Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to protect personal data from prying eyes. The Redmi 7A, despite its budget, offers powerful privacy tools. Hiding app icons is the first step to creating a secure digital environment on your device.
There are several proven methods to remove programs from the desktop or completely isolate them. The choice of the specific method depends on the version of the MIUI shell and your personal security preferences. Some methods require customization of system functions, others require the installation of additional software.
In this guide, we will take a look at how to effectively use the built-in Android system and the MIUI shell. You will learn about the Hidden Space feature, setting up Second Space, and using third-party launchers. Each method has its own characteristics that must be considered for stable operation.
Use of the function of Hidden Space
The easiest and most reliable way to get apps out of sight is to use the standard Hidden Space feature, which is built into the MIUI shell and does not require third-party software installation. Access to hidden applications is through a special gesture in the Security or Explorer app.
To activate the mode, you need to open the standard Security application and scroll down until the tool menu appears. In the list of available options, you need to find Hidden Space and activate it with a switch. The system will prompt you to set a password or pattern lock that will differ from the main one.
- π Open the Security app on the home screen.
- π± Select the Tools tab or scroll down to the list of utilities.
- ποΈ Find the Hidden Space icon and turn on the switchboard.
- π Create a unique password other than the screen unlock password.
Once you have the function on the menu, you can add apps, you can select any programs from the installed list, and they disappear from the desktop, and now they can only be accessed by entering a special password or a pattern lock in the Security application.
Set up the Second Space for Total Insulation
If you want a higher level of privacy, use the Second Space feature, which creates a virtually independent environment within your Redmi 7A. It has its own accounts, settings, and, of course, its own apps that are not visible in the main profile.
Switching between spaces is instantaneous and can be configured via a notification panel or a dedicated shortcut on the desktop, ideal for separating work and personal data, or for handing the phone to children without the risk of accessing your files.
To create a second profile, go to Settings β Second Space β Enable Second Space. The system will ask you to configure the login settings, including the ability to use different fingerprints for different profiles, which means that if you put a specific finger on the scanner, you will immediately get to the desired profile.
βοΈ Configuring the second space
It's important to understand that apps in the second space take up extra space in memory. If Redmi 7A has a version with 16 or 32 GB of storage, watch out for free space.Duplicating heavy games or social media can quickly exhaust the available storage capacity.
β οΈ Note: Do not install the same banking applications in both spaces at the same time unless you are sure about the security settings.
Hiding through System Conductor
Another built-in method that is often overlooked is the use of the hide function in standard Explorer. Although this method is more commonly used for files, it allows you to create secure folders that can store shortcuts or shortcuts inside. APK-However, for the running programs themselves, this method is less effective than Hidden Space.
However, Explorer allows you to hide entire folders of content related to applications, for example, you can hide a folder with photos from the messenger or the game's cache. To do this, open Explorer β Folders, select the desired directory and activate the hide function.
The mechanism is based on the folder name prefix. Adding a dot at the beginning of the name makes the folder hidden for standard galleries and file managers, but it remains accessible through the settings for displaying hidden files in Explorer itself. This is a basic level of protection against random browsing.
How to see hidden folders in the Explorer?
Use of third-party launchers
When built-in tools arenβt enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue, which are shells that completely replace the standard MIUI desktop. Popular options like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher have built-in app hiding features or allow plugins to be installed for this purpose.
Installing an alternative launcher gives you the flexibility to customize the interface, you can hide the icons of applications, change their appearance or create separate pages with password access, which is especially true for the Redmi 7A model if the standard shell seems too complex or, conversely, not functional enough.
However, it is worth remembering that third-party launchers consume additional RAM resources. On budget devices with 2 GB of RAM, this can lead to more frequent unloading of background applications.
- π₯ Download. APK-launcher file from a verified source.
- βοΈ Install the application and provide the necessary permissions.
- π Click the Home button and select the new default launcher.
- π Set up the hiding options in the launcher settings menu.
| Method | Level of protection | Impact on the battery | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden space | High-pitched | Minimum | Low. |
| Second space | Maximum | Average. | Medium |
| Third-party launcher | Medium. | High. | Tall. |
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Before installing a third-party launcher, take screenshots of the icons on your desktop, which will help you navigate faster or return everything to the back if the new interface does not like.
Limitations and features of MIUI
MIUI has its own background features. An aggressive power-saving system can unload hidden applications from memory faster than it does on pure Android. If you use messengers in hidden mode, make sure that they are set up to autorun.
To do this, go to Settings β Applications β Auto Run and activate the programs you want. It is also useful to lock the application in memory by opening the list of running tasks, selecting the application and pulling it down until the lock appears, which will prevent it from accidentally unloading.
Users sometimes find themselves resetting their concealment settings after updating their systems. This is a rare but possible phenomenon. So it's important to check security status and passwords periodically. Backing up important data to the Xiaomi or Google Drive cloud is never superfluous.
β οΈ Warning: When you reset to factory settings, all hidden applications and data in Space Two will be permanently deleted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide standard system applications?
Do hidden apps take up space in memory?
What if I forget my hidden space password?
Are hidden applications visible in the installed program list?
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The safest and most stable method for Redmi 7A is to use the built-in Hidden Space, as it is optimized by MIUI developers and does not require third-party software.