How to hide photos on Xiaomi: from standard MIUI features to secret tricks

Why Xiaomi’s standard photo removal is a bad idea

Have you ever tried to simply remove compromising photos from the Xiaomi gallery and then found them in the cart a month later? or worried that someone would accidentally see personal photos while scrolling through the gallery? Standard methods of deleting in MIUI do not give 100% guarantee of privacy - files remain in the cache, backups of the Mi Cloud or are restored through DCIM/.thumbnails. Even the “Hidden Albums” function in the Xiaomi gallery has a vulnerability: when you reset or re-flash them, access is restored.

This article is not about basic deletion, but about securely hiding photos with MIUI firmware features (including versions 12-14), and we will take a look at methods from built-in tools to advanced ADB tricks that work even on locked smartphones. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, we will warn you about this in advance.

Method 1: Built-in "Hidden Album" in the MIUI Gallery - pros and pitfalls

The most obvious method is to use the Hidden Album feature available in the standard Xiaomi gallery to activate it:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Select Hidden Album and set a password (other than screen lock!).

Now you can move the photo to a hidden section: hold your finger in the picture → More → Move it to a hidden album.

• 🔓 Password is easy to reset through Mi Account if malicious user knows your username from Xiaomi.
• 📁 Files physically remain in the folder /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/.HiddenAlbum — You can find them through the file manager.
• 🔄 Update MIUI Or resetting the album can become visible.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud, hidden photos are automatically uploaded to the cloud in an unencrypted form. Turn off sync for the.HiddenAlbum folder in the cloud settings!

Method 2: Archiving photos with a password (without root)

For those who don't trust the built-in MIUI tools, create a password-enabled.zip or.7z archive with photos and delete the originals.

1. Install a file manager with archiving support (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Select the desired photo → Squeeze → Select the ZIP format with a password or 7z (AES-256).
3. Enter a strong password (at least 12 characters with numbers and special signs).
4. Delete the original files through the Gallery or Files.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔐 Password protects archive even when copying to another device.
• 🗑️ Originals deleted – they can not be restored without an archive.
• 📱 It works on all versions. MIUI Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos or Mi Cloud, the archive can automatically upload to the cloud in an unencrypted form!

Method 3: Transfer of photos to SD-Encrypted card (for models with support)

If your Xiaomi supports microSD (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or POCO X4 Pro), you can transfer the photo to the memory card and encrypt it.

• 📱 Smartphone with support for encryption of external drives (available in the MIUI 12+).
• 💾 Memory card class 10 or higher (cheap cards may not support encryption).

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SD-smartphone-card.
2. Go to Settings. → Warehouse → SD-map.
3. Select Format as internal memory → Encrypt the card.
4. Transfer the photo to the folder on the map through the Files or Gallery.

Pros: files are system-protected, only available after unlocking the phone. Cons: the card can not be retrieved and read on another device without losing data.

Method 4: Hiding photos through the “Secure folder” in MIUI (Chinese firmware only)

In the Chinese versions of MIUI (for example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra for the Chinese market), there is a function of the Safe folder (Privacy Folder), which works as a separate storage with biometric protection.

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Secure folder.
2. Set a password or fingerprint.
3. Add photos via Add files or drag them from the gallery.

Features of the function:

• 🔒 Files are not displayed in the gallery or file managers.
• 🚫 No access through ADB or root without unlocking.
• 🌐 It does not work on global firmware (only in China). ROM).

This method is one of the most reliable for the Chinese versions of MIUI, but requires reflashing on China ROM, which voids the warranty.

💡

If you have global firmware but really need a Safe Folder, try installing the Chinese version of MIUI via Fastboot, but remember, it will lead to data loss and possible problems with Google Services!

Method 5: Use of third-party applications (LockMyPix, KeepSafe, Vaulty)

If the built-in MIUI methods don't suit you, look for third-party photo hiding apps.

How to use it correctly:

1. Download the app from Google Play (not from third-party sources!).
2. Import the photo to the secure storage of the application.
3. Delete the originals through the Gallery.
4. Set up a false PIN (if there is a feature) to mask.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (like Vaulty) may upload your photos to their servers for backup!

Method 6: Advanced Hiding Through ADB and Changing File Attributes (for experienced)

If you're willing to work with ADB, you can hide photos by changing their attributes or moving them to system folders.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 taps → Additionally. → For developers).
• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (for some commands).

Example of a command to hide files (moving to the system folder):

adb shell


su




mv /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/secret.jpg /data/local/tmp/.hidden/




chmod 600 /data/local/tmp/.hidden/secret.jpg

What this team does:

1. Moves the secret.jpg file to the hidden system folder.
2. Changes access rights (chmod 600) to prevent the file from being displayed in the gallery.

Warning: misuse of ADB can lead to data loss or system failure.Before experimenting, back up!

💡

The ADB method is only suitable for advanced users. For beginners, it is better to use built-in MIUI features or third-party applications with good reviews.

Method 7: Hiding photos via TWRP and encrypting /data (for root users)

The most radical way is to encrypt the entire /data partition via TWRP, which hides the photo at the file system level, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked loader.
• 📱 Established custom recaveri TWRP.
• 💾 Backup of all data (encryption erases everything!).

Step-by-step:

1. Download to TWRP (Nutrition + Volume Up).
2. Go to Wipe → Format Data → enter Yes.
3. Select Reboot → System and wait for the reboot.
4. When you first run, MIUI will offer to set a password for encryption.

After that, all photos (and other files in /data) will be encrypted.

• ⚠️ When resetting the password, the data will be irretrievably lost.
• ⏱️ Slows down the smartphone by 10-15%.
• 🔧 Requires technical skills.

Frequent mistakes when hiding photos on Xiaomi

Even experienced Xiaomi users make mistakes that negate all efforts to hide photos.

• 📸 Forget to clean the thumbnails: even after removing the photo, their previews remain in the picture. /DCIM/.thumbnails. Delete this folder manually.
• ☁️ Do not turn off cloud sync: Mi Cloud and Google Photos can upload hidden photos to the public.
• 🔄 Use weak passwords: passwords like 123456 or date of birth are hacked in seconds.
• 📂 Use the standard File Manager: it shows hidden folders (enable the display of hidden files in the settings).

Check yourself out:

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions