How to hide photos on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: secret folders, archives and applications

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro remains a popular smartphone even years after its release, but its standard tools for hiding photos often raise questions from users. Unlike the flagship models with MIUI 14+, which has a built-in feature “Private folders”, owners of the Note 8 Pro have to look for workarounds. This article will reveal all the current ways from hidden features of firmware to reliable third-party solutions that do not require superuser rights.

It’s important to understand that simply moving a photo to a folder with a dot at the beginning of a name (like.secret) doesn’t guarantee protection. Such files are easy to find through any file manager if you know where to look. We’ll look at methods that actually hide content from outsiders, both through MIUI system tools and through proven apps from Google Play.

1. The standard feature of Hidden Albums in the MIUI Gallery

The easiest way is to use the built-in option in the Gallery app, which is available on all versions of MIUI, including those installed on the Redmi Note 8 Pro out of the box.

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
2. Select the photos that you want to hide (long press → tick).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → select Hide.
4. Confirm the action with a password or fingerprint (if the screen lock is configured).

After that, the pictures will disappear from the main landscape view.

• 🔍 Go to the Albums section. → Scroll down to the "Hidden" item".
• 🔐 You will need to enter for access PIN-code.
• 📁 Hidden photos are not displayed in gallery search results.

⚠️ Note: This method does not encrypt files, but they remain in the device's memory as they were when you connect your smartphone to your PC. MTP Hidden photos will be visible in the folder DCIM/.thumbnails or Pictures/.hidden.

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If you often hide photos, add a shortcut for quick access: press the Gallery icon on your desktop → select Hidden Albums.

2. Archiving photos in a protected ZIP with a password

If you need to encrypt a photo, you need to use password archiving, which is more reliable than standard concealment, because without a key, files cannot be viewed even through a file manager, and is suitable for sensitive images that need to be stored for a long time.

Instructions via the standard Archivator app (if not available, download RAR or ZArchiver from the Play Market):

1. Open the file manager (e.g., “Conductor” from Xiaomi).
2. Find a folder with a photo (usually DCIM/Camera or Pictures).
3. Select the desired files → Press More → Compress.
4. Select the ZIP format with a password or RAR.
5. Specify a complex password (at least 12 characters with numbers and special signs).
6. After creating the archive, delete the original photos (they will remain only in archived form).

Important: Keep your password separate from your smartphone (for example, in a password manager like Bitwarden or KeePass). If you lose your password, you can’t restore access to your photo.

3. Third-party applications for hiding photos

If built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, look for specialized utilities that offer additional features: encryption, false passwords, auto-hide when unlocked, and even calculator masking.

Top.-3 Proven applications for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🔒 KeepSafe – Creates a secure storage system with PIN-code, supports cloud backup.
• 📂 GalleryVault – simulates an error when trying to open without a password, there is a function “Panic” (quick hiding with double pressing on the screen).
• 🔐 Hide Something – encrypts files by algorithm AES-256, It works without the Internet. Plus, there's no file size limit.

How to set up KeepSafe (Step-by-step):

1. Install the app from Google Play and open it.
2. Create. PIN-code.
3. Click + → select Import Photos.
4. Mark the desired pictures → confirm the transfer to a secure storage.
5. In the settings, activate the option to Hide the icon from the application menu (so that no one guessed about its presence).

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. GalleryVault) may conflict with memory optimization in the MIUI. After installing them, add them to the list of Secure Applications (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start).

Make sure there is free space (minimum 500 MB)|Disable battery optimization for the application|Create a backup photo on PC|Check the reviews of the application in the Play Market|Set up two-factor authentication (if you have an option)-->

4. Hiding by renaming system folders

This is a method for those who don't want to install additional software, which is to manually create a folder with a dot at the beginning of a name (like.private) and move the photo there. The default system files are hidden in most file managers, but this is not reliable against targeted search.

How does it work on the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

1. Open Explorer (or any other file manager with hidden file support).
2. Go to the root directory of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/).
3. Create a new folder with a name that starts with a dot, for example:.my_secret_photos.
4. Move the desired photos there (long press → Cut → insert into the hidden folder).
5. Return to the manager settings and turn off the hidden file display (Settings → Show hidden files).

To get the photo back:

• 🔄 Enable the display of hidden files in the manager.
• 📂 Find the file.my_secret_photos Move the files to the original directory.
• 🗑️ Remove the empty folder so as not to leave any traces.

5.Using the "Second Space" function in MIUI

MIUI offers the unique opportunity to create a second working profile (Second Space) with separate applications, gallery and settings, ideal if you want to completely isolate personal photos from the main interface.

• 📸 Keep a separate gallery with private photos.
• 🔑 Set a different password or fingerprint to log in.
• 📱 Use other wallpaper and settings to avoid causing suspicion.

How to set up Second Space:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
2. Click Create Second Space and follow the instructions.
3. After creating, restart your smartphone and select the desired profile when you turn on.
4. In the second space, install the "Gallery" and transfer the photo there through the Explorer.

To switch between spaces:

• 🔄 Swipe with two fingers on the lock screen down.
• 🔐 Or enter the second space password on the unlock screen.

⚠️ Note: Second Space photos are not encrypted – they are simply stored in a separate folder (/data/system_users/{ID}/). When resetting settings or deleting space, files will be lost without the possibility of recovery.

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Second Space is the only MIUI method that completely isolates the photo from the main profile, but requires regular switching between spaces.

6. Hiding through cloud services with private albums

If you trust cloud storage, you can upload photos to a private Google Photos, Yandex Drive or Mi Cloud album, and then delete the originals from your smartphone, a method that is convenient for backups, but depends on a stable Internet.

Step-by-step instructions for Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app and log in to your account.
2. Select a photo → click Share → Save to the album.
3. Create a new album with a personal title and mark it as private.
4. In the album settings, turn on the option Only for me.
5. Remove the original photos from the device (they will only remain in the cloud).

The benefits and risks of cloud storage:

Before uploading confidential photos to the cloud:

• 🔍 Check the service’s privacy policy (e.g. Google scans uploaded images).
• 🔐 Use two-factor authentication for your account.
• 📧 Set up notifications about new account logins.

7.Alternative methods: from encryption to physical concealment

If you want maximum concealment without traces on the device, consider these options:

• 🔗 Encrypted containers (like VeraCrypt for Android) create a virtual drive that mounts only after you enter your password.
• 📱 Hiding in APK-You can file it, you can file it, you can rename it to com.example.app.apk And put it in an application folder. Risk: When you install a false one. APK" photo may be damaged.
• 💾 Physical storage on a microSD. Move the photo to a memory card, then retrieve it and store it separately. Plus: 100% digital hacking protection.

For tech-savvy users, there's another way to encrypt the partition using dm-crypt, but it requires:

• root rights (which cancels the warranty on the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
• Knowledge of working with ADB and TWRP.
• Backup of all data (risk of loss in case of error).

If you do decide to use encryption, use proven tools like LUKS Manager and follow the instructions for MIUI:

adb shell


su




cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/block/mmcblk0pX




cryptsetup open /dev/block/mmcblk0pX secret_volume

⚠️ Warning: Encrypting system partitions on Redmi Note 8 Pro can lead to bootloop (loop reboot) if the firmware does not support FBE (File-Based Encryption: Check the version before experimenting MIUI In Settings → The phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding photos on Xiaomi