How to find hidden applications on Xiaomi Redmi: from system to remote

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their functionality, but sometimes users are faced with a situation where applications “disappear” from the menu, although they take up space in memory. These can be system utilities, preinstalled MIUI services, hidden programs or even malware. Unlike other Android devices, Redmi has unique mechanisms for hiding applications – from the built-in “Hidden Apps” function to the features of MIUI Optimizer.

In this article, we’ll break down 7 proven ways to discover hidden apps on Xiaomi Redmi – from standard tools to advanced methods using the same. ADB You'll learn how to distinguish between system processes and user processes, why some applications automatically hide after updates, and how to return access to the right programs without risking damage to the system. MIUI, which are not displayed in the standard file manager.

1. Search through the standard Hidden Applications menu in MIUI

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI feature to control app visibility, which is available on all Redmis with MIUI 12 and later, but the layout may vary depending on the model, for example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the path will be one, and on the Redmi 9A, the path will be another.

To find hidden apps through settings:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Hidden Applications (or Application Management → Hidden on some firmware).
3. Enter your password/fingerprint if requested (this is protection against inadvertent changes in settings).
4. You'll see a list of all the hidden apps that you've been using manually, and to get them back to the menu, uncheck the box next to the name.

⚠️ Note: If this section is empty but you are sure that the apps are hidden, check the second account. MIUI. Sometimes programs are hidden under a different profile (for example, if several people have used the phone). → Accounts. → Mi Account.

2. Verification through "All Apps" in settings

Even if the app doesn't appear on the home screen or menu, it can still be installed on the system to see the full list of programs, including system and disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the All Apps tab (or Installed on older versions of MIUI).
3. Scroll down the list – all programs are displayed here, even those that don’t have an icon on the desktop.
4. Note the Memory column: If the app is 0B next to it, but it takes up space, it could be disabled via ADB or hidden using Package Disabler.

🔍 How to distinguish a system application from a user application?

• 📱 Users – have a button to remove or disable.
• ⚙️ System – Disable button may be inactive (grey), and deletion blocked.
• 🔒 Hidden. MIUI — often referred to as com.miui. or com.xiaomi. (e.g., com.miui.hiddenfolder).

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If you’re not sure if you can turn off the system app, check its name in the XDA Developers database.Some processes (e.g. com.miui.daemon) are critical to the phone’s performance!

3.Use of a file manager to search for APK

Some applications are not hidden through MIUI settings, but by moving their files to secure folders. The standard file manager from Xiaomi does not show such directories, but they can be found using third-party explorers (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).

Where to look for hidden APKs:

• 📁 /data/app/ — User applications are stored here (root rights are required to access).
• 📁 /system/priv-app/ and /system/app/ — System programs (read only without root).
• 📁 /miad/ or /MIUI/hidden/ — slip-file MIUI, where backups or remote applications may lie.
• 📁 /sdcard/Android/obb/ — Sometimes there are "tails" from remote games (cache files).

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system/ If you don't have root rights, you can crash the system. APK, Check it first with VirusTotal or MetaDefender by uploading the file to the site.

4. Search through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to get a full list of installed packages, including hidden ones, which is suitable for Redmi on any version of MIUI, but requires a connection to a PC.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on this item.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect Redmi to your computer and start ADB (you can download from the official Android website).
4. Enter the command to get a list of all packages: adb shell pm list packages -f
5. To find hidden applications, filter the output by keywords: adb shell pm list packages | grep "hidden" or to search for system: adb shell pm list packages -s

🔧 How to know if the package is hidden?

• 🔍 If there is a line in the command output package:/data/app/com.example.app--1, But the app is not on the menu - it's hidden.
• 🔍 Packages marked disabled disabled disabled via pm disable.
• 🔍 System packages with priv-app on the way often do not have icons.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Download Platform Tools from the official website|Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Check the connection of the adb device team|Make a backup copy of the data-->

5. Hidden application scanners (the utility side)

If you don't want to mess around with ADB, you can use specialized applications to find hidden programs. They analyze the system and show even those packages that don't appear in the standard settings.

• 🛡️ App Inspector – shows all installed APK, including system, with the possibility of filtering by status (hidden, disconnected).
• 🔎 Hidden App Finder – specializes in finding hidden apps and folders.
• 📊 Package Name Viewer – displays full packet names, which is useful for manual search through the ADB.
• 🛠️ MIUI Hidden Settings – reveals additional settings MIUI, including hidden sections with applications.

⚠️ Note: Some scanners (e.g. Clean Master or DU Speed Booster can mistakenly label system processes as "viruses" or "junk." Don't delete anything if you're not sure! Better check the unknown package first through APKMirror.

6. Search through backups and cache

Sometimes apps disappear after resetting or updating MIUI, but their data remains in cache or backups to find such programs:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Backups (or Google Drive → Backups if you used a Google account).
2. Check the saved data list – there may be apps that don’t show up in the menu but have a backup.
3. To restore, tap the copy and select Restore (this will return the application to the system).

It's also worth looking at the cache:

• 🗃️ /sdcard/Android/data/ — here are stored user application data.
• 🗃️ /data/data/ (root required – system cache where traces of deleted programs may remain.

💡 Useful tip: If you find a folder with the application data, but the program itself is not, try installing it again from Google Play.

7.Verification for viruses and unwanted software

Sometimes apps are not hidden by the user, but by viruses or ad units, such as HiddenAds Trojans, which can hide their icons but continue to display ads in the background to check the system:

1. Install a deep scanned antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Mobile).
2. Run a check for rootkits and advertising software.
3. Please note apps with suspicious permissions (e.g. access to AccessibilityService or Device Admin).
4. Check the list of device administrators in Settings → Passwords and Security → Device administrators. Viruses often add themselves there to block deletion.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Redmi, some system applications (e.g. com.miui.analytics) may be mistakenly identified by antivirus software as “potentially dangerous.” Don’t delete them, it will lead to unstable work. MIUI. Instead, turn off analytics collection in Settings. → Confidentiality.

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If the antivirus has found the virus but can't remove it, try disabling it via ADB with the adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 name.packet command. This is safer than manually deleting system files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden apps on Xiaomi Redmi