Owning a modern smartphone, especially one as popular as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, involves storing a lot of personal information. Photographs, correspondence, bank details and work documents can all become vulnerable if the phone falls into the wrong hands or if you just want to shield your data from the curious glances of friends.
The MIUI operating system installed on the device offers built-in privacy tools that often go unnoticed by ordinary users. Hiding apps is not just removing a shortcut from the desktop, but a full-fledged security feature that allows data to be isolated.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the hidden space mode, what nuances exist when working with this feature on the Redmi Note 8 Pro and how to protect your digital content from outsiders as much as possible.
Why Hide Apps and What Is Hidden Space
The MIUI hider function is implemented through a mechanism called Hidden Space, which is not just a folder, but a separate logical memory area where applications operate in isolation from the main system, and data isolation means that the cache, logins and passwords in the hidden applications do not overlap with the main ones.
Many users use this feature to separate work and personal time, for example, messengers for work can be kept in the main profile, and personal chats and social networks can be moved to a hidden area, which allows you to instantly switch between modes without creating confusion in notifications.
Another reason is to protect financially important programs: Banking apps, crypto wallets, and exchanges are best kept out of the sight of random people taking your phone to call. Visual privacy is key here: even if you unlock the screen, an outsider will not see the icon of the secure application.
⚠️ Warning: Hiding an application is not a substitute for full-fledged data encryption. If an attacker gains access to a file system with superuser rights, the data can be recovered. Use complex passwords.
It is important to understand the difference between deleting and hiding. A remote application is completely erased from the device along with the data. The hidden application continues to run in the background, consumes resources of the Redmi Note 8 Pro and receive updates, while remaining invisible to the normal interface.
Preparation for configuration: checking the version of MIUI
Before you start setting up, make sure your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on the current firmware version.Hidden space functionality may vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell (Global, China or EEA).
To check the version, go to the Settings menu → The phone. Here you're interested in the line "Version." MIUI». If the version number differs significantly from the current releases, it is recommended to update the system first, which will ensure the stability of hidden containers and fix possible security bugs.
It's also worth freeing up space. Hidden applications take up space on the internal drive. If the Redmi Note 8 Pro's memory is full, the process of creating a hidden profile may fail or not work properly.
Make sure to back up your critical data before any manipulation of your system settings. While the cover-up procedure is safe, the human factor has not been canceled. Backup is a basic skill of any literate Android user.
☑️ Checklist before hiding applications
Activation of hidden space on Redmi Note 8 Pro
The process of activating hidden space on Xiaomi is standardized, but has its own peculiarities depending on the regional firmware, in most cases, the path lies through password settings and security.
Open Settings and find the Passwords and Security section. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be simply called "Security" or be entered into a separate "Security" app (green zipper icon). Inside, we are interested in the tab or menu item "Hidden Space".
When you first start up, the system will suggest creating a special password or graphical key to log into this area, which will be different from the unlock password of the screen, which allows you to use the method of “dual login”: one password opens a regular desk, another hidden one.
Once you enter the password, the system will create a virtual container, which can take some time, as the Redmi Note 8 Pro forms a new file structure, and do not interrupt the process or turn off the screen until initialization is complete.
⚠️ Attention: Forgotten passwords from hidden space are almost impossible to recover without a Mi Account attached. Make sure your account is active and the recovery data is up to date.
Once you're successful, you'll find yourself in a clean interface that looks like the main interface, but it's empty, and that's where we'll be bringing the apps we want to hide from the public eye.
Instructions for transferring applications to hidden mode
Now that hidden space is created, you need to populate it with apps. There are several ways to do this on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. The easiest way is to use the built-in application manager.
When you're inside the hidden space, look for the Settings app or a special "Add Apps" shortcut, and the system will suggest a list of programs installed in the main profile, and you just need to tick the boxes against the ones you want to hide and confirm the action.
An alternative method involves long-pressing. In some versions of MIUI, you can pinch the application icon on the main profile desktop, select Hide or Add to Hidden Space. However, this path is not available in all regional builds.
- 📱 Open the hidden space and go to the settings.
- 📥 Select the paragraph "Add applications».
- ✅ Check the required programs from the list of installed.
- 🔒 Confirm the transfer, after which the icons will disappear from the main screen.
It's important to note that when you move an application, it's data (logins, correspondence) is usually copied. You'll get two copies of the application: one in the main profile (which can be deleted) and one in the hidden one. They're not synchronized, they're two independent copies.
What happens to hidden app notifications?
If you want to use one messenger for two different accounts (like two WhatsApp accounts), then moving to a hidden space is ideal. You can register a second number, and both apps will work simultaneously without conflicts.
Access settings and unlocking methods
The security of hidden space depends on the complexity of the password. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro supports various biometric and graphical protection methods, it is recommended to use a combination of methods for maximum reliability.
In the hidden space settings, you can activate fingerprint input, which is convenient, but less secure than a long alphanumeric password, because you can copy the fingerprint or use the sleeping phone owner. Biometrics is about convenience, not about high security1.
There's also a "Screen unlock password" feature available, and you can configure the system to type in a specific type of password. PIN-When the screen is off, the code immediately opens the hidden profile, bypassing the main one. This is what is called an "alarm" or "guest" input, depending on your security strategy.
| Protection method | Level of security | Convenience | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| pattern lock | Medium. | High. | Screenprints, peeking. |
| Digital PIN (4-6 characters) | Low/Mediocre | High. | Ease of selection (1234, 0000) |
| A complex password | High-pitched | Low. | It's hard to remember, it's long to enter. |
| Fingerprint. | Medium. | Very high. | False positives, a copy of a finger |
| Facial recognition (2D) | Low. | Very high. | Photography bypass, bad light |
Remember to change passwords periodically. Regularly changing credentials reduces the risk that someone who saw you enter the code will gain access to your data in the future.
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Use different fingers for the main and hidden profiles, such as the thumb of the right hand opening the main screen, and the thumb of the left hand opening the hidden space, which speeds up access and adds a level of security.
Removing and Managing Hidden Applications
Hidden applications are managed inside the hidden space itself, where you can delete programs, clean the cache, or return them back to the main profile, a reversible process that doesn't require complex manipulation.
To remove an application, go into the hidden space, find the icon you want, press it, and select Delete. This action will completely erase the application and all its data from the hidden container. It will be impossible to recover the remote without a backup.
If you want to return the app to the home screen, use the Remove from Hidden Space or Return function.The app will move to the main profile, saving its data, but will become visible to all users of the Redmi Note 8 Pro main screen.
- 🗑️ To delete completely, select “Delete” in the context menu.
- 🔄 To return, use the option “Move to the main profile».
- 🧹 Clean the cache of hidden apps regularly, as they too “bloat».
- 👁️ Check the list of hidden apps before selling your phone.
When selling or transferring a phone to a new owner, it is not enough to simply uninstall applications, but you need to perform a full reset (Wipe Data) to ensure that all traces of hidden space are destroyed and data cannot be restored.
⚠️ Warning: Hard Reset removes hidden space completely. Make sure you don't need data from it before you drop your phone.
Memory management is also important. Hidden apps take up space in Xiaomi's shared memory pool. If you notice memory filling up faster than usual, check the amount of data in the hidden profile.
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Hidden space is a separate logical partition, and removing an application from the main profile does not affect a copy of it in a hidden space, and vice versa.