Xiaomi smartphones and their budget line of Redmi have long gained popularity thanks to the functional shell MIUI, which offers a variety of tools for customizing the interface. However, one of the most popular features that device owners often look for is the ability to hide the icons of certain programs from prying eyes. On the model Redmi 8, running on Android, this issue is solved in several ways depending on the version of the firmware and personal preferences of the user.
The need to hide applications can arise for various reasons: someone wants to protect personal photos in the gallery, others want to remove unnecessary system shortcuts, and still others just want to keep the confidentiality of correspondence in messengers. Standard tools of the system make it simple enough to do this, but sometimes you need a deeper knowledge of security settings. In this article, we will analyze all the available options so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
It’s worth noting that MIUI is constantly updated, and the location of some menu items may vary slightly depending on the year of release of the device or the regional version of the firmware.However, the basic principles of working with privacy features remain unchanged over the years.
Use of the built-in function “Hidden applications”
The easiest and most reliable way to hide application icons on Xiaomi Redmi 8 is to use the standard MIUI shell feature, called Hidden Applications. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works at the system level, ensuring stability of operation. To activate this option, you need to go to the standard Security application, which is preinstalled on every device of the Chinese brand.
Once you open the utility, you scroll down to Hidden Apps. If you see this, you're lucky enough to click on it, then click on Add Apps and select from the list the programs you want to hide. It's important to understand that once you add the icons will disappear from the desktop and from the menu of all apps, but the programs will continue to work in the background and receive notifications.
However, there is a caveat: some global versions of MIUI Global firmware may not have this menu item by default, in which case the system will offer an alternative or require a change of region, if the feature is available, access to hidden programs is via swipe up in the Security app or through a special gesture in the All Apps menu, where you need to spread two fingers to the sides.
⚠️ Note: Do not set a password to hide apps if you are afraid to forget it, as it can be difficult to restore access without a linked Mi Account.
The concealment functionality in MIUI allows you to create a separate space where you can put not only third-party programs, but also system utilities. This is especially convenient when children are using the phone and you want to restrict their access to certain settings or app stores. The management of the hidden software list is in the same menu where you added them.
Configure access through the application “Security”
The central element of privacy management in Xiaomi smartphones is the Security app, and that’s where the basic data protection tools, including antivirus, memory cleaning, and of course app hiding, are concentrated. To get to the right section, open Security, scroll down and find Hidden Apps. In some versions of the interface, it may be simply called Hide Apps.
Once you turn on the feature, the system will ask you to set a password or use a fingerprint to log in to this partition, which is an additional layer of protection: even if someone knows how to open hidden applications, without a password, they will not be able to see what exactly is there. Access is set up through the settings menu of the security application itself, where you can change the authentication method.
It is important for Redmi 8 users to know that hidden apps will no longer appear in search on the system and in the list of recently launched tasks if the corresponding setting is enabled, this provides a high level of privacy. However, notifications from such programs can still appear in the curtain, if you do not turn them off in the notification settings of a particular application.
- 🔒 Password: Set a unique digital or graphical code other than the screen unlock code.
- 👆 Access gesture: Remember a finger spreading or swipe combination to quickly open the hidden partition.
- 📱 Mi-account: link the hiding to the account for the ability to restore access when resetting settings.
Inside the hidden application management menu, you can always see the full list of what was hidden and return the shortcuts to the desktop at any time, a reversible process that takes only a few seconds, making it ideal for temporary data hiding, where the phone can be accessed by unauthorized people.
Alternative methods: Third-party launchers
If the built-in MIUI tools don’t meet your needs for some reason or the hide feature is missing from your firmware version, third-party launchers come to the rescue. Launcher is a program that completely replaces the standard desktop and application menu, providing advanced customization and privacy management capabilities. Redmi 8 is great for solutions such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher.
The principle of operation is to install the launcher from Google Play, assign it to the default application and then configure the hiding of shortcuts. Most modern launchers have a function “Hide the application” in the appearance settings or in the editing menu of a particular shortcut. Once this option is activated, the icon disappears from the menu, and access to the program is only possible through search or widgets.
