile, for example, you can create a Job and Personal profile, switching between them as needed.

How to set up:

• 👤 Go to Settings. → System system → Multiplayer mode.
• 🔄 Activate the function and add a new user.
• 🔐 Set up a separate setup. PIN-code or pattern lock for the second profile.
• 📁 Transfer the files to the Gallery or the file manager of the second user.

The advantage of this method is complete data isolation, a disadvantage: when switching between profiles, some applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) may require re-authorization, and the second profile takes up additional space in the device's memory.

7 Advanced methods: disk encryption and root access

For users willing to take drastic measures, there are methods using root rights or partition encryption, which offer maximum protection, but require technical skills and can lead to loss of warranty.

Options for experienced users:

• 🔧 Encryption through TWRP: Install custom recovery and encrypt the section /data It's built-in tools. It requires a backup!
• 🛠️ Root Access Applications: Root Explorer or FX File Explorer allows you to hide files at the system level by changing their attributes.

⚠️ Attention: Encryption of the section /data On Xiaomi devices with HyperOS can lead to problems with the work of services Google and Mi Account. Before manipulation untie the Mi Account in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete your account to avoid blocking your device.

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Encrypting a partition or using root rights voids Xiaomi’s warranty, which is only recommended for devices that are no longer warranty-based or for experienced users who are prepared for potential risks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file hiding on Xiaomi