Hiding apps on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal data from prying eyes. Unlike iOS, where functionality is limited, MIUI offers several built-in and third-party solutions. However, they are not all equally effective: some methods simply remove the icon from the desktop, others completely block access to the application without a password.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways, including little-known tricks with ADB and Second Space settings that work on the Redmi Note 9 (models M2003J15SS/M2003J15SC) running MIUI 12-14.
Method 1: Built-in Hidden Applications in MIUI
The easiest way to do this is to use the regular MIUI tool, which is available without superuser permissions, which doesn't remove the app, it just removes the app icon from the App Vault menu and search. But there are pitfalls: hidden programs that do this will still be displayed in Settings → Applications and can be run through ADB or third-party launchers.
To hide the app:
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the Application section → Application management.
- 🔍 Find the right application in the list and tap it.
- 👁️🗨️ Select Hide the app (if the option is inactive – see the note below).
- 🔒 Confirm the action with a password or fingerprint (if the lock is configured).
Important: Hide the application may not be available for system utilities (e.g. Camera, Phone) and applications with administrator rights, and after resetting, all hidden programs will become visible again.
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If the Hide App option is not available, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI or use the Second Space method (see Method 4).
Method 2: Use Second Space (Second Desktop)
Second Space is a feature built into MIUI that creates an isolated copy of the system with separate applications, settings and data, and the advantage of the method is that applications are physically transferred to a different profile and do not appear in the main space, minus the need to configure the second desktop and switch between them.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Special Options → Second Space.
- Create a second profile by following the system prompts (you need to set a password).
- After creation, go to Second Space Settings → Applications.
- Select the apps you want to hide and click Transfer.
- Return to the main space – the transferred applications will disappear from the menu.
Critical: Applications in Second Space continue to run in the background and can send notifications. To completely disable them, you need to manually stop processes through Settings → Applications → Manage applications in the main space.
Method 3: Archiving applications (without deletion)
Archive in MIUI allows you to freeze the application by deleting its data and icon, but retaining the possibility of recovery. This method is suitable for temporary hiding of unnecessary programs (for example, preinstalled games from Xiaomi). Unlike complete removal, archived applications do not take up space in memory, but remain in the Settings → Applications marked Archived.
How to archive:
- 📦 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Select the application and tap Archive.
- ⚠️ Confirm the action – the application will disappear from the desktop, and its data will be erased.
⚠️ Note: Archived applications cannot be run without first restoring. If the application is associated with an account (for example, Mi Account), after recovery, you will need to re-enter.
| Method | Removing the icon | Blocking launch | Requires a password | Affects notifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiding at MIUI | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. |
| Second Space | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes, in most spaces) | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Only in Second Space. |
| Archiving | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Shutting it down. |
Method 4: Hiding through ADB (for power users)
If the built-in methods don’t work (for example, for system applications), you can use ADB, the Android debugging tool, which requires connecting the smartphone to the PC and enabling the developer mode, but allows you to hide even those programs that are blocked in the standard interface.
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect Redmi Note 9 to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:
adb shell pm hide com.example.appReplace com.example.app with a real application package (you can find out through adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword").
⚠️ Note: Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.home) cannot be hidden through the ADB — This will cause the interface to crash. Before you experiment, back up through Settings. → System system → Backup.
How to return hidden through ADB application?
Method 5: Third-party launchers with concealment function
If you don’t just want to remove the icon, but to hide the app completely from outsiders (including search through the system), use alternative launchers like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or POCO Launcher. They offer advanced hideout settings, including:
- 🔐 Hiding from the app menu;
- 🔍 Exclusion from search;
- 📁 Grouping into secure folders.
Example of settings in Nova Launcher:
- Install a launcher from Google Play.
- Press your finger on the desktop → Settings → Hiding applications.
- Check the boxes of the programs you want to hide.
- Activate Hide from Search (in Nova Launcher Prime).
Download APK from the official website (not from third-party sources)
Create a backup of the current launcher (com.miui.home)
Disable battery optimization for launcher in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Battery optimization
Check compatibility with MIUI 14 (some launchers are bugging Xiaomi)
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Warning: After the MIUI update, some launchers may reset the concealment settings. To avoid this, export the launcher configuration before upgrading (to Nova Launcher: Backup/Recovery).
Frequent problems and solutions
Even after hiding, applications can appear in unexpected places, and consider typical scenarios and how to fix them:
1.The hidden app is seen in Google search
Reason: Google search indexes installed programs regardless of MIUI settings.
- Open Settings → Google → Search in apps.
- Turn off the option to show results from applications.
- Clear the cache of the Google app in Settings → Apps.
2.After resetting the settings, the hidden apps returned
This is standard MIUI behavior: all user settings (including concealment) are reset to avoid the problem:
- Use Second Space – it is saved when you reset your main profile.
- Export the list of hidden applications through ADB (adb shell pm list packages -h).
3. you cannot hide the system application (for example, Mi Video)
Xiaomi system utilities are often protected from hiding.
- Use ADB (see Method 4).
- Disable the application through Settings → Applications → Disable (does not delete, but stops background work).
- Install the patch through Magisk (requires root).
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The most reliable way to hide system applications is a combination of Second Space + ADB. This allows you to bypass the restrictions of MIUI without root rights.