Using a third-party launcher gives more design flexibility, but can consume a little more battery resources compared to a standard shell.In addition, some Xiaomi system features, such as control gestures or themes, may not work properly.
Special attention should be paid to the access rights that it requests when selecting a launcher. To properly work the concealment of shortcuts, the program will require permissions to change the desktop and access the list of installed applications.
Application Freeze Method for Total Invisibility
A more radical but effective way to hide an app is to freeze it. A frozen app doesn't just hide its icon, it completely stops running in the background, doesn't consume battery, and doesn't get notifications. This method will require special utilities like Ice Box, Freezer, or Shizuku in conjunction with other tools to implement the Redmi 8.
The freezing process requires granting an application special rights, often through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or obtaining root rights, although modern versions of MIUI allow you to do this without root through debugging mode. Once frozen, the program disappears from the list of active applications and looks like it has been deleted, although all data is stored.
This is ideal for programs that you rarely use but don't want to remove, like banking apps or taxi services, and when you need them, you defrost them in a few seconds, use them, and hide them again, ensuring that no processes associated with these programs are triggered in the background.
It is worth remembering that freezing system applications can lead to unstable system operation. Critical Android components, such as telephony or Google services, it is better not to touch if you are not sure of their purpose.
Creating a Second Data Sharing Space
The MIUI shell offers a unique feature called Second Space, which is actually creating a second user profile inside a single smartphone, with its own set of apps, photos, contacts and passwords, and switching between the main and second spaces is done by fingerprint or by a special shortcut in the settings.
Using Second Space is one of the most reliable ways to hide not just an icon, but an entire ecosystem of applications. You can install the same messengers or social networks in the second space, but with other acca!unts, and they will never be visible in the main profile. For Redmi 8, this feature is available in the settings along the Settings path → Second Space.
When you create a second space, the system will suggest you configure it as a new phone, so you can choose which apps to migrate from the main profile and which to install again, and this creates complete data isolation: files downloaded in the second space are not visible in the first, and vice versa.
| Comparison parameter | Hidden applications | Second space | Freeze. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of concealment | Medium (visible in processes) | High (complete isolation) | Maximum (not working) |
| Battery consumption | Standard. | Enlarged (two profiles are working) | Minimum |
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Availability at MIUI | Depends on the version. | Available to all | Requires third-party software |
Switching between spaces on Redmi 8 can be configured through the sidebar or by assigning different fingers to unlock the main and guest modes. This is very convenient and safe, since an outsider who accessed the phone will not even know that the second profile exists.
Frequent questions and solutions to concealment problems
Despite the simplicity of the methods described, users often face technical nuances when setting up privacy on Xiaomi, most often involving the disappearance of a menu item, password problems or the desire to hide system applications that are not amenable to disguise by default.
One common problem is when the concealment function disappears or stops working correctly after a system update, in which case it is recommended to check for updates for the Security app via GetApps or Google Play, sometimes cleaning the cache of the security application itself or resetting its settings.
☑️ Checking the concealment settings
It's also important to distinguish between shortcuts and app deletions. Many users mistakenly think that if they've hidden a program, it won't take up space. It's not: the app stays in the phone's memory in full. To free up the program space, you have to delete it or transfer it to a memory card, if that's possible.
⚠️ Warning: Hiding banking apps does not replace antivirus protection. If a phone is infected with a Trojan, it can find a hidden program by the name of the package, so watch the source of the software installation.
If you forget the password from hidden apps, you can restore access through your Mi Account account if it was previously linked. Otherwise, you may need to completely reset your phone settings, which will lead to loss of all data.
Final safety recommendations
To sum up, Xiaomi Redmi 8 provides powerful tools to protect personal information, and the specific method you choose depends on how deep you want to hide the data, and a built-in feature is enough to quickly mask labels, and a completely isolated environment is better suited for Second Space.
Keep in mind that security is a holistic approach. Icon hiding is just one layer of protection. Using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regularly updating your system is just as important. Your device's system security depends on your attention to detail.
Experiment with settings, try different launchers and freezing techniques to find the perfect balance between convenience and privacy.Your Redmi 8 is capable of a lot if you set it up properly.