Hiding apps on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from wanting to remove unnecessary system utilities to having to hide personal information from prying eyes. Unlike pure Android, MIUI offers both built-in tools to disguise programs and hidden features that few people know about. However, not all methods are equally safe: some can lead to data loss when resets, and others to conflicts with system updates.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to hide Xiaomi apps (including the 2023-2026 models), compare their effectiveness, and point out the pitfalls of each. Focus on the differences between MIUI 12/13/14 versions and how to get around the limitations if standard methods don’t work. If you need to not just hide the icon, but completely block access to the program, there’s a solution.
1. Built-in "Hidden Applications" function in MIUI
The easiest and most official way is to use the built-in MIUI tool called Hidden Apps, which is available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 10 and later firmware (including MIUI 14 based on Android 13/14). This method does not require superuser rights (root) and reversible: hidden programs can be returned to the menu at any time.
To activate the function:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Hidden Applications.
- ➕ Click Add and tick the programs you want to hide.
- 🔒 Confirm the choice with a password or fingerprint (if the screen lock is configured).
After that, the icons will disappear from the main menu and MIUI search. Access to hidden applications will remain through the same settings section or through Security → Application Lock (depending on the firmware version).
⚠️ Note: The applications hidden through this method are not removed from the device and continue to work in the background. They will still be displayed in Task Manager and consume battery power.
2. disabling system applications (without deletion)
If the goal is to remove unnecessary system utilities (such as Mi Browser, Mi Music or GetApps), they can be turned off, not just hidden. This will stop background activity and free up RAM. The method works on all Xiaomi devices with Android 8.0 and later, but requires caution: disabling critical services (such as Mi Account) can disrupt the system.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select an app from the list (such as Mi Video).
- Click Disable (the button will appear if the program supports this function).
- Confirm the action in the dialog window.
Disabled apps will disappear from the menu, stop updating through the Play Market and will not start automatically. They can be returned at any time by clicking Enable in the same settings.
| Annex | Can I turn it off? | Effects of consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Browser | ✅ Yes. | It will disappear from the menu, but links will still open in it unless another default browser is assigned. |
| GetApps | ✅ Yes. | It will not offer updates to system applications. |
| Mi Account | ❌ No. | Disabling will result in sync errors and inability to use the Xiaomi cloud. |
| Security (Security) | ❌ No. | It will disrupt the antivirus, memory cleaning and other functions. |
⚠️ Note: Disabling Google apps (e.g. Google Play Services) may result in the loss of functionality of other programs that depend on them (e.g. maps, mail or banking applications).
3. Use of the "Second Space" (Dual Apps)
The second space (or Dual Apps) feature in MIUI is originally designed to clone messengers (like WhatsApp or Telegram), but it can also be used to hide applications, the essence of the method is to transfer the program to the second space and then remove it from the main one, so the application will remain on the device, but will only be available after logging into the second space with a password.
How to do this:
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Second Space (or Dual Apps in some versions).
- 🔐 Create a second space if it doesn’t already exist and set a password.
- 📱 In the main space, find the app you want to hide and uninstall it (don’t disable it, namely, delete it).
- 🔄 Return to the second space and install the app again through the Play Market.
Now, the software will only be available after switching to a second space, and this method is more reliable than standard concealment, because the application is physically absent from the main profile, but it has drawbacks:
- ⚠️ It takes up additional space (each space has its own data).
- ⚠️ Not all system applications can be ported this way.
- ⚠️ When resetting the settings, the second space can be removed.
Set a strong password for the second space | Backup your main profile data | Check that the application can be installed in the second space | Turn off automatic synchronization for hidden applications-->
4. Hiding through "App Lock"
If the main goal is not to delete the icon, but to block access to the application by unauthorized people, App Lock is a good option, and it does not hide the program from the menu, but requires you to enter a password, fingerprint or facial scan at each run, a method that is useful for protecting messengers, banking applications or gallery.
The blockage is activated as follows:
- Open Settings → Application Lock (or Security → Application Lock).
- Turn on the function if it is disabled and set a password.
- Select the apps from the list you want to block.
- Activate Hide Notifications so that the contents of the app do not appear in the curtain.
Unlike full concealment, this method allows you to quickly access the program, but makes it useless for those who do not know the password, and locking works even if an attacker reboots the phone or resets the MIUI settings (provided that the Xiaomi account is tied to the device).
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To increase protection, enable Hide content in recent tasks in the App Lock settings, which will hide screenshots of blocked applications from the multitasking menu.
5. Advanced Methods: ADB and Third Party Launchers
For users willing to take more drastic measures, there are two additional ways:
5.1. Disconnection via ADB (without root)
With Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can disable any system application, even one that doesn't allow you to do so through the settings menu, which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.
Instructions:
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to unlock Developer Settings).
- Connect the phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.app (replace com.example.app with the batch name of the application, for example, com.miui.browser for Mi Browser).
- Reset the device.
To return the application, use the command:
adb shell pm enable com.example.appHow to find out the package name of the application?
5.2 Third-party launchers with support for concealment
Launchers like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allow you to hide application icons without tampering with the system.
- Install a launcher from Play Market.
- In the launcher settings, find the Hidden Applications or App Drawer section.
- Check out the programs you want to hide.
The advantage of the method is that it is simple and without risk to the system, and the disadvantage is that applications will still be visible in Settings and Task Manager, and can also appear in Google search results.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Disabling system applications can cause your phone to reboot cyclically if you turn off a critical service (e.g. MiuiSystemUI.
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
The choice of method depends on your goal:
| Method | Level of difficulty | Need root? | He's hiding it all? | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Applications (MIUI) | ⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No (sees in the settings) | Low. |
| Disabling applications | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No (sees the list of disabled ones) | Medium (risk of disrupting the system) |
| Second space | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes, in most spaces) | Low. |
| ADB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ✅ Yeah (completely shuts it off) | High (risk of "bricking") |
| Third-party launchers | ⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No (seen in the system) | Absent. |
For most users, the best solution is to combine a second space (to hide completely) and application lock (to protect sensitive data), and the ADB method is suitable only for experienced users who are ready for potential risks.
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If you need to hide the app from children or colleagues, use Second Space or App Lock. If the goal is to free up memory and remove unnecessary system utilities, try disabling through settings or ADB (with caution!).
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When trying to hide applications on Xiaomi, users often face some problems:
- 🔄 "Hidden applications are not saved after restarting → Check that the data protection function in the settings → Security is on. Without it, settings can be reset.
- 🚫 You can not disable the system application → Use it. ADB Check whether the program is critical to MIUI (For example, MiuiHome - launcher system).
- 🔍 The app can still be seen in search. → Turn off indexing for this application in Settings → Search → Search settings.
- 🔒 Forgot the password from the second space → The only way to restore access is to reset your phone settings (data will be lost!).
If the app stops working after hiding or the system starts to slow down, return it to its original state and restart the phone. In extreme cases, a factory reset will help (but this will delete all data!).