How to create a personal album on Xiaomi: 5 ways to hide photos and videos

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer several built-in ways to create a personal album for sensitive photos and videos, from the standard Locked Files feature to hidden folders in the file manager. However, many users are unaware that these tools work differently on different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13) and firmware versions. In this article, we will examine all current methods, including bypassing the limitations of MIUI, comparing their reliability and access speed.

It's important to understand that a personal album on Xiaomi is not just a folder with a password. The system can use hardware encryption (starting with MIUI 12.5), link access to a Mi Account account, or even mask files as system ones. We tested all the methods on the latest firmware (2026) and identified key nuances, from the difference between Hidden and Locked albums to the risks of data loss when you reset your phone.

1. Built-in "Locked Files" function in the MIUI Gallery

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Locked Files option in the standard Gallery app, which was introduced in MIUI 8, but its mechanism has changed significantly in new versions.

• 🔒 System-level encryption (files are not available even through PCs without unlocking)
• 📱 Biometric authorization (fingerprint/face) on devices with MIUI 13+
• 🔄 Sync with Mi Cloud (optional, requires switching on in settings)
• 🚫 Screenshot protection (new firmware blocks the ability to take a screenshot inside the album)

To activate:

1. Open Gallery → click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Locked Files.
2. When you first start up, the system will suggest setting a password or a graphical key (other than unlocking the screen!).If you use a fingerprint to unlock your phone, you can tie it here - this will speed up access, but reduce security.
3. Drag the desired photos / videos in the section or select them through the Add button.

Set a complex password (at least 8 characters)| Turn off autoload to the cloud for confidential files | Check the free space (encryption increases file size by 5-10%) | Backup important data on your PC

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⚠️ Note: Files in Locked Files are not visible through Windows Explorer or Mac Finder when connected to the Loaded Files USB. But you can see them in the folder. /MIUI/locked through a Root Explorer (e.g., a Mixplorer with superuser rights).If you want absolute privacy, consider third-party solutions.

2 Hidden folders in the MIUI file manager

A lesser-known method is to create a hidden folder through a standard File Manager, which doesn't encrypt files, but masks them from random detection, is suitable for temporary storage or if you don't want to enter a password every time.

Instructions:

1. Open the Conductor. → Go to the internal memory or SD-map.
2. Click Create a folder → Enter a name starting from a dot (e.g.,.myprivate or.hidden_photos).
3. Move the files you want to see, and the folder will disappear from the standard view, but it will remain accessible through a search or direct link.

⚠️ Note: Hidden folders (.number) will be visible in any file manager with the option to “Show hidden files” (for example, Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer). FX For reliability, combine this method with archiving files in ZIP password-wise.

Built-in "Locked Files" |Hidden folders (.name) |Third-party apps (KeepSafe, GalleryVault) | Password Archives (ZIP/RAR) |I don't store personal files on my phone-->

3.Private Mode in MIUI 14 and later

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi added a system-level feature called Private Mode, which is unlike Locked Files, this mode:

• 🔐 Uses hardware encryption (if supported by a processor, such as in Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
• 👤 Allows you to create a separate user profile with your own applications and files
• 📱 Available through a gesture on the lock screen (e.g. holding two fingers)
• 🔄 It can sync with Mi Cloud, but only in encrypted form.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Private mode.
2. Create a separate one. PIN-code (minimum 6 digits) or use biometrics.
3. Turn on the option to Hide the private mode icon so that it does not appear in the notification panel.
4. Add files through Gallery or Explorer by holding your finger on the item and selecting Move to Private Mode.

The advantage of this method is complete isolation: files in private mode are not indexed by the system and do not appear in search results.

• ⚠️ When you reset your phone to factory settings, data is privately deleted without recovery (unless cloud sync is enabled).
• ⚠️ Some models (POCO M5, Redmi 10A) Do not support hardware encryption using software (less reliable).

4 Third-Party Apps for Hidden Albums

If the built-in MIUI features are not enough, you can use specialized applications. We tested 5 popular solutions and selected the best ones for Xiaomi:

Selection recommendations:

• 📌 For maximum security: KeepSafe (encrypts files before uploading to the cloud).
• 📌 For quick access: 1Gallery (Integrated into the system gallery).
• 📌 To hide from system scanners: Hide Something (masks files as system scanners).

⚠️ Note: Apps like GalleryVault may conflict with MIUI 14+, causing file loss when you update the system:

1. Create a backup copy on the PC.
2. Turn off the auto-update of the app in Google Play.
3. Check out the reviews from the last 2 months (developers often don’t have time to adapt to newer versions of MIUI).

💡

If you use a third-party app, turn off autoplay for it in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Autorun. This will prevent the album from opening accidentally when the phone is restarted.

5. Password archive (ZIP/RAR)

The most versatile, but time-consuming method is to create encrypted archives, suitable for users who want to store files on the Internet. SD-Map or cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) without risk of leakage.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Install RAR or ZArchiver from Google Play.
2. Select the file in Explorer → Squeeze → Select the ZIP (AES-256) or RAR format.
3. Set a password (recommended length: 12+ characters with numbers and special characters).
4. Save the archive to a folder with a neutral name (such as Backups or Documents).

Pros of the method:

• 🔐 Reliability: AES-256 hardly ever cracked.
• 📱 Cross-platform: the archive will open on any device.
• 🚀 Speed: Does not slow down the phone (unlike constant encryption) MIUI).

Cons:

• ❌ Discomfort: You need to unpack the archive to view.
• ❌ The risk of password loss (cannot be restored).

💡

Password Archiving is the only method that is guaranteed to protect files even when you steal your phone or reset MIUI before factory settings.

6.Resetting and Restoring Access to a Personal Album

What to do if you forget your password from Locked Files or Private Mode?

If you didn't link Mi Account to Locked Files, the only way to get back is to reset your phone, but that will delete all the data in your personal album.

Link Mi Account to Locked Files settings | Backup passwords in the manager (Bitwarden, KeePass) |Export important files to an encrypted archive once a month | Check recovery through Settings → Accounts → Mi Accounts → Data recovery

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⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ After 5 failed attempts to enter the password in "Locked files" account is blocked for 24 hours.

FAQ: Frequent questions about personal albums on Xiaomi