How to hide a folder in the Xiaomi gallery – all the ways from standard to hidden

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones store thousands of personal photos, from family snapshots to screenshots of important information. But what if some of these files need to be hidden from prying eyes? The standard MIUI gallery doesn't always offer convenient folder hiding tools, and simply renaming.nomedia doesn't work on all versions of the firmware.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to hide a folder in the Xiaomi gallery – from built-in features to third-party applications with encryption.

• 🔒 Hide the folder through standard settings MIUI (rootless)
• 📁 Use a.nomedia file and why it sometimes doesn’t work
• 🔐 Password hidden files with Notes or Security
• 🛠️ Apply third-party encryption hideout applications
• 📱 Configure folder hiding on different versions MIUI (12/13/14)

Important: the methods vary in security, for example, hiding through.nomedia does not protect against access through the file manager, and encryption by third-party applications is the most reliable, but also the most difficult way.

1. Hiding a folder through the standard Xiaomi gallery (no root)

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI features. It is suitable for most models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, Xiaomi 12/13/14, Poco F3/F4/F5) and does not require the installation of additional applications.

Instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Find the folder you want to hide and click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
3. Choose Hide album (or Hide album in English).
4. Confirm the action – the folder will disappear from the main view, but will remain available in the Hidden Albums section.

⚠️ Attention: This method does not protect files with a password. Hidden albums can be easily found if you know where to look, for example, the path to them in file managers:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/private/

Also, some firmware (MIUI 12 and below) may not have the Hide Album option, in which case you can try updating the gallery via Google Play or using alternative methods.

Xiaomi Gallery Open | Selected folder | No important files in the Recycle Bin | Checked version of MIUI (Settings → About phone)

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2.The.nomedia file: how it works and why it sometimes doesn't hide the folder

The.nomedia method has been around for a long time, but it doesn't work well in MIUI, and the bottom line is that any file manager (like Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) ignores the folders that have the file in them, but Xiaomi's gallery can continue to display media files.

How to create.nomedia:

1. Open Files (or any file manager)
2. Go to the folder you want to hide (for example /DCIM/Camera).
3. Create a new text file and call it.nomedia (with a dot at the beginning!).
4. Save the file and restart the phone.

🔍 Why the method may not work:

• 📱 MIUI 13/14 Ignores.nomedia for system folders (e.g, DCIM or Pictures).
• 🔄 After updating the gallery or firmware, the file may be reset.
• 📂 Some apps (like Google Photos) scan files regardless of.nomedia.

A critical feature: if you use cloud backup (Mi Cloud or Google Photos), the files hidden through.nomedia can still sync! To avoid this, disable autoboot for a specific folder in the cloud settings.

3. Hiding folders through the application "Notes" with a password

Few people know, but the standard Notes app in MIUI can store files encrypted, not a full folder hide, but a great way to hide individual photos or documents.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your notes and create a new note.
2. Click on the icon + → Attachment → select the files you want to hide.
3. After adding, press three points (⋮) → Block it.
4. Set a password or fingerprint.

✅ Pros of the method:

• 🔐 Files are password protected and not displayed in the gallery.
• 📱 It works on all versions. MIUI (including HyperOS).
• 📎 You can add not only photos, but also videos, documents, audio.

⚠️ Attention: If you delete a note, files will be deleted permanently, and this method is not suitable for hiding entire folders - only individual files.

4.Security app – PIN-coded hiding

MIUI has a built-in Security app that allows you to create a Private Password Album, which is more reliable than simply hiding through a gallery, since it requires authentication to access.

How to set up:

1. Open Security (Icon with Shield)
2. Go to the Private Album (or Private Album) section.
3. Install. PIN-code.
4. Click Add Files and select photos/video to hide.

📌 Important nuances:

• 🔄 When resetting the phone to factory settings Private album is cleaned!
• 📱 On some models (Poco) X3, Redmi 9) this section may be called Secret Vault.
• 🔒 If you forgot. PIN, Access can only be restored through your Mi Account.

💡

To increase protection, disable the notifications from the Security app in the notification settings so that no one will know you opened a private album.

5. Third-party applications for hiding folders (with encryption)

If the built-in methods don't work, you can use third-party apps, which offer encryption, password protection, and even masking with other programs (like a calculator).

🔧 How to hide a folder through GalleryVault:

1. Install the application and set a password.
2. In the main menu, select Import → specify the folder to hide.
3. Confirm the transfer of files to a secure storage.
4. Enable the option to erase originals if you want to delete files from the original folder.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications:

• 🔓 Some programs (GalleryVault, Vaulty) may request access to Special Opportunity Services – this is fine, but check reviews before installing.
• 📱 If you delete the app, hidden files may go missing! Always back up.
• 🔒 For maximum security, disable autoboot to the cloud for hidden files.

6. Hiding folders on different versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14, HyperOS)

The folder hiding functions vary depending on the firmware version, and below is a comparative method table for different MIUIs:

🔍 Features for HyperOS:

• 📱 In the new shell, the option of hiding albums moved to the Gallery Settings → Confidentiality.
• 🔒 Private album now called Secure Storage and supports biometric authentication.
• 📂.nomedia file completely ignored for folders DCIM and downloads.

💡

On MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the most reliable way is to use the built-in Secure Storage in the Security app, which encrypts files and requires proof of identity on each access.

7 What to do if the hidden folder is visible again

Sometimes, after updating the firmware or resetting the settings, the hidden folders reappear in the gallery.

1. Gallery Update: Go to Google Play and update the Gallery app to the latest version.

If you can see the folder anyway, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Install another launcher (like Nova Launcher) – sometimes it resets the cache of the gallery.
• 🛠️ Use a file manager with folder hiding function (e.g. Solid Explorer).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (Xiaomi.eu, customized) ROM) Hiding functions may not work properly. If you use unofficial firmware, check it for compatibility with standard methods. MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about folder hiding in Xiaomi