How to watch hidden albums on Xiaomi phone: all the ways of 2026

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer users the ability to hide personal photos and videos, a useful privacy option. However, many people are faced with the problem of how to find these hidden files after forgetting their location or password? Unlike standard albums, hidden data is not displayed in the main gallery, which causes confusion among beginners.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to access hidden albums on Xiaomi, including built-in MIUI tools, system folders and third-party applications. We’ll focus on the nuances for different firmware versions (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14) and smartphone models – from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 13/14. You’ll also learn how to restore access if you forgot your password, and why some files can “disappear” after updates.

We warn you beforehand: some methods require superuser rights (root) or work with system files. Mistakes can lead to a failure in the gallery or loss of data. If you are not sure about your skills, use only the official methods described in the first sections.

📊 What version? MIUI use?

MIUI 12 or older

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

I don't know.

Another firmware

1.Official way: Hidden album in the standard gallery

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in cover feature in the Gallery app (or Photos on newer versions of MIUI), which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones without any additional software.

To find hidden files:

Open the Gallery app (an icon with multi-colored squares).
Slip along three horizontal lines (menu) in the lower right corner.
Select Hidden Albums (or Protected Albums in MIUI 14).
Enter the password, PIN-use a fingerprint or code (if you have installed protection).

If you don't have Hidden Albums on the menu, you've never hidden files through the gallery, so go to the following methods.

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On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11), hidden albums may be called "Private" or "Private." Check all the gallery menu items.

Important: if you forget the password from the hidden album, it is impossible to restore it using standard MIUI tools. The only way out is to reset the gallery settings (we will talk about this in the section on restoring access).

2. Search through the.hide system folder (for advanced users)

All files hidden through the standard Xiaomi gallery are physically stored in the.hide system folder on the internal drive, accessed through any file manager with permissions to display hidden folders.

Step instructions:

📁 Install a file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer, Solid Explorer, or File Explorer). FX File Manager).
🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings (usually the option is called "Show hidden files").
📂 Cross the path: /storage/emulated/0/.hide/ or (for certain versions) MIUI): /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Gallery/cloud/hide/
🖼️ In the folder you will see all hidden photos and videos in original quality.

Important: files in the.hide folder are encrypted at the MIUI level. You can’t just copy them to another phone or computer – they will only open on this device through a standard gallery.

What to do if the.hide folder is empty?

This means that you have never hidden files through the gallery or they have been deleted. Check other methods from the article, such as hidden folders from galleries (for example, Google Photos creates its own folder.nomedia).

3. Hidden Albums in Google Photos and Other Galleries

Many Xiaomi users install third-party galleries such as Google Photos, Simple Gallery or QuickPic, which are also good at hiding files but store them elsewhere.

How to find hidden files in popular galleries:

📱 Google Photos: Open the app and tap the profile avatar. Select "Archive" → "Hidden files. This will show all the media files hidden through this app.

Simple Gallery

Go to the settings (three dots at the top).
Select "Hidden Folders."
Enter your password (if you have set it).

KeepSafe

Vaulty

These applications create secure storage, and to access it, you have to open the application and enter the password.

Please note that files hidden through Google Photos are synced to the cloud and can be accessed on other devices under the same account. For complete privacy, use the built-in MIUI tools.

4. Restoration of access if you forget the password

One of the most common problems is that the user has hidden files but forgot the password or PIN-- I'm sorry, MIUI It does not provide an official way to reset the password for hidden albums, but there are a few workarounds:

Method 1: Reset the settings of the gallery

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find the Gallery app (or Photos).
Slip the Storage" → "Delete the data".
Confirm the action. This will reset all gallery settings, including the password of the hidden album.

The downside is that you can reset other settings with your password (e.g., album sorting) and the hidden files in the.hide folder will remain intact, but you will have to reconfigure access to them.

Method 2: Use of backup copy

If you have previously created a backup through Settings → System & Device → Backup, you can try to restore the old gallery settings.

Make a current backup (in case of failure).
Restore data from the old copy by selecting only the settings of the Gallery application.

⚠️ Note: Restore from backup may lead to conflicts in other applications. Use this method only if you are sure that versions are compatible. MIUI.

5. View hidden files through ADB (for tech-savvy)

If standard methods don’t work and you don’t have root rights, you can try accessing hidden files via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for users familiar with the command line.

