How to hide the app icon on Android Xiaomi without removing: the full guide

Why Xiaomi users want to hide app icons (and why just uninstall is not an option)

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI often face a situation when unnecessary shortcuts of system or preinstalled applications accumulate on the desktop. You can not remove them with standard means - the system either blocks the uninstallation or offers only a shutdown (which does not always solve the problem). For example, Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps or Security applications are not deleted without root rights, but their icons sometimes want to hide to avoid cluttering the screen.

The reasons to hide the icon without removing the application are various:

• 📱 Systemic constraints — MIUI It does not allow you to remove some applications even if they are not used.
• 🛡️ Security – some applications (e.g. Security) are critical to the system, but their shortcuts can be removed.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to hide an app icon on Xiaomi without removing the software itself, including methods through MIUI settings, third-party launchers, and even ADB commands for advanced users. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12, 13, and 14 (including Android 11-14-based shells).

Method 1: Hiding icons through MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI features, which is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI 12+. The main advantage is that you do not need to install third-party programs or get root access.

Step instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the right app (such as Mi Browser) and tap it.
3. Select Hide the app icon (or Remove from the desktop in some versions).
4. Confirm the action. The icon will disappear from the screen, but the app will remain in the system.

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Note: Some MIUI firmware (especially POCO) may not have this item. If it's not, move on to the next method.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure the application is not critical (e.g. Settings or Phone)

Close all background tasks before changing settings

Restart your phone after hiding the icon (recommended)-->

Method 2: Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, HyperOS Launcher)

If the built-in MIUI settings don't allow you to hide the icon, you can install an alternative launcher, which is universal and works on any Xiaomi smartphone, regardless of the firmware version.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports hiding icons, gestures, backup settings.
• 📱 Apex Launcher – lightweight and fast, with the ability to hide applications.
• 🔧 HyperOS Launcher – optimized for Xiaomi devices with HyperOS.
• 🎨 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, Hidden Applications feature".

The following is a step-by-step instruction for Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Press and hold the free space on the desktop → Settings Nova.
3. Go to App Settings → Hide Apps.
4. Tick the apps you want to hide and confirm.

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Before installing the launcher, back up your current desktop settings through Settings → Desktop → Backup. This will help you quickly restore the original look if the new launcher doesn’t like it.

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Note: Some launchers (like Nova Prime) require the purchase of a premium version to unlock the icon hiding feature.

Method 3: Disable the application through settings (alternative to hiding)

If you can't hide the icon, you can disable the application, which will remove it from the desktop and stop the background processes, but the program files will remain in memory, which is suitable for system applications that can't be completely deleted.

How to disable the application on Xiaomi:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Choose the app you want (such as Mi Music or Mi Pay).
3. Click Disable (or Remove Updates if the Disable button is inactive).
4. Confirm the action. The icon will disappear and the app will stop working.

The shutdown has its nuances:

• ✅ Pros: does not require root, frees up RAM.
• ❌ Cons: the application stops working completely (unlike hiding the icon).
• ⚠️ Restrictions: Some system applications (e.g. Security) cannot be disabled.

Method 4: Hiding icons through ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods didn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool for debugging Android devices, which hides icons even for system applications, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode) Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB
2. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the trusted device.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb shell pm hide com.android.browser (replace com.android.browser with your application’s batch name).
4. Reboot the phone. The icon will disappear.

How to find out the package name of the application:

• Use the command adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword" (e.g. grep "miui").
• Or install the App Inspector app from Google Play.

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The ADB method is the only way to hide the icons of system applications (for example, Security or Mi Account), which cannot be disabled by standard means.

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Warning: Incorrect use of ADB can cause system failures. Don't hide applications with batch names com.android.settings, com.miui.home or com.android.phone - this can make the phone inoperable.

Method 5: Create a Hidden folder and move icons (a bypass)

If all the previous methods seem complicated, you can do the trick of creating a folder with an invisible name and moving unnecessary icons there, which does not remove the icons physically, but visually removes them from the desktop.

How to do this:

1. Click and hold the free space on the desktop → Folders → Create a folder.
2. Name a folder. (dot) or (indissoluble space, copy from here:.) That will make the name invisible.
3. Drag all unnecessary icons into the folder.
4. Move the folder to the corner of the screen or to the second desktop.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require rooting or ADB.
• ✅ It’s easy to bring the icons back.
• ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Icons physically remain on the screen (just hidden in a folder).
• ❌ The folder may accidentally open when swipe.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to hide icons, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and consider the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

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Note: If notifications, themes, or settings stop working through ADB after hiding an icon, a critical application has been hidden. To return it, use the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 packet name (replace the packet name with the original name, for example, com.miui.securitycenter).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions