How to Find Hidden Apps on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide

Why are hidden apps coming to Xiaomi?

Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI They often contain applications that are not displayed in the main menu, which can be either system utilities from the manufacturer, or programs hidden by the user or malware. In 80% of cases, such applications do not pose a threat – these are standard services for operating system operation, but sometimes spyware modules or advertising are found among them. SDK.

The main reasons for the appearance of hidden applications:

• 🔧 Systemic processes MIUI — Without them, the smartphone will not be able to work correctly (for example, com.miui.analytics for collecting statistics).
• 📱 Google Pre-installed Services – Even if you can’t see them, they’re active in the background.
• 👤 User activity – some applications are hidden through settings or launchers.
• ⚠️ Malware – Trojans and spies disguised as system files.

It is important to distinguish legitimate hidden apps from potentially dangerous ones, such as com.xiaomi.mipicks is the official theme store for Xiaomi, and com.android.quicksearchbox is the standard Google search engine, while randomly named files like com.android.quicksearchbox are the same as Google's. a1b2.c3d4.service should be alert.

Method 1: View all applications through settings MIUI

The easiest way is to use built-in tools. MIUI. It is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 And Mi 11:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all apps.
3. In the drop-down menu, select All Apps (not “Installed”) from the top.

This will show all the programs, including the system and hidden.

• 🔍 Gray-coded apps are usually system services.
• 🚫 Programs marked “Disabled” – they were hidden by a user or system.
• ⚠️ Unknown names in Chinese or with random letters/digits.

Look for unfamiliar names with Cyrillic or hieroglyphics|

Check out apps with zero size (0 MB)|

Pay attention to programs with administrator rights|

Sort the list by installation date (new suspicious apps will be at the top)

-->

If you find a suspicious app, don't rush to remove it. Some system services (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) are critical to the smartphone, and their removal can lead to loss of functionality or "brick" of the device.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disable apps with names that contain miui, android, or google unless you are sure of their purpose.

Method 2: Using a launcher with support for hidden applications

Standard launcher MIUI It doesn't show hidden apps, but third-party shells (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) can do it:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Click on the empty space on the home screen and select Settings Nova.
3. Go to Application Settings → Hidden Applications.
4. Activate the option to Show hidden applications.

After that:

• 📱 The Hidden Apps folder will appear on the home screen (if any).
• 🔍 You can search for hidden programs through Nova search.
• 🔄 You can return the standard launcher to Settings → Home screen → Default launcher.

The advantage of this method is that it can visually access hidden applications without the risk of damaging system files, but it will not reveal deeply hidden services that are masked at the OS level.

💡

If no hidden apps appear after installing Nova Launcher, try restarting your phone. Sometimes the system caches the visibility data.

Method 3: Search through ADB (for power users)

Android Debug Bridge Tool (ADB) This allows you to get a complete list of installed applications, including those that are not displayed in the interface. USB.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.

adb shell pm list packages -f

This command will list all packets with paths to their.apk files. To save the result to a file, use:

adb shell pm list packages -f > apps_list.txt

In the list obtained, look for:

⚠️ Note: Removing system packages through ADB Before experimenting, back up your phone using adb backup or Mi Cloud.

Method 4: Verification through the file manager

Some hidden applications store their files in system folders that are not visible through standard Explorer, and you will need a root file manager to find them (for example, a file manager with root permissions, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Where to look:

• 📁 /system/app/ — System applications (root rights required).
• 📁 /system/priv-app/ — Privileged System Programs.
• 📁 /data/app/ — User applications (including hidden applications).
• 📁 /data/data/ — Application data (spyware modules may be hidden here).

If you don’t have root permissions, you can only view the folder. /data/app/. Pay attention to this:

• 🔍 Folders with unreadable names (for example, com.123.abc.456).
• 📅 Files with recently changed date (may indicate newly installed software).
• 📦 APK-files outside of standard folders (for example, in /sdcard/).

If you find a suspicious.apk file, you can check it on VirusTotal or delete it via a file. ADB:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 title.package

Method 5: Analysis of Active Processes

Hidden applications often run in the background, consuming resources. To detect them, analyze active processes through:

1. Task Manager MIUI: Settings → Annexes → Task Manager.
2. Third-party utilities: CPU Monitor OS Monitor (shows detailed information about processes).
3. ADB-Command: Adb shell ps -A | grep -i "unique"

Signs of a suspicious process:

• 🔋 High battery consumption (over 10% at rest).
• 📶 Constant network activity (even when the phone is not in use).
• 🖥️ Unknown names with numbers or symbols (a1b2c3.service).
• 🔄 Processes that are restarted after a forced shutdown.

For detailed analysis, use the command:

adb shell dumpsys package name.packet

It will show all permissions that the app requests, including access to:

• 📍 Geolocations (ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION).
• 📷 Camera (CAMERA).
• 🎤 Microphone (RECORD_AUDIO).
• 📞 Call log (READ_CALL_LOG).

💡

If the process consumes more than 5% CPU standby and does not apply to system services - this is a reason to check for maliciousness.

Method 6: Virus and spyware testing

Hidden apps aren’t always malicious, but if you suspect an infection, follow these steps:

1. Antivirus scanning: 🛡️ Malwarebytes — detects spyware and adware. 🔍 Bitdefender – has a signature database for Chinese Trojans. 📱 Security Master (from Cheetah Mobile) – specializes in mobile threats.
2. Permissions Checker: Go to Settings → Annexes → Permissions: See which programs have access to SMS, Contacts or Device Administrator.

Traffic analysis

• Use NetGuard or GlassWire to monitor network activity.
• Pay attention to applications that transmit data to unknown IP (particularly in China).

Typical signs of spyware on Xiaomi:

• 📡 Unauthorized data transmission over a mobile network (even when Wi-Fi is turned on).
• 🔊 Extraneous sounds during calls (wiretapping).
• 📸 Self-activation of the camera or microphone.
• 📱 The appearance of the unknown SMS or log-calls.

If the antivirus detects a threat but cannot remove it:

1. Disable the application administrator rights in Settings → Security → Device administrators.
2. Remove it through ADB (see method 3).
3. In extreme cases, perform a reset to factory settings (Settings → About phone → Reset settings).

⚠️ Note: Some of the antiviruses from Google Play are spyware themselves. Use only proven high-ranking software (4.5).+ star+ installation.

Method 7: Search through the Registry MIUI (advanced)

V MIUI There's a hidden registry of settings that stores hidden apps, and it's accessible through Activity Launcher).

Instructions:

1. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the app and find it in the list of com.miui.home.
3. Tapping.settings.HiddenAppsSettingsActivity (or similar item).
4. In the menu that opens, you will see a list of hidden applications with the possibility of showing them.

Alternative method – editing the database MIUI SQLite Editor (requires root):

1. Open the base. /data/data/com.miui.home/databases/launcher.db.
2. Go to the table. hidden_apps.
3. Delete the records of unnecessary hidden applications.

This method is suitable for recovering accidentally hidden programs or removing system limitations, but improper editing of the database can lead to a launcher failure.

💡

Before editing launcher.db, back it up. To do this, copy the file to /sdcard/ through any file manager with root rights.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden apps on Xiaomi