Instructions:

Enable “USB Debugging” in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/.hide/ This will show a list of hidden files.
To copy files to your PC, use: adb pull /storage/emulated/0/.hide/ C:\Xiaomi_Hidden_Files\ (switch the path).

⚠️ Note: files copied through ADB, They can be encrypted, and you'll need some software to view them on a PC, like this, MIUI Hidden Album Decryptor (available on the forums) XDA Developers).

This method does not work on all versions of MIUI – in recent updates Xiaomi has tightened the protection of system folders.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Enable debugging over USB on your phone

Download the ADB platform (e.g. Minimal ADB and Fastboot)

Connect your phone to the original cable

Check that the device is determined by the adb device command-->

6 Why Hidden Albums Can Disappear and How to Fix It

Xiaomi users often face a problem: hidden files suddenly disappear from the album, although they physically remain in the.hide folder.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The album is empty, but the files in the.hide folder are there.	Gallery database failure	Clear the gallery cache in Settings → Apps
Files disappeared after MIUI update	Changes in the structure of system folders	Check out the new paths: /MIUI/Gallery/cloud/hide/
Hidden files are duplicated in the main gallery	.nomedia file error	Delete the.nomedia file in the folder with hidden files
You can't hide new files.	We're out of secure storage.	Clean up a hidden album or move files to the cloud

If the problem persists after all manipulations, try reinstalling the Gallery app:

Download the latest version of the gallery for your model (for example, from the APKMirror website).
Remove the standard gallery updates in Settings → Apps.
Install the downloaded APK.

7. Alternative ways to hide files on Xiaomi (if the standard one does not suit)

If the built-in concealment feature in MIUI seems inconvenient, consider alternative options:

🔐 Encrypted archives: Use 7-Zip or RAR To create password-enabled archives, store them in the cloud (e.g. Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
📁 Hidden folders with.nomedia: Create a folder with any name (like Private). Put files in there. Create an empty.nomedia file in the folder (via the file manager). The folder will disappear from the gallery, but will remain accessible through the file manager.

Cloud-based storage with protection

Services like Mi Cloud or Mega allow you to create private albums with a password, plus access from any device.

Third-party annexes

Applications like KeepSafe, Vaulty or GalleryVault offer additional features: masking as a calculator, false PIN-code, remote erasure of data.

⚠️ Note: Third-party file hiding apps may collect your data. Before installing, check permissions and reviews for your data. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

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The most reliable way is to combine the built-in hidden MIUI album + backup in an encrypted archive on a cloud drive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I view hidden Xiaomi albums on my computer?

Yes, but with reservations: Files from the.hide folder are encrypted - you need a decryptor to view on a PC (for example, MIUI Hidden Album Decryptor). If you hid them through Google Photos, they are available on the web version of photos.google.com in the Archive section. For files hidden through.nomedia, you just connect the phone to the PC and open the folder in the Explorer.

Why did the hidden files disappear after the phone was reset?

When you completely reset, all data, including the.hide folder, is deleted. To avoid loss: Regularly back up hidden files to the cloud or external drive. Use Mi Cloud to sync the gallery (turn on the option in your Xiaomi account settings). Before resetting, copy the.hide folder to your computer (even if files are encrypted, you can restore them after you set up your phone).

Does hiding albums on custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) work?

No, the function of hidden albums is an exclusive feature MIUI. It doesn't work on custom firmware (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience or Havoc-OS) and alternatives: Use third-party hidden galleries (like Simple Gallery). ZIP-Install the Magisk module to emulate a function (e.g., archives, MIUI Hidden Album Enabler, if it is available for your firmware).

Can I hide albums from specific apps (like Viber or Telegram)?

Yes, but not through standard MIUI tools. Options: Revoke permissions: to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Storage, disable media for unnecessary applications. Use XPrivacyLua (requires root): this application allows you to flexibly manage file access for each application separately. Move files to a folder that is not scanable (for example, create an Excluded folder and add it to exceptions in the gallery settings).

How to hide albums on Xiaomi without a password?

If you don't want to set a password, but you need to hide files: Folder with.nomedia: create a folder, put files there and add an empty.nomedia file. It will disappear from the gallery, but will remain available through the file manager. Rename extensions: rename files (for example, photo.jpg). → To open, return the original extension. Archiving: pack files into RAR/ZIP Password-free, delete the originals. The archives are not displayed in the gallery. Minus: these methods do not protect against targeted search. Combine them for reliability (for example, an archive). +.nomedia folder).