Modern Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI shells or the new HyperOS are powerful computing centers storing a huge amount of personal information. Financial apps, work chats, personal photo galleries and bank clients often require an extra layer of protection from prying eyes. A standard lock screen may not be enough, especially if you often give the phone to children or colleagues.
The Android system behind Xiaomi’s firmware initially has restricted access mechanisms, but vendors often hide them deep in the menu or implement them differently depending on the software version. Understanding how to hide apps becomes a critical skill for digital hygiene. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways, from built-in features to creating isolated environments.
It’s important to note that the methods may differ across different device models, for example, the functionality on Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Ultra and the budget Redmi Note 13 may have visual differences. We’ll look at universal solutions that cover most of the brand’s current devices, ensuring maximum privacy of your data.
Use of the “Hide Apps” function in a standard launcher
The easiest and fastest way to remove icons from your desktop is to use the built-in launcher feature. This option does not require additional profiles or passwords, it simply makes selected programs invisible in the menu. To activate this mode, you need to go to Settings and select the Application item, then find the Hide Applications section. In some versions of the firmware, the path may look like Settings → Desktop.
Once you turn on the function, you'll see a list of all the programs installed. You just need to switch the slider opposite the desired application to the active position. The icon will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all the applications. However, remember that this is only a visual concealment. The applications remain running in the background and can display notifications.
- 🔒 Access to hidden applications is through a special gesture or folder if it is configured.
- 📱 The method works on most shell devices MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS.
- ⚙️ To return the icon, just go back to the settings and disable the concealment.
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For quick access to hidden applications in some versions of MIUI, you need to pinch two fingers on the desktop and enter a password if it is set.
The essential limitation of this method is that it does not provide data encryption. If an attacker has physical access to an unlocked phone, he will be able to find the hidden application through settings or search, so this method is suitable for protection from random glance, but not from targeted hacking.
Second Space: Complete Data Segregation
One of the most powerful features of the Xiaomi ecosystem is Second Space, which is not just hiding icons, but creating a full-fledged second operating system inside your smartphone, and in fact, you have two independent phones in one case: the main and the guest, and the data, accounts and applications in these spaces are completely separated.
To activate, go to Settings and find the Second Space (or Advanced Settings) section. The system will prompt you to create a new profile that will require a separate password or fingerprint to log in. You can configure that when you unlock a certain finger, the phone will open the hidden profile.
☑️ Configuring the Second Space
Inside the second space, you can install any apps you want, which means you can have two akka!ounces of WhatsApp, two different mails and separate galleries, and switch between spaces instantly through a notification curtain or a special widget on your desktop.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the Second Space, all data inside it will be irretrievably lost.Be sure to back up important files via Mi Cloud before resetting or transfer them to the main space.
This is ideal for separating work and personal life, or handing over a phone to a child, and you give a single profile device that doesn't have your personal correspondence or banking apps, while maintaining full control of the main space.
Password protection of applications and encryption
If creating a second profile seems redundant and not enough to hide the icons, use the built-in Application Protection tool, which does not hide the icon completely, but blocks access to the content of the program at each run. Even if the phone is unlocked, you will need an additional password, a pattern lock or biometrics to log into the secure application.
You can find this feature by Settings → Applications → Applications → Application Protection. Here you activate the protection and select a list of programs that should only open after additional authorization, which is a great way to secure messengers, gallery and file managers.
An important feature is the ability to hide the content of notifications. If this option is activated, even when a new message arrives in a secure application, the notification text will not appear.
- 🛡️ Face unlock and fingerprint support for access speed.
- 🔔 Ability to hide the contents of notifications on a locked screen.
- ⏱️ Set the lock timer (immediately, after 1 minute, after 10 minutes).
What to do if the password from application protection is forgotten?
Comparison of concealment and protection methods
The right method depends on your specific tasks and your level of paranoia, and each of the methods we've examined has its advantages and disadvantages, and to help you determine your specifics, we've prepared a comparative table of key characteristics.
| Method | Level of secrecy | Data protection | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiding icons | Low (visible in settings) | Absent. | No. |
| Second space | High (separate entrance) | High (data separation) | Medium (background processes) |
| Application protection | Medium (icon visible) | High (password to the entrance) | Minimum |
As you can see from the table, Second Space provides the best balance between stealth and security, but it consumes more system resources. Simply hiding icons is a cosmetic measure not designed to protect against tech-savvy users.
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For maximum privacy, it is recommended to combine methods: use the Second storage space and additionally put passwords to log in to key applications.
Third-party solutions and file managers
Xiaomi’s built-in tools are effective, but sometimes require a more flexible approach. There are many locker apps in the Google Play store or GetApps that can hide not only programs, but also files, photos and videos. They often have “false password” or masking other applications, such as a calculator.
When using third-party software, it is important to pay attention to the permissions it requests. A file hiding app should not require access to your contacts or microphone without an obvious need. It is also worth considering that such programs can slow down the system, since they are constantly hanging in memory, tracking access attempts.
Some file managers, like Xiaomi's standard Explorer, have a built-in Hidden Folder feature, which you have to pull down the file list in a specific directory to access, which is convenient for storing documents, but does not protect the applications themselves from running.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Lawnchair) standard features MIUI hide applications may stop working or work incorrectly, as they are tied to the system launcher.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the notifications be hidden from the hidden applications?
Can you hide Xiaomi’s system apps?
What will happen to hidden apps when resetting settings?
Does Hiding Apps Work in Guest Mode?
To sum up, the arsenal of protections in Xiaomi smartphones is quite wide. By combining Second Space, Password Protection and Icon Hiding, you can achieve a high level of privacy. Regularly update your security system and keep an eye on new features in HyperOS updates, as Xiaomi constantly improves the mechanisms for protecting user data.