Personal photos on your smartphone are like a diary that's always with you. But what if you want to hide some of the pictures from prying eyes? Xiaomi Redmi owners often face this challenge: a standard gallery MIUI It doesn't always offer obvious solutions, and third-party applications can cause security. In this article, we'll look at all the working methods, from built-in features to advanced file system tricks.
Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to move the photo to a folder with a dot at the beginning of the title (for example,.hidden). MIUI 13/14 This is a very unstable method, because the gallery can still display these files after it's rebooted or updated. We tested each method on Redmi Note models. 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 flagship POCO F4/F5 — The results are summarized in the comparison table below.
It's important to understand: concealment ≠ If someone gets physical access to a debugging phone (ADB) Or if you plug it into a PC, you can find the hidden files, and you need to use a special application like KeepSafe or GalleryVault to protect it, and we'll look at those, too.
1. Built-in feature "Hidden Albums" in the gallery MIUI
The easiest and safest method is to use Xiaomi’s native tool, which is available on all devices with a wide range of devices. MIUI 12 and newer, including the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and POCO X5. The algorithm of the work:
1. Open the standard Photo Gallery.
2. highlight the desired pictures with a long tap (or press). ⋯ → Choose).
3.Slip on the icon. ⋯ → Hide (or Hidden Album in New Versions).
4. Confirm the action with a password / fingerprint (if the gallery lock is configured).
Where do you look for hidden photos? They go to the folder. DCIM/.thumbnails (Not to be confused with a cache of miniatures:
- 🔍 Gallery menu: Albums → Hidden album (unlocking required).
- 📁 File Manager: Enable the Display of Hidden Folders in Settings.
- 🖥️ PC: when connected by USB The folder will be visible if the file transfer mode is enabled.
Limitations of the method:
- Photos remain in the device's memory and can be found through ADB.
When you reset the settings, the hidden albums will disappear.
- It does not work for video (only for images in formats) JPG/PNG).
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If the gallery does not have the option to “Hide”, update the Photos app via Google Play or App Store MIUI. In the old versions, the function was called "Add to a private album".
Archiving of photo in ZIP password-wise
If you need to password-protect your photo, not just hide it, archiving is the perfect option. A1 redmi 9A. Pluses:
- 🔒 Encryption: without a password, the archive cannot be opened.
- 🗃️ Compactness: ZIP It takes up less space than the original files.
- 🌐 Universality: archive can be moved to PC or cloud.
Instructions:
1. Install a file manager with archiving support (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Select the photo in the folder DCIM/Camera.
3.Push it. ⋯ → Compress (or Archive).
4. Select the format ZIP Set a password (minimum 8 characters with numbers).
5. Remove the originals (optional).
⚠️
Attention: Don't lose your password! Recover data from the protected ZIP You can't do it without it. Store your password backup in Mi Cloud or on paper.
Use the same applications to unpack or WinRAR/7-Zip If the archive is damaged, try to restore it through ZIP Repair Tool.
☑️ Preparation for archiving photos
3 Hidden folders: How to create and why they don’t always work
In Android, folders with a dot at the beginning of the name (such as.secret) are by default hidden from the user. MIUI This mechanism is not working properly:
The gallery can ignore hidden folders after the update.
The Mi File Explorer file manager shows them if the "Show Hidden Files" option is enabled.
- When connecting to the PC, folders are visible in mode MTP.
How to Create a Hidden Folder Correctly:
1. Open Mi File Manager (or Total Commander)
2. Go to the root catalogue (/storage/emulated/0/).
3. Press. ➕ → File and name it.nomedia_photos (important: no gaps!).
4. Transfer the photo to this folder.
5. Create an empty.nomedia file inside, which will block the folder from being scanned by media players.
⚠️
Note: If you delete the.nomedia file, the gallery will display the photo again after the reboot. ADB Shell on the lss team -la /storage/emulated/0/
An alternative way to use a folder Android/data:
Create a folder with an arbitrary name inside (for example, com.hidden.photos).
- Take the picture over there.
The system will not scan this directory as a media.
| Method | Gallery visibility | Visibility in the file manager | Protection from ADB | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI's Hidden Album | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Yeah (in hidden folders) | ❌ No. | ⭐ |
| ZIP with a password | ❌ No. | ✅ Yeah, like an archive) | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐ |
| Folder.nomedia | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Yes (if you turn on the display) | ❌ No. | ⭐⭐ |
| Android/data folder | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ⭐⭐ |
| Third-party annexes | ❌ No. | ❌ No (inside the annex) | ✅ Yes (if there is encryption) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
4. Third-party apps: top-3 solution
If the built-in methods don't work, look at the specialized software, and we tested 10 apps and selected the best ones for the software. MIUI:
1. KeepSafe Photo Vault (Google Play)
- 🔐 Encryption by standard AES-256.
- 🎭 False. PIN: You can create a "cover" with fake photos.
- ☁️ Cloud reservations (optional).
- ❌ Disadvantage: Free version shows ads.
2. GalleryVault (APKMirror)
- 🚀 Quick Hiding Directly From Gallery via Share.
- 📱 Support for biometrics (fingerprint/face).
- 🔄 Autocleaning: Remove originals after importation.
- ⚠️ Beware: Google Play has a lot of fakes – download from the official website.
3. Private Photo Vault (by Legoshi)
- 📂 Support for folders: You can hide entire directories.
- 🔍 Steganography: Hiding a photo inside other images.
- 🛡️ Screenshot protection (blocks screen capture).
- ❌ Cons: a complex interface for beginners.
⚠️
Warning: Before installing, check the app's permissions! If it requests access to Contacts, SMS or Geolocation, it's suspicious. Optimal permissions: Warehouse, Camera (for import).
How to cheat spy apps?
5. Advanced method: encrypted container with Veracrypt
For paranoids who want maximum protection, Veracrypt, a software for creating encrypted containers, works on Redmi via Termux or on a PC.
1. Install Termux from F-Droid (not from Google Play!).
2. Enter commands:
pkg update && pkg upgrade
pkg install wget
wget https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Downloads/veracrypt-1.25.9-Android-arm64.apk3. Set up the downloaded APK.
4. Create a container (Create Volume) and transfer the photo there.
✅ Pluses:
- Military encryption (AES-256 + Serpent).
The container looks like a random file (e.g. notes.db).
- Works without root rights.
❌ Cons:
- It's hard to set up a newbie.
Requires backup (if you lose your password, the data is lost forever).
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Veracrypt is the only method that protects a photo even when physically accessing a phone (for example, if it is stolen or confiscated).
6 Resetting and Recovering Hidden Photos
What if you did Hard Reset and the hidden photos were gone?
If the photo was in "Hidden Album" MIUI:
- They were stored in DCIM/.thumbnails and were removed upon discharge.
You can only restore them through programs like DiskDigger (unless the place has been overwritten).
If the photos were in ZIP-archive:
- The file remains on the device, but the path to it may change (see the file). /storage/emulated/0/Download/).
- Use a keyword search (for example, secret.zip) file-manager.
If the photo was in a hidden folder:
- nomedia folders and Android/data The contents will remain visible to the gallery.
Recreate the.nomedia file inside the folder.
⚠️
Note: After resetting, Xiaomi can create a new folder DCIM with old access rights, check it through ADB ls -ld /storage/emulated/0/DCIM — If the rights are different from drwxrwx--x, adjust them.
7. How to hide photos from specific applications (WhatsApp, Telegram)
Messengers often scan the gallery and suggest sending a photo to remove hidden images from their access:
For WhatsApp:
1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse and data → Media visibility.
2. disable the option to Show media from the gallery.
For Telegram:
1. Open a chat room where you want to hide the photo.
2.Push. ⋯ → Remove media (removes only previews, originals remain).
Universal way:
- Move the photo to the folder. Android/media/com.whatyouwant.tohide/ (Replace com.whatyouwant.tohide with ID any installed application).
Messengers do not scan the directories of other applications.
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To find ID App Inspector (available on Google Play, ID WhatsApp — com.whatsapp, Telegram — org.telegram.messenger.