How to see a hidden album in Xiaomi: all ways to unlock

Hidden albums in Xiaomi smartphones are not just a privacy feature, but a real black hole for users who have accidentally hidden photos or forgotten their password. Unlike the standard gallery, where folders are visible immediately, hidden files require special actions to access. This is especially true for the owners of Redmi Note 12, Poco. X5 and Mi 11, where is the interface MIUI It hides albums deeper than in the older versions.

In this article, we will analyze all working methods - from standard settings MIUI before using the file manager and even ADB-You will learn how to find hidden files without resetting, what to do if the album disappeared after an update, and why some methods stop working on new versions. MIUI 14/15. And also – a unique life hack with cloud storage Xiaomi Cloud, which is not written in the official instructions.

Why Albums Are Hidden in Xiaomi

V MIUI There are three main reasons why photos or videos can disappear from the main gallery:

• 🔒 Manual user hiding – you yourself have transferred files to the Hidden Albums section via the gallery menu (long tap) → «Hide»).
• 🔄 Automatic concealment by the system — MIUI can automatically hide screenshots of banking applications, photos from the QR-codes or confidential documents (beginning with the MIUI 12.5).
• 📱 Failure after updating - when switching to a new firmware version (for example, with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) folder visibility settings are sometimes reset.

A separate story is encrypted albums created through the Private Safe app (formerly Second Space), which are not just hidden, but protected by a password or fingerprint, and cannot be seen even through a file manager without unlocking them.

⚠️ Note: If you used the Private Safe feature and forgot your password, you can only restore access to files by resetting all settings (with loss of data.

Method 1: Standard access through MIUI Gallery

The easiest method is to use the gallery's built-in settings. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones with MIUI 10 and later:

1. Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Swipe three dots in the top right corner (or swipe right in the newer versions).
3. Select the Album item → Scroll down to the Hidden Albums section.
4. Unlocking may require entering a password, fingerprint, or PIN-code (if you have installed them).

If the Hidden Albums section is missing:

• 🔍 Check if it is switched off in the settings: Gallery → Settings → Showing Hidden Albums.
• 📁 The files may not be hidden through a gallery, but through a private safe (see Method 3).

Is the standard gallery MIUI | open?

Have the album visibility settings been checked |

Checked through fingerprint/password |

Have the latest updates been installed? MIUI-->

Method 2: Search through the file manager

If the gallery doesn't show hidden files, try to find them manually through the file manager. MIUI has the default Files app (yellow folder icon), but you'd better use Solid Explorer or FX File Manager, which shows system folders.

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and go to internal memory. → DCIM.
2. Look for folders with names like.hidden, the standard storage for hidden MIUI files;.thumbnails, thumbnails, sometimes containing lost photos; Private or SecondSpace, if you used Private Safe.

If there are no folders, turn on the display of hidden files in the manager settings (usually in the View or Settings menu).

Important: some folders (like Private) can be encrypted, and when you try to open, the system will ask for a password from Private Safe.

Standard Files from Xiaomi|

Solid Explorer|

FX File Manager|

Total Commander|

Other-->

Method 3: Unlock Private Safe (Second Space)

Private Safe (formerly Second Space) is a safe for sensitive files that creates a separate encrypted storage, and if you forget your password, you can only restore access in radical ways:

• 🔑 Xiaomi account: if you have linked an account when setting up Private Safe, try resetting your password through Settings → Xiaomi account → Security.
• 📱 Through Settings Reset: Completely Clean Your Phone (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting settings will delete all data, including files in Private Safe.
• 💻 Through Xiaomi Cloud: If sync is enabled, files can be saved to the cloud (see Method 5).

For users who remember the password:

1. Open the Private Safe app (locked icon).
2. Enter your password or use biometrics.
3. The files will appear in an interface similar to a standard gallery.

⚠️ Attention: Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi removed the option to reset Private Safe password through SMS The only official way to restore it is through a Xiaomi account, and if you didn't create it, you'll lose access to the files.

Method 4: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try accessing hidden files via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.

File transfer

ADB Tools

adb.exe

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear)

adb shell

ls /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.hidden

(If the folder exists, you will see a list of files)

To copy files to your computer:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.hidden C:\Xiaomi_Hidden

(substitute C:\Xiaomi_Hidden on the right path on your PC).

1. Install official Xiaomi drivers from mi.com.

2. Reconnect. USB-cable (it is better to use the original cable).

3. Include in the developer settings the Debugging item USB (Security settings) and allow debugging for your PC.-->

Method 5: Recovery through Xiaomi Cloud

If you’ve enabled sync with Xiaomi Cloud, there’s a chance that hidden files are saved to the cloud, which works even if the phone is dropped or lost.

How to check:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery or Files section.
3. If you don't have one, try the filter by date (maybe the files were downloaded under different names).
4. Contact the service center: Xiaomi official centers can recover data from damaged partitions (paid service, ~1500–3000 ₽). Don’t write new files to your phone before visiting – this reduces your chances of recovery.

If files are critically important (such as documents or only photos), it is better to contact specialists immediately.

💡

Before any manipulations with the phone’s memory (reset, firmware, restore) make a backup through MIUI Backup or TWRP. This is the only way to guarantee data retention.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden albums in Xiaomi