How to hide the application on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all ways with pictures

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still one of the most popular smartphones in the Redmi series due to the balance of price and performance. But even a few years after the release, owners face a typical problem: how to hide unnecessary applications from prying eyes or remove them from the general list? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from built-in MIUI functions to third-party solutions.

It's important to understand that hiding an application doesn't equal deleting it. Program files remain in the device's memory, but they stop showing up in the menu or search.

• 🔒 Hide personal messengers from children or colleagues
• 📱 Remove system applications that cannot be uninstalled
• 🎯 Make the main screen cleaner without unnecessary icons
• 🔄 Temporarily hide the program without losing its data

We tested all methods on the Redmi Note 7 with MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 14 (Android 10/11) firmware, and most of the methods will work on other Xiaomi/Poco/Redmi models with similar shell versions, and if your smartphone is upgraded to HyperOS, some menu items may differ, we will warn you about this separately.

1. Hiding through the “Second Space” (Dual Appendices)

MIUI’s Second Space feature was originally designed to separate work and personal data, but it can also be used to hide applications, a method that does not require root rights and works on all versions of the firmware for the Redmi Note 7.

How it works is you create a second user profile, which you transfer the apps you want to use, the main profile doesn't see them, but they stay available after you switch, and the downside is you have to type in your password when you change space.

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Second space
• 🔑 Click “Create” and set a password (required!
• 🔄 After creation, move to a new space through the notification panel
• 📲 Install or transfer the desired applications (they will be hidden in the main profile)

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the second space, you can only restore access to hidden applications through a full reset. Xiaomi does not provide official ways to circumvent this protection.

2. Hiding icons through launcher settings

MIUI uses the default POCO Launcher (on the Redmi Note 7) or MIUI Launcher, both of which allow you to hide application icons without deleting, which does not require creating a second space and works instantly.

Instructions for standard launcher:

1. Hold your finger to the free space on the main screen.
2. Select "Settings" (cog in the lower right corner)
3. Go to the section “Hide applications”
4. Check the boxes that you want to remove from the menu.
5. Confirm the action – icons will disappear from the main screen and from the list of all applications

Make sure the app is not running in the background

Close all open folders on the main screen

Check out the MIUI version (settings → about the phone)

Make a backup copy of important data-->

To return hidden icons, repeat the same steps and uncheck. This method does not affect notifications - they will come as usual. If you need to hide and notifications, read the next section.

3. Disabling notifications and hiding from search

Even if you hid an app icon, it can show itself through notifications or appear in search results through the system, and to completely “disguise” the program, you need to disable these functions separately.

To disable notifications:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar
2. Find the right app in the list
3. Turn off the “Show notifications” switch
4. For reliability, also disable "Signs on the lock screen"

To exclude the application from the system search:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the desired application from the list
3. Click on “Permissions” → “Search in Apps”
4. Turn off permission to show up in search results

⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g., com.android.phone or com.miui.securitycenter) cannot be completely hidden without root rights.

4. Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Microsoft Launcher)

If the built-in MIUI capabilities don't suit you, you can install an alternative launcher from Google Play, popular options like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which offer advanced hide-out settings for applications.

Example for Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher and install it as the main one (at first start)
2. Click the free space on the screen → “Nova Settings”
3. Go to App & Widget drawers → Hide apps
4. Select programs to hide and save settings

Advantages of third-party launchers:

• 🔧 More flexibility in setting up (you can hide individual folders or widgets)
• 🔒 The ability to set a password to access hidden applications
• 📱 Access to notifications is retained (unlike the second space)
• 🔄 It's easy to roll back to the standard launcher

💡

If Xiaomi’s weather widgets or watches are missing after installing a third-party launcher, check the compatibility settings in Settings → Additional → Special Features → Default Launcher. Sometimes a phone reboot helps.

5. Hiding system applications without root (ADB)

For power users, there is a way to hide even system applications that can't be removed or disabled through the standard menu.This will require an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and a computer.The method works on the Redmi Note 7 with any version of MIUI, but requires caution.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Return to Settings → More → For developers and enable USB Debugging
3. Connect your phone to your PC and install ADB Tools
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder with ADB
5. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
6. To hide the app, use: adb shell pm hide com.package.name (replace com.package.name with a real package, for example, com.miui.calculator for calculator)

To return the application back, use the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.package.name

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can cause system functions to fail, such as disabling com.android.phone will deprive you of mobile communication. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

6. Hiding through Private Mode (MIUI 14 and later)

Recent versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 14) have introduced a Private Mode feature that allows you to hide not only apps, but also individual files, photos or notes. On the Redmi Note 7, this feature may not be available due to hardware limitations, but if your phone is upgraded to a new firmware, try this:

Activation of private mode:

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Private Mode
2. Set a password or pattern lock
3. Select “Hide Apps” and select the right ones.
4. Confirm the changes – applications will disappear from the list

To access hidden programs:

1. Swipe down the main screen to open the search.
2. Enter a request (for example, the name of the application)
3. The results will appear the button “Private mode” – click it and enter the password

This method is more convenient than the second space, as it does not require full switching between profiles, but it is not available on all versions of MIUI for the Redmi Note 7.

💡

Private mode in MIUI 14+ is the safest way to hide applications without the risk of data loss. Unlike ADB or the second space, it requires no technical skills and is easily canceled.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to hide apps on the Redmi Note 7, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 The app is hidden, but notifications keep coming → Disable notifications separately in Settings → Notifications or use a private mode.
• 🔍 Hidden app seen in Google search → Turn off search permission in the app settings or use ADB-Pm Disable-user.
• 🔑 Forgot the password from the second space → The only way to return access is to reset your settings via Recovery (data will be lost!).
• 📱 After hiding through ADB The application has stopped updating → Return it with the command pm uninstall -k --user 0, Update to Play Market, then hide it again.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• MIUI version (some features are only available in MIUI 13+)
• System Updates (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Update)
• No conflicts with antivirus software (e.g., Xiaomi Security can block changes)

FAQ: Answers to popular questions