Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often use a built-in privacy feature, such as a check screenshot, a personal photo, or a critical text entry that you have removed from prying eyes. However, sometimes there are situations where access to this information needs to be restored and the login mechanism is forgotten or not obvious. MIUI and HyperOS are designed so that hidden files do not disappear without a trace, they only change their visibility status for the standard interface.
There are several proven ways to open a hidden Xiaomi note if you remember a password or, conversely, if access is lost. Data security in the MIUI shell is built on the binding to a Mi Account account or local password, which makes the recovery process clear, but requires care. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of working with a hidden album and files so that you can return your data.
Before we get to specific actions, it's important to understand where your files are hiding, not deleted, but hidden in a special secure part of the file system, which requires authorization through a fingerprint, a pattern lock, or a digital code, and if you can't remember that data, it's complicated, but it's possible with access to your account.
Where are hidden files in MIUI and HyperOS?
The first step to recovering access is understanding the storage architecture. In Xiaomi’s shells, there is a special section, often called “Second Space” or simply “Hidden Files,” that cannot be found through a simple file search without first activating the browsing mode.
Most people hide notes through the Gallery or Explorer app, the first one creates hidden albums, the second one creates restricted folders, and it's important to note that text notes from the standard Notes app can also be hidden if a password protected note is used. Local storage encrypts the paths to those files, making them invisible to other applications.
⚠️ Note: Files moved to the hidden album are physically left on the device, but their caching paths change.Do not try to delete system folders in the hope of finding your data there - this will lead to system errors.
It uses a single login mechanism to navigate hidden areas, so whether you've hidden photos, videos or documents, the system will ask for the same credentials, which makes it easier, because you don't have to remember different passwords for different file types, just enter one code to access all the hidden content.
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Hidden files in Xiaomi are not deleted, but change their visibility status and require authorization to view through standard Gallery or Explorer apps.
How to Open Hidden Notes Through the Gallery
The most common way to hide content is by using the built-in Gallery, which is where most often screenshots of notes or photos of documents are stored. To open a hidden Xiaomi note through this interface, you need to perform a specific swipe action. A simple click on an application icon will not open access to secure data.
Open the Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. When you're in this section, put your finger in the center of the screen and slowly swipe up, holding your finger at the top for a second. If you've done it right, you'll see a password or fingerprint screen, and that's the entrance to the hidden album.
- 📸 Open the Gallery app and select the Album tab.
- 👆 Swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger.
- 🔐 Enter a password or use biometrics to log in.
- 📂 Find the right note or image in the list that appears.
Once you've successfully logged in, you'll see a list of hidden albums. If the note was saved as an image (screenshot), it'll be here. If it was a text file, it could have been moved to a hidden folder through Explorer, but often users duplicate important data as a photo. The hidden album interface is completely the same as the normal one, but is only available after confirming identity.
Search for hidden files through Explorer
If the Gallery doesn't have the information it needs, the next step is to check the System Explorer, which is relevant if you've been hiding text files, PDF documents, or archives. The login mechanism is similar: you need to swipe in a special section, but there's a caveat: you need to swipe not at the root of the file system, but in the category section.
Start File Manager. At the top of the screen you'll see file categories: Images, Videos, Documents, etc. Click on any of the categories or just on the home page, try swiping from the bottom up. In some versions of MIUI, the swipe only works inside the DCIM or MIUI folder, but most often the home page is enough.
Once you have a password window and you're signed in, you're taken to a hidden Explorer section, and you're sorted by type, and to find a text note, check the Documents or Files tab, and the path to hidden data in this mode looks like this. /MIUI/Gallery/secret_album or similar system path, but displayed to the user as a regular list.
☑️ Checking Hidden Files
If the note was password protected inside the Notes app, then Explorer is not helpful here, you need to search in the application itself.
Restoring access with a forgotten password
It's common for users to forget the password for a hidden album, and fortunately, Xiaomi's ecosystem has a Mi Account recovery mechanism, which only works if you've linked an account to a password, and without an account attachment, it's almost impossible to recover data for security reasons.
If you type in the wrong password several times, you will see a button on the screen that says, "Forgot your password?" and then you click on it, you will be prompted to enter the password from your Mi Account. This is not the password from your phone, but from your cloud account. After successful authorization, you will be prompted to set a new password for hidden files.
⚠️ Note: Password reset via Mi Account is only possible if the device has Internet access. If the phone is blocked or the network is not working, you will not be able to recover.
If the account was not tied, the only option is to recall the password by matching or use a backup if it was made before the security was installed.Resetting the phone settings in this case will not help, since hidden files can be encrypted with a key that is stored in a secure memory area and is not deleted in a normal reset.
What if your Mi Account is forgotten?
Comparison of data protection methods in Xiaomi
There are several layers of protection in the MIUI shell, and it's important not to confuse them: Hidden album, Second space and protection of individual applications are different functions. Understanding the difference will help you find the right note faster and choose the right login method.
Below is a table that will help you organize your knowledge of the types of protection and how to access them, making it easier to navigate your device’s security settings.
| Type of protection | Wherever | Entry method | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden album | Gallery/Conductor | Swipe up + Password | Through the Mi Account. |
| Protected notes | Annex Notes | Password/Printprint | Password from Mi Account |
| Second space | System settings | Separate profile | Profile password |
| Hidden applications | Settings/Themes | Entering code in dialer | Resetting settings |
As you can see from the table, Hidden Album and Secure Notes are the closest features to "how to open a hidden note." The second row of the table is especially relevant if you've used a text editor, in which case swipes in the Gallery won't help, you need to open the Notes app itself.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Users often encounter technical difficulties in accessing hidden data, such as a swipe that doesn't work, or a system that says "wrong password" when you're sure you're entering it, which can be caused by security failures or system updates.
If the swipe in the Gallery does not activate the password entry window, try clearing the Gallery app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery → Clear the data. Don’t worry, your photos won’t be deleted, only the cache and display settings will be reset, which often solves the problem with the hidden album.
- 🔄 Update the Security app through GetApps.
- 📱 Restart the device before attempting to enter.
- 🌐 Check the stability of the Internet connection to check the password.
- 🔒 Make sure that the “guest” mode is not turned on».
Another common problem is changing the interface after the MIUI update. In new versions, the path to hidden files can be changed. If standard methods do not work, try searching for settings. Type the phrase “Hide files” into the settings search, and the system will redirect you to the desired menu section.
⚠️ Note: When updating the system with MIUI 13 by 14 or HyperOS, some privacy settings may reset. Be prepared to reconfigure the biometrics to access hidden data.
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If you often forget passwords, write the code from the hidden album to a safe place or use a password manager synced to the cloud.