How to hide a folder on the Xiaomi desktop: all the ways from simple to complex

Xiaomi’s desktop is rapidly becoming a mess of folders, shortcuts, and widgets — especially if you’re actively using the device for work, school, or hobbies. But not all files and folders need to be kept in plain sight: some contain personal information, others just spoil the aesthetics of the interface. Fortunately, MIUI offers several ways to hide folders from the home screen, and not all of them are obvious to the average user.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods, from basic launcher features to hidden file manager capabilities to even advanced tech tricks. Importantly, some methods only work on certain versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 14+), while others are universal for all Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models. We’ll point out the limitations and nuances for each variant.

If you're looking for a way to hide a folder not only visually, but also to protect it from prying eyes -- at the end of this article, there's a bonus section on encryption and password protection of hidden data. And for those who are afraid of accidentally deleting important files, we've prepared an FAQ with answers to frequent errors.

1. Hiding the folder through the settings of the MIUI launcher

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in features of Xiaomi’s standard launcher, which does not remove the folder from the device, but only removes its icon from the desktop, and the files will remain accessible through Files or Explorer.

The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-15 (including global and Chinese versions):

1. Press and hold your finger on the folder you want to hide until the context menu appears.
2. Select Remove from the screen (or Remove from Home screen in English firmware).
3. Confirm the action – the folder will disappear, but will remain in the App Drawer (app menu).

⚠️ Important: This method doesn't work for folders created in App Drawer -- it only hides objects from the desktop. If you need to hide a folder from the app menu, move on to the next way.

Make sure that there are no shortcuts to system applications in the folder (deleting them may disrupt MIUI)

Check the free space in memory - when hiding large folders, the launcher can slow down

Back up important files (for example, via Mi Cloud)

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2.Using the Hidden Applications function in MIUI

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi added the ability to hide not only folders, but also individual apps/shortcuts, which works for folders as long as they contain at least one program shortcut.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Hidden Applications.
2. Activate the slider Hide applications.
3. In the list, find the folder (it will appear as a separate "app" with the name of the folder) and tick it.
4. Click Ready – the folder will disappear from the desktop and from App Drawer.

To get the folder back:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Hidden applications.
• 📌 Enter your password/fingerprint (if you have security set up).
• ✅ Take the tick off the correct folder.

💡 Nuance: If the folder contains only files (like documents or photos) and not app shortcuts, this method won't work.

Standard MIUI Launcher

Nova Launcher

HyperOS Launcher (for new models)

Another (write in the comments)-->

3. Hiding through a file manager (for power users)

This method is suitable for folders that store files (photos, documents, videos) rather than application shortcuts. We will modify the attributes of the folder so that it becomes invisible to the launcher, but remains accessible through Files or Explorer.

Note: Incorrect actions can lead to data loss. If the folder contains system files (for example, from the /system partition), this method cannot be used - the risk of damaging the firmware.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Files app (or any other file manager with root rights, if any).
2. Find the folder you want to hide (usually it is in the file). /storage/emulated/0/ or SD-map).
3. Rename the folder by adding a dot at the beginning of the name. For example, My documents →.My documents.
4. Reboot your smartphone – the folder will disappear from the desktop.

To get the folder back:

1. Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager (Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Find the folder (it will be translucent) and rename it, removing the dot.

4. Creation of a second space (Second Space)

The MIUI Second Space feature allows you to create a separate desktop with unique settings, applications and files, ideal if you want to not just hide the folder, but completely isolate it from the main interface.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
2. Create a second space by following the system prompts (you will need to create a password).
3. After creation, switch to Second Space (swipe down the notification panel → user icon).
4. Move the folder to the desktop of the second space – it will be mostly invisible.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the Second Space password, it will be impossible to restore access to hidden data without resetting your settings. Xiaomi does not provide official unlocking tools.

💡

To quickly switch between spaces, add the Second Space widget to the home screen. To do this, click and hold the empty space on the desktop → Widgets → find Second Space and drag it.

5. Advanced Methods: ADB and root rights

If standard methods don’t work (for example, you want to hide a system folder or automate a process), you can use the system. ADB-These methods require technical knowledge and can disrupt the system if used incorrectly.

Method 1: Hiding through ADB (without root)

Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to activate Developer Mode, then Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB) and execute the command:

adb shell pm hide com.miui.home/.launcher.Launcher


adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

This command will hide the launcher, but the folders will remain accessible through the file manager.

adb shell pm unhide com.miui.home/.launcher.Launcher

Method 2: Change folder attributes (requires root)

Using Root Explorer or FX File Explorer (with root access), find the folder and change its resolutions (chmod 000) so that the launcher can not display it. This is a risky method - incorrect permissions can make the folder unavailable even for you.

6. Bonus: How to Protect a Hidden Folder with a Password

Hiding a folder is only half the battle if it stores sensitive data. To add an extra layer of protection, use:

• 🔒 Built-in encryption MIUI: Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Secure applications and add the file manager to the list of protected applications. Now every time you open the folder, you need a password.
• 📁 Third-party applications: File Hide Expert, Hide Something or Vault allow you to create password-encrypted storage for files, encrypt data and mask it as harmless applications (for example, a calculator).
• 🔐 Archiving with a password: pack the folder in ZIP/RAR password-wise RAR For Android or ZArchiver, then delete the original. Store the archive in the cloud or on the cloud. SD-map.

⚠️ Warning: If you use third-party encryption apps, be sure to set up key backups. If you lose your password, it will be impossible to recover data - even Xiaomi will not be able to help.

💡

The most reliable way to protect is a combination of hiding the folder (through Second Space or renaming) + encryption (built-in or third-party).

FAQ: Frequent Questions and Problems