How to hide applications on Xiaomi Poco: from standard features MIUI before ADB-team

Hiding apps on Xiaomi Poco smartphones is a challenge that comes with users for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove system utilities to hiding personal data from prying eyes. Unlike iOS, where functionality is limited, MIUI offers several built-in ways, and for advanced users, deeper methods are available - from using ADB to third-party launchers.

It is important to understand that the concealment ≠ Deletion: the application stays in the system, but no longer appears in the menu or search. F5 Pro or Poco X6) Some of the methods may work differently because of the firmware. 5 working methods – from the simplest to the most demanding technical skills – and also tell you how to return hidden applications back and what to do if they disappear after updating. MIUI 14/15.

1. Standard Hiding Through "Security" (without root)

The easiest way that works on all Xiaomi Poco smartphones with MIUI 12 and later is to use the built-in Hidden Apps feature in the security menu.This method does not require superuser rights and is suitable for hiding both user and some system applications (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music).

To hide the app:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Security → Hidden applications.
• 🔒 Enter a password or pattern lock (if not installed, the system will prompt you to create a password or a pattern lock).
• ➕ Click “Add Apps” and select the ones you need from the list.
• 🔄 Once added, they will disappear from the main menu and search. MIUI.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not work for Google Play Services, Settings, or other critical system applications.
• ❌ Hidden applications will still be visible in Settings → Annexes.
• ❌ After resetting settings or updating the firmware list of hidden applications is reset.

💡

If you have hidden the app but it continues to send notifications, open Settings → Notifications and manually turn off alerts for it.

2.Use of the "Second Space" for complete isolation

The MIUI's Second Space feature allows you to create a separate user profile with your own set of apps, wallpapers and even a password. It's not exactly a cover-up, but rather isolation: apps from the main space won't be visible in the second, and vice versa.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings. → Second space.
2. Create a new space, follow settings (you can set a separate password).
3. In the main space, remove unnecessary apps (they will only remain in the second one).
4. Switch between swipe spaces down the notification bar (image icon) 👥).

Advantages:

• 🔐 Complete data isolation (applications, files, accounts).
• 📱 It works without root and does not require technical skills.
• 🔄 You can switch between spaces quickly.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ It takes up additional memory space (each space has its own caches and data).
• ⚠️ Some apps (like WhatsApp) require separate authorization in each space.

3. Hiding through ADB (for advanced users)

If the built-in methods don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android, which hides any application, including system ones, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Poco: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install ADB-tools and execute the command:

adb shell pm hide com.example.app

Where com.example.app is the batch name of the application (you can find it through adb shell pm list packages).

Examples of batch names of popular Xiaomi system applications:

To return the application, use the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app

💡

Hiding through ADB doesn't remove the app completely -- it stays in the system, but becomes inaccessible to the current user, and after resetting, all hidden apps will return.

4. Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher and others

If you don't need to hide apps from outsiders so much as take them out of sight for convenience, you can use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which allow you to hide application icons without removing or changing system designs.

How to hide apps in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Click and hold the free space on the home screen → select Settings Nova.
3. Go to the Application Box → Hide the Applications.
4. Check the boxes that you want to remove from the menu.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎨 Flexible configuration of appearance (themes, icons, gestures).
• 🔄 Quick switching between launchers.
• 📱 Does not require rooting or ADB.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Hidden applications will still be available through system search MIUI.
• ⚠️ Some Nova Launcher features are paid (e.g. gestures).

💡

To remove the app from search completely, combine Nova Launcher with hiding through ADB or the built-in MIUI feature.

5. Hiding with a file manager (for system applications)

This method is suitable for advanced users who are ready to work with system files, and it allows you to disable unnecessary applications by renaming their.apk files to.bak. TWRP!

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/app or /system/priv-app (for system applications).
3. Find a folder with the name of the app you are hiding (e.g. MiBrowser).
4. Rename the.apk file to.bak (e.g. MiBrowser.apk → MiBrowser.bak).
5. Reboot your smartphone.

Examples of system application folders:

• 🌐 MiBrowser – Xiaomi’s browser.
• 🎵 Music is the standard player.
• 📺 MiVideo - Video player.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly renaming system files can lead to bootloop ( looped boot). TWRP!

To return the application, rename the file back to.apk and reboot the device.

6 What to do if hidden apps are missing after the MIUI update

After updating the MIUI firmware (for example, from 14 to 15), some hidden applications may reappear in the menu. This is because the system resets some of the user settings.

Recovery methods:

• 🔄 If you used the built-in Hidden Applications feature, add them to the list again (Settings) → Security).
• 🖥️ If you're hiding through ADB — Repeat the pm hide command.
• 📱 If you used a launcher, check the concealment settings in it.

If the app has disappeared completely (not even displayed in the settings):

1. Check the /data/app folder through the file manager – it may have been deleted.
2. Reinstall it from Google Play or APK-file.
3. If it is a system application, restore it from the backup via TWRP.

⚠️ Note: Some Poco models (e.g. Poco) X5 5G) After the update, it may be reset ADB-Before reconnecting, execute adb kill-server and adb start-server on PC.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hiding apps on Xiaomi Poco