How to hide photos in the Xiaomi gallery: secret folders, archives and applications

Why standard photo removal is a bad idea

Have you ever faced a situation where you need to hide personal photos on a Xiaomi smartphone, but you do not want to delete them forever? 30 And when you sync with Mi Cloud, they can recover on other devices, and then someone can accidentally find them in a folder. DCIM/.thumbnails or through the file manager.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to hide photos on Xiaomi – from built-in features MIUI All methods tested on the latest firmware versions (up to the previous version) MIUI 15) and are suitable for Redmi Note models 12/13, POCO F5/X5, Xiaomi 13/14 Importantly, some ways require super-user rights, but we'll show you where you can get around them.

Before you go to the instructions, check what version you have. MIUI. To do this, go to the Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. The availability of certain functions depends on this, for example, a hidden folder in the gallery appeared only in the gallery. MIUI 12.5.

Method 1: Hidden folder in the standard Xiaomi gallery

The easiest way is to use the built-in concealment feature in the Gallery app, which is available on all devices with a wide range of devices. MIUI 12.5 and newer, but many users don't even know it exists, and the main advantage is that you don't need to install third-party programs, and the minus is that photos remain available through the file manager.

To hide the photo:

• 📁 Open the Gallery app and select the photos you want (click and hold for multiple selections).
• 🔒 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Hide (or Hide in English).
• 🔐 Enter your password/fingerprint if requested (this is additional protection, but not required).
• 📂 Hidden photos will be moved to the Private folder (in some versions –.Hidden).

To see the hidden photos:

1. Open the Gallery» → Swipe down to call a search.
2. Enter private or hidden in the search box.
3. A folder with hidden files will appear in the results. Access may require a password.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings, the hidden Private folder will be deleted without recovery, and its contents can be displayed when you connect to your computer via a computer. MTP (file transfer).

Method 2: Archiving of photographs in ZIP/RAR

If you need to not just hide but also compress photos (for example, to save space), you can archive them. MIUI It doesn't require root rights.

Instructions:

• 📱 Install a file manager (e.g., Google Files or Mi File Manager).
• 📁 Find a folder with a photo (usually this one) DCIM/Camera or Pictures).
• 🗄️ Select the files you need. → Press "Squeeze" (or Compress).
• 🔐 Please give the archive a name (for example, vacation_2026.zip) and choose the format (ZIP or RAR).
• 🗑️ Delete the original photos (optional).

To open the archive later:

1. Go to the file manager → find the archive.
2. Press it. → Choose "Extract" (or "Extract).
3. The photo will appear in a new folder, and after viewing it can be archived or deleted again.

⚠️ Note: If you delete the original photos after archiving, but do not verify the integrity of the archive, you risk losing data. Always test the archive for unpacking before deleting the source. Also remember that archives without a password can be opened on any device.

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To add a password to ZIP-archive, use the application «RAR» When creating an archive, select the Set password option and come up with a reliable code (minimum 8 characters with numbers and letters).

Method 3: Transfer the photo to the protected folder "Second Space"

«Second Space is a unique feature. MIUI, It creates a second independent profile on the phone with separate apps, files and settings, and it's often used to separate work and personal information, but it's also great for hiding photos.

How to set up:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Second Space.
• 🔑 Click “Create Second Space” and follow the instructions (you need to set a password or pattern lock).
• 📲 After creation, switch to Second Space (swipe down the notification panel) → profile icon).
• 📷 Move the photos to the Second Space Gallery (you can copy them through the file manager or send them to yourself via Mi Drop).

Features of the method:

• ✅ Photos are completely isolated from the main profile.
• ✅ You can use separate Google and Mi Cloud accounts.
• ❌ It takes up additional space (actually duplicates part of the system).
• ❌ When you reset your phone, Second Space is removed.

Method 4: Photo Hiding Applications (with Password and Encryption)

If integrated functions MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party apps, and they offer additional features like encryption, other software disguises like calculators, cloud backups, and we tested 3 of the most reliable options:

Instructions on the example of KeepSafe:

1. 📥 Install the app from Google Play.
2. 🔒 Ask. PIN-code or pattern lock at first start.
3. 📷 Press «+» → Select a photo from the gallery or file manager.
4. 🌐 If you wish, enable cloud backup (paid option).
5. 🔐 To mask under the calculator: close the application → The Calculator icon will appear on your desktop, and to open hidden photos, enter the password in the calculator».

⚠️ Note: Some photo hiding apps (e.g. Gallery Lock) may conflict with the MIUI Check user reviews with your Xiaomi model before installing, and avoid programs with suspicious permissions (such as access to the site). SMS or call).

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Cloaked apps like Hide It Pro are more reliable than standard hidden folders because they are harder to spot by accident, but they require more memory and can slow down a phone with more files.

Method 5: Hiding Photos by Changing File Extension (for Advanced)

This is a method that works for those who are willing to dig a little bit into the file system, and the idea is to change the photo extension (like.jpg to.txt) so that the gallery doesn't recognize them.

Step-by-step:

• 📁 Open a file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Google Files).
• 🔍 Find the right photos (usually in the DCIM/Camera or Pictures).
• 📝 Rename the file: instead of photo.jpg, make photo.txt (or any extension other than images).
• 🔄 To return a photo, rename it back to.jpg or.png.

Alternatively, use the.nomedia file:

1. Create a new text file in the photo folder and call it.nomedia (a point at the beginning is mandatory!).
2. Gallery and other media players will ignore all files in this folder.
3. To display the photo again, simply delete.nomedia.

Example of the structure of the before and after folder:


Do:




/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/




├── photo1.jpg




├── photo2.jpg





After:




/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera/




├── .nomedia




├── photo1.jpg (not displayed in the gallery)




├── photo2.jpg (not displayed in the gallery)

⚠️ Note: Changing extensions can cause data loss if you miss the title, and some apps (like Google Photos) can ignore.nomedia and show photos in the cloud.

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table on the key criteria:

If you need to hide a photo from prying eyes for a short time (for example, when you give your phone to friends), a standard hidden folder in the gallery is enough. For long-term storage of sensitive data, you should use Second Space or applications with encryption like KeepSafe.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you hide a photo on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔍 Hidden photos still visible in "Recent": Clear history in the gallery (Gallery settings) → Clear history or disable the display of recent files.
• 🔒 Forgot the password from the hidden folder: If it's a standard Private folder in the gallery, reset the password through Settings → Passwords and security → Application password. Second Space will require a phone reset.
• 📁 Photos missing after update MIUI: Check the folder. MIUI/Hidden Or use the search by file name in the file manager.
• 🌐 Photos synced with Mi Cloud: Turn off autosynchronization for gallery in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.

Another common mistake is using unreliable apps to hide photos, and some Google Play software can:

• 🛑 Stealing data (uploading your photos to your servers).
• 📴 Slowing down your phone due to background activity.
• 🔄 Reset your settings after the update.

To avoid this, always check:

1. Rating of the application (must be not lower than 4.0).
2. Number of installations (from 1 million)+).
3. Reviews (especially negative ones).
4. Permits (no access to the SMS, Geolocation, phone calls without a reason).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions