How to hide the application from the desktop on Xiaomi: hidden mode

Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have the widest functionality that allows you to manage tasks efficiently, but also provide a high level of privacy. Hiding the application from prying eyes is not just a whim, but a necessity for many users who want to protect their personal data, banking applications or instant messengers from curious glances. The MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS provide powerful tools for this, which do not require the installation of third-party software.

But despite the obviousness of the function, many device owners don't know where the switches are, and often users look for tricky ways, download dubious programs, or simply accept that their gallery or personal correspondence is visible to everyone. In fact, the system protection is built deep into the shell, and it's enough to activate it by doing a few simple actions in the settings menu. It's important to understand that the methods may vary slightly depending on the version of the firmware.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can hide your app icons, and we will look at the regular Hidden Mode functionality, the use of Second Space, and alternative methods through third-party launchers, and learn not only to hide your programs, but also to properly configure access to them so that even with an unlocked phone, your data remains invisible to outsiders without entering a special password.

Hidden mode in MIUI and HyperOS

The easiest and most reliable way is to use the built-in feature, which Xiaomi developers call Hidden Mode, which allows you to remove icons of selected programs from the home screen and from the menu of all applications, while the programs themselves continue to work in the background, receiving notifications, but finding them in the usual way becomes impossible.

To activate this feature, you need to go to the Security app, which is pre-installed on each device, and inside you need to find the Hidden Mode or Hide Apps section. The interface may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the firmware, but the logic remains the same. Once enabled, you will be asked to set a password or a graphical key if it is not already specified for the security system.

⚠️ Note: When you turn on Hidden Mode, be sure to write or remember the access command. By default, this is the # grille symbol typed in the Phone or Gallery app, but it is better to double-check the settings so you do not lose access to your data.

Once you've set up, you can select specific apps from a list of installed apps, the system will automatically hide their icons, and to return them back or access hidden programs, you'll need to enter a special password or make gestures that you set in the security menu.

Step-by-step instructions for setting up access

The process of tuning can only seem confusing the first time, and to make it easier for you to navigate, we have prepared a detailed algorithm for actions, follow it carefully, so that you activate the protection correctly the first time.

Open the standard Security app first (a zipper or shield icon). Scroll down to Hide Apps or Hidden Mode. Click the switch to activate the feature. The system will ask you to come up with a password other than the screen unlock password, or use your existing privacy protection code.

Next, you have to select the apps you want to hide, and the list that opens will show you all the programs you have installed, and just click on the switchboard in front of the app you want, like WhatsApp or the Gallery, and the icon will disappear from your desktop instantly, and you'll need to type a command to access them.

The most common way to enter hidden mode is by using a set of characters in the Phone or Gallery app. By default, this is #password#. For example, if your password is 1234, dial #1234#. Once you enter the last grille, the hidden apps will appear in a special window.

Use of the Second Space for Total Isolation

If standard icon hiding isn’t enough, and you want to create a completely separate environment with a different set of apps, a password, and even a Mi Account, then Second Space is the perfect solution.

The second space is actually the second smartphone inside yours, and you can install the same apps, but they're completely isolated, and you can hide the Second Space by signing in with a fingerprint or a special password, and to an outsider, your phone will look like a normal device with a single data set.

• 🔒 Complete isolation: Data, photos and applications in Second Space are not visible in the main profile.
• 👆 Quick entry: Switching between spaces happens instantly through a special fingerprint or icon in the curtain.
• 📱 Different accounts: You can use two different Google or Mi accounts on the same device at the same time.

To activate this function, go to Settings → Second Space and click “Enable.” The system will suggest setting the input. The most convenient way is to assign a separate fingerprint, for example, with your thumb of your right hand you enter the main profile, and with your thumb of your left you enter the second, hidden one.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all data, photos and apps inside it will be permanently deleted.

Alternative methods: third-party launchers

Xiaomi’s regular tools are powerful, but sometimes users want more control or a more flexible interface, and in such cases, third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or specialized shells with a hidden feature come to the rescue, replacing the standard desktop with advanced customization capabilities.

Many launchers have a built-in Hide Apps feature in their settings, and once you install the launcher and assign it to the main launcher, you can go to its settings, find the appropriate section, and select hider apps, and their icons will disappear from the application menu, although the programs themselves will remain installed on the system.

The advantage of this method is that you are not dependent on updates. MIUI, However, it is worth considering that third-party lowers can consume more battery resources and are not always perfectly optimized for gestures. MIUI/HyperOS.

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Combining methods (e.g. Hidden Mode + Application Lock) gives the maximum protection effect, but requires remembering multiple passwords.

Blocking applications as an additional barrier

Even if you hide an app icon, an experienced user can find it through search or settings. So Hidden Mode is best combined with Application Lock, a feature that requires you to enter a password or fingerprint every time you launch the selected application, even if it is not hidden.

This setting is also in the Security app, and in the Application Lock section, you can select any program you want, and if you hide the application through Hidden Mode but don't block it, you'll open it immediately when you enter the hidden program password, and if you also lock it, you'll need to enter the password a second time after you enter Hidden Mode.

This creates a double layer of protection, and even if someone guesses your hidden mode access code (or you forget to log out), the attacker will still encounter the app lock screen, which is especially true for banking applications and instant messengers.

• 🛡️ Flexibility: You can set different passwords for different applications.
• ⏱️ Time Out: Customizable time after which a password is re-entered.
• 👀 Hiding Content: Ability to hide notification content on a locked screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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For maximum security, use different biometrics (multiple fingerprints) to enter the main profile and the Second Space, which will allow you to quickly switch between “clean” and “hidden” mode with one touch.