How to hide photos on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all the ways from standard to secret

Xiaomi Redmi 9 has become one of the most popular budget devices due to its balance of price and functionality. But even with this affordable device, users face the need to hide personal photos — whether they are family photos, documents or just shots that are not intended for the public. Unlike flagship models, which often have built-in safes, Redmi 9 requires a more creative approach to privacy.

Compounding the problem, the standard MIUI gallery doesn’t offer file hiding features out of the box — instead, it just sorts media by album. However, there are at least 5 working methods to securely hide photos, from using hidden folders to encryption through third-party applications. In this article, we’ll break down each method with the features of Redmi 9’s firmware, including the nuances of working with MIUI 12/13 and newer versions.

It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ Deletion: Files remain in the device’s memory and can be detected when certain manipulations (e.g., connecting to a PC) occur. If you need a 100% privacy guarantee, consider transferring sensitive data to an encrypted medium or a cloud service with two-factor authentication.

1. Hiding photos through the standard MIUI gallery

While there is no explicit “hide” option, MIUI has a workaround through the creation of closed albums, a method that works on all firmware versions for Redmi 9, but has a limitation: hidden files will be visible in the file manager and when connected to a computer.

To take advantage of this method:

• 📂 Open the Gallery app and select the photos you want to hide (hold your thumb in thumbnail for multiple choices).
• 🔒 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Move to... → New album.
• 🔐 Assign the album a title (for example, "Personal") and disable the option "Show in the main gallery".
• 🔍 To find the hidden album later, open the gallery side menu (swipe right) and select Albums → Hidden.

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If the album doesn’t show up in the Hidden section, reboot the device – sometimes MIUI caches changes with a delay.

⚠️ Warning: This method doesn't encrypt files. When you connect Redmi 9 PC-only USB Photos will be available in the folder DCIM/.hidden or Pictures/Private (depending on the version MIUI). For real protection, use additional methods from the following sections.

2.Use of the file manager to create a hidden folder

A more reliable way is to manually create a folder with a dot at the beginning of a name (such as.secret), which is not the default folder for most file managers and galleries. On Redmi 9, this can be done through standard Explorer or third-party applications like Solid Explorer.

Instructions:

1. Open Explorer (or any other file manager).
2. Go to the root directory of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/).
3. Click Create a folder and call it.nomedia or.private (required to have a dot at the beginning!).
4. Move the necessary photos to this folder.
5. Restart the device to allow the gallery to update the media index.

Created a folder with a dot at the beginning (.secret)|Files moved into it.|The gallery does not display photos.|The folder is not visible in the standard conductor-->

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Google Photos) ignore the.nomedia rule and may scan the folder. To avoid this, disable autoboot in the settings of such services.

3. Archiving photos with password (ZIP/RAR)

One of the most reliable ways is to pack photos into a password-enabled archive, which not only hides files from prying eyes, but also protects them with a password. Redmi 9 will do this with apps like RAR, ZArchiver or 7Zipper.

Step-by-step:

• 📦 Install one of the archive applications (e.g., ZArchiver from Google Play).
• 🔍 Select photos in the file manager, click Share → Add to the archives.
• 🔐 In the archive settings, select the format ZIP or RAR, Set a password (minimum 8 characters with numbers and letters!).
• 🗑️ After you create an archive, delete the original files so they don’t stay in memory.
• 🔒 Move the archive to a hidden folder (see method) №2) for double protection.

⚠️ Note: If you forget your password, it will be impossible to restore access to photos - even through Xiaomi service centers).

4. Photo Hiding Apps: A Review of Best Options

For those who are looking for maximum protection, third-party apps are the best solution. They not only hide files, but also offer additional features: fake passwords, masking as a calculator, cloud backup.-3 Proven applications for Redmi 9:

1. KeepSafe Photo Vault

• 🔐 Encryption of files according to the standard AES-256.
• 📱 Possibility of masking under a conventional calculator.
• ☁️ Cloud backup (optional).
• ❌ Disadvantage: Free version shows ads.

2. Vaulty

• 📸 Automatically Hiding New Photos When Shooting Through the App.
• 🔑 Two-factor authentication (PIN + fingerprint).
• 🚫 Block screenshots inside the app.
• ❌ Disadvantages: Some functions paid.

3. GalleryVault

• 🔄 Built-in editor for hidden photos.
• 📎 Support for concealing videos and documents.
• 🔍 Panic Button function – Quick hiding of the application.
• ❌ Disadvantage: the interface is overloaded with advertising.

KeepSafe|Vaulty|GalleryVault|Another |Not used-->

Before installing, check the application permissions: it should not request access to SMS, calls or geolocation (this is a sign of potentially dangerous software), and we recommend turning off autoboot for such applications in the MIUI settings so that photos do not fall into the cloud by mistake.

5. Hiding photos through MIUI settings (for power users)

MIUI has hidden features that restrict access to files at the system level, which requires activation of developer mode and work with ADB, but provides the highest level of protection – photos will not be available even when you connect to a PC.

Instructions for experienced users:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Enable debugging over USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect Redmi 9 to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm hide com.miui.gallery (this hides the standard gallery, but leaves file access through Explorer).
4. To completely hide the folder, do adb shell "su -c 'chmod 000 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera'" (root rights required!).

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The ADB and chmod method is reversible: to return access, use the adb shell command "su -c 'chmod 755 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Camera'." Without root rights, changes will only apply until the reboot.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you are not sure about your actions, use the simpler methods from the previous sections. MIUI Some system settings may be reset.

6.Alternative methods: cloud services and physical storage

If you need to protect your photos, consider options outside the smartphone itself, and cloud-based client-encrypted services or physical media can be a good alternative.

Cloud services with encryption:

• 🔒 Proton Drive is a Swiss service with client-side encryption (even administrators can’t see your files).
• 📁 Cryptomator – Creates encrypted containers that can be uploaded to any cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox).
• 🔐 Tresorit is a zero-knowledge service, but paid for it.

Physical media:

• 💾 MicroSD with hardware encryption (e.g. SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe with password).
• 🔌 OTG-flash drive – photos are stored on a removable medium that can be retrieved.
• 📱 The second phone is the most reliable option for storing super-sensitive data.

The advantage of these methods is that even if your Redmi 9 is lost or hacked, your photos will remain safe, but remember: cloud services can block accounts if you have suspicious activity, and physical media can be lost. We recommend combining several approaches (for example, an encrypted archive). + cloud-backup).

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding photos on Xiaomi Redmi 9