How to hide a folder on Xiaomi: all the ways from standard to advanced

Hiding folders on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove personal photos from the gallery to having to hide working documents from prying eyes. Unlike iOS, where functionality is limited, MIUI firmware offers several built-in tools for this purpose. However, not all of them are obvious, and some require knowledge of the hidden capabilities of the system.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to hide a folder on Xiaomi – from basic (available even to a beginner) to advanced (using the use of the newcomer) ADB We will pay special attention to the nuances of working on the latest versions. MIUI 14/15 Android 13/14, You will also learn how to return hidden folders back and what to do if they disappear after the system update.

Before proceeding to the instructions, it is important to understand: concealment ≠ Even if the folder is not visible in a standard conductor, it can be detected through a file. ADB, Connecting your phone to a PC or using special utilities. To fully protect sensitive data, consider additional encryption (for example, through Mi Secure Folder or third-party applications like Cryptomator).

1. Hiding a folder through the standard MIUI file manager

The easiest way to work on all Xiaomi devices without additional applications is to use the built-in MIUI Explorer (Files by Xiaomi), which is suitable for hiding folders with photos, videos or documents, but has a limitation: hidden folders will remain accessible through other file managers (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).

To hide the folder:

1. Open the Files app (the icon with the folder on the desktop).
2. Go to Categories → Local Storage (or Device in newer versions of MIUI).
3. Find the folder you want to hide and hold your finger on the name until the context menu appears.
4. Select Rename and add a dot at the beginning of the title, for example, the Work folder should become.Work.
5. Confirm the change. The folder will disappear from the standard conductor.

⚠️ Note: This method only works for folders in the root directory of internal memory (e.g, /storage/emulated/0/). If the folder is inside another folder (for example, /Download/Media/), Also note that some system applications (such as Gallery) may ignore this trick and continue to display media files from the hidden folder.

2.Using the "Private folder" function in MIUI

Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi added a built-in “Private folder” feature (in some regions – Mi Private Folder), which allows you not only to hide files, but also to block access to them by password or fingerprint, which is more reliable than the previous one, since hidden data is not displayed even when you connect your phone to a PC.

How to set up a private folder:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Privacy → Private folder.
• 🔒 If the function is disabled, click Enable and set the password (or use biometrics).
• 📁 Return to Files, find the folder you want, hold it, and select Move to a Private folder.
• 🔄 To return files back, go to the Private folder in the settings, select files and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the Private folder, it will be impossible to restore access to files - even through resetting settings or ADB. Xiaomi does not provide official tools to circumvent this protection. Also note that the feature may not be available on some models for the European market (for example, the Redmi Note 11 with global firmware).

3. Hiding through a root-enabled file manager (for advanced ones)

If your Xiaomi smartphone has an unlocked bootloader and root rights, you can hide the folder more securely by changing its attributes through a su-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or FX File Manager), which makes the folder invisible even for system processes, but requires caution: improper actions can cause applications to crash.

Instructions:

1. Install a root-enabled file manager (e.g., Solid Explorer with Root Access plugin).
2. Open the manager, grant superuser rights when requested.
3. Go to the folder (for example, /sdcard/DCIM/Camera).
4. Hold the folder, select Properties → Permissions.
5. Uncheck Reading and Writing for Others and Groups.
6. Save the changes. The folder will become invisible to most applications.

⚠️ Note: Modifying the permissions of system folders (e.g, /data/data/) It can cause app crashes or bootloops. Never edit the attributes of folders that start with names that start with a loop:

• com.android.
• miui.
• system or vendor.

adb pull /sdcard/YourDad C:\Backup\

This will allow you to recover data if something goes wrong.-->

4. Hiding a folder through ADB (no root)

If you don't have root rights, but you have access to debugging over USB, you can hide the folder using ADB commands. This method works on all versions of MIUI and doesn't require additional applications to be installed. However, it's temporary: after you reboot your phone or update your system, the folder can become visible again.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version until you become a developer.

USB debugging

Settings → Additional → For Developers

ADB-driver

cmd

Terminal

adb devices

The name of your device should appear.

ADB

adb shell mv /sdcard/NameFolders /sdcard/.NameFolders

For example, to hide the Secret folder, use:

adb shell mv /sdcard/Secret /sdcard/.Secret

To return the folder back, use a similar command, but without a dot:

adb shell mv /sdcard/.Folders /sdcard/NameFolders

💡

Hiding through ADB does not encrypt data – the folder remains accessible via adb shell ls /sdcard/. For full protection, combine this method with encryption (for example, ZIP with a password).

5. Alternative methods: password archiving and third-party applications

If you don't like the built-in MIUI methods, consider alternatives, which are suitable for users who need to not just hide the folder, but completely block access to its content.

Ways:

• 🔐 Password Archive: Condense the folder into ZIP or RAR with encryption (for example, via WinRAR or 7-Zip Move the archive to your phone and delete the original folder.
• 📱 Third-party applications: Utilities like Hide It Pro (Audio Manager), GalleryVault or KeepSafe create secure storage with the help of a computer. PIN-Some of them are disguised as harmless applications (e.g. calculator).
• ☁️ Private cloud storage: Upload files to Google Drive, Mega or Proton Drive by setting a link restriction. Delete local copies. Risk: data is stored on third-party servers.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications to hide folders:

• Check reviews and rankings on Google Play – some utilities contain advertising software.
• Avoid applications that request administrator rights or Accessibility Service without an explicit need.
• Some apps (like Vaulty) can save thumbnails of hidden photos in cache, which negates all secrecy.

What to do if the hidden folder disappeared after the MIUI update

One of the common consequences of a MIUI update is that folders that were previously hidden disappear, which is due to a reset of file attributes or a change in the logic of how the explorer works.

1. Check through PC: Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer mode and use Windows/macOS Explorer to find the folder. Often it just becomes visible again.
2. Restore with ADB: If the folder is renamed (e.g. from.Secret to Secret), return the point with the command: adb shell mv /sdcard/Secret /sdcard/.Secret
3. Check the Recycle Bin: In MIUI 14+, remote folders can be accessed in Files → Recycle Bin (stored for up to 30 days).
4. Use Data Recovery: If the folder is permanently deleted, try utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (requires root for deep scanning).

⚠️ Note: If the folder was hidden through a private folder MIUI And when you update, the Private folder disappeared from your settings, which could mean resetting your security settings, and you can't recover it, and it's encrypted by linking to your Mi Account and the firmware version.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding folders on Xiaomi