How to hide unnecessary applications on Android Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s current MIUI and HyperOS smartphones are incredibly functional, but often oversaturated with pre-installed software. Users are faced with dozens of icons on their desktops that they don’t use or are only for administrative access. This not only clutters the interface, but can also be annoying when they find the right software. Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have built-in mechanisms to hide objects without removing them from the device’s memory.

There are several effective ways to get rid of the excess, ranging from regular system tools to advanced methods using ADB. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to isolate sensitive data or just clean up the digital space of your gadget. You will learn about the nuances of the function “Hidden space” and understand how it differs from simply removing shortcuts.

Many owners of Redmi and POCO devices mistakenly believe that third-party launchers are necessary to hide applications. However, standard system tools are often more stable and secure, since they are deeply integrated into the Android operating system core. We will review all available options so that you can choose the most suitable for your model and firmware version.

Use of the built-in function Hidden space

The most reliable and secure method is to use the native MIUI feature called Hidden Space, which creates an isolated environment that is accessed through a special gesture or password, and it is important to understand that applications moved here completely disappear from the home screen and from the menu of all applications, becoming visible only after the owner has authorized them.

To activate this option, you need to go to the Settings menu and find the App section. In some firmware versions, this item may be called “Hidden Apps” or integrated into security settings. The system will prompt you to set a digital password, a pattern lock or use a biometric to access. Security is key here, since without a password, you can not enter this section even when physically accessing an unlocked phone.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the hidden space, it will be impossible to restore access to the data inside it by standard means.

Once set up, you can add any software that you want to add, and it will work independently of the main system, with its own caches and data, and it's ideal for storing banking applications or personal messengers that you don't want to show to outsiders, but it's worth considering that these applications may not receive notifications in the background if the system decides to optimize their performance to save energy.

Customize access through gestures and passwords

A unique feature of the MIUI shell is the ability to access hidden applications through a special gesture on the lock screen or desktop, which allows you to instantly access sensitive content without going through long settings menus. This is usually done by swiping up or sideways using two fingers, but the configuration may depend on the version of the system.

To set this setting, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy. Here you will find a switch to activate the hide function. The system will require you to confirm your Mi Account, which is an additional protection measure. Once activated, you will be prompted to enter a secret code, which is often different from the screen unlock code.

• 🔐 Open the privacy settings in the device security menu.
• 🆔 Link the feature to your Mi Account to sync your settings.
• 🖐️ Make a unique gesture (swipe with two fingers) for quick access.
• 📱 Select applications that need to be hidden from the general list.

Using a gesture makes the process of concealment as invisible as possible to outsiders. Nobody would guess that just moving your finger on the screen hides the whole second interface of your smartphone, which is especially true if you often give your phone to your children or colleagues to call or view photos.

💡

Use different passwords to unlock the screen and to enter hidden space, which will prevent accidental access if someone looks at your primary pin.

Hiding through Application Manager and Themes

Another built-in tool that is often overlooked is the Application Manager, available through the Security app. Unlike full-fledged hidden space, this method simply removes icons from the desktop, but leaves them accessible through search or settings. This is less secure, but more convenient for quickly organizing space.

Also worth mentioning is the design theme: Some users use third-party themes from the GetThemes store that have built-in icon hiding features or allow you to create secure folders. These themes can change the launcher by adding an additional layer of customization. However, installing themes from unverified sources can carry risks to system stability.

If you want to just remove the Calculator icon from the home screen, press long enough and select Delete (which actually removes the label), but if the goal is to hide the gallery with personal photos, it is a secure container that is needed.

Use of third-party launchers

If Xiaomi isn’t enough, third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, or Microsoft Launcher come to the rescue, replacing the standard interface entirely by offering flexible icon visibility settings, hiding apps from menus, hiding them in password folders, or making widgets invisible.

Installing a third-party launcher requires permission to display on top of other applications and assigning it to the default. From the Settings → Desktop menu, you need to select the installed program. After that, the standard MIUI will stop showing, giving way to the new one. This gives you tremendous freedom, but can deprive you of some branded chips, such as a notification slider or specific gestures.

It is important to note that some Xiaomi system applications may not display correctly or work in third-party shells. For example, weather widgets or music management may require additional plugins. In addition, deep customization sometimes leads to increased battery consumption due to the constant rendering of complex animations.

⚠️ Warning: When installing a third-party launcher, make sure you remember how to return to the standard interface. This usually requires you to go to the application settings, find the launcher and clear the data, or select the Default option.

Advanced Method: Hiding Through ADB

For power users who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of hiding system applications through USB debugging (ADB), which allows you not only to hide the icon, but completely disable the system component, making it invisible to the user and Android processes. This is the most radical, but also the most effective way to clean the interface of non-removable garbage.

First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the build number MIUI. Then in the advanced settings, turn on “Debugging by” USB». Connect your smartphone to your computer, install drivers and Android platform SDK Platform Tools.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.bloatware_package

Instead com.android.bloatware_package You have to substitute the real name of the application package you want to hide, and you can find out through the analyzer applications or the adb shell pm list packages command, and once you execute the command, the application will disappear from the installed list and will no longer consume resources. To return it back, the adb shell pm enable command is used.

Frequent problems and their solution

Users may encounter a number of difficulties in hiding applications, such as when a firmware update resets the hidden space settings, or applications may spontaneously appear on the desktop, often due to aggressive system optimization or version conflicts.

If you notice hidden apps are visible again, check for system updates. Sometimes Xiaomi changes the logic of security components, and the problem can be hidden in the launcher cache.

• 🔄 Check for system and launcher updates in the Mi Store.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Security app through the storage settings.
• 🔒 Make sure that the hidden space is not over.
• 📲 Check the permissions for hidden apps in the notification menu.

Another common problem is the inability to hide certain system applications, which is a limitation of the Android operating system itself, which prohibits hiding critical components such as Phone, Messages, or Settings, in which case only the use of guest mode or the creation of a second space helps.

💡

System applications necessary for network operation and communication, to hide standard methods is impossible without the risk of disruption of the functionality of the smartphone.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions