How to Make a Hidden Application in Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Today’s Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones store a vast amount of sensitive information, from personal correspondence to banking applications. Device owners often face the need to restrict access to certain programs to protect their data from prying eyes. Fortunately, the MIUI shell (and its modern version of HyperOS) offers powerful built-in privacy tools.

There are several effective ways to hide an application on Xiaomi, each with its own features and security level: You can use native system features such as Second Space or hidden folders, or use third-party launchers, depending on how deep you want to hide the data and whether you are willing to put up with some limitations of functionality.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the options available, evaluate their pros and cons, and answer questions about finding and removing hidden programs. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to competently build a digital security system for your device without installing excess software.

Native Hiding Function in the Application Folder

The easiest and fastest way is to use the built-in concealment feature, which is available in the standard shell of the system. This method does not create copies of the application, but only hides its icon from the main menu and folders. To activate the function, you need to open the Security application (lightning icon), which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi smartphone.

Inside the security menu, you'll find Hide Apps, ask you to set an unlock password if it hasn't already been set, or use an existing pattern lock/fingerprint, and after activation, you'll see a list of all the programs installed with switches next to each.

The hidden applications are accessed through a special gesture in the menu of all applications, you need to spread two fingers on the screen (plug out) in the folder with all applications, and a hidden section will open where the selected programs will be displayed.

• 🔒 Access to hidden apps is protected by password or biometrics.
• 👁️ App icons disappear completely from the general list.
• ⚙️ Notification settings for hidden applications may be limited.
• 📱 The method only works in the standard launcher system.

It's important to understand that when you remove the shortcut from the hidden folder, the app doesn't get removed from the phone, it just stops being hidden, and if you delete the app itself through the settings, it disappears completely.

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If you forget the password from the hidden folder, try to enter it incorrectly several times - a recovery button will appear through the Mi-account.

Use of the Second Space for Maximum Insulation

Second Space is the most powerful tool in MIUI’s arsenal, creating a completely isolated environment on your smartphone that functions as a separate phone with its own settings, gallery, contacts and apps.

Applications installed in Second Space are not physically visible in the main profile, and you can set different passwords or fingerprints to enter the main and second spaces, for example, the thumbprint of the right hand opens the main profile, and the thumb of the left one opens the hidden one.

To set up, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Second Space. The system will prompt you to create a new profile. After switching, you will be on a clean desktop where you can re-download or migrate the necessary applications.

Using Second Space is especially important if you need to hide not just the icon, but the fact that you use certain services, but it is worth considering that the active Second Space consumes additional RAM resources.

Hiding through a password folder

Another elegant way is to create a secure folder, and unlike simple hiding, you create a container that requires authorization to open, and you can have any application inside of that folder, and you can't see the contents until the folder is closed.

To create such a folder, press the icon of any application on your desktop and drag it over another icon, creating a standard folder. Then click on the folder name or the settings icon (if available in your version of the launcher) and select Add Password or Hide Content.

Once you set the password, the folder will be marked with a special lock icon, and when you try to open it, the system will request unlocking, which is a convenient way to group hidden applications, for example, separately for banks and separately for social networks.

• 📂 Allows you to group hidden applications into categories.
• 🛡️ Additional level of protection over the screen lock.
• ⚡ Quick access without changing profiles.
• 🚫 Does not hide notifications from apps inside a folder on a locked screen.

⚠️ Note: If you reset the launcher settings to factory settings, the passwords to the folders can be deleted and the content will become available without protection.

Application of third-party launchers

If standard MIUI capabilities are not enough, users often turn to third-party launchers such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which offer more flexible options for hiding interface elements.

These launchers usually have a Hidden Apps or App Hiding section in their settings, and you can choose which programs to remove from your view, but it's worth remembering that a third-party launcher replaces the standard shell, which can affect some MIUI gestures.

Also, some heavy launchers may consume more power than a standard shell.Be sure the launcher you choose is compatible with your version of Android before installing.

Using third-party software gives you more visual freedom, but requires careful adjustment of permissions.The system can aggressively unload a third-party launcher from memory, which can suddenly appear on the screen.

How to find hidden apps on Xiaomi

Sometimes you have to find an application that was hidden before, or check your phone for spyware, and if you know the password, just use the finger gesture in the menu of all applications or log into Second Space.

If you don't have access to your password, you can try to find activity in your settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. This shows the full list of installed software, whether it's hidden in the menu or not. Look for programs with an empty icon or strange names.

It's also worth checking the list of device administrators and special features, and malware is often disguised as system processes, but can be calculated by excessive permission requests.

• 🔍 Check the "All Apps" section in the settings.
• 📉 Analyze the traffic and battery consumption in the statistics.
• 🛠 Use antivirus scanning through the Security app.
• 📱 Pay attention to the apps without icons in the list.

⚠️ Note: If you find an application that you can’t remove or it’s constantly coming back, you may have superuser rights installed on the device (Root) or malware with administrator rights.

Removing and Unblocking Hidden Programs

To completely remove a hidden application, you first need to "return it to light." Go to the hidden folder or Second Space, find the desired program and turn off the hidden function. After that, the icon will appear in the general menu, and the application can be removed in the standard way.

If the application was installed in the Second Space, it is impossible to delete it in the main profile - you need to switch to the corresponding profile. To completely delete the Second Space, along with all data, go to the settings of this function and select Delete the Second Space.

In the case of third-party launchers, removing the launcher itself will return all hidden icons to their places if the option of complete deletion of data during uninstallation was not selected in the settings.

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Complete removal of the hidden application is possible only after it is unlocked or switched to the corresponding user profile.

Regularly reviewing installed apps helps keep things safe and orderly, and remember to check the hidden software list, especially if children or other family members are using the phone.