How to Create a Hidden Folder in a Gallery on Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Work MIUI

Why hide folders in the Xiaomi gallery and what risks it carries

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They offer users flexible privacy management tools, but not everyone knows how to hide personal photos and videos from prying eyes. Creating a hidden folder in a gallery is not just a way to remove files from public access, but also a way to protect against accidental deletion or synchronization with cloud services. Some methods only work until the device is restarted, while others may conflict with system updates.

The main problem is that the standard gallery MIUI (com.miui.gallery scans all media files on your device by default, including those stored in hidden directories, even if you rename the folder by adding a dot at the beginning of the name (e.g,.hidden_photos), It doesn't guarantee that. 100% Hiding – files can be displayed after cleaning the cache or resetting settings, and some methods require root rights, which automatically deprives you of the warranty on the device.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to create a hidden folder on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, including embedded functions MIUI, File Manager tricks and third-party applications, and we'll focus on the system folder method. DCIM/.thumbnails, It works without any additional software and doesn't require any superuser rights. But first, important warnings.

⚠️ Critical Limitations: What doesn’t work for Xiaomi

Before we get to the instructions, we need to understand the common myths about hiding files on Android devices. Many of the “advice” from the Internet is either outdated or simply irrelevant for the Internet. MIUI:

• 🚫 Rename the dot folder (e.g..secret) - only works on Linux systems. MIUI Ignore this technique and show files.
• 🚫 Hiding through the properties of the folder (attribute "hidden") - in MIUI There is no such option in a standard file manager.
• 🚫 Use of archives ZIP/RAR — The files inside the archive are not displayed in the gallery, but they are easy to find through any archiver.
• 🚫 Transfer of files to /data/media/0 — Without root rights, you will not get access to this directory.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos or Mi Cloud, hidden files can automatically upload to the cloud despite local hiding.

Another important point: after the update MIUI (Especially large ones, like version 13 to 14, some hidden folders can be seen again, because the system re-indexes media files. To avoid problems, regularly check hidden directories after updates.

Method 1: Built-in function "Hidden album" in MIUI (non-partisan)

Starting with MIUI 12, a standard gallery has a photo-hidden tool called "Hidden Album," which doesn't create a physically hidden folder, but removes selected files from the main stream and protects them. PIN-This is how it works:

1. Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Choose the photo or video you want to hide (you can choose a few by holding your finger on the file).
3. Click on three dots in the upper right corner → select "Hide".
4. The system will be able to install PIN-code (if you're doing it for the first time) Come up with a 4-6 digit combination and confirm it.
5. Hidden files are now only available through the Hidden Album section, which appears in the gallery menu after you enter it. PIN.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 No need to install additional applications.
• 📱 It works on all devices with MIUI 12+ (including the Redmi Note 10/11, POCO F3/F4, Xiaomi 12/13).
• 🔄 Files remain in place physically, but do not appear in the main feed.

⚠️ Attention: If you forget PIN-code from the hidden album, you can restore access to files only through resetting the settings of the gallery (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data. This will delete all hidden files!

Cons:

• 🔍 Files are still available through the file manager in the folder DCIM/Camera or Pictures.
• 🔄 After reinstalling a gallery or resetting a phone, the hidden album may disappear.

Method 2: Hiding a folder through a file manager (without root)

If you need to hide an entire folder of photos, rather than individual files, you can use a standard file manager. MIUI (com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer.This method does not require superuser rights, but has limitations: the hidden folder will be visible in some third-party applications (for example, in the case of a hidden folder). ES Conductor or Solid Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Open Files (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the "Category" section" → Select "Images" or "Video".
3. Find the folder you want to hide and hold on to its name to call the context menu.
4. Select "Rename" and add a dot to the beginning of the name, such as:.my photo.
5. Confirm the renaming. The folder will disappear from the standard view, but will remain accessible through search or direct link.

To get the folder back, just delete the dot from the name. MIUI The default does not show folders whose names start with a dot (as in Linux:

• 🔍 The folder will be visible in any file manager with the option "Show hidden files" enabled".
• 📷 Gallery can display files again after rebooting or updating.

💡

If you use Google Photos, the hidden folder can still sync, so to avoid this, remove it from the backup in the app settings.

For reliability, combine this method with transferring the folder to the system directory, for example, in the Android/data. However, please note that after deleting the application that owns the folder, files can be deleted automatically.

Method 3: Use the.thumbnails system folder (most reliable without root)

One of the little-known but effective ways to hide photos on Xiaomi is to put them in the system folder. DCIM/.thumbnails. This directory is originally designed to store thumbnails (previews) of images, and a gallery MIUI The advantage of the method is that files are not displayed in the gallery or in most third-party applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB (file transfer mode").
2. Open the device’s internal memory and go to the folder DCIM.
3. If you don’t have a.thumbnails folder, create it manually (on a PC or through a file manager on your phone).
4. Transfer the desired photos or videos to this folder.
5. Disconnect the phone from the PC and restart it.

Check:

• ✅ Files are not displayed in the standard gallery MIUI.
• ✅ The folder is not visible in most file managers (unless hidden file display is enabled).
• ✅ The method works even after the system updates.

⚠️ Note: Some cache cleaning applications (e.g. Clean Master or built-in Cleaner) MIUI) They can delete the contents of the.thumbnails folder, considering it garbage.

If you need to access hidden files often, create a shortcut for the.thumbnails folder on your desktop:

1. Open the file manager → find DCIM/.thumbnails.
2. Hold the folder. → select "Create a label".
3. The shortcut will appear on the desktop, but the folder itself will remain hidden.

Method 4: Third-party applications for hiding folders (with a comparative table)

If built-in methods MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party apps, they offer additional features like encryption, imitation deletion, or fingerprint access, but each solution has its downsides, from ads to potential data leaks.

We tested 5 popular applications and compiled a comparative table:

Selection recommendations:

• 🔐 If you want maximum security, choose GalleryVault or KeepSafe (they encrypt files).
• 🎭 If it is important to mask the application itself, Calculator Vault (opens as a regular calculator) will do).
• 💰 Free to use without restrictions – Hide Something.

Installation and configuration (on the example of GalleryVault):

1. Download the app from Google Play or APKMirror (if it is blocked in your area).
2. At the first launch, install PIN-code.
3. Click "Import" and select files or folders to hide.
4. In the settings, enable the option “Delete from the gallery” (this will remove files from standard viewing).
5. For additional protection, activate Invisible Mode (the app icon will disappear from the menu).

⚠️ Note: Some file hiding applications (e.g. Calculator Vault) may be removed by antivirus as “potentially dangerous” due to the use of cloaking techniques.

💡

The side of the app is convenient, but it doesn't guarantee 100% security. If there are viruses or spyware on the phone, hidden files can be detected (AES-256).

Method 5: Hiding through Archiving (for power users)

If you want to not only hide files, but also protect them from accidental deletion, you can use encrypted archives, which is suitable for long-term storage of sensitive data, but requires additional actions to view. 7-Zip or RAR password-wise.

Instructions:

1. Install an archiver on your phone (such as ZArchiver or ZArchiver). RAR for Android).
2. Select the files or folder you want to hide.
3. In the archiver, click "Add to the archive" and select the format ZIP encrypted RAR password-wise.
4. Set a complex password (at least 12 characters, with numbers and special characters).
5. After you create the archive, delete the original files (they are no longer needed).
6. Rename the archive to something neutral, for example, backup_2026.zip.

Advantages:

• 🔒 Files are password protected and not available without it.
• 🗃️ The archive can be moved to the cloud or to a flash drive for backup.
• 🛡️ Even if someone finds the archive, you can't open it without a password.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ You need to unpack the archive every time to view the files.
• 📱 Some archivers may not support encryption on older versions of Android.

For maximum security, use two-factor encryption:

1. Create a password archive.
2. Encrypt the archive itself again with a different password (for example, via VeraCrypt on PC).
3. Store passwords in different places (for example, one on your phone, the other in your notebook).

💡

If you often work with archives, install Mixplorer – this is a file manager with built-in encryption support. ZIP/AES. It allows you to view encrypted files without unpacking.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to hide folders on Xiaomi, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Files reappear after rebooting → This is because of the fact that MIUI Re-index media. Solution: Use the.thumbnails folder method or third-party applications with hide-enhancement function.
• 📂 Hidden folder is visible in the file manager → Enable the option “Hide system files” in the manager settings or rename the folder to.nomedia (for example,.my photo.nomedia).
• 🔐 Forgotten. PIN-cover-book → The only way to recover is to reset the gallery data (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data, but it will delete all hidden files.
• 📱 The application for hiding files does not work after the update MIUI → Update the app itself or check if its settings have reset (especially relevant for Calculator Vault).
• 🌐 Files synced to Google Photos despite hidden → Turn off autosynchronization for hidden folder in Google Photos settings or use local encryption.

Another common problem is losing access to files after a phone reset, so you can avoid this.

• Make regular backups of hidden files on your PC or external drive.
• Use cloud services with client encryption (such as Cryptomator) + Google Drive).
• Store your passwords from your archives in a secure location (e.g., KeePassDX).

If you use the method with the.thumbnails folder and after the update MIUI The files are visible, try it:

1. Delete the.thumbnails folder.


2. Reboot the phone.




3. Create the folder again and transfer the files there.